JP2004250059A - Fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel tank which is suitable for storing a fuel of a hydrogen storage material such as inorganic hydride and organic hydride, and can be miniaturized and saved in space. <P>SOLUTION: In the fuel tank 40, a supply tank 40a to store fuel and a recovery tank 40b to store a stuff to be collected is separated from each other by a bulkhead 40c. The volumetric ratio of the supply tank 40a to the recovery tank 40b can be freely changed by the bulkhead 40c. When the fuel from the supply tank 40a is sprayed in a reforming vessel 42, the fuel is decomposed into hydrogen and benzene by the effect of catalyst and heat. Hydrogen and benzene decomposed by the reforming vessel 42 are separated by a gas-liquid separator 44, hydrogen is supplied to a fuel cell 34 and benzene is collected to the recovery tank 40b of the fuel tank 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention supplies hydrogen to a fuel tank, particularly a fuel tank for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell, a fuel tank for storing a fuel for supplying hydrogen, a fuel tank for transporting a fuel for supplying hydrogen, and the like. The present invention relates to a fuel tank for storing fuel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As the environmental and energy problems become more serious, hydrogen is expected to replace oil as a new energy source. Since hydrogen cannot be used as energy as it is, a new system mediated by hydrogen is required, and fuel cells using hydrogen as fuel are receiving attention.
[0003]
The fuel cell has a high power generation efficiency of 40% or more even in a small size, and has excellent characteristics that enable high-efficiency operation similar to that during rated operation even when the load is small. The fuel cell does not generate carbon dioxide gas or oxygen nitride gas, and does not generate noise or vibration as in a power generator. Further, the fuel cell has an advantage that waste heat can be recovered in the form of hot water or steam.
[0004]
Fuel cells are expected to be widely used as power generation devices and energy supply devices that are highly efficient and environmentally friendly. For example, electric power supply system of several hundred kW class in apartment houses, office buildings, hotels, hospitals, etc., power supply for transportation such as cars and buses, power supply for homes of several kW, power supply for electronic equipment of several tens of W Applications for such applications are conceivable, and research into practical use in these fields is being actively pursued.
[0005]
A fuel cell uses hydrogen as a fuel, but there is a problem in safely and stably supplying the hydrogen of the fuel. In the case of fuel cells for automobiles, there are conditions such as small size, light weight, long cruising distance in one filling, and easy filling work, and various hydrogen supply methods taking these conditions into consideration. Has been proposed. For example, supply hydrogen directly as compressed hydrogen or liquid hydrogen, supply hydrogen from a hydrogen storage material such as a hydrogen storage alloy or carbon nanotube, or supply hydrogen by reforming methanol or hydrocarbons Like that.
[0006]
As for the method of directly supplying hydrogen as compressed hydrogen, fuel cell vehicles equipped with compressed hydrogen are at the stage of practical use due to technological advances such as weight reduction of high-pressure hydrogen gas containers and improvement of pressure resistance.
[0007]
The method of directly supplying hydrogen as liquid hydrogen has a boil-off of 1 to 3% of hydrogen per day, and is still in a prototype stage.
[0008]
The method of supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen storage material such as a hydrogen storage alloy or a carbon nanotube has a low hydrogen storage amount of 1 to 2%, is difficult to reduce the weight, and has a low hydrogen filling rate. Staying.
[0009]
The method of supplying hydrogen by reforming methanol is that the fuel methanol is a liquid like conventional petroleum-based fuel, easy to handle, has a fast filling speed, and has a tank capacity comparable to that of petroleum-based fuel. Expectations for future development are growing because the same cruising range can be obtained. However, the start-up time until the supply of hydrogen is long, and reducing the start-up time is a problem.
[0010]
A method of supplying hydrogen by reforming a hydrocarbon has been attracting attention because it can be used for a long period of time during a transition from a petroleum fuel to a hydrogen fuel while maintaining the existing environment. However, since the reforming reaction requires a high temperature and involves a violent reaction, it is still in the experimental stage.
[0011]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-134141
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In recent years, attention has been paid to using an inorganic hydride or an organic hydride as a hydrogen storage material as a hydrogen supply method in line with these. Inorganic hydrides and organic hydrides have a high hydrogen storage rate and can be reused by repeatedly performing hydrogen storage and hydrogen supply. Therefore, they are expected as a material that can replace the hydrogen storage alloy.
