JP2005127430A - Gas filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To materialize filling control for preventing gas filling temperature from becoming high. <P>SOLUTION: In the gas filling device 10, a control part 58 is configured so as to store a control program for controlling a valve opening of a control valve 34 on the basis of set filling flow velocity. A setting device 19 is provided with an operation part 19a for setting to an arbitrary value a filling flow rate of gas supplied to a fuel tank 14. The control part 58 controls valve openings of the control valve 34 on the basis of the filling flow velocity set according to volume, surface area and shape of a gas supplied body. By so doing, the valve opening of the control valve 34 is controlled to maintain the filling flow velocity at the flow velocity corresponding to the volume of the fuel tank 14. While suppressing increase in temperature of the fuel tank 14, therefore, effective filling is executed at the flow velocity corresponding to the extent of increase in the temperature of the fuel tank 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas filling device, and more particularly to a gas filling device that fills a gas supply body with a gas by controlling a valve opening degree of a control valve based on a flow rate measurement value measured by a flow meter.

  Along with the development of automobiles (CNG cars) that run using compressed natural gas (CNG) compressed with natural gas as fuel, gas supply devices that supply compressed natural gas to the fuel tanks of automobiles are being put into practical use. In this type of gas supply device, a compressed gas is stored in a gas pressure accumulator, a gas filling hose connection coupler is connected to a CNG vehicle connection coupler, and a three-way valve communicated with the tip of the gas filling hose The gas stored in the gas pressure accumulator is filled in the fuel tank of the CNG vehicle by switching operation.

In the conventional gas supply device, after the filling-side coupler and the filling-side coupler are communicated with each other, a gas having a flow rate exceeding the hose capacity of the gas-filling hose is supplied to the gas supply body (fuel tank). Is stored as an initial pressure value before gas filling, and the capacity of the gas supply body is calculated based on the initial pressure value, whereby the gas filling is performed by estimating the capacity of the gas supply body. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 10-103595 A

  However, in the gas filling device, the temperature of the gas supply body increases as the gas supply to the gas supply body proceeds. On the other hand, there are gas supply bodies with various capacities, surface areas, and shapes. Due to this, when the gas filling rate is constant regardless of the type of the gas supply body, The degree of temperature rise varies depending on the gas supply body. When the temperature of the gas supply body rises, the gas filled in the gas supply body expands and the pressure in the tank rises, and the filling pressure actually filled increases apparently, resulting in a filling error. become. Therefore, when filling the compressed gas, it is desirable to set the filling rate (flow rate) in consideration of the temperature rise of the gas supply body.

  However, in the conventional gas filling apparatus, in order to shorten the filling time of the gas supply body, if the filling speed is set high in accordance with the gas supply body having a small temperature rise, the temperature of the gas supply body having a high temperature rise is set. Will rise significantly. Moreover, in order to suppress the temperature rise of the gas supply body, if the filling rate is set low according to the gas supply body having a large temperature rise, the temperature rise of the gas supply body having a low temperature rise can be further suppressed. However, there is a problem that it takes a long filling time.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the gas filling apparatus which solved the said subject.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a flow meter, a control valve, and a pressure detector are arranged in a gas supply path for supplying compressed gas, and the flow rate measurement value measured by the flow meter and the pressure detector are detected. In the gas filling device for filling the gas supply body with gas by controlling the valve opening degree of the control valve based on the measured pressure value, the filling flow rate of the gas supplied to the gas supply body is set to an arbitrary value. It is characterized by comprising setting means for setting and flow rate control means for controlling the valve opening of the control valve based on the filling flow rate set by the setting means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the setting means fills the gas supply body in correspondence with the specifying means for specifying the gas supply body and the data for specifying the gas supply body. A filling flow rate storage unit that stores a flow rate; and a filling flow rate setting unit that reads the filling flow rate to the gas supply body specified by the specifying unit from the filling flow rate storage unit and sets the filling flow rate. It is characterized by that.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a flow meter, a control valve, and a pressure detector are arranged in a gas supply path for supplying compressed gas, and the flow rate measurement value measured by the flow meter and the pressure detector are detected. In the gas filling device for filling the gas supply body with gas by controlling the valve opening degree of the control valve based on the measured pressure value, one of the gases discharged from the control valve is provided in the gas supply path. A container for storing a part, a temperature detector for measuring a temperature change of the container, and when the temperature measured by the temperature detector reaches a predetermined temperature or more, the valve opening degree of the control valve is controlled. And a control means for limiting the flow rate supplied to the gas supply body.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to control the valve opening degree of the control valve based on the filling flow rate set according to the capacity, surface area, and shape of the gas supply body, the temperature increase of the gas supply body is controlled. While suppressing, it can be efficiently filled at a flow rate corresponding to the temperature rise degree of the gas supply body.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in order to read the specified filling flow rate to the gas supply body from the filling flow rate storage means and set it to the filling flow rate, the gas supply is performed while suppressing the temperature rise of the gas supply body. It can be efficiently filled at a flow rate according to the temperature rise of the body.

