JP2004040950A - Fuel cell powered vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell powered vehicle wherein hydrogen leaking into a space where a fuel cell is installed is discharged with reliability. <P>SOLUTION: In the fuel cell powered vehicle, a space 3 for mounting a fuel cell system 2 as a driving source for the automobile is positioned in front of the passenger compartment 1. Either or both of a first opening 5a disposed above the fuel cell mounting space and a second opening 5b disposed in a position where a negative pressure is produced are provided. Thus, hydrogen leaking from the fuel cell system into the fuel cell mounting space is discharged through the openings. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a technique related to a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, there is a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-113960 when a fuel cell body is mounted in a space in front of a vehicle body (a so-called front compartment).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this conventional technique does not include a structure for actively discharging hydrogen leaked from a fuel cell mounted in a front compartment to the outside, and may accumulate in an engine room.
[0004]
In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell vehicle having a structure for efficiently discharging hydrogen leaked from a fuel cell to the outside.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a fuel cell vehicle in which a closed space for mounting a fuel cell is disposed in front of an occupant's room, a first opening provided above the closed space, and a position where a negative pressure is generated during traveling. And at least one of the second openings, and discharges hydrogen leaked from the fuel cell system into the closed space.
[0006]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when the opening is provided in the upper part of the closed space, the hydrogen leaked from the fuel cell system in the closed space can be reliably ventilated outside the vehicle, particularly when the vehicle is stopped. When the opening is provided at the position where the negative pressure is generated, hydrogen leaked from the fuel cell system during traveling can be discharged from the closed space.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an automobile to which the present invention is applied.
[0008]
This structure forms a space 3 (corresponding to a front compartment in a vehicle equipped with a conventional internal combustion engine) in which a fuel cell system 2 is mounted in front of a passenger compartment 1 of the vehicle. The mounting space 3 has an upper portion covered by a hood 4 and is configured as a closed space. The shape of the hood 4 is generally higher on the occupant room side than on the vehicle front side due to design requirements and layout requirements in the mounting space 3. A ventilation port 5a for ventilating the inside of the mounting space to the upper outside air is provided at the uppermost portion of the hood 4. The ventilation port 5a preferably has a structure for preventing rainwater or the like from entering the mounting space.
[0009]
Therefore, when the vehicle stops, even if hydrogen leaks into the mounting space 3 from the fuel cell 2 installed in the mounting space 3 or a pipe through which the related hydrogen flows, the hydrogen remains in the mounting space 3. The air can be diffused and ventilated to the outside air from the ventilation port 5a provided at the top of the mounting space 3 without stagnation. In particular, the diffusion and ventilation of leaked hydrogen when the vehicle is stopped, such as during vehicle storage, system startup, and system idle operation, are improved.
[0010]
The configuration of the second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The structure of the second embodiment is configured to enable discharge of hydrogen leaked to the mounting space while the vehicle is running. In other words, the hood 4 at the position facing the negative pressure generated above the hood 4 when the vehicle travels is provided with the ventilation port 5b for communicating the mounting space 3 with the outside air, and the mounting space is formed by the action of the negative pressure generated by the traveling wind. 3 is a structure that can vent the hydrogen inside.
[0011]
FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating the position of the ventilation port 5b of the present embodiment from the side of the vehicle. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a portion where a negative pressure is generated by the traveling wind from the upper surface of the vehicle, and is a diagram for supplementarily explaining the position of the ventilation port 5b in the present embodiment. As shown in the drawing, a negative pressure is generated due to the flow of air along the hood 4 due to traveling, and the negative pressure decreases as the flow velocity of the air increases. By providing the ventilation port 5b at this negative pressure generating position, a pressure difference is generated between the mounting space 3 and the negative pressure generating position, and hydrogen leaked into the mounting space 3 is discharged to the outside from the ventilation port 5b. .
[0012]
Therefore, when hydrogen leaks into the mounting space 3 from the system including the fuel cell 2 and the hydrogen circulation pipe in the mounting space 3 during traveling, the negative pressure due to the traveling wind is used to make the system more active in the mounting space 3. Hydrogen can be ventilated outside.