[0013]
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel fuel tank which is suitable for storing a fuel which is a hydrogen storage material such as an inorganic hydride or an organic hydride, and which can be reduced in size and space.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Before describing the fuel tank according to the present invention, the principle of the hydrogen extraction system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
In the present invention, a hydrogen-containing material such as an organic hydride or an inorganic hydride is used as a fuel for supplying hydrogen. As the hydrogen-containing material, an organic hydride such as cyclohexane (C₆H₁₂) Will be described below.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, cyclohexane as a fuel is stored in a supply tank 10. The cyclohexane stored in the supply tank 10 is supplied to the reformer 14 via the compressor 12. A catalyst (for example, platinum, platinum-rhenium, etc.) 14b is spread on the bottom of the container 14a of the reformer 14, and the catalyst 14b is heated from the bottom of the container 14a by the heater 14c.
[0017]
As the catalyst 14b for the dehydrogenation reaction, for example, a catalyst described in JP-A-2001-198469, that is, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, nickel, cobalt, iron, rhenium, vanadium, chromium, At least one metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, and copper is formed of activated carbon, zeolite, titania, carbon nanotube, molecular sieve, zirconia, mesoporous silica porous material, alumina, and silica. A metal-supported catalyst supported on at least one carrier selected from the group consisting of: The metal loading on the metal carrier catalyst is preferably 0.001 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight.
[0018]
When the cyclohexane is sprayed into the container 14a of the reformer 14, due to the action of the catalyst 14b and heat, as shown in FIG.₆H₁₂) Is hydrogen (3 × H₂) And benzene (C₆H₆).
[0019]
The decomposed hydrogen and benzene are cooled by a cooling device 16 and separated into a gas and a liquid by a gas-liquid separation device 18. The liquid benzene is recovered in a recovery tank 20, and gaseous hydrogen as fuel is transferred to a fuel cell 22. Supplied.
[0020]
Benzene (C) recovered in the recovery tank 20₆H₆) Is hydrogen (3 × H) as shown in FIG.₂), Cyclohexane (C₆H₁₂) And can be used again as fuel.
[0021]
Decalin (C₁₀H₁₈The same applies to the case of using decalin (C) by the action of a catalyst and heat, as shown in FIG.₁₀H₁₈) Is hydrogen (5 × H₂) And naphthalene (C₁₀H₈). The liquid naphthalene is recovered, and then transported to a reprocessing plant for hydrogen (5 × H₂), Decalin (C₁₀H₁₈) And can be used again as fuel.
[0022]
As described above, in the hydrogen extraction system of the present embodiment, the supply tank that stores the organic hydride that is the fuel and the remaining product obtained by decomposing the fuel and extracting the hydrogen are stored. A collection tank is required in principle. However, it is difficult to mount two tanks in a limited space such as an automobile, and when two tanks are mounted in a limited space, the amount of fuel that can be loaded at one time is limited.
[0023]
The inventor of the present application has conducted studies to solve the above-described problems. As a result, one fuel tank is provided with a first chamber and a second chamber so as to have both functions of a supply tank and a recovery tank. Then, in consideration of the characteristic that almost the same amount of collected material is generated, the inventor thought that it would be sufficient to provide a partition so that the volume ratio of the first chamber and the second chamber could be changed.
[0024]
Therefore, the fuel tank according to the present invention has a first chamber for storing the fuel and a second chamber for storing the recovered material after decomposing the fuel, and a volume ratio of the first chamber and the second chamber. The first chamber and the second chamber are separated from each other by a partition in which the pressure can be changed. It is preferable that the first chamber and the second chamber are housed in a container having a fixed capacity and are separated by the partition.
[0025]
In the above-described fuel tank, the partition may be formed of a flexible elastic member.
[0026]
In the above-described fuel tank, the second chamber may be housed in the first chamber, and the partition may be formed of a flexible elastic member.
[0027]
In the above-described fuel tank, the partition may be formed so as to be movable in the fuel tank.
[0028]
In the above-described fuel tank, the fuel may be a hydrogen-containing material of an inorganic hydride or an organic hydride, and the recovered material may be a dehydrogenated material obtained by extracting hydrogen from the hydrogen-containing material. . The form of the fuel and the recovered material may be a fluid such as a gas, a liquid, a powder, and a slurry, and is particularly preferably a liquid.
[0029]
According to the present invention, since the volume ratio between the first chamber and the second chamber of the fuel tank is variable, the maximum amount of fuel can be mounted in a limited space such as an automobile. If the present invention is applied to a fuel tank for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell of an automobile or the like, the cruising distance at the time of refueling can be extended. If the present invention is applied to a fuel tank for storing hydrogen-supplying fuel, such as a service station, a large amount of fuel can be stored in a limited space. If the present invention is applied to a fuel tank, such as a tank lorry, for transporting fuel for supplying hydrogen, it is possible to transport a large amount of fuel at a time and to transport a large amount of recovered material.
