JP2001295996A - Hydrogen storage and supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continuously supply hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks in a simple structure and call attention in filling hydrogen by displaying the remainder of the hydrogen. SOLUTION: Open/close valves 21-2n are provided at inflow/outflow ports of hydrogen storage tanks MH1-MHn and a pressure sensor 48 is mounted on a hydrogen supply pipe 44 connected to the inflow-outflow ports via communication pipes 41. When a pressure from the pressure sensor 48 is a threshold value or lower, the open/close valves 21-2n are open/closed to switch the hydrogen storage tanks in sequence. At this time, a value for a remainder scale 95 is decreased for displaying the remainder of hydrogen. The hydrogen storage tank into which the hydrogen is supplied via a temperature control device 50 and the hydrogen storage tank into which the hydrogen is to be supplied next are heated. The hydrogen can be continuously supplied into the hydrogen storage tanks which are already heated when switched.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage and supply device, and more particularly to a hydrogen storage and supply device capable of storing and supplying hydrogen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hydrogen storage and supply device of this type includes a low-temperature hydrogen storage tank having a low-temperature hydrogen storage alloy and a high-temperature hydrogen storage tank having a high-temperature hydrogen storage alloy. There has been proposed a device that switches the supply source of hydrogen by operating a valve based on the temperature of a storage tank (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-94202). This device includes a low-temperature hydrogen storage tank and a high-temperature hydrogen storage tank as a supply source for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell, and supplies hydrogen from the low-temperature hydrogen storage tank while heating the high-temperature hydrogen storage tank at startup. When the high-temperature hydrogen storage tank is heated, the supply source of hydrogen is switched from the low-temperature hydrogen storage tank to the high-temperature hydrogen storage tank by operating a valve.

[0003]

However, such a hydrogen storage and supply device requires a plurality of sensors to determine the timing of valve operation, which makes the device complicated and its control complicated. These issues are
Increasing the number of hydrogen storage tanks or trying to more accurately estimate the remaining amount of hydrogen in each hydrogen storage tank raises the problem as a bigger problem.

[0004] It is an object of the hydrogen storage and supply device of the present invention to more appropriately supply hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks with a simple configuration. Another object of the present invention is to supply hydrogen continuously. Further, the hydrogen storage and supply device of the present invention
Another object is to efficiently supply hydrogen from a hydrogen storage tank. Alternatively, it is another object of the hydrogen storage and supply device of the present invention to display the remaining amount of hydrogen in a hydrogen storage tank to notify the hydrogen filling time.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects The hydrogen storage and supply device of the present invention employs the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above object.

A hydrogen storage and supply device according to the present invention is a hydrogen storage and supply device capable of storing and supplying hydrogen. The hydrogen storage and supply device includes a plurality of hydrogen storage means having an opening / closing valve at each of an outlet and an inlet of the hydrogen storage means. A communication pipe that communicates each outflow port with a hydrogen storage / supply pipe for storing and supplying hydrogen, pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure in the hydrogen storage / supply pipe, and a pressure detector based on the detected pressure in the hydrogen storage / supply pipe. And supply control means for controlling the supply of hydrogen from the plurality of hydrogen storage means.

In the hydrogen storage / supply device of the present invention, each of the outlets and outlets of the plurality of hydrogen storage means is connected to the hydrogen storage / supply pipe for storing and supplying hydrogen by the connecting pipe.
Since the supply control means controls the supply of hydrogen from the plurality of hydrogen storage means based on the pressure detected by the pressure detection means provided in the hydrogen storage supply pipe, the pressure sensors provided in each hydrogen storage means Thus, the supply of hydrogen can be controlled with a simple configuration as compared with a method of controlling the supply of hydrogen from a plurality of hydrogen storage units based on the pressure detected by the method. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the device can be reduced.

In the hydrogen storage and supply device of the present invention, the supply control means sequentially opens and closes the on-off valves of the plurality of hydrogen storage means based on the pressure in the hydrogen storage and supply pipe detected by the pressure detection means. Means for supplying hydrogen. This way,
Hydrogen can be supplied sequentially from a plurality of hydrogen storage means. In the hydrogen storage and supply device according to the aspect of the present invention, when the pressure in the hydrogen storage and supply pipe detected by the pressure detection unit becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure, the supply control unit may be configured to open the hydrogen storage unit. After the on-off valve is closed or at the same time as the on-off valve is closed, the on-off valve of the next hydrogen storage means may be opened to continue the supply of hydrogen.

