JP2003234117A - Starting system of electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To aim at shortening of a waiting time from a cold state of a system until a starting time without increasing the capacity of a secondary battery or a capacitor or the like wherein intention manifestation of an operation by an operator is rapidly transferred to a control system side in an electric vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The electric vehicle has a reformer 3 to supply a fuel reforming- reacted to a fuel cell 2. Starting of the reformer 3 is controlled by an control device 13 ordered by an ignition switch 16. Further, the starting of the reformer 3 is also linked with a door lock switch 17 to detect a locking state and an unlocking state of a door lock. When a detecting state by the door lock switch 17 is switched from locking to unlocking, the control device 13 carries out starting control of the reformer 3 even if the ignition switch 16 is at off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a starting system for an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle powered by a fuel cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an electric vehicle has a longer starting time until it becomes operable, as compared with an automobile powered by a diesel engine or a gasoline engine. This is because, for example, a reformer using methanol, gasoline, or natural gas as a raw material is used to generate the fuel (hydrogen gas) of the fuel cell that is the power source. That is, the reformer is started by turning on the power switch by operating the ignition switch, and causes the raw material to undergo a reforming reaction on the high temperature catalyst. Then, the fuel generated by this reforming reaction is supplied to the fuel cell, whereby the fuel cell is started (power generation). Therefore, when the ignition switch is turned on in the cold state of the system, it is necessary to raise the temperature of the catalyst layer of the reformer from room temperature to high temperature until the raw material undergoes the reforming reaction. As a result, it takes a considerable waiting time after the ignition switch is turned on until the fuel generated in the reformer is supplied to the fuel cell and electric power is generated.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-12060 (hereinafter abbreviated as Prior Art 1) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-14006.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5 (hereinafter abbreviated as Prior Art 2) and the like disclose a mechanism for shortening the starting time of an electric vehicle. In the first example, the temperature of the compressed air sent to the fuel cell is controlled to the reforming reaction temperature (catalyst temperature) and supplied to the reformer to accelerate the reforming reaction of the raw material in the reformer. The starting time is shortened. Further, in Prior Art Example 2,
The starting time is shortened by introducing the combustion gas used for heating the catalyst layer in the reformer into the fuel cell side to accelerate the power generation of the fuel cell.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In general, the control system side of the vehicle regards the act of the driver turning on the ignition switch as an indication of driving intention. When this action is done,
The reformer is controlled to start, and power generation of the fuel cell is started.
In this case, a driver who is willing to drive usually unlocks the door lock mechanism of the vehicle body from the outside to open the door, then sits in the driver's seat, and finally turns on the ignition switch. Often goes through. In this series of processes, if the driver's driving intention can be recognized by the control system side of the vehicle before the ignition switch is turned on, the reformer or the like can be started earlier. As a result, it is possible to shorten the waiting time required to start the electric power generated by the fuel cell.

Further, in order to shorten the starting time, conventionally, a secondary battery such as a battery and a capacitor are switchably used as an auxiliary power source of the fuel cell. However, in order to effectively shorten the starting time, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the secondary battery, the capacitor and the like.
As a result, the auxiliary power supply is inevitably increased in size and weight, and the mounting space on the vehicle body is also expanded. As a result, not only the entire vehicle body is increased in size, but also the weight is increased and the practicality is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a novel starting system for an electric vehicle, which promptly transmits a driver's intention of driving to the control system side. Is.

Another object of the present invention is to shorten the waiting time from the cold state of the system to the starting time without increasing the capacity of the secondary battery or the capacitor used as the auxiliary power source of the fuel cell. Is to try.

[0008]

In order to solve such a problem, the first invention provides a starting system for an electric vehicle. In this starting system, the electric vehicle has a reformer that supplies the fuel that has undergone the reforming reaction to the fuel cell. The start of the reformer is instructed by the ignition switch. Further, the start-up of the reformer is also interlocked with a door lock switch that detects a locked state and an unlocked state of the door lock. That is, when the detection state by the door lock switch is switched from locked to unlocked, the control unit controls the starting of the reformer even if the ignition switch is off.