[0030]
Further, according to the present invention, when fuel is used, almost the same volume of collected material is generated, so that there is no vacancy in the first chamber and the second chamber. For this reason, the fuel and the collected material do not come into contact with the outside air, and a completely closed fuel supply and recovery system can be constructed.
[0031]
In the present invention, any type of hydrogen-containing material such as an inorganic hydride or an organic hydride can be used.
[0032]
As the inorganic hydride, an alkali metal hydride (AxMyHz (A: alkali metal, M: Al, B)) is used, and examples thereof include sodium borohydride and potassium borohydride. A substance dissolved in an aqueous alkali solution such as potassium can be used as a hydrogen fuel.
[0033]
The concentration of the alkali solution of the alkali metal hydride is, for example, 10% by weight. What is recovered after the reaction as a recovered product is an alkali solution of metaborate, and it is preferable to adjust the concentration of the alkali metal hydride to a concentration at which sodium metaborate or potassium metaborate containing water of crystallization does not precipitate. .
[0034]
As the organic hydride, those obtained by hydrogenating an aromatic hydrocarbon compound are used.For example, benzene, toluene, xylene, a substance obtained by hydrogenating an aromatic hydrocarbon alone or a mixture of naphthalene and the like, preferably, C6-18 saturated alicyclic hydrocarbons, for example, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, dimethylcyclohexane, ethylmethylcyclohexane, trimethylcyclohexane, propylcyclohexane, butylcyclohexane, diethylcyclohexane, isobutylcyclohexane, tetramethylcyclohexane, isopropylmethylcyclohexane, Amylcyclohexane, 4-tert-butylcyclohexane, (2,2-dimethylpropyl) cyclohexane, pentamethylcyclohexane, tert-butyldi Cyclohexanes such as tylcyclohexane, diisopropylcyclohexane, hexamethylcyclohexane, triethylcyclohexane, 1-cyclohexylhexane, 1-cyclohexylpentane, tetralin, methyltetralin, ethyltetralin, propyltetralin, isopropyltetralin, dimethyltetralin, diethyltetralin, dipropyltetralin , Tetralins such as diisopropyltetralin, methylethyltetralin, methylpropyltetralin, methylisopropyltetralin, ethylpropyltetralin, ethylisopropyltetralin, propylisopropyltetralin, decalin, methyldecalin, ethyldecalin, propyldecalin, isopropyldecalin, dimethyldecalin, diethyl Decalin Dipropyl decalin, diisopropyl decalin, methyl ethyl decalin, methyl propyl decalin, methyl isopropyl decalin, ethyl propyl decalin, ethyl isopropyl decalin, decanols such as propyl isopropyl decalin, and the like can be used alone or in a mixture which becomes liquid at room temperature. it can.
[0035]
As the aromatic hydrocarbon compound recovered after the reaction as a recovered product, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethyltoluene, trimethylbenzene, propylbenzene, butylbenzene, diethylbenzene, isobutylbenzene, tetramethylbenzene, isopropyltoluene, amylbenzene, Benzenes such as tert-butylbenzene, (2,2-dimethylpropyl) benzene, pentamethylbenzene, tert-butylxylene, diisopropylbenzene, hexamethylbenzene, triethylbenzene, 1-phenylhexane, 1-phenylpentane, and naphthalene , Methylnaphthalene, ethylnaphthalene, propylnaphthalene, isopropylnaphthalene, dimethylnaphthalene, diethylnaphthalene, dipropylnaphthalene, diisopropyl Naphthalenes such as phthalene, methyl ethyl naphthalene, methyl propyl naphthalene, methyl isopropyl naphthalene, ethyl propyl naphthalene, ethyl isopropyl naphthalene, propyl isopropyl naphthalene, and tetralin, methyl tetralin, ethyl tetralin, propyl tetralin, isopropyl tetralin, dimethyl tetralin, diethyl tetralin , Dipropyl tetralin, diisopropyl tetralin, methyl ethyl tetralin, methyl propyl tetralin, methyl isopropyl tetralin, ethyl propyl tetralin, ethyl isopropyl tetralin, propyl isopropyl tetralin, and other tetralins alone or as a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons at room temperature belongs to.
[0036]
It is desirable that the partition separating the first chamber and the second chamber of the fuel tank of the present invention be formed of a flexible elastic member. Further, a polymer material having alkali resistance and solvent resistance is desirable.
