JP2005240921A - Gas filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent accident to be caused by gas leak from the inside of a casing. <P>SOLUTION: An internal space 36 of a device main body 12 includes: a gas supply system 38 for supplying gas; a substantially safe anti-explosion structure area 40 in which substantially safe anti-explosion structure equipment for measuring the gas supplied form the gas supply system 38 is arranged; and a pressure resistant anti-explosion area 42 arranged below the gas supply system 38. Since leaked gas is not accumulated in the pressure resistant anti-explosion area 42, and only the substantially safe anti-explosion structured equipment is arranged in the area 42, the area is structured in double safety even if gas leak occurs. There is no need for enhancement of the strength of pressure resistant anti-explosion, even if gas pressure supplied to the gas supply system 38 becomes more higher, so that a pressure resistant anti-explosion structured box for housing equipment such as a display can be reduced in size and weight. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas filling apparatus, and more particularly, to a gas filling apparatus configured such that a gas supply system, a measuring unit, and the like are housed inside a casing.

  For example, when filling gas such as hydrogen gas or compressed natural gas (CNG) compressed with methane gas at a high pressure, a gas-filled coupling connected to the tank (supplied material) with a mechanical connection so that it can withstand the pressure Is used. In this type of gas-filled coupling, a hose drawn from the dispenser unit is connected, and a flow meter, a control valve, a pressure sensor, and the like are provided inside the housing of the dispenser unit. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In a conventional gas filling device, for example, a display that displays the gas supply amount is provided at a height that is easy to see from the worker performing the gas filling operation, and equipment such as piping of a gas supply system, a shut-off valve, and a flow meter Is arranged below the display.

  Devices with relatively high voltage, such as indicators, are housed in a flameproof box with a flameproof structure, and devices with relatively low voltage, such as shutoff valves and flow meters, have an intrinsically safe structure. ing.

  In this gas filling device having a gas filling coupling, when a vehicle to be supplied with fuel arrives, the filling coupling provided at the tip of the filling hose is coupled to a connecting portion (coupler) of the fuel tank (supplied body) of the vehicle. Let

  Thereafter, the three-way valve of the filling coupling is switched and the gas stored in the gas supply tank is filled into the fuel tank of the automobile through the filling hose and the filling coupling. At this time, although gas remains in the fuel tank of the automobile, gas filling is performed by the pressure difference because the pressure (supply pressure) of the gas supply tank is sufficiently larger than the pressure of the fuel tank.

Then, the gas stored in the gas supply tank is supplied to the fuel tank of the automobile and filled until the fuel tank reaches a predetermined full tank pressure (for example, 20 MPa), and the gas is filled by switching the three-way valve of the filling coupling. Ends.
JP 2000-372191 A

  However, in the conventional gas filling device, for example, a display for displaying the gas supply amount is provided at a height that is easy to see from the worker performing the gas filling operation, such as piping of the gas supply system, a shut-off valve, a flow meter, etc. Because the device is located below the display, for example, if hydrogen gas or methane gas, whose specific gravity (relative density) is lower than that of air, leaks inside the housing, the device has a flameproof structure such as a display. In order to secure more safety, it is desired to further strengthen the explosion-proof structure.

  However, because the explosion-proof box is made of a metal such as a casting, it is heavy and has a large installation space. If this is made thicker to further increase the pressure resistance, the weight will further increase and the size will increase. There is a problem of end.