Further, in the hydrogen storage / supply device of the present invention, the supply control means opens / closes a part of the plurality of hydrogen storage means and opens / closes the remaining hydrogen storage means. Is closed to supply hydrogen from the part of the hydrogen storage means, and when the pressure in the hydrogen storage and supply pipe detected by the pressure detection means becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure, the part of the hydrogen storage means The on-off valve may be closed and the on-off valves of at least some of the remaining hydrogen storage units may be opened to continue supplying hydrogen. In this case, a plurality of hydrogen storage means can be supplied into a plurality of blocks divided into a plurality of blocks.

Further, in the hydrogen storage and supply device according to the present invention, the plurality of hydrogen storage means are means having a hydrogen storage alloy capable of storing hydrogen, and the temperature of each of the plurality of hydrogen storage means is adjustable. Means for controlling the supply of hydrogen to the plurality of hydrogen storage means by the temperature control means. Since the hydrogen storage alloy has hydrogen storage characteristics including temperature, hydrogen storage amount and pressure, by controlling the temperature control of the plurality of hydrogen storage units by the temperature control unit by the supply control unit, a more appropriate hydrogen storage Supply can be performed, and the efficiency of hydrogen supply can be increased. In the hydrogen storage / supply device of the present invention according to this aspect, the supply control means includes a hydrogen storage means in which at least an on-off valve is opened to supply hydrogen, and a supply of hydrogen next to the hydrogen storage means. It may be a means for controlling the temperature adjusting means so that the hydrogen storage means is heated. In this case, since only the necessary hydrogen storage means is heated, the energy efficiency of the apparatus can be further increased, and continuous hydrogen supply can be performed more accurately.

Alternatively, in the hydrogen storage / supply device of the present invention, there is provided a hydrogen remaining amount estimating means for estimating the remaining hydrogen amount of the hydrogen storing means which has finished supplying hydrogen, wherein the supply controlling means comprises:
When stopping the supply of hydrogen from the last hydrogen storage unit of the plurality of hydrogen storage units, the hydrogen storage unit having the larger remaining hydrogen amount estimated by the remaining hydrogen amount estimation unit is replaced by the hydrogen supply unit that supplies the next hydrogen. The storage means may be a means for continuing the supply of hydrogen. In this case, the supply of hydrogen can be continued for a long time.

In the hydrogen storage and supply device according to the present invention, wherein the hydrogen storage means includes a hydrogen storage alloy and includes a hydrogen remaining amount estimating means, a state detection means for detecting a state of the hydrogen storage means having an open / close valve opened. The pressure in the hydrogen storage / supply pipe detected by the pressure detection means when the on-off valve that has been opened in accordance with the control of the supply of hydrogen by the supply control means is closed and the state is detected by the state detection means. A valve closing state storage means for storing the state of the hydrogen storage means in which the on-off valve is closed as a state when the hydrogen storage means is closed in association with the hydrogen storage means; The amount estimating means may be means for estimating the remaining amount of hydrogen based on the valve closing state stored by the valve closing state storage means. This makes it possible to more accurately estimate the remaining amount of hydrogen.

In the hydrogen storage / supply device according to the aspect of the present invention provided with the above-described valve closing state storage means, the state detection means may include the hydrogen storage means as one of the states of the hydrogen storage means in which the on-off valve is opened. It may be a means for detecting the temperature of the image. In this case, the remaining amount of hydrogen can be estimated based on the temperature when the hydrogen storage unit is closed.

Further, in the hydrogen storage and supply device according to the aspect of the present invention in which the valve storage state storage means is provided, the state detection means detects the hydrogen as one of the states of the hydrogen storage means in which the on-off valve is opened. It may be a means for detecting the supply amount of hydrogen from the storage means. This way,
The remaining amount of hydrogen can be estimated based on the supply amount of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage means. In the hydrogen storage and supply device according to the aspect of the present invention, the state detection unit may determine the supply amount of the hydrogen based on information on hydrogen consumption in a hydrogen consuming device that receives and consumes hydrogen from the hydrogen storage and supply pipe. It may be a means for detecting. With this configuration, the supply amount of hydrogen can be detected based on the information regarding the consumption of hydrogen in the hydrogen consuming device, so that there is no need to provide a special sensor or the like.