[0037]
When an inorganic hydride is used, it is desirable to use natural rubber, styrene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene, propylene rubber, nitrile rubber, polypropylene, methylpentene resin, fluororesin, or the like having high alkali resistance for the partition walls.
[0038]
When an organic hydride is used, it is desirable to use a fluorine rubber, a fluorine resin, a phenol resin, or the like having high solvent resistance for the partition walls.
[0039]
The material of the fuel tank of the present invention is preferably an alkali-resistant and solvent-resistant material, like the partition wall. In addition to the above-described polymer materials as partition wall materials, stainless steel such as SUS304 and SUS316, metal materials such as titanium, engineering plastics with high chemical resistance, glass, carbon fiber composite materials (FRP, carbon FRP, etc.), steel It is desirable to use a composite material of an ultra-light alloy such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, etc., having increased corrosion resistance.
[0040]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
A fuel tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The fuel tank of the present embodiment is a fuel tank mounted on an automobile or the like and for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell.
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 3, the automobile 30 uses an electric motor 32 as a driving source. Electric power for driving the electric motor 32 is supplied from a fuel cell 34 via a power control device 36. The power control device 36 controls the electric motor 32 according to the operation of the operator who drives the vehicle 30, and controls the movement of the vehicle 30.
[0042]
The fuel cell 34 generates electricity using a chemical reaction. Extracts electrons generated when hydrogen reacts with oxygen to form water. As shown in FIG. 3, oxygen is taken into the fuel cell 34 from outside air via the compressor 36. Hydrogen is taken into the fuel cell 34 from the fuel tank 40 via the reformer 42 and the gas-liquid separator 44. Water generated by the chemical reaction is discharged to the outside. As described above, in the case of the fuel cell 34, only water is discharged to the outside, and there is a great merit that the load on the environment is small.
[0043]
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the fuel tank 40 according to the present embodiment and its surroundings.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 4, the fuel tank 40 of the present embodiment includes a supply tank 40a that contains an organic hydride (for example, cyclohexane) that is a fuel (raw material) and an aromatic (for example, a collected product (product)). (Benzene) is separated from the recovery tank 40b by a partition 40c.
[0045]
The partition wall 40c provided between the supply tank 40a and the recovery tank 40b is deformable or movable, and the volume of the entire fuel tank 40 is constant, but the volume ratio between the supply tank 40a and the recovery tank 40b is freely adjustable. Can be changed to As a result, when the fuel is full, the recovery tank 40b has the minimum capacity and the supply tank 40a has the maximum capacity. However, when the fuel is consumed, the capacity of the supply tank 40a decreases, and the recovered material increases accordingly. The capacity of 40b increases.
[0046]
The specific gravity of the fuel is 0.778 g / ml in the case of cyclohexane (molecular weight: 84.16) at 20 ° C. In this case, the specific gravity at 20 ° C. of benzene (molecular weight: 78.11), which is a recovered product, is 0.878 g / ml.
[0047]
Hydrogen is extracted from cyclohexane having a capacity of 108.17 (= 84.16 / 0.778) liters, and when the entire amount of benzene produced is recovered, it becomes 88.96 (= 78.11 / 0.878) liters. It can be seen that the entire amount of benzene generated from cyclohexane supplied from the tank 40a can be stored in the recovery tank 40b.
[0048]
Since the specific gravity of aromatics (for example, benzene), which is a recovered product (product), is smaller than that of organic hydride (for example, cyclohexane), which is a fuel (raw material), the recovery tank for storing the recovered product is a fuel. It is desirable to be located above the tank 40.
[0049]
A fuel cap 46 and a collection cap 48 are provided adjacent to each other on the side of the vehicle 30. A pipe is provided from the fuel cap 46 to the supply tank 40 a of the fuel tank 40. With this pipe, fuel can be supplied from the fuel cap 46 to the supply tank 40a.
[0050]
In addition, it is desirable to consider the position of the piping to the supply tank 40a for the outlet (not shown) for taking out the fuel from the supply tank 40a so that all the fuel contained in the supply tank 40a can be taken out.
[0051]
A pipe is provided from the collection cap 48 to the collection tank 40b of the fuel tank 40 via a pump 50. The pump 50 pumps out the collected material from the collection tank 40b and collects it from the collection cap 48.
[0052]
In addition, it is desirable to consider the position of the pipe to the collection cap 48 so that all of the collected matter stored in the collection tank 40b can be taken out.