In a second aspect of the present invention, in the electric vehicle starting system, the start of the reformer is interlocked with a door switch for detecting whether the door is open or closed. That is, when the door detection state of the door switch is switched from the closed door to the open door, the control unit controls the start of the fuel cell even if the ignition switch is off.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a system control circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of a control system for an electric vehicle according to the present invention. The control system 1 includes a fuel cell 2 as a power source, and the fuel cell 2
And a reformer 3 for supplying fuel (hydrogen gas) to the. The reformer 3 is provided with a combustor 4 and
For example, a raw material tank 5 in which methanol as a raw material is stored, a water tank 6 in which water is stored, and a compressor (air compressor) 7 that supplies air are connected. As a result, the reformer 3 is supplied with methanol from the raw material tank 5, water from the water tank 6, and air from the compressor 7. That is, in the reformer 3, a reforming reaction occurs between steam reforming with water and methanol (endothermic reaction) and reforming with partial oxidation of air and methanol (exothermic reaction). At this time, the catalyst temperature in the reformer 3 is heated to a predetermined reforming reaction temperature by the heat generated by the exothermic reaction of the partial oxidation of air and methanol, and the reforming gas containing hydrogen gas as a fuel is used. Quality gas is produced.

The high temperature reformed gas after the reforming reaction is generated by the solenoid valve 8
Air is sent together with the air from the compressor 7 into the fuel cell 2 through the gas flow path 9 in which is provided and is supplied to an anode electrode and a cathode electrode (not shown). This allows
The fuel cell 2 is start-controlled by the reformer 3 to generate electric power by a chemical reaction between hydrogen in the reformed gas and oxygen in the air. Cooling water W is circulated and supplied into the fuel cell 2, and the cooling water W cools the high-temperature reformed gas fed into the fuel cell 2 to a predetermined set temperature.

A part of hydrogen in the reformed gas and oxygen in the air fed into the fuel cell 2 is fed into the combustor 4 of the reformer 3 and supplied from the raw material tank 5. It is combusted together with methanol and air sent from the compressor 7. The heat of the combustion reaction in the combustor 4 is reused to vaporize the methanol and water supplied into the reformer 3 and promote the generation of reformed gas by the endothermic reaction of steam reforming. At the same time, the combustion gas in the combustor 4 is discharged outside the vehicle.

The electric power generated by the fuel cell 2 is supplied to the drive motor 12 via a secondary battery as an auxiliary power source, for example, a power regulator 11 to which a battery 10 is connected.
The drive motor 12 rotationally drives the drive wheels 14 of the vehicle body based on an instruction from the control device 13 connected to the power regulator 11. The control device 13 is connected to a drive operating device 15, which includes an operating member such as an accelerator pedal, an ignition switch 16 and a door lock switch 17. The drive operating device 15 outputs to the control device 13 the accelerator pedal depression data (accelerator opening degree) and the like associated with acceleration and deceleration during operation. The power adjuster 11 adjusts the power distribution based on an instruction from the control device 13, distributes the power required for acceleration and deceleration to the drive motor 12, and at the same time, reformer 3, combustor 4 or compressor 7 Power is distributed to auxiliary equipment such as.
The ignition switch 16 instructs the control device 13 to turn on / off the control system 1, and turns on the power switch 18 of the reformer 3 when the control system 1 is turned on. The door lock switch 17 detects a locked state and an unlocked state of a door lock mechanism (not shown) and instructs the control device 13.

The battery 10 generates sufficient power by the fuel cell 2 to cover the traveling power consumed by the drive motor 12 and the auxiliary power consumed by the reformer 3, the combustor 4, the compressor 7, etc. If not done, discharge to make up for the power shortage.

In the control device 13, a starting mechanism of the fuel cell 2 by the reformer 3 and a driving mechanism of the drive motor 11 are separately wired, and these mechanisms are connected by a connection switch (not shown). There is. This connection switch is turned on during driving based on the driver's willingness to drive, and the drive motor 12 can be driven. Therefore, when the driver has no intention of driving, the connection switch is always off, so that the drive motor 12 is not driven even if the fuel cell 2 is started. As a result, safety is maintained even if the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed.

