JP2001213605A - Hydrogen supply system for device using hydrogen as fuel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen supply system which is preferable to the start-up of the fuel cell at a low temperature. SOLUTION: This hydrogen supply system 1 comprises a reformer 3 which supplies hydrogen to a fuel cell 2 utilizing hydrogen as the fuel, and a hydrogen storage system 7 having hydrogen absorbing alloy MH2 for start-up which occludes hydrogen to start-up the fuel cell 2. The hydrogen storage system 7 further comprises a heater 16 having hydrogen absorbing alloy MH3 for heating and a hydrogen tank 18 for feeding hydrogen to the hydrogen absorbing alloy MH3. The hydrogen absorbing alloy MH3 for heating has lower temperature for absorbing hydrogen that the temperature for releasing hydrogen of the hydrogen absorbing alloy MH2 for start-up, and has a function of heating the hydrogen absorbing alloy MH2 for start-up above the temperature of releasing hydrogen by generating heat through hydrogen absorption.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for supplying hydrogen to equipment using hydrogen as fuel.

[0002]

2. Related Art As a hydrogen supply system capable of coping with a response delay of a reformer as a hydrogen supply source, the present applicant has previously described a reformer for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell as an apparatus, and a fuel cell for the reformer. (See Japanese Patent Application No. 11-164939 and the drawings). This hydrogen supply system was developed mainly for use in vehicles.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, since a starting hydrogen storage material capable of releasing hydrogen at about room temperature is used, it is necessary to release hydrogen from the starting hydrogen storage material at low temperatures. Requires a heater. Therefore, an electric heater equipped with a battery can be considered as a simple heater. In this case, charging of the battery is indispensable. The output of the battery may be lost. On the other hand, if the charging operation is performed using another power source, the operation of the hydrogen supply system may be hindered.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a hydrogen storage device which uses a heat generation phenomenon accompanying the hydrogen storage of the hydrogen storage material in place of electrically heating the hydrogen storage material for starting. It is intended to provide a supply system.

[0005] To achieve the above object, according to the present invention,
A hydrogen source that supplies hydrogen to hydrogen-fueled equipment;
A hydrogen supply system comprising: a hydrogen storage device having a starting hydrogen storage material storing hydrogen for starting the device; wherein the hydrogen storage device includes a heating hydrogen storage material and a hydrogen storage material. A heater having a hydrogen tank for supplying hydrogen, the heating hydrogen storage material having a hydrogen storage temperature lower than the hydrogen release temperature of the starting hydrogen storage material;
Further, there is provided a hydrogen supply system to a device using hydrogen as fuel, which has a function of heating the starting hydrogen storage material to a temperature equal to or higher than a hydrogen release temperature by generating heat by storing hydrogen.

[0006] With the above configuration, a part of the hydrogen from the hydrogen supply source is stored in the hydrogen tank of the heater during the operation of the hydrogen supply system, so that the equipment can be started quickly even at a low temperature. , And reliably. Storing hydrogen in the hydrogen tank does not cause power loss of the equipment and does not hinder the operation of the hydrogen supply system.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A hydrogen supply system 1 shown in FIG.
Is mounted on an electric vehicle powered by a fuel cell 2 as a device using hydrogen as a fuel.

In the hydrogen supply system 1, a reformer 3 serving as a hydrogen supply source generates a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a main component from a raw material such as alcohol or gasoline. The reformed gas supply line 4 is connected to the raw gas inlet side. In the reformed gas supply line 4,
The three-way valve 3V located upstream of the fuel cell 2 and the inlet side of the fuel cell 2 are connected by a bypass pipe 5, and the flow meter 6, the first two-way valve are sequentially connected to the bypass pipe 5 from the three-way valve 3V side. V1, first storage section 8 of hydrogen storage 7, second two-way valve V
2, a flow meter 9 and a third two-way valve V3 are provided. First
The storage unit 8 has a so-called through-type tank 10 having an inlet and an outlet.
The outlets are connected to the downstream side of the bypass pipe 5, respectively, and the tank 10 is filled with a hydrogen storage alloy MH1 as a hydrogen storage material for transferring hydrogen, which easily stores hydrogen. A first heater 12 having a reformed gas flow pipe 11 is attached to the first storage section 8.