Further, in the hydrogen storage and supply device according to the aspect of the present invention having the valve closing state storage means, when hydrogen is stored in the plurality of hydrogen storage means, the hydrogen is stored in the valve closing state storage means. An initialization means for initializing the state at the time of closing the valve may be provided.

Further, the hydrogen storage and supply device of the present invention may be provided with a hydrogen amount display means for displaying the hydrogen amount stored in the plurality of hydrogen storage means. In this way, the amount of hydrogen stored in the plurality of hydrogen storage means can be notified, and the time of hydrogen storage, that is, the time of charging can be predicted.

The hydrogen storage and supply device according to the present invention is provided with a warning means for warning the replenishment of hydrogen when the supply control means stops supplying hydrogen from the last hydrogen storage means among the plurality of hydrogen storage means. It can also be. In this way, hydrogen can be filled before the supply of hydrogen is stopped.

[0018]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples. FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell system 110 including a hydrogen storage and supply device 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of FIG. As shown, the fuel cell system 110 of the embodiment includes a hydrogen storage and supply device 20 having a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn filled with a hydrogen storage alloy, and supplies hydrogen from the hydrogen storage and supply device 20. And a fuel cell 120 for receiving and generating power.

The hydrogen storage and supply device 20 includes, in addition to the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn, hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn.
A temperature control device 50 for controlling the temperature of the device and an electronic control unit 90 for controlling the entire device.

Opening / closing valves 21 to 2n are provided at the inlets and outlets of the respective hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn, and their downstream sides are connected to a hydrogen filling pipe 42 and a hydrogen supply pipe 44 by a communication pipe 41. . A connecting portion 43 for connecting to a hydrogen filling machine (not shown) is provided at an end of the hydrogen filling pipe 42.
Are connected, and by connecting this connection portion 43 to a hydrogen filling machine, each of the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn can be filled with hydrogen. Hydrogen supply pipe 44
Is connected to the fuel supply pipe 122 on the anode side of the fuel cell 120 via an opening / closing valve 45 whose pressure can be adjusted, and is connected to the fuel cell 120 from the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn.
Can be supplied with hydrogen.

The temperature controller 50 exchanges each hydrogen storage tank MH1 with heat by a heat exchange with a heat exchange medium (for example, water).
MHn is heated or cooled. Each temperature control channel 61-6n
Open / close valves 71 to 7n are mounted on the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MH1 by opening / closing the open / close valves 71 to 7n.
Temperature adjustment can be performed for each MHn.

The electronic control unit 90 is configured as a microprocessor mainly including a CPU 91, and includes a ROM 92 storing a processing program, a RAM 93 storing data temporarily, and an input / output port (not shown).
And a communication port (not shown). The electronic control unit 90 receives the pressure P from the pressure sensor 48 attached to the hydrogen supply pipe 44 and the temperature T of the heat exchange medium from the temperature sensor 54 attached to the circulation channel 52 of the temperature control device 50. Input via the input port.
In addition, from the electronic control unit 90, the open / close valves 21 to
A drive signal to the 2n actuators 31 to 3n, a drive signal to the actuator 46 of the open / close valve 45, a drive signal to the temperature controller 50, a drive signal to the actuators 81 to 8n of the open / close valves 71 to 7n, and a remaining amount memory 95 A lighting signal or the like to the hydrogen remaining amount meter 94 composed of the warning light 96 and the warning light 96 is output via the output port. Further, the electronic control unit 90 is a fuel cell electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as FC ECU) for controlling the fuel cell 120.
140 is communicated via a communication port.

The fuel cell 120 generates power by an electrochemical reaction using hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage / supply device 20 via the fuel supply pipe 122 and oxygen in the air supplied from the blower 126. Output terminal 13 of fuel cell 120
0, 132 are connected to the load 150 via the power line 133.
Are connected, so that electric power can be supplied from the fuel cell 120 to the load 150. A voltage sensor 134 for detecting a voltage between terminals and a current sensor 136 for detecting a current are attached to output terminals 130 and 132 of the fuel cell 120, and a detection signal is input to the FCECU 140 via a signal line. It has become. In addition, the fuel cell 120 also includes
A temperature sensor 128 for detecting the temperature of the fuel cell 120 and the like are also attached, and their detection signals are also input to the FCECU 140 via signal lines.