  According to the invention of claim 3, when the temperature measured by the temperature detector reaches a predetermined temperature or more, the valve opening degree of the control valve is controlled to limit the flow rate supplied to the gas supply body. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently fill at a flow rate according to the temperature rise degree of the gas supply body while suppressing the temperature rise of the gas supply body.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a gas filling apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the gas filling device 10 is used, for example, in a gas supply station that supplies compressed natural gas (CNG) obtained by compressing city gas to a predetermined pressure to a fuel tank (gas supply body) 14 of an automobile 12. is set up.

  The gas filling device 10 is roughly composed of a pressure generating unit 16 that compresses city gas to a predetermined pressure to generate a pressurized gas, and a dispenser unit for supplying the gas compressed by the pressure generating unit 16 to the fuel tank 14. 18 and a setting device (setting means) 19 for setting the fuel tank 14 mounted on the automobile 12 before filling.

  The fuel tank 14 mounted on the automobile 12 has a different size depending on the vehicle type, and has a different filling capacity and filling pressure. Therefore, the setting device 19 is provided with an operation unit 19a for selecting the type (model) or capacity of the fuel tank 14 before the filling is started. The operation unit 19a is, for example, a touch panel type, and the type (type) or capacity of the fuel tank 14 can be set by pressing a displayed operation button. In addition, a backflow prevention valve 17 for preventing backflow at the time of depressurization operation is provided in the communication pipe line 15 that connects the connection coupler 45 of the automobile 12 and the fuel tank 14.

  The pressure generation unit 16 includes a multistage compressor 22 disposed in a branch line 20 branched from an intermediate pressure line (not shown) of the city gas, and a gas accumulation pressure in which the gas discharged from the compressor 22 is accumulated. A vessel 24 is provided.

  Further, the pressure generating unit 16 and the dispenser unit 18 are connected via a gas supply line 28. The gas supply line 28 extending into the dispenser unit 18 includes a flow meter 30 for measuring the amount of gas flowing through the gas supply line 28 in order from the upstream side, and a gas supply line including an electromagnetic valve. Control valve 34 for communicating or blocking 28, control valve 34 for controlling the gas fed to the downstream side (filled side), temperature measuring tank (container) 35, 2 controlled by control valve 34 A pressure sensor (pressure detector) 36 for detecting the next pressure is disposed.

  The temperature measurement tank 35 is a pseudo tank resembling the fuel tank 14, and is a container for simulating a temperature increase accompanying a pressure increase in the fuel tank 14. The temperature measuring tank 35 is provided with a temperature sensor 37 for measuring the temperature according to the pressure change in the tank. The valve opening degree of the control valve 34 is adjusted according to the tank temperature measured by the temperature sensor 37. When the tank temperature reaches a preset temperature, the valve opening degree is set so that the tank temperature does not increase any more. The gas filling rate is limited to a certain level.

  The flow meter 30 is a Coriolis mass flow meter that vibrates a pipe called a sensor tube, and the position of the inflow side and the outflow side of the pipe by the Coriolis force according to the flow rate of gas flowing in the vibrating pipe. The flow rate is measured by utilizing the fact that the phase difference is proportional to the flow rate. Therefore, the flow meter 30 can accurately measure the mass flow rate of the gas compressed to a high pressure, and the flow rate measurement value per unit time (or the number of flow pulses per unit time) can be controlled by the control unit during the gas filling operation. 58.