Downstream of the first storage section 8 of the bypass pipe 5, between the flow meter 9 and the third two-way valve V3, through the hydrogen supply / discharge pipe 13, the second storage section 14 of the hydrogen storage 7 is provided. And the second storage unit 1 of the hydrogen supply / discharge line 13
On the fourth side, a fourth two-way valve V4 is provided. Second storage unit 14
Has a normal tank 15 having an inlet and an outlet, and the tank 15 is filled with a hydrogen storage alloy MH2 as a starting hydrogen storage material that easily releases hydrogen.

A second heater 16 is attached to the second storage section 14. The heater 16 is connected to the tank 15 of the second storage unit 14.
Tank 17 surrounding the tank, and a hydrogen storage alloy MH3 as a heating hydrogen storage material filled in the tank 17
And a hydrogen tank 18 for supplying hydrogen to the hydrogen storage alloy MH3. In the hydrogen supply and discharge line 13,
The inlet side of the stored hydrogen supply line 20 is connected between the fourth two-way valve V4 and the bypass line connection portion 19, and the outlet side thereof is connected to the inlet of the through-type tank 17. Hydrogen tank 18
Is installed in the storage hydrogen supply line 20. In the storage hydrogen supply line 20, a fifth
A two-way valve V5 is provided, and a sixth two-way valve V6 is provided on the outlet side. In the hydrogen supply / discharge line 13, a discharge line 22 extending from the outlet of the through-type tank 17 is connected between the bypass line connection portion 19 and the supply line connection portion 21. A seventh two-way valve V7 equipped with a pressure adjusting mechanism is provided.

The hydrogen storage alloy MH1 for transferring hydrogen includes a hydrogen storage temperature of 60 to 80 ° C. and a hydrogen storage pressure of 0.
04 to 0.08 MPaG (G: gauge pressure, the same applies hereinafter), hydrogen release temperature 200 ° C. and hydrogen release pressure 1MP
aG or more are used, including LaNi-Co-
Al-based alloys correspond.

The starting hydrogen storage alloy MH2 has a hydrogen storage temperature of 60 to 80 ° C. and a hydrogen storage pressure of 1 MPaG or more, a hydrogen release temperature of 20 ° C. and a hydrogen release pressure of 0.1 MPa.
A material of 1 MPaG or more is used.
A Co-Mn-Al alloy (Mm: misch metal) corresponds to this.

As the heating hydrogen storage alloy MH3, a hydrogen storage temperature of -20.degree. C. (20.degree. C.) to 30.degree. C. and a hydrogen release pressure of 0.1 MPaG or more are used, such as a LaNi ₅ alloy, a TiMn _1.5 alloy, or the like.

Next, the hydrogen storage and hydrogen transfer mode and the fuel cell 2 start mode during steady running of the hydrogen supply system 1 will be described. In the steady running, the reformed gas mainly composed of hydrogen generated by the reformer 3 is supplied to the fuel cell 2 by switching the three-way valve 3V to the fuel cell 2 side. A. Hydrogen storage / hydrogen transfer mode during steady running As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the three-way valve 3V is switched to the first storage unit 8 side when the hydrogen storage mode is started. Reformer 3
The first two-way valve V1 is "open"
Then, the hydrogen flows into the first storage unit 8, and the hydrogen is stored in the hydrogen storage alloy MH1 for hydrogen transfer.

The reformed gas that has passed through the first storage section 8 is supplied to the second and third two-way valves V2 and V3 that are "open" and the fourth, fifth, and seventh two-way valves V4, V5, and V7. Is "closed" and is supplied to the fuel cell 2 and its operation is continued.

The amount of hydrogen occluded in the first storage unit 8 is detected based on the difference between the integrated flow rates of the flow meters 6 and 9 on the inlet and outlet sides of the first storage unit 8. If the hydrogen storage amount of the first storage unit 8 has not reached the full state, the storage process is continued.