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

  The invention according to claim 1 is a gas supply system for supplying a gas having a specific gravity smaller than the specific gravity of air to a supply target, and a measuring means for measuring a gas supply amount supplied by the gas supply system. And a gas filling device having a display that displays the gas supply amount measured by the measuring means, and a pressure-proof explosion-proof box that houses equipment including the display, and the gas supply system includes the gas supply system. It is arranged above the explosion-proof box.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas supply system for supplying a gas having a specific gravity smaller than the specific gravity of air to an object to be supplied, and a device for measuring a gas supply amount supplied by the gas supply system. In the gas filling device having an intrinsically safe explosion-proof structural device and a pressure-proof explosion-proof structural device for housing a device including a display for displaying the gas supply amount measured by the measuring means, in the casing, the gas supply system In addition, the intrinsically safe explosion-proof structural device is disposed above the pressure-proof and explosion-proof structural device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the gas supply system has a plurality of systems in which the pressure of the supplied gas is different, and the high-pressure gas supply system is arranged above the low-pressure gas supply system. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, by disposing the gas supply system above the explosion-proof box, even if gas leaks from the gas supply system, the gas supply system accumulates above the housing, and the explosion-proof explosion disposed below the gas supply system. There is no need to increase the strength of the box, and it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the explosion-proof structure in which devices such as a display are housed.

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

FIG. 1 is a front view showing Embodiment 1 of a gas filling apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the gas filling device. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the gas filling device.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the gas filling device 10 is a gas supply for supplying a compressible natural gas (CNG) obtained by compressing hydrogen or methane gas having a specific gravity smaller than that of air (specific gravity = 1), for example. The device main body 12 is fixed on a fixed base 13 fixed on the ground. The fixed base 13 supports the device main body 12 at a predetermined height position where it can be easily operated, and accommodates piping and valves communicating with the gas supply system, a fire extinguisher, and tools necessary for maintenance. Has been.

  Further, inside the housing of the apparatus main body 12, devices such as a mass flow meter, a pressure sensor, and a control valve are accommodated as will be described later. On the front and rear surfaces of the apparatus main body 12, there are provided an operation unit 14 on which various operation switches are arranged, and a display 15 for displaying a gas filling amount.

  Furthermore, the apparatus main body 12 is provided with joints 20a and 20b in which gas filling hoses 16a and 16b and decompression hoses 18a and 18b are connected to the left and right side surfaces. Further, the ends of the gas filling hoses 16a and 16b and the decompression hoses 18a and 18b are connected to the gas filling couplings 22a and 22b. When the gas filling couplings 22a and 22b do not perform the gas filling operation. It is mounted on coupling mounting portions 24 a and 24 b provided on the left and right side surfaces of the apparatus body 12. In the present embodiment, the gas filling coupling 22a provided on the left side surface of the apparatus main body 12 has a filling pressure adjusted to 35 MPa, and the gas filling coupling 22b provided on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 12 is filled. The pressure is adjusted to 25 MPa.

  For example, when a gas is filled in a fuel tank (not shown) of an automobile, an operator selects one of the gas filling couplings 22a and 22b according to the filling pressure (25 MPa or 35 MPa) as a coupling mounting portion 24a. , 24b and connected to a fuel tank connection port (not shown). And gas filling is started by rotating the operation lever of the switching valve provided in gas filling coupling 22a, 22b.

  Further, a pressure gauge 26 for filling a pressure of 25 MPa, an original pressure gauge 28 for measuring the pressure of the gas supply source, and each pipe connection portion 29 are attached to the right side surface of the apparatus main body 12. Further, on the left side surface of the apparatus main body 12, pressure gauges 30a to 30e for measuring the pressure of each part of the pressure 35 MPa filling path, an exhaust pipe 32 for exhausting the gas in the pipe to the outside, and each pipe connection Part 34 is provided.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the apparatus main body 12.
As shown in FIG. 4, a gas supply system 38 for supplying gas and an intrinsically safe explosion-proof structural device for measuring the gas supplied by the gas supply system 38 are arranged in the internal space 36 of the apparatus body 12. In addition, an intrinsically safe explosion-proof region 40 and a pressure-proof explosion-proof region 42 disposed below the gas supply system 38 are provided.