Next, the operation of the fuel cell system 110 of the embodiment thus configured, particularly the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MH1
The switching operation of the tank when hydrogen is supplied from MHn to the fuel cell 120 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a hydrogen supply control routine executed by the electronic control unit 90 of the hydrogen storage and supply device 20. This routine is repeatedly executed while supplying hydrogen.

When the hydrogen supply control routine is executed, the CPU 91 of the electronic control unit 90 firstly sets the hydrogen storage tank for supplying hydrogen and the hydrogen storage tank for which hydrogen is to be supplied next. A heating process is performed (step S100). Hydrogen storage and supply device 20 of the embodiment
In this case, the supply of hydrogen is controlled to be performed sequentially from among the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn. Therefore, the heating of this tank is performed by the hydrogen storage tank that is currently supplying hydrogen and then the hydrogen supply tank. Is a process of heating the hydrogen storage tank which is scheduled to perform the above. For example, when the on-off valve 21 of the hydrogen storage tank MH1 is opened to supply hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tank MH1, the hydrogen storage tank MH1 and the hydrogen storage tank MH2 to which hydrogen is to be supplied next are added. Warm it up. Specifically, the heating process is performed in the temperature control channels 61 to 6n.
By opening the corresponding one of the open / close valves 71 to 7n. For example, when supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tank MH1,
Opening / closing valves 71, 7 attached to the temperature control channels 61, 62 of the hydrogen storage tank MH1 and the next hydrogen storage tank MH2.
2, and the other open / close valves 73 to 7n are closed. Note that the hydrogen storage alloy filled in the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn draws a predetermined characteristic curve with respect to the amount and pressure of hydrogen storage depending on the temperature. This is done in order to work in favor of. FIG. 3 shows an example of the relationship between the hydrogen storage amount of the hydrogen storage alloy, the pressure, and the temperature.

Next, the pressure P in the hydrogen supply pipe 44 detected by the pressure sensor 48 attached to the hydrogen supply pipe 44 is read (step S102), and the pressure P is set to the threshold Pr.
ef (step S104). Here, the threshold value P
ref is set as the lower limit of the pressure required to supply the fuel cell 120 as the hydrogen consuming device or a value higher than the lower limit, and is used to determine the switching of the hydrogen storage tank. When the pressure P is equal to or higher than the threshold value Pref, it is determined that the switching of the hydrogen storage tank is unnecessary, and the pressure P
It returns to the reading process of.

On the other hand, when the pressure P becomes smaller than the threshold value Pref, it is determined that the hydrogen storage tank needs to be switched, and the following switching processing is performed. First, the temperature T of the heat exchange medium and the hydrogen supply amount Q from the hydrogen storage tank are read by the temperature sensor 54 attached to the circulation channel 52 of the temperature control device 50 (step S106), and the read temperature T and the hydrogen supply The quantity Q and the pressure P are stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 93 (step S108). Hydrogen supply Q
Is the same as the amount of hydrogen consumed by the fuel cell 120, and the amount of hydrogen consumption can be obtained by integrating the output current from the fuel cell 120 from the start of hydrogen supply and converting it. Therefore, the hydrogen supply amount Q can be obtained by reading the current detected by the current sensor 136 as information related to the hydrogen consumption amount through communication with the FCECU 140, integrating this, and converting it.

In this way, when the state of closing the hydrogen storage tank when the pressure P becomes smaller than the threshold value Pref is stored,
Close the on-off valve of the hydrogen storage tank (step S
110) Then, the opening / closing valve of the hydrogen storage tank to which hydrogen is to be supplied is opened (step S112). At this time, since the temperature of the hydrogen storage tank in which the opening / closing valve is opened is adjusted to a temperature suitable for supplying hydrogen by the heating process in step S100, the supply of hydrogen can be started immediately. As a result, the supply of hydrogen to the fuel cell 120 is not interrupted when switching the hydrogen storage tank.

Subsequently, display processing of the remaining amount of hydrogen is performed (step S114). The display of the remaining hydrogen is indicated by the remaining hydrogen meter 94.
This is performed by reducing the number of lit memories of the remaining amount memory 95 in the above. In the embodiment, since one memory corresponds to one hydrogen storage tank, the process of turning off one memory of the remaining amount memory 95 when switching the hydrogen storage tank is performed.