[0053]
The supply tank 40a is connected to the reformer 42 via a check valve 52, a pump 54, and further via a heat exchanger 56. The pump 54 sends out fuel from the supply tank 40a to the reformer 42. The check valve 52 prevents fuel from flowing back from the reformer 42 to the supply tank 40a.
[0054]
The reformer 42 contains a catalyst (not shown) and is heated by a heater (not shown). When the organic hydride as the fuel is sprayed into the reformer 42, it is decomposed into hydrogen and benzene by the action of a catalyst and heat.
[0055]
A pipe is provided from the reformer 42 to the gas-liquid separator 44 via the heat exchanger 56. The hydrogen and benzene decomposed in the reformer 42 are cooled in the heat exchanger 56 and supplied to the gas-liquid separator 44.
[0056]
The gas and liquid are separated by the gas-liquid separator 44, and the gaseous hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell 34, and the liquid benzene is collected in the collection tank 40 b of the fuel tank 40. The gas-liquid separator 44 and the recovery tank 40b are connected via a check valve 58. The check valve 58 prevents benzene from flowing back from the recovery tank 40b to the gas-liquid separator 44.
[0057]
A specific example of the fuel tank 40 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0058]
A specific example (part 1) of the fuel tank will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0059]
In the fuel tank 40 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the fuel tank 40 is separated into two chambers, a supply tank 40a and a recovery tank 40b, by a partition wall 40c formed of a flexible elastic member. The supply tank 40a is connected to the fuel cap 46, and the recovery tank 40b is connected to the recovery cap 48.
[0060]
The fuel tank 40 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is a rectangular parallelepiped, and the partition 40c is rectangular. Two opposite sides of the partition 40c are fixed to the two opposite sides of the rectangular parallelepiped fuel tank 40. The other two opposite sides of the partition wall 40c slide on the inner wall of the fuel tank 40 when deformed.
[0061]
When the fuel tank 40 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, a rectangular parallelepiped having a rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 5A has a larger cross-section than a rectangular parallelepiped as shown in FIG. This is desirable because the amount of deformation is small.
[0062]
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the cross section of the fuel tank 40 is a rectangle having a length of one side a and a length of the other side b, and the partition 40 c is provided along a diagonal of the rectangle, The required minimum length Lmin and the maximum length Lmax of the partition wall 40c are as follows.
[0063]
Lmin = (a²+ B²)^1/2
Lmax = a + b
It is preferable that the difference between Lmin and Lmax is small because the amount of deformation of the partition 40c is small. This is because the material load on the partition 40c is small, and the energy for moving the partition 40c is small.
[0064]
When the cross section as shown in FIG. 5B is a square, a = b, so that Lmin = a = b, Lmax = 2a = 2b, and the difference between Lmin and Lmax is a = b. On the other hand, when the cross section as shown in FIG. 5A is a rectangle, a <b. Therefore, if a is infinitely close to zero, Lmin = b and Lmax = b, and Lmin = Lmax As can be seen from the fact that the difference almost disappears, the difference between Lmin and Lmax is smaller than when the cross section is a square.
[0065]
In FIGS. 5 and 6, of the two separated chambers 40a and 40b of the fuel tank 40, the lower chamber 40a is used as a supply tank, and an organic hydride that is a fuel (raw material) having a large specific gravity is used. On the contrary, the upper chamber 40b is used as a supply tank for storing an organic hydride which is a fuel (raw material), and the lower chamber 40a is used as a recovery tank. Some benzene may be accommodated.
[0066]
A specific example (part 2) of the fuel tank will be described with reference to FIG.
[0067]
As shown in FIG. 7A, the fuel tank 49 shown in FIG. 7 cuts a rectangular parallelepiped obliquely to form a supply tank 40a and a collection tank 40b, and forms a sheet-like partition 40c into the supply tank 40a and the collection tank 40b. It is formed by being sandwiched between. Thus, a fuel tank 40 as shown in FIG. 7B is formed. The partition wall 40c is formed of a flexible material, and the volume ratio between the supply tank 40a and the recovery tank 40b can be changed by deforming the central portion of the partition wall 40c.
[0068]
The seal between the supply tank 40a, the collection tank 40b, and the partition 40c is realized by, for example, a double O-ring structure such as Viton or a Teflon ring.
[0069]
A specific example (part 3) of the fuel tank will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0070]
The fuel tank 40 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B is provided with a bag-shaped partition wall 40 d made of a flexible elastic member in the fuel tank 40. In FIG. 8A, a bag-shaped partition wall 40d is provided in a cylindrical fuel tank 40. In FIG. 8B, a bag-shaped partition 40d is provided in a rectangular parallelepiped fuel tank 40.