  The gas supply system 38 includes an upstream pipeline 50 to which external piping is connected, and a branch pipeline 52 that is branched from the upstream pipeline 50 and communicated with the original pressure gauge 28. In addition, an air-driven shut-off valve 58, an air-driven regulating valve 60, a flow sensor 62, and a flow meter transmitter 64 are disposed in the upstream pipe line 50. The upstream pipe 50 is branched at the flowmeter transmitter 64 into an upper system 54 for pressure 25 MPa and an upper system 56 for pressure 35 MPa.

  The lower system 54 for a pressure of 25 MPa disposed below the upstream pipe 50 includes an air-driven shutoff valve 68 and a pressure sensor 74 communicated with a branch pipe 72 branched from the first cross joint 70. The pressure gauge 26 communicated with the branch line 76 branched from the first cross joint 70, the safety valve 84 communicated with the branch line 82 branched from the second cross joint 80, and the second cross A branch line 86 branched from the joint 80 and communicated with the gas filling hose 16b on the right side, a decompression line 88 having one end communicated with the second cross joint 80 and the other end communicated with the exhaust line 32, A manual valve 90 provided in the pressure line 88 is provided.

  Further, in the lower system 56 for pressure 35 MPa disposed above the upper system 54 for pressure 25 MPa, the pressure communicated with the air driven shut-off valve 98 and the branch pipe 102 branched from the first cross joint 100. A pressure gauge 30 communicated with the branch line 106 branched from the first cross joint 100, a safety valve 114 communicated with the branch line 112 branched from the second cross joint 110, a first valve A branch pipe 116 branched from the second cross joint 110 and communicated with the gas filling hose 16b on the left side, and a depressurization pipe 118 having one end communicated with the second cross joint 110 and the other end communicated with the exhaust pipe 32. And a manual valve 120 provided in the decompression line 118.

  Limit switch for detecting the opening / closing of each valve element provided in each of the air-driven shut-off valve 58, air-driven regulating valve 60, flow sensor 62, air-driven shut-off valve 68, and air-driven shut-off valve 98. 58 a, 60 a, 62 a, 68 a, 98 a, the flow sensor 62, and the flow meter transmitter 64 each have an intrinsically safe explosion-proof structure, and an intrinsically safe explosion-proof region 40 formed in the upper part of the internal space 36 of the apparatus body 12. Is installed.

  The explosion-proof area 42 is formed in the lower part of the internal space 36 of the apparatus main body 12 where gas does not easily stay even when a gas leak occurs, and the connection box 130 to which each device is connected and the display 15 are accommodated. A display box 132, an operation unit box 134 in which the operation unit 14 is stored, and a barrier box 136 in which an electric circuit and the like are stored are arranged.

  Each of the connection box 130, the display box 132, the operation unit box 134, and the barrier box 136 is made of a metal case having a pressure-proof explosion-proof structure and has strength to withstand external impacts, and gas is contained in the box. It has an airtight structure that can not enter.

  For this reason, the explosion-proof area 42 is an area where the leaked gas does not stay and is only provided with an explosion-proof structure, so that even if a gas leak occurs, it has a double safety structure. Accordingly, even when the gas pressure supplied to the gas supply system 38 becomes higher, it is not necessary to further strengthen the strength of the explosion-proof construction, and the explosion-proof construction box in which equipment such as a display is housed can be reduced in size and It becomes possible to reduce the weight.

  Furthermore, the lower system 56 for the high pressure 35 MPa is more likely to leak gas than the lower system 54 for the 25 MPa pressure, and is therefore disposed above the lower system 54 for the 25 MPa pressure. Therefore, even if gas leaks from the lower system 56 for the pressure of 35 MPa, the time until the gas having a specific gravity smaller than air moves to the upper part of the internal space 36 of the apparatus main body 12 is higher than when it is provided at a lower position. It is shortened and does not accumulate in the lower part of the apparatus main body 12.

  Thus, the apparatus main body 12 can prevent the apparatus main body 12 from being filled because the high pressure 35 MPa lower system 56 is disposed above the pressure 25 MPa lower system 54.