[0013]
FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment.
[0014]
The configuration of this embodiment is configured to discharge the hydrogen leaked into the mounting space 3 to the outside by using a negative pressure generated at the time of running the vehicle at the body side panel. The configuration is such that a ventilation port 5c is provided in the body side panel at a position where a negative pressure is generated to communicate the mounting space 3 with the outside air, and a pressure difference between the mounting space 3 and the outside air (negative pressure) causes the inside of the mounting space 3 to go outside. Ventilate hydrogen.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is an example in which a ventilation port 5c is provided in a side panel portion of the mounting space 3, and FIG. 4 is an example in which a flow path 6 communicating from the inside of the mounting space 3 to the outside through a door mirror is provided as a fourth embodiment. Therefore, in this configuration, hydrogen can be ventilated by using a negative pressure around the mirror of the door mirror.
[0016]
Therefore, when hydrogen leaks into the mounting space 3 from the fuel cell in the mounting space 3 or related piping for flowing hydrogen during traveling, the negative pressure due to the traveling wind is used to remove hydrogen from the mounting space 3. It can actively discharge hydrogen leaked out.
[0017]
A fifth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
[0018]
In the configuration of this embodiment, an intake port 7 for communicating the engine room with the outside air is provided in the hood 4 at a position where a positive pressure is generated in the upper portion of the hood generated when the vehicle is running, and the traveling wind causes the air to enter the engine room from outside. A structure that can take in air is used.
[0019]
FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the position of the intake port 7 of the present embodiment from the side of the vehicle. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a portion where a positive pressure is generated by traveling wind from the upper surface of the vehicle.
[0020]
Therefore, when hydrogen leaks into the mounting space 3 from a fuel cell, a hydrogen circulation pipe, or the like mounted in the mounting space 3 during running of the vehicle, the mounting space 3 is externally applied using the positive pressure of the traveling wind. The hydrogen inside the space 3 can be sucked out and the hydrogen possibly staying above the mounting space 3 can be positively diffused.
[0021]
A sixth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b).
[0022]
The configuration of the present embodiment is a combination of the configurations of the second, third, and fifth embodiments. That is, the ventilation port 5b is provided at a position where a negative pressure is generated in the hood 4 or the body side due to the traveling wind. , 5c, 6 and an intake port 7 at a position on the hood 4 where a positive pressure is generated.
[0023]
FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the position of the ventilation port 5 and the position of the intake port 7 of the present embodiment from the side of the vehicle, and FIG.
[0024]
Therefore, when hydrogen leaks into the mounting space 3 from the fuel cell in the mounting space 3 or the piping for hydrogen distribution in the running space of the vehicle, the discharge of hydrogen by external intake and the discharge of hydrogen by ventilation to the outside occur. Since the hydrogen can be discharged by acting both of the discharge and the discharge, the diffusion and ventilation of the hydrogen in the mounting space 3 can be further improved.
[0025]
The configuration of the seventh embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. In the configuration of the present embodiment, an openable / closable valve 8 is provided in the upper ventilation port 5b and the intake port 7 in the mounting space 3, and a device 9 capable of detecting hydrogen leaked to the upper portion in the mounting space 3 is provided. The opening and closing of the ventilation port 5b and the intake port 7 can be controlled in accordance with the hydrogen concentration.
[0026]
FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the position of the present embodiment from the side of the vehicle.
[0027]
FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating details of an example of a mechanism of the on-off valve 8 of the ventilation port 5b and / or the intake port 7 of the present embodiment.
[0028]
The opening and closing of the lid 10 of the on-off valve 8 is controlled by an actuator 11, and the actuator 11 controls the opening and closing of the lid 8 based on a signal from a controller 12. The controller 12 receives a detection signal from the hydrogen detector 9 and sends a signal to the actuator 11 to open the lid 10 when hydrogen is detected.