[0071]
The inside of the bag-shaped partition 40d is a collection tank 40b, and the inside of the fuel tank 40 outside the bag-shaped partition 40d is a supply tank 40a. The supply tank 40a is piped to the fuel cap 46, and the recovery tank 40b formed by the bag-shaped partition 40d is piped to the recovery cap 48.
[0072]
In addition, it is desirable to consider the position of the piping to the supply tank 40a for the outlet (not shown) for taking out the fuel from the supply tank 40a so that all the fuel contained in the supply tank 40a can be taken out. In addition, it is desirable to consider the position of the piping to the collection cap 48 so that all of the collected items stored in the collection tank 40b can be taken out.
[0073]
The shape of the bag-shaped partition wall 40d changes as shown in FIG. 9 when the amount of benzene, which is a collected product (product), is the minimum amount, the maximum amount, and the half amount. In order to enable such deformation, the bag-shaped partition wall 40d is formed in the size of the maximum amount of the collected material, and when the collected material is smaller than the maximum volume, the bag-shaped partition wall 40d is loosened. I do.
[0074]
In addition, the bag-shaped partition 40d is formed by a flexible elastic member so that the bag-shaped partition 40d can store a smaller amount of collected material than the maximum amount. 40d is slackened, and when it is larger than that, the bag-shaped partition wall 40d is expanded and contracted.
[0075]
In FIGS. 8 and 9, benzene, which is a recovered material (product) having a low specific gravity, is accommodated in the bag-shaped partition 40d in the fuel tank 40. On the contrary, the specific gravity is stored in the bag-shaped partition 40d. Organic hydride, which is a fuel (raw material) which is a large fuel, may be stored, and benzene, which is a collected product (product), may be stored in the fuel tank 40 outside the bag-shaped partition wall 40d.
[0076]
A specific example (part 3) of the fuel tank will be described with reference to FIG.
[0077]
The fuel tank 40 shown in FIG. 10 has a movable partition wall 40c provided in the fuel tank 40. The partition 40c separates the fuel tank 40 into two chambers, a supply tank 40a and a recovery tank 40b. The supply tank 40a is connected to the fuel cap 46, and the recovery tank 40b is connected to the recovery cap 48.
[0078]
In addition, it is desirable to consider the position of the piping to the supply tank 40a for the outlet (not shown) for taking out the fuel from the supply tank 40a so that all the fuel contained in the supply tank 40a can be taken out. In addition, it is desirable to consider the position of the piping to the collection cap 48 so that all of the collected items stored in the collection tank 40b can be taken out.
[0079]
According to the present embodiment, since the volume ratio of the supply tank and the recovery tank of the fuel tank is variable, the maximum amount of fuel can be mounted in the limited space of the vehicle, and the cruising distance during refueling can be reduced. Can be stretched.
[0080]
Further, according to the present embodiment, there is no space in the supply tank for storing the fuel and the recovery tank for storing the collected material, and the fuel and the collected material do not come into contact with the outside air, so that a completely closed system is provided. be able to.
[0081]
[Second embodiment]
A fuel tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The fuel tank according to the present embodiment is a fuel tank installed at a service station or the like and storing a fuel for supplying hydrogen, or a fuel tank mounted on a tank truck or the like for transporting the fuel for supplying hydrogen.
[0082]
When the hydrogen extraction system according to the present invention is used, an automobile or the like is equipped with the fuel tank according to the first embodiment to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen can be extracted from fuel at a service station and the hydrogen can be supplied to an automobile or the like.
[0083]
In such a case, the vehicle 40 needs to be refueled at the service station 60 as shown in FIG. The service station 60 stores fuel to be supplied to an automobile or the like. Further, the service station 60 not only supplies fuel but also collects and stores collected items from automobiles and the like.
[0084]
In order to refuel the service station 60, fuel is transported from the hydrogen fuel production plant 70 by the tank lorry 80. The tank lorry 80 not only transports the fuel for supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel production plant 70 to the service station 60, but also collects the recovered material from the service station 60 and transports it to the hydrogen fuel production plant 70.