  The shut-off valve 32 is composed of an electromagnetic valve or the like, and automatically opens or closes according to a command from the control unit 58.

  Further, the control valve 34 controls the filling pressure and the flow rate by adjusting the valve opening degree according to a command from the control unit 58 to control the filling amount of gas supplied to the fuel tank 14 (the flow rate is determined by pressure × time). To do. That is, the control valve 34 controls the valve opening degree of the control valve 34 so that the filling pressure gradually increases at the start of filling to prevent each device from being damaged by a sudden pressure change. Then, the flow rate is reduced to the flow controllable region, and the filling amount to the fuel tank 14 is accurately filled corresponding to the full pressure mode or the preset mode.

  The three-way valve 40 is configured to be switched manually, and before and after gas filling, the exhaust port b and the filling port c are communicated with each other and the inflow port a is blocked. Further, at the time of gas filling, switching operation is performed so that the inflow port a and the filling port c communicate with each other and the exhaust port b is shut off.

  A gas filling hose 38 communicates with the downstream end of the gas supply pipe 28, and a manual three-way valve 40 is connected to the downstream end of the gas filling hose 38. The three-way valve 40 has an inflow port a to which a gas filling hose 38 is connected, an exhaust port b to which an exhaust pipe 42 is connected, and a filling port c in communication with a connection coupler 44. The three-way valve 40 is operated so that the inflow port a and the filling port c are in communication with each other at the time of gas filling, and the exhaust port b and the filling port c are in communication with each other when performing the depressurization operation after the gas filling is completed. The pressure in the connection coupler 44 is reduced.

  The connection coupler 44 communicates with the fuel tank 14 when connected to and coupled to the connection coupler 45 of the fuel tank 14. Further, the connection couplers 44 and 45 each have a built-in backflow prevention valve (not shown) that opens when connected, and in the separated state, the backflow prevention valve is closed to prevent gas outflow.

  Thus, for example, after the gas filling is completed, the valve is opened when there is time until the next gas filling, and the gas in the gas filling hose 38 is released into the atmosphere, and the pressure of the gas filling hose 38 is set to the full tank pressure. Depressurize below.

  Further, a coupler hooking portion 46 for hooking the connection coupler 44 is attached to the side surface of the dispenser unit 18, and a coupler hooking switch 48 for detecting the presence or absence of the connection coupler 44 is provided on the coupler hooking portion 46. It has been. Further, the dispenser unit 18 is provided with a filling start switch button 50 and a filling stop switch button 52.

  The filling start switch button 50 is a switch button that is operated to open the shutoff valve 32 after the connection coupler 44 is connected to the connection coupler 45 of the fuel tank 14. The filling stop switch button 52 is a switch button operated to close the shutoff valve 32 and the control valve 34 during gas filling.

  The control unit 54 includes a display 56 that displays information related to gas filling (for example, gas filling amount, gas filling pressure, unit price, etc.) and a control unit 58 that controls each device. Further, as will be described later, the control unit 58 is activated by a signal from the filling start button 50, stopped by a signal from the filling stop button 52, and filled in the fuel tank 14 by signals from the flow meter 30 and the pressure sensor 36. The filling amount and the filling pressure are calculated.

  The memory (ROM) of the control unit 58 stores a control program (flow rate control means) for controlling the valve opening degree of the control valve 34 based on the set filling flow rate. Therefore, the control unit 58 controls the valve opening degree of the control valve 34 to maintain the filling flow rate at a flow rate corresponding to the capacity of the fuel tank 14 and to suppress the temperature rise of the fuel tank 14 to the degree of temperature rise of the fuel tank 14. It can be efficiently filled at a corresponding flow rate.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a maximum flow velocity database stored in the memory of the control unit 58.
As shown in FIG. 2, the maximum flow rate database (filling flow rate storage means) 60 includes a flow rate selection button number, an ID number, a vehicle code, and a maximum flow rate according to the difference in the shape and capacity of the fuel tank 14 for each vehicle. Values A to D are registered.

  Accordingly, when any one of the flow rate selection button number, ID number, and vehicle code is input through the operation unit 19a of the setting device 19, the control unit 58 searches the maximum flow velocity database 60 and selects among the maximum flow velocity values A to D. The maximum flow velocity value corresponding to any of the input flow rate selection button number, ID number, or vehicle code is automatically set.