Next, it is determined whether or not the hydrogen storage tank with the open / close valve opened is the last tank (step S).
116). This processing is performed, for example, in the hydrogen storage tank MH1
To MHn in order of MH1 to MHn, the hydrogen storage tank with the open / close valve opened is MH
This is a process of determining whether or not n. If it is not the last tank, this routine ends here.

When it is determined that the tank is the last one, the warning lamp 96 is turned on (step S118) to notify that the remaining amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn is small. Then, based on the pressure P, temperature T, and hydrogen supply amount Q of each of the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 93 in step S108, the remaining amount of hydrogen in each of the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn is determined. Is estimated (step S12).
0), the order of the tanks for supplying hydrogen is set in ascending order of the remaining amount of hydrogen (step S122), and this routine ends. The remaining amount of hydrogen in each of the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn can be determined from the relationship between the amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage alloy, the pressure, and the temperature. The actual calculation of the remaining amount of hydrogen is preferably performed for each hydrogen storage tank depending on the type and characteristics of the hydrogen storage alloy. As described above, the order of the tanks for supplying hydrogen is set in the descending order of the remaining amount of hydrogen because the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn are filled with hydrogen even after the supply of hydrogen from the last hydrogen storage tank is completed. This is to prepare for cases where it is not possible. By such processing, the supply of hydrogen to the fuel cell 120 can be continued for a longer time.

This routine ends in this manner. However, as described above, the hydrogen supply control routine illustrated in FIG. 2 is repeatedly executed, so that the hydrogen storage tanks are sequentially switched. Therefore, when the supply of hydrogen from the last hydrogen storage tank ends, the hydrogen storage tank is switched based on the order of the tanks set in descending order of the remaining amount of hydrogen. The pressure P, the temperature T, and the hydrogen supply amount Q at the time of closing each of the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn written in the predetermined area of the RAM 93 in step S108 are such that the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn are filled with hydrogen. Cleared when

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display of a change in the pressure P accompanying the switching of the hydrogen storage tank and a remaining amount of hydrogen accompanying the switching of the hydrogen storage tank. As shown
Each time the pressure P becomes smaller than the threshold value Pref, the switching of the hydrogen storage tank is performed, and each time the switching is performed, the remaining amount memory 95 is reduced. When the mode is switched to the last hydrogen storage tank MHn, a warning light 96 is displayed in addition to the display of the remaining amount memory 95.
Lights up.

The hydrogen storage and supply device 2 of the embodiment described above
According to 0, the plurality of hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn can be sequentially switched to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell 120 continuously. In addition, every time the hydrogen storage tank is switched, the remaining amount of hydrogen is displayed by reducing the memory of the remaining amount memory 95, so that the remaining amount of hydrogen can be accurately grasped. Furthermore, a warning light 9 is displayed when switching to the last hydrogen storage tank.
Since the lamp 6 is turned on, it is possible to call attention to the necessity of filling with hydrogen.

Further, according to the hydrogen storage and supply device 20 of the embodiment, when the last hydrogen storage tank is switched, the remaining amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank to which hydrogen was supplied is estimated, and the remaining amount of hydrogen is increased in ascending order. Since the order of the hydrogen storage tanks for supplying hydrogen is set, the supply of hydrogen to the fuel cell 120 can be continued even if hydrogen cannot be charged before the supply from the last hydrogen storage tank is completed.

Further, according to the hydrogen storage and supply apparatus 20 of the embodiment, only the hydrogen storage tank supplying hydrogen and the hydrogen storage tank to which hydrogen is to be supplied next are heated to supply hydrogen. , The energy efficiency can be increased as compared with the case where all the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn are heated. In addition, since only the hydrogen storage tank that supplies hydrogen can be heated, it is possible to quickly warm up the fuel cell system 110 at the time of starting.

In the hydrogen storage and supply device 20 of the embodiment, the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn are sequentially switched one by one. However, the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn may be sequentially switched two by two or three or more. Good. In this case, the heating process in step S100 includes two or three or more hydrogen storage tanks that supply hydrogen and two or three or more hydrogen storage tanks that are scheduled to supply hydrogen next. What is necessary is just to heat it.