[0085]
Thus, the hydrogen fuel (organic hydride) produced by the hydrogen fuel production plant 70 is stored in the fuel tank of the tank truck 80. The tank truck 80 transports the hydrogen fuel to the service station 60. The service station 60 stores hydrogen fuel in a fuel tank. The automobile 40 stores hydrogen fuel in a fuel tank and runs on the hydrogen fuel. At the service station 60, the automobile 40 that has consumed the hydrogen fuel collects the recovered material (benzene) after using the hydrogen fuel and replenishes the hydrogen fuel. The collected material collected in the service station 60 is stored in a fuel tank. The tank lorry 80 collects collected items from the service station 60 and transports the collected items to the hydrogen fuel production plant 70. In the hydrogen fuel production plant 70, the collected material transported by the tank lorry 80 is collected, and hydrogen is added to regenerate the hydrogen fuel (organic hydride). Thus, a hydrogen fuel supply / recovery system is formed.
[0086]
The fuel tank of the service station according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0087]
The service station 60 is for supplying hydrogen fuel to an automobile or the like. The fuel tank 61 for storing the fuel for supplying hydrogen is installed under the service station 60 as shown in FIG. In the fuel tank 61, a supply tank 61a for storing an organic hydride as a fuel (raw material) and a recovery tank 61b for storing an aromatic as a collected product (product) are separated by a partition wall 61c.
[0088]
On the ground of the service station 60, a weighing machine 62 is provided. The weighing machine 62 supplies hydrogen fuel to an automobile or the like, and collects collected materials from the automobile. For this purpose, the weighing machine 62 is provided with a supply port and a recovery port. A supply port (not shown) of the weighing machine 62 is connected to a supply tank 61 a of the fuel tank 61 via a pump 63. A collection port (not shown) of the weighing machine 62 is connected to a collection tank 61 b of the fuel tank 61.
[0089]
When an automobile or the like stops at the service station 60 to replenish hydrogen fuel, an employee or a driver of the service station 60 supplies a fuel cap and a collection cap piped from a fuel tank of the automobile or the like to a supply port of the meter 62. And the collection port. Then, hydrogen fuel is supplied from the supply tank 61a of the fuel tank 61 to the fuel tank of the vehicle by the pump 63. When hydrogen fuel is supplied to the fuel tank of the vehicle, the collected material (product) in the fuel tank of the vehicle is automatically collected in the collection tank 61b of the fuel tank 61.
[0090]
The service station 60 is provided with a supply / recovery port 64 for supplying hydrogen fuel from the tank lorry 80 to the fuel tank 61 and recovering the recovered material from the fuel tank 61 to the tank lorry 80. The supply / recovery port 64 is connected to a supply tank 61 a of the fuel tank 61, and connected to a collection tank 61 b of the fuel tank 61 via a pump 65.
[0091]
In addition, it is desirable to consider a piping position to the supply tank 61a for an outlet (not shown) for taking out fuel from the supply tank 61a so that all fuel contained in the supply tank 61a can be taken out. Further, it is desirable to consider the position of the piping to the supply / recovery port 64 so that all the recovered material stored in the recovery tank 61b can be taken out.
[0092]
In FIG. 12, among the two separated chambers 61a and 61b of the fuel tank 61, the upper chamber 61a is used as a supply tank to accommodate an organic hydride which is a fuel (raw material) having a large specific gravity. Conversely, the lower chamber 61b is used as a supply tank for storing an organic hydride as a fuel (raw material), and the upper chamber 61a is used as a recovery tank, and a recovered substance (product) having a small specific gravity is used. May be accommodated.
[0093]
The fuel tank of the tank truck according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0094]
The tank lorry 80 is for transporting hydrogen fuel. A fuel tank 81 for storing fuel for supplying hydrogen is mounted on a tank truck 80 as shown in FIG. In the fuel tank 81, a supply tank 81a for storing an organic hydride as a fuel (raw material) and a recovery tank 81b for storing an aromatic as a collected product (product) are separated by a partition wall 81c. A supply / recovery port 82 is provided for supplying hydrogen fuel from the fuel tank 81 and storing the recovered material in the fuel tank 81.
[0095]
A movable nozzle 83 is provided in the recovery tank 81b of the fuel tank 81, and a supply / recovery port 82 is connected to the movable nozzle 83. The supply / recovery port 82 is connected to a recovery tank 81b of the fuel tank 81.
[0096]
When the tank truck 80 stops at the service station 60 to supply hydrogen fuel, an employee of the service station 60 connects the supply / collection port 82 of the tank truck 80 to the supply / collection port 64 of the service station 60. Hydrogen fuel is supplied from the supply tank 81a of the fuel tank 81 of the tank truck 80 to the supply tank 61a of the fuel tank 61 of the service station 60. Simultaneously with the supply of the hydrogen fuel, the pump 65 collects the collected product (product) from the collection tank 61b of the fuel tank 61 of the service station 60 to the collection tank 81b of the fuel tank 81 of the tank truck 80.