  FIG. 5 is a side view showing a second embodiment in which the apparatus main body 12 is mounted on a track. FIG. 6 is a rear view showing the second embodiment in which the apparatus main body 12 is mounted on a track. 5 and 6, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the apparatus main body 12 is mounted on a loading platform 142 of the truck 140. In addition, a cylinder storage box 144 for storing a cylinder storing hydrogen is mounted on the loading platform 142 of the truck 140.

  The apparatus main body 12 has a bottom fixed to the loading platform 142 of the truck 140, the coupling mounting portions 24a and 24b are in a height position where the gas-filled couplings 22a and 22b are easily held, and the display 15 is an operator. Easy to see from the height.

  Thus, since the apparatus main body 12 can move in the state mounted in the loading platform 142 of the track | truck 140, it can move to arbitrary places and can perform gas filling. Further, even if vibration occurs when the truck 140 travels, the gas supply system 38 is arranged above the explosion-proof explosion-proof region 42, so that even if gas leaks from the gas supply system 38, the gas supply system 38 enters the internal space 36 of the apparatus body 12. As a result, gas does not stay in the connection box 130, the display box 132, the operation unit box 134, and the barrier box 136, and safety during traveling is ensured.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where gas such as hydrogen is filled has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to any apparatus that fills gas having a specific gravity smaller than air other than hydrogen. Of course you can.

It is a front view which shows Example 1 of the gas filling apparatus which becomes this invention. It is a right view of a gas filling apparatus. It is a left view of a gas filling device. 3 is a front view showing an internal configuration of the apparatus main body 12. FIG. It is a side view which shows Example 2 with which the apparatus main body 12 was mounted in the track | truck. It is a rear view which shows Example 2 with which the apparatus main body 12 was mounted in the track | truck.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Gas filling apparatus 12 Apparatus main body 13 Fixing base 14 Operation part 15 Indicator 16a, 16b Gas filling hose 18a, 18b Decompression hose 22a, 22b Gas filling coupling 24a, 24b Coupling mounting part 26 Pressure gauge 28 Original pressure gauge 30a-30e Pressure gauge 36 Internal space 38 Gas supply system 40 Intrinsically safe explosion-proof area 42 Explosion-proof area 54 Pressure 25 MPa upper system 56 Pressure 35 MPa upper system 58 Air-driven shut-off valve 60 Air-driven regulating valve 62 Flow sensor 64 Flow rate Meter transmitter 66 Lower system 74 for pressure 25 MPa Pressure sensor 78 Pressure gauge 84 Safety valve 88 Depressurization line 96 Lower system 98 for pressure 35 MPa Air-driven shutoff valve 104 Pressure sensor 108 Pressure gauge 114 Safety valve 118 Decompression line 130 Connection box 132 Display Box 134 operation Box 136 barrier box 140 tracks 142 bed 144 cylinder storage box

Claims (3)

A gas supply system for supplying a gas having a specific gravity smaller than the specific gravity of air to a supply target;
Measuring means for measuring a gas supply amount supplied by the gas supply system;
A display for displaying the gas supply amount measured by the measuring means;
An explosion-proof box for storing equipment including the indicator;
In the gas filling apparatus having the inside of the housing,
A gas filling apparatus, wherein the gas supply system is disposed above the explosion-proof box. A gas supply system for supplying a gas having a specific gravity smaller than the specific gravity of air to a supply target;
An intrinsically safe explosion-proof structure device including a device for measuring the gas supply amount supplied by the gas supply system;
Explosion-proof structure equipment that houses equipment including a display that displays the gas supply amount measured by the measuring means;
In the gas filling device having the inside of the housing,
A gas filling apparatus, wherein the gas supply system and the intrinsically safe explosion-proof structural device are arranged above the pressure-proof and explosion-proof structural device.   The gas supply system includes a plurality of systems having different pressures of gas to be supplied, and the gas supply system having a higher pressure is disposed above the gas supply system having a lower pressure. 2. The gas filling device according to 2.

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