[0029]
With this configuration, when hydrogen leaks from the fuel cell system 2 in the mounting space 3 into the mounting space 3 and the hydrogen leak detecting device 9 detects hydrogen leak, the ventilation port 5b and the intake port 7 The opening / closing control is performed, hydrogen is discharged to the outside, and monitoring and management can be performed so that the hydrogen concentration in the mounting space 3 does not increase.
[0030]
The on-off valve 8 may be provided at the ventilation ports 5a and 5c.
[0031]
An eighth embodiment is shown in FIG.
[0032]
In the configuration of the present embodiment, a fan 13 that ventilates the mounting space 3 is provided in the configuration of the seventh embodiment. When detecting the leakage of hydrogen into the mounting space 3, the controller 12 controls the operation of the ventilation fan 13 in conjunction with or separately from the opening and closing control of the ventilation port 5b and the intake port 7 according to the detected hydrogen concentration.
[0033]
Therefore, when a hydrogen leak is detected in the mounting space 3, the opening and closing control of the ventilation port 5 b and the intake port 7 and the operation control of the ventilation fan 13 are performed, and the monitoring and the monitoring are performed so that the hydrogen concentration in the mounting space 3 does not increase. Can manage.
[0034]
A ninth embodiment is shown in FIG.
[0035]
The configuration of the present embodiment is different from the configuration of the seventh embodiment in that the operation of the fan 15 of the radiator 14 installed for cooling the fuel cell and related accessories is improved in order to ventilate the upper part of the mounting space 3. did. The controller 12 controls the operation of the radiator fan 15 in conjunction with or separate from the opening / closing control of the ventilation port 5b and the intake port 7 according to the detected hydrogen concentration.
[0036]
Therefore, when hydrogen leaks into the mounting space 3, opening / closing control of the ventilation port 5b and the intake port 7 and operation control of the radiator fan 15 are performed, and ventilation in the mounting space 3 is promoted and the hydrogen concentration does not increase. So that it can be monitored and managed.
[0037]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is apparent that various changes can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment.
FIG. 2A is a side view illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment.
(B) It is a top view similarly.
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a third embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 5A is a side view illustrating a configuration of a fifth embodiment.
(B) It is a top view similarly.
FIG. 6A is a side view illustrating a configuration of a sixth embodiment.
(B) It is a top view similarly.
FIG. 7A is a side view illustrating the configuration of a seventh embodiment.
(B) It is a block diagram of the same on-off valve.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an eighth embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a ninth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Crew room 2 Fuel cell 3 Mounting space (closed space)
4 Hood 5a Ventilation opening (first opening)
5b Ventilation opening (2nd opening)
5c Ventilation opening (2nd opening)
6 Hydrogen channel 7 Inlet (third opening)
Reference Signs List 8 opening / closing valve 9 hydrogen leak detecting device 10 lid 11 actuator 12 controller 13 fan 14 radiator 15 fan

Claims (8)

In a fuel cell vehicle in which a closed space mounting a fuel cell system as a driving source of the vehicle is arranged in front of a passenger compartment,
A first opening provided above the closed space;
At least one of a second opening provided at a position where a negative pressure is generated during traveling;
A fuel cell vehicle for discharging hydrogen leaked from a fuel cell system into the closed space. A hood that covers the upper part of the closed space is provided,
A fuel cell vehicle, wherein the hood is provided with the first opening at the top. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second opening is provided at a position where a negative pressure is generated above the hood during traveling. 2. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second opening is provided at a position where a negative pressure of the body side panel is generated during traveling. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a third opening is provided at a position where a positive pressure is generated in an upper portion of the hood during traveling. A valve for opening and closing at least one of the first to third openings;
A device for detecting hydrogen leakage in the closed space,
2. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller that controls opening and closing of the first to third openings using the on-off valve in accordance with the hydrogen concentration detected by the hydrogen leak detection device. 3. A fan is provided in the mounting space of the fuel cell,
The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the controller controls the operation of the fan according to the hydrogen concentration. A radiator for cooling the fuel cell and its accessories,
The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the controller controls the operation of the radiator fan according to the hydrogen concentration.

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