[0097]
In FIG. 13, the lower chamber 81 a of the two separated chambers 81 a and 81 b of the fuel tank 81 is used as a supply tank to accommodate an organic hydride that is a fuel (raw material) having a large specific gravity. On the contrary, the upper chamber 81b is used as a supply tank for storing an organic hydride as a fuel (raw material), and the lower chamber 81a is used as a recovery tank, and a recovered substance (product) having a small specific gravity is used. May be accommodated.
[0098]
According to the present embodiment, since the volume ratio of the supply tank and the recovery tank of the fuel tank is variable, the maximum amount of fuel can be stored or mounted in a limited space such as a service station or a tank truck.
[0099]
Further, according to the present embodiment, there is no space in the supply tank for storing the fuel and the recovery tank for storing the recovered material, and the fuel and the recovered material do not come into contact with the outside air and are recovered from the generation of the hydrogen fuel. In all systems up to, it is possible to achieve a completely sealed state, thereby preventing deterioration of the hydrogen fuel and the recovered material, and improving safety during storage or transportation.
[0100]
[Modified embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible.
[0101]
For example, in the above embodiment, cyclohexane, which is an organic hydride, was used as the fuel (raw material). However, other organic hydrides may be used, or an inorganic material such as an alkali metal hydride (eg, sodium borohydride) may be used. A hydride may be used, or another hydrogen-containing material may be used.
[0102]
In the above embodiment, one fuel tank is provided and separated into two chambers. For example, instead of providing one large fuel tank at a service station or a tank truck, a plurality of fuel tanks having a small capacity are provided. It may be provided that each fuel tank is separated into two chambers.
[0103]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the fuel tank according to the present invention has the first chamber for storing the fuel and the second chamber for storing the recovered material after decomposing the fuel, and the volume ratio of the first chamber and the second chamber is different. Since the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by the movable partition, the maximum amount of fuel can be mounted in a limited space such as an automobile, and the traveling distance can be extended. Further, according to the present invention, the use of fuel always generates almost the same volume of recovered material, so that the first chamber and the second chamber are vacant, and the fuel and the recovered material do not come into contact with the outside air. A closed system fuel supply and recovery system can be constructed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of a hydrogen extraction system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a chemical reaction in the hydrogen extraction system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view showing an automobile equipped with a fuel tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fuel tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a periphery thereof.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a specific example (part 1) of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example (part 1) of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a specific example (part 2) of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a specific example (part 3) of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example (part 3) of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a view showing a specific example (part 4) of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a hydrogen fuel supply / recovery system according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a fuel tank of a service station according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a view showing a fuel tank of a tank truck according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Supply tank
12 ... Compressor
14 ... Reformer
14a ... container
14b: catalyst
14c: heater
16 ... Cooling device
18 Gas-liquid separation device
20… Recovery tank
22 ... Fuel cell
30 ... Car
32 ... Electric motor
34 ... Fuel cell
36 ... Power control device
40 ... Fuel tank
40a ... supply tank
40b… Recovery tank
40c ... partition wall
40d: bag-shaped partition
42 ... Reformer
44 Gas-liquid separation device
46 ... Fuel cap
48… Recovery cap
50 ... Pump
52 ... check valve
54… pump
56 ... heat exchanger
58 ... check valve
60 ... Service station
61 ... Fuel tank
61a: Supply tank
61b… Recovery tank
61c ... partition wall
62… weighing machine
63… Pump
64: Supply / collection port
65… Pump
70… Hydrogen fuel production plant
80 ... Tank truck
81 ... Fuel tank
81a ... Supply tank
81b… Recovery tank
81c ... partition wall
82 ... Supply / recovery port
83… Movable nozzle

Claims (5)

A fuel tank for storing fuel,
A first chamber for containing fuel;
A second chamber for housing the recovered material after decomposing the fuel,
A fuel tank, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by a partition in which a volume ratio of the first chamber and the second chamber can be varied. The fuel tank according to claim 1,
The fuel tank, wherein the partition is formed of a flexible elastic member. The fuel tank according to claim 1,
The second chamber is housed in the first chamber;
The fuel tank, wherein the partition is formed of a flexible elastic member. The fuel tank according to claim 1,
The fuel tank, wherein the partition wall is configured to be movable in the fuel tank. The fuel tank according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The fuel is a hydrogen-containing material of an inorganic hydride or an organic hydride,
The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the recovered material is a dehydrogenated material obtained by extracting hydrogen from the hydrogen-containing material.

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