In the hydrogen storage and supply device 20 of the embodiment, the switching of the hydrogen storage tank is performed by closing the opening and closing valve of the hydrogen storage tank supplying hydrogen and then opening the opening and closing valve of the next hydrogen storage tank. However, the opening and closing of the on-off valve may be performed simultaneously.

In the hydrogen storage / supply device 20 of the embodiment, the hydrogen supply amount Q is calculated based on the output current from the fuel cell 120. However, the hydrogen supply amount Q may be obtained by detecting a flow rate by attaching a flow meter. .

In the hydrogen storage and supply device 20 of the embodiment, the pressure P in the hydrogen supply pipe 44 is detected by using the pressure sensor 48 to determine whether or not the pressure P has become smaller than the threshold value Pref. A pressure switch that turns on or off when the pressure is larger than the threshold value Pref and turns off or on when the pressure is smaller than the threshold value Pref may be used. In this case, the estimation of the remaining hydrogen amount in step S120 may be performed based on the temperature T and the hydrogen supply amount Q.

In the hydrogen storage and supply device 20 of the embodiment, the remaining hydrogen amount is estimated based on the pressure P, the temperature T, and the hydrogen supply amount Q, but the remaining hydrogen amount is estimated based on the pressure P and the temperature T. Alternatively, the remaining amount of hydrogen may be estimated based on the hydrogen supply amount Q, or the remaining amount of hydrogen may be estimated based on the temperature T. Alternatively, the remaining amount of hydrogen may be estimated based on the rate of change of the pressure P or the rate of change of the temperature T instead of or in addition to the pressure P or the temperature T.

In the hydrogen storage and supply apparatus 20 of the embodiment, the remaining amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank is estimated by using the temperature T of the heat exchange medium circulating in the circulation channel 52. The remaining amount of hydrogen may be directly detected to estimate the remaining amount of hydrogen.

In the hydrogen storage and supply device 20 of the embodiment, one hydrogen storage tank corresponds to one memory and the remaining amount memory 95 is displayed. However, one hydrogen storage tank is replaced by two or more memories. The remaining amount memory 95 may be displayed correspondingly, or the remaining amount memory 95 may be displayed so that a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks correspond to one memory. In the embodiment, the warning lamp 96 is turned on when the last tank is switched, but the warning lamp 96 is turned on when the supply of hydrogen from the last tank is finished. The warning lamp 96 may be turned on when the tank is switched to the tank in front of this tank.

In the hydrogen storage and supply apparatus 20 of the embodiment, only the hydrogen storage tank supplying hydrogen and the hydrogen storage tank to be supplied to the water channel are heated. The storage tanks MH1 to MHn may be heated.

In the hydrogen storage / supply device 20 of the embodiment, the hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen storage / supply device 20 to the fuel cell 120. However, the hydrogen storage / supply device 20 may be used for a hydrogen consuming device other than the fuel cell 120, such as a hydrogen engine. It is also possible to supply hydrogen.

In the hydrogen storage / supply device 20 of the embodiment, the hydrogen storage tanks MH1 to MHn are filled with the hydrogen storage alloy. However, the hydrogen storage tanks not filled with the hydrogen storage alloy may be used.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various embodiments may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it can be carried out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a hydrogen storage and supply device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a fuel cell system 110 provided with 0.