Next, a gas filling operation in the gas filling apparatus 10 having the above-described configuration will be described.
When filling the fuel tank 14 of the automobile 12 with gas, the operator first removes the connection coupler 44 from the coupler hooking portion 46 of the dispenser unit 18 and couples it to the connection coupler 45 of the automobile 12. Then, the operator performs a switching operation so that the inflow port a and the filling port c of the three-way valve 40 communicate with each other.

  Next, when the operator inputs any one of the flow rate selection button number, the ID number, and the vehicle code through the operation unit 19a of the setting device 19, the corresponding maximum flow velocity value is automatically set. When the filling start switch button 50 is turned on, the control unit 58 opens the shutoff valve 32 and opens the control valve 34. Thereby, the high-pressure gas accumulated in the gas accumulator 24 passes through the gas supply line 28, the flow meter 20, the shutoff valve 32, the control valve 34, the gas filling hose 38, the three-way valve 40, and the connection couplers 44 and 45. The fuel tank 14 is filled.

When filling is started, the control unit 58 controls the valve opening degree of the control valve 34 so as to maintain the set maximum flow velocity value. When the fuel tank 14 is filled with gas and becomes full, the pressure in the fuel tank 14 is approximately 200 kgf / cm ² .

  The gas filling amount that has passed through the gas supply line 28 is measured by the flow meter 30, and a voltage value (phase difference between the inflow side and the outflow side) corresponding to the gas filling amount is output to the control unit 58 as a flow rate measurement signal. The The control unit 58 integrates the filling pressure detected by the pressure sensor 36 and the flow rate pulse from the flow meter 30, and displays the gas filling amount filled in the fuel tank 14 on the display 56.

  Further, when the gas filling into the fuel tank 14 is completed, the operator performs a switching operation so that the exhaust port b and the filling port c of the three-way valve 40 are communicated and the inflow port a is shut off. The gas remaining between the three-way valve 40 and the backflow prevention valve 17 provided in the automobile 12 is discharged from the exhaust port b to the exhaust pipe 42, and the pressure in the connection couplers 44 and 45 is reduced to atmospheric pressure. Thereby, the operator can separate the connection couplers 44 and 45 with a light force.

  Thereafter, the operator separates the connection coupler 44 of the dispenser unit 18 from the connection coupler 45 of the automobile 12 and hooks it on the coupler hooking portion 46. When the filling stop switch button 52 is turned on, a series of gas filling operations is completed.

Here, the filling process executed by the control unit 58 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the filling process executed by the control unit 58.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 58 selects the flow rate according to the difference in the shape, capacity, etc. of the fuel tank 14 mounted on the automobile 12 after the operator connects the connection couplers 44, 45 in S <b> 11. When any one of the button number, ID number, and vehicle code is input from the operation unit 19a of the setting device 19, one of the maximum flow velocity values A to D corresponding to the input data is selected from the maximum flow velocity database 60 shown in FIG. .

  In the next S12, it is confirmed whether or not the filling start switch button 50 has been turned on. In S12, when the filling start switch button 50 is turned on, the process proceeds to S13, where the shutoff valve 32 and the control valve 34 are opened. Thereby, the high pressure gas accumulated in the gas accumulator 24 is filled in the gas supply line 28, the flow meter 20, the shutoff valve 32, the control valve 34, the temperature measuring tank 35, and the gas filling hose 38. Then, the high pressure gas accumulated in the gas accumulator 24 is filled in the fuel tank 14 by the switching operation so that the inflow port a and the filling port c of the three-way valve 40 communicate with each other.

  In next S14, the tank temperature T measured by the temperature sensor 37 is read. Subsequently, in S15, the tank temperature T is compared with a preset upper limit temperature Ta to confirm whether the tank temperature T is equal to or lower than the upper limit temperature Ta. In S15, if the tank temperature T is equal to or lower than the upper limit temperature Ta, the process proceeds to S16, and the flow rate value measured by the flow meter 30 is compared with the set value (any one of the maximum flow rates A to D) selected in S11. . In S15, if the tank temperature T is equal to or higher than the upper limit temperature Ta, the flow control in S16 to S18 is omitted and the process proceeds to S19. Therefore, when the tank temperature T exceeds the upper limit temperature Ta, the valve opening of the control valve 34 is kept constant, and the temperature rise of the fuel tank 14 is prevented.