When the hydrogen storage amount of the first storage unit 8 reaches, for example, a full state, the three-way valve 3V is switched to the hydrogen transfer mode.
Is switched to the fuel cell 2 side.

When the first and third two-way valves V1 and V3 are closed,
In addition, when the fourth and fifth two-way valves V4 and V5 are "open", hydrogen can be moved. A high-temperature reformed gas of about 200 ° C. flows through the reformed gas flow pipe 11 of the first heater 12, whereby the hydrogen storage alloy MH1 in the first storage section 8 is heated, and the stored hydrogen is released at a high pressure. You. The high-pressure released hydrogen is second
It is stored in the starting hydrogen storage alloy MH2 of the storage unit 14 and stored in the hydrogen tank 18 of the second heater 16.

The amount of hydrogen stored in the second storage unit 14 and the amount of hydrogen
When it is determined that the amount of stored hydrogen has reached a full state, for example, the fourth and fifth two-way valves V4 and V5 are closed, and the second
The transfer of hydrogen to the storage unit 14 and the hydrogen tank 18 is stopped. B. Start Mode at Low Temperature As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, before the start mode is started, the first to seventh two-way valves V1 to V7 are in the "closed" state, and the three-way valve 3V is connected to the first storage unit 8 side. Has been switched to

When the sixth two-way valve V6 on the outlet side of the hydrogen tank 18 is opened at an air temperature of -20 ° C to 30 ° C, the hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 18 is supplied to the through-type tank 17 for heating. The alloy is stored in the hydrogen storage alloy MH3, whereby the alloy MH3 generates heat.

When the starting hydrogen storage alloy MH2 is heated,
When the temperature reaches the hydrogen release temperature, hydrogen is released, and the fourth and third two-way valves V4 and V3 are opened (the sixth two-way valve V6 is "closed"). Supplied and it starts running.

With the operation of the fuel cell 2, the temperature of the cooling water system (not shown) rises, thereby causing the heating hydrogen storage alloy MH3
Is heated to reach the hydrogen release temperature, the stored hydrogen is released, the seventh two-way valve V7 is opened, and the released hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell 2 together with the hydrogen released from the starting hydrogen storage alloy MH2. . Thus, the heating hydrogen storage alloy MH3
Be prepared for storage for the next low-temperature start.

After the reformer 3 reaches a steady state, the third, fourth, and seventh two-way valves V3, V4, and V7 are closed, and the three-way valve 3 is closed.
V is switched to the fuel cell 2 side, and steady traveling is performed.

As an apparatus using hydrogen as a fuel, an internal combustion engine can be used in addition to a fuel cell.

[0025]

According to the present invention, by employing the above-described means, it is possible to provide a hydrogen supply system capable of quickly and reliably starting equipment even at a low temperature.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a hydrogen supply system.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a hydrogen storage / hydrogen transfer mode.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a start mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 hydrogen supply system 2 fuel cell (equipment) 3 reformer (hydrogen supply source) 7 hydrogen storage 16 second Heater 18: Hydrogen tank MH2: Starting hydrogen storage alloy (hydrogen storage material) MH3: Heating hydrogen storage alloy (hydrogen storage material)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A hydrogen supply source (3) for supplying hydrogen to a device (2) using hydrogen as a fuel, and a starting hydrogen storage material (MH2) for storing the hydrogen for starting the device (2). A hydrogen storage system (7) having a hydrogen storage material (M) for heating.
H3) and a heater (16) having a hydrogen tank (18) for supplying hydrogen to the hydrogen storage material (MH3), and the heating hydrogen storage material (MH3) is provided with the starting hydrogen storage material. (MH2) has a hydrogen storage temperature lower than the hydrogen release temperature, and has a function of heating the starting hydrogen storage material (MH2) to a temperature equal to or higher than the hydrogen release temperature by generating heat by hydrogen storage. A hydrogen supply system for equipment that uses hydrogen as fuel.