FIG. 2 shows an electronic control unit 9 of the hydrogen storage and supply device 20.
7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a hydrogen supply control routine executed by the control unit 0.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a relationship between a hydrogen storage amount of a hydrogen storage alloy, pressure, and temperature.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a change in pressure P due to switching of the hydrogen storage tank and a display of a remaining hydrogen amount due to switching of the hydrogen storage tank.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 hydrogen storage and supply device, 21-2n open / close valve, 3
1-3n actuator, 41 communication pipe, 42 hydrogen filling pipe, 43 connection, 44 hydrogen supply pipe, 45 opening / closing valve, 46 actuator, 48 pressure sensor, 5
0 temperature control device, 52 circulation flow path, 61-6n temperature control flow path, 71-7n opening / closing valve, 81-8n actuator, 90 electronic control unit, 91 CPU, 92
ROM, 93 RAM, 94 hydrogen fuel gauge, 95 fuel gauge, 96 warning light, 110 fuel cell system, 1
20 fuel cell, 122 fuel supply pipe, 126 blower, 128 temperature sensor, 130, 132 output terminal,
133 power line, 134 voltage sensor, 136 current sensor, 140 FC ECU, 150 load.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A hydrogen storage and supply device capable of storing and supplying hydrogen, comprising: a plurality of hydrogen storage means each having an on-off valve at each outlet; and an outlet and an inlet of each of the plurality of hydrogen storage means. A connecting pipe for communicating with a hydrogen storage / supply pipe for performing supply and supply; a pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure in the hydrogen storage / supply pipe; and the plurality of hydrogen storage means based on the detected pressure in the hydrogen storage / supply pipe. And a supply control means for controlling the supply of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage and supply device. 2. The supply control means for supplying hydrogen by sequentially opening and closing the on-off valves of the plurality of hydrogen storage means based on the pressure in the hydrogen storage supply pipe detected by the pressure detection means. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 1. 3. The supply control means, when the pressure in the hydrogen storage supply pipe detected by the pressure detection means falls below a predetermined pressure, closes an open / close valve of the hydrogen storage means which is open. 3. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 2, wherein the opening and closing valve of the next hydrogen storage means is opened and the supply of hydrogen is continued at the same time as the closing. 4. The supply control means opens an on-off valve of a part of the plurality of hydrogen storage means and closes an on-off valve of the remaining hydrogen storage means to open the part of the hydrogen storage means. Hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen storage means, and when the pressure in the hydrogen storage supply pipe detected by the pressure detection means becomes a predetermined pressure or less, the on / off valves of the part of the hydrogen storage means are closed and the remaining 2. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 1, wherein the on / off valve of at least a part of the hydrogen storage device is opened to continuously supply hydrogen. 5. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of hydrogen storage means are means having a hydrogen storage alloy capable of storing hydrogen, and said plurality of hydrogen storage means. A hydrogen storage and supply device, comprising: temperature adjustment means capable of adjusting the temperature of each of the plurality of hydrogen storage means, wherein the supply control means also controls the temperature adjustment of the plurality of hydrogen storage means by the temperature adjustment means. 6. The supply control means includes a hydrogen storage means that supplies hydrogen by opening at least an on-off valve and a hydrogen storage means that is to be supplied with hydrogen next to the hydrogen storage means. 6. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 5, wherein the hydrogen storage and supply device controls the temperature control unit so as to be heated. 7. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a remaining hydrogen amount estimating unit that estimates a remaining amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage unit that has finished supplying hydrogen, and the supply control unit. When stopping the supply of hydrogen from the last hydrogen storage means of the plurality of hydrogen storage means, the hydrogen storage means having a larger remaining hydrogen estimated by the hydrogen remaining amount estimating means, next to supply hydrogen A hydrogen storage and supply device which is a means for continuing to supply hydrogen as a hydrogen storage means to perform. 8. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 5, wherein a state detection unit that detects a state of the hydrogen storage unit having an open / close valve opened, and the supply control unit. When the on-off valve that has been opened with the control of the supply of hydrogen is closed, the pressure in the hydrogen storage and supply pipe detected by the pressure detection unit and the on-off valve detected by the state detection unit are Valve closing state storage means for storing the state of the hydrogen storage means to be closed and the state of the hydrogen storage means at the time of closing the valve in association with the hydrogen storage means, the hydrogen remaining amount estimating means, A hydrogen storage / supply device for estimating the remaining amount of hydrogen based on the valve closing state stored by the valve closing state storage means. 9. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 8, wherein the state detection means is means for detecting a temperature of the hydrogen storage means as one of states of the hydrogen storage means in which the on-off valve is opened. 10. The state detection means for detecting the supply amount of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage means as one of the states of the hydrogen storage means in which the on-off valve is open. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 1. 11. The state detection means is means for detecting the supply amount of hydrogen based on information on hydrogen consumption in a hydrogen consuming device that receives and supplies hydrogen from the hydrogen storage and supply pipe. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 10. 12. An initialization means for initializing the valve closing state stored in the valve closing state storage means when hydrogen is stored in the plurality of hydrogen storage means. 12. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to any one of 8 to 11. 13. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a hydrogen amount display unit that displays an amount of hydrogen stored in the plurality of hydrogen storage units. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a warning unit that warns replenishment of hydrogen when the supply of hydrogen from the last hydrogen storage unit of the plurality of hydrogen storage units is stopped by the supply control unit. The hydrogen storage and supply device according to claim 1.