In the control system 1 described above, the door lock switch 17 is interlocked with the power switch 18 of the reformer 3. That is, when the door lock detection state of the door lock switch 17 is switched from the locked state (off) to the unlocked state (on), the power switch 1 of the reformer 3 is turned on even if the ignition switch 16 is off.
8 turns on. This instructs the reformer 3 to start. At this time, when the catalyst temperature (reforming reaction temperature) in the reformer 3 or the water temperature of the cooling water W in the fuel cell 2 is equal to or higher than a predetermined set temperature, the door lock switch 17 causes the reformer 3 to move. Do not start. The reason is that when the catalyst temperature or the water temperature of the cooling water W is higher than a predetermined set temperature, it takes no time to heat up the system.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the start control state of the fuel cell. First, by the driver's key operation,
When the door lock mechanism (not shown) is unlocked from the locked state, the door lock switch 17 is turned on and an unlock signal (ON signal) is output to the control device 13 (step 1). With this unlocking signal, for example, the water temperature of the cooling water W in the fuel cell 2 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and it is determined whether or not it is lower than a predetermined set temperature (water temperature <set temperature), that is, the system is cooled. It is determined whether or not the state is in the state (step 2).

When the water temperature of the cooling water W is lower than a predetermined set temperature, it is determined that the system is in a cold state, and the reformer 3 is turned off even if the ignition switch 16 is off.
The power switch 18 is turned on (step 3). As a result, methanol and water are supplied into the reformer 3 from the raw material tank 5 and the water tank 6, and the reformed gas containing hydrogen gas as fuel is generated by the reforming reaction with the air supplied from the compressor 7. Fuel) is produced. In this state, the ignition switch 1 is operated by the driver's key operation.
Continue until 6 is turned on (step 4). When the ignition switch 16 is turned on, the solenoid valve 8 is opened and the gas flow path 9 from the reformer 3 to the fuel cell 2 is turned on (step 7). As a result, the reformed gas is sent into the fuel cell 2 together with the air from the compressor 7, and the fuel cell 2 starts to generate electric power.

On the other hand, if the water temperature of the cooling water W in the fuel cell 2 is not lower than the predetermined set temperature in step 2, the driver waits until the ignition switch 16 is turned on by a key operation (step). 5). When the ignition switch 16 is turned on, the power switch 18 of the reformer 3 is turned on (step 6), and the reformer 3 is turned on.
Starts, and reformed gas (fuel) is generated. Then, the solenoid valve 8 is opened, and the gas passage 9 from the reformer 3 to the fuel cell 2 is turned on (step 7). The reformed gas generated by the reformer 3 is supplied to the fuel cell 2, and the electric power generation is started by starting the fuel cell. In this case, in step 5, the water temperature of the cooling water W in the fuel cell 2 is monitored even while waiting for the ignition switch 16 to be turned on (step 2). That is, when the water temperature becomes lower than the predetermined set temperature during this standby, the process proceeds to step 3 described above, the power switch 18 of the reformer 3 is turned on, and reformed gas is generated. .

As described above, in the above-described first embodiment, the start of the reformer 3 for supplying the fuel to the fuel cell 2 to start it and the unlocking of the door lock are integrally linked.
Therefore, during operation, the door lock switch 17 is turned on by unlocking the door lock, and at the same time, the power switch 18 of the reformer 3 is turned on and the reformer 3 is start-controlled. This makes it possible to control at least the start of the reformer 3 before the driver sits in the driver's seat. In other words, it becomes possible for the control system 1 side of the vehicle to recognize the driving intention of the driver before turning on the ignition switch 16. Therefore, the starting control of the reformer 3 that supplies the fuel to the fuel cell 2 can be performed earlier. As a result, it becomes possible to quickly transmit an indication of driving intention to the control system 1 side, and the waiting time from the cold state of the system to the starting time for starting the vehicle body by the electric power generated by the fuel cell 2 Is greatly shortened. Moreover,
Unlike in the past, it is not necessary to increase the capacity of the battery (secondary cell) 10 as an auxiliary source of the fuel cell 2.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a control system showing a second embodiment of the electric vehicle according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the power switch 18 of the reformer 3 and the door switch 19 connected to the control device 13 are connected.
And are linked together. This door switch 19
Detects the open / closed state of a door (not shown) after the door lock is unlocked by the door lock switch 17 in the first embodiment described above. That is, when the door is switched from the closed state (OFF) to the opened state (ON), the power switch 18 of the reformer 3 is turned on and the reformer 3 of the reformer 3 is turned on even if the ignition switch 16 is turned off. The start is instructed, and the start control of the fuel cell 2 is performed. As a result, the same operational effects as those of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained.