  In S16, when the flow rate value is smaller than the set value selected in S11, the process proceeds to S17, and the valve opening degree of the control valve 34 is shifted in the opening direction by a predetermined value (for example, the valve opening degree is opened by + 5%). Thereby, the flow volume of the gas with which the fuel tank 14 is filled increases.

  In S16, if the flow rate value is larger than the set value selected in S11, the process proceeds to S18, and the valve opening of the control valve 34 is set to a predetermined value in the closing direction (for example, the valve opening is reduced by -5%). Just shift. Thereby, the flow rate of the gas filled in the fuel tank 14 is reduced.

  Thus, in order to control the flow rate so that the flow rate value becomes the set value selected in S11 by controlling the valve opening degree of the control valve 34, the maximum flow velocity according to the difference in the shape, capacity, etc. of the fuel tank 14 Thus, the gas can be efficiently filled in the fuel tank 14 in a short time, and the temperature rise of the fuel tank 14 can be suppressed, and the error due to thermal expansion can be minimized to ensure the filling accuracy.

  In S16, when the flow rate value is equal to the set value selected in S11, the process proceeds to S19. In S19, it is confirmed whether or not the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 36 has reached the target pressure.

  In S19, when the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 36 does not reach the target pressure, the process returns to S14, and the processes after S14 are repeated. In S19, when the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 36 reaches the target pressure, the gas filling pressure to the fuel tank 14 has reached the target pressure, so the process proceeds to S20, and the control valve 34 is fully closed. End gas filling. Subsequently, in S21, the shutoff valve 32 is closed. This completes the gas filling control of the fuel tank 14.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the compressed natural gas (CNG) obtained by compressing the city gas is given as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to supply hydrogen gas.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the compressed gas is filled in the fuel tank 14 of the automobile is given as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an apparatus that supplies the compressed gas to other containers. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus that is installed in the middle of a pipeline for supplying compressed gas to another place.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Example of the gas filling apparatus which becomes this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the maximum flow velocity database stored in the memory of the control part 58. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a filling process executed by a control unit 58;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Gas filling apparatus 14 Fuel tank 16 Pressure generating unit 18 Dispenser unit 24 Gas accumulator 28 Gas supply line 30 Flowmeter 32 Shut-off valve 34 Control valve 35 Temperature measuring tank 36 Pressure sensor 37 Temperature sensor 40 Three-way valve 44, 45 Connection Coupler 48 Coupler switch 50 Fill start switch button 52 Fill stop switch button 56 Display 58 Control unit 60 Maximum flow velocity database

Claims (3)

A flow meter, a control valve, and a pressure detector are disposed in a gas supply path for supplying the compressed gas, and the flow measurement value measured by the flow meter and the pressure measurement value detected by the pressure detector are used as described above. In the gas filling device that controls the valve opening of the control valve to fill the gas supply body with gas,
A setting means for setting the filling flow rate of the gas supplied to the gas supply body to an arbitrary value;
Flow rate control means for controlling the valve opening degree of the control valve based on the filling flow rate set by the setting means;
A gas filling apparatus comprising: The setting means includes
A specifying means for specifying the gas supply body;
Filling flow rate storage means for storing a filling flow rate into the gas supply body in correspondence with data for specifying the gas supply body;
A filling flow rate setting means for reading the filling flow rate to the gas supply body specified by the specifying means from the filling flow rate storage means and setting the filling flow rate;
The gas filling device according to claim 1, further comprising: A flow meter, a control valve, and a pressure detector are disposed in a gas supply path for supplying the compressed gas, and the flow measurement value measured by the flow meter and the pressure measurement value detected by the pressure detector are used as described above. In the gas filling device that controls the valve opening of the control valve to fill the gas supply body with gas,
A container provided in the gas supply path and storing a part of the gas discharged from the control valve;
A temperature detector for measuring the temperature change of the container;
Control means for controlling the valve opening of the control valve to limit the flow rate supplied to the gas supply body when the temperature measured by the temperature detector reaches a predetermined temperature or higher;
A gas filling apparatus comprising:

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