By the way, the locking or unlocking of the door lock mechanism is performed by a direct mechanical key operation using a key member in which an ignition key and a door key are integrated.
Alternatively, it is performed by remote key operation by a remote control (remote control). On the other hand, when the driver unlocks the door lock mechanism,
In some cases, there is no intention to drive, such as simply putting luggage in and out. Whether or not there is a driving intention when unlocking the door lock is determined by, for example, in the case of a mechanical key operation, the unlock position of the key hole of the door lock mechanism into which the key member is inserted is set to "operating" and "non-operating". It is preferable to transmit it to the control system 1 side by dividing it in stages. on the other hand,
In the case of a remote operation using a remote controller, for example, one push button of the door open button on the key member indicates "drive" by two push buttons to indicate "non-drive" to transmit to the control system 1 side. It is preferable.

Further, when the driver turns off the ignition switch 16 after getting out of the vehicle and gets out of the vehicle, the driver first goes through a series of processes of unlocking the door lock and then opening the door. . In other words, when getting off,
Even if the door lock switch 17 and the door switch 19 are turned on and there is no intention to drive, the power switch 18 of the reformer 3 is turned on again, and the start control of the fuel cell 2 may be performed. is there. In this case, the restart of the fuel cell 2 at the time of getting off the vehicle is prevented by maintaining the power switch 1 of the reformer 3 in the off state for a few seconds immediately after the ignition switch 16 is switched from on to off. Preferably.

In the present embodiment, the criterion for the starting control of the reformer 3 when the ignition switch 16 is off is determined by the water temperature of the cooling water W circulating in the fuel cell 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. , But is not limited to this. For example, the catalyst temperature of the reformer 3 (reforming reaction temperature), or
Both the catalyst temperature of the reformer 3 and the water temperature of the cooling water W may be set as the determination standard.

[0025]

As described above, in the present invention, the start of the fuel cell and the unlocking of the door lock (or the opening and closing of the door) are integrally linked, so that the driver's intention of driving is It can be transmitted to the control system side before the driver sits in the driver's seat. As a result, the waiting time from the cold state to the starting time can be significantly shortened, and the capacity of the secondary battery or the like as the auxiliary source of the conventional fuel cell can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system control circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a start control state of a fuel cell.

FIG. 3 is a system control circuit diagram showing a second embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 control system 2 Fuel cell 3 reformer 4 Combustor 5 raw material tank 6 water tank 7 Compressor (air compressor) 8 solenoid valve 9 gas flow paths 10 secondary battery 11 Power regulator 12 Drive motor 13 Control device 14 drive wheels 15 Drive operating device 16 ignition switch 17 Door lock switch 18 Reformer power switch 19 door switch W cooling water

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A starting system for an electric vehicle having a reformer for supplying a reformed fuel to a fuel cell, an ignition switch for instructing the start of the reformer, and a door lock locked state. A door lock switch that detects an unlocked state, and a control unit that performs start control of the reformer when the detection state by the door lock switch is switched from locked to unlocked, even if the ignition switch is off. A starting system for an electric vehicle, comprising: 2. A starting system of an electric vehicle having a reformer for supplying a reformed fuel to a fuel cell, an ignition switch for instructing the start of the reformer, and a door open state. A door switch for detecting a door closed state, and when the door detection state by the door switch is switched from a closed door to an open door, even if the ignition switch is off, a control unit that performs start control of the reformer A starting system for an electric vehicle, comprising: