JP2005265067A - Gas supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein a customer receiving gas fill has a distrust when gas pressure in a fuel tank is at a target pressure or less after completion of gas fill. <P>SOLUTION: A gas supply device 11 consists of a pressure generation unit 14 raising pressure of city gas to roughly a predetermined pressure, a dispenser unit 15 for supplying gas compressed by the pressure generation unit 14 to a fuel tank 13, and a control device 16 controlling each apparatus of the pressure generation unit 14, the dispenser unit 15. The control unit 16 includes a control program (pressure establishing means) establishing pressure value adding a predetermined correction value to a predetermined target pressure value as a filling pressure value, a control program (comparison means) comparing the predetermined filling pressure value and a pressure measurement value detected by a secondary pressure transmitter 29, and a control program (valve control means) closing a control valve when it is detected that pressure value adding the predetermined correction value to the target pressure value is filled in the fuel tank 13 based on the comparison result. Consequently, error of filling pressure at a time of completion of gas fill is corrected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

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

  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, the compressed gas is stored in the gas pressure accumulator, the connection coupling of the gas filling hose is connected to the connection coupling of the CNG vehicle, and communicated with the tip of the gas filling hose. The fuel tank of the CNG vehicle is filled with the gas stored in the gas pressure accumulator by switching the three-way valve.

  In the conventional gas supply apparatus, after the filling side coupling and the filling side coupling are coupled, the gas of a predetermined pressure is supplied to the gas supply hose (fuel tank) via the gas filling hose. The gas supply is supplied to the gas supply body, and when the pressure measurement value measured by the pressure detector reaches a preset target pressure value, the control valve is closed to complete the gas filling (for example, Patent Document 1).

In this type of gas supply device, for example, when compressed natural gas (CNG) or the like obtained by compressing natural gas is supplied to another gas supply body (fuel tank), the compressor causes a predetermined pressure or higher (for example, The gas pressurized to 25 MPa) is temporarily stored in the gas supply tank, and the gas stored in the gas supply tank is filled into the fuel tank of the automobile, and the pressure of the fuel tank reaches a predetermined pressure (for example, 20 MPa). It is comprised so that it may fill.
JP-A-9-79496

  In the gas supply device, gas is filled using a pressure difference between the gas supply tank and the fuel tank, and a pressure detector (pressure transmitter) that measures the pressure in the gas supply pipe provided in the device. ) Detects that the target pressure has been reached and stops filling. However, since the gas that uses the pressure difference is filled, even if the pressure detector detects the target pressure and stops filling the gas, the pressure is detected by the pressure drop in the pipeline from the pressure detector to the fuel tank. Even if the pressure value measured by the vessel is the target pressure, the gas filling pressure filled in the fuel tank is lower than the target pressure.

  Therefore, in the conventional gas filling method, the gas pressure in the fuel tank may be equal to or lower than the target pressure after the gas filling is completed, and the customer who has received the gas filling may have a distrust.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the gas supply 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 supply device that controls the valve opening of the control valve based on the pressure measurement value and fills the gas supply body with gas,
Filling pressure setting means for setting a pressure value obtained by adding a predetermined correction value to a preset target pressure value as a filling pressure value;
Comparison means for comparing a filling pressure value preset by the filling pressure setting means with a pressure measurement value detected by the pressure detector;
Valve control means for closing the control valve when a pressure value obtained by adding a predetermined correction value to the target pressure value according to a comparison result of the comparison means is detected by the pressure detector;
It is provided with.

In the invention of claim 2, 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 supply device for controlling the valve opening of the control valve based on the pressure measurement value and filling the gas supply body with gas,
Filling pressure setting means for setting a pressure value obtained by subtracting a predetermined correction value from a preset target pressure value as a filling pressure value;
Comparison means for comparing a filling pressure value preset by the filling pressure setting means with a pressure measurement value detected by the pressure detector;
Valve control means for closing the control valve when it is detected that a pressure value obtained by subtracting a predetermined correction value from the pressure measurement value according to a comparison result of the comparison means is filled in the gas supply body;
It is provided with.

  According to the present invention, the control valve is closed when it is detected that the gas supply body is filled with a filling pressure value obtained by adding a predetermined correction value to the target pressure value, or the predetermined correction value is determined from the pressure measurement value. When it is detected that the gas supply body has been filled with the pressure value obtained by subtracting the pressure value, the control valve is closed so that the measured pressure value when the gas filling is completed and the actual filling pressure filled in the gas supply body Thus, it is possible to correct the error so as to eliminate the mistrust of the gas filling accuracy.

  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 supply apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the gas supply device 11 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) 13 of an automobile 12. is set up. The compressed natural gas is an example, and the gas handled by the gas supply device 11 is not limited to this and includes other gases that are compressed and used within a range of atmospheric pressure to about 20 MPa.

  In general, the gas supply device 11 includes a pressure generation unit 14 for increasing the city gas to a predetermined pressure, a dispenser unit 15 for supplying the gas compressed by the pressure generation unit 14 to the fuel tank 13, and these pressure generation units 14. , And a control device 16 for controlling each device of the dispenser unit 15.

  The pressure generating unit 14 is supplied to a multistage compressor 18 through an intermediate pressure line (not shown) through which city gas is supplied at an intermediate pressure (pressure higher than that used at home) and an upstream line 17. Supply and compress. The compressor 18 is provided with, for example, a plurality of (three or four) cylinders for compressing gas, and pressurizes the gas compressed in the preceding cylinder to a higher pressure in the next cylinder. The gas supplied from the intermediate pressure line is compressed stepwise.

  Further, a gas supply line 19 is connected to the discharge port of the compressor 18, and a check valve 20 that prevents the compressed gas from flowing back to the compressor 18 is disposed in the gas supply line 19. . Further, the gas supply line 19 is connected to a gas accumulator 21. Note that the gas pressure accumulator 21 is generally also referred to as a “gas accumulator” in the literature.

  In this embodiment, when the maximum pressure of the fuel tank 3 is 20 MPa, the maximum pressure of the gas accumulator 13 is set to 25 MPa. Accordingly, the compressor 18 compresses the city gas (about 0.5 to 0.8 MPa) supplied from the intermediate pressure pipe to make the pressure of the gas accumulator 21 the above set pressure.

  The discharge line 22 for discharging the gas from the gas accumulator 21 is provided with an on-off valve 23 made of an electromagnetic valve. The discharge line 22 communicates with a gas supply line 24, and the gas accumulator 21 is connected to the fuel tank 13 via the gas supply line 24.

  The gas supply line 24 includes a primary pressure transmitter 25 that detects the supply gas pressure supplied from the gas pressure accumulator 21, and a mass flow meter 26 that measures the amount of gas supplied to the fuel tank 13. A gas supply opening / closing valve 27 comprising an electromagnetic valve, a pressure control valve 28 for adjusting the gas pressure supplied to the fuel tank 13 to a predetermined pressure, and a secondary pressure transmission for measuring the supply gas pressure supplied to the fuel tank 13 A device (pressure detector) 29 and a manual depressurization valve 30 are provided.

  The manual depressurization valve 30 is opened by manual operation when maintenance occurs or when an abnormality occurs in other equipment, and the gas in the gas supply line 24 is discharged to the low pressure line 47 so that the gas supply line 24 The pressure can be reduced.

  The gas filling path 51 includes a hose pressure-reducing three-way valve 33, a filling hose 35, and a filling nozzle 49. The filling nozzle 49 has a manual three-way valve 36 and a connection coupling 37.

  The three-way valve 33 for hose depressurization includes a port where the end of the filling line 31 is communicated, b port where the end of the filling hose 35 is communicated, and c port where the end of the low pressure line 47 is communicated. And have. Further, the three-way valve 33 for hose depressurization is configured to be switched by a control signal from the vibration damping device 16, and is a filling mode in which the a and b ports are communicated or a depressurization mode in which the a and c ports are communicated. It operates to switch to either one of these. The low-pressure line 47 communicates with a gas recovery container or the atmosphere, and when the hose depressurization three-way valve 33 is switched to the depressurization side after the completion of filling, the gas remaining in the filling hose 35 is recovered to the low pressure side. The pressure in the filling hose 35 is reduced.

  The manual three-way valve 36 provided in the filling nozzle 49 is connected to a port through which the end of the filling hose 35 communicates, b port through which the connection coupling 37 communicates, and one end of the atmospheric discharge line 42. c port. The manual three-way valve 36 is configured to be switched when the operator rotates the handle for manual operation at the start of filling. The manual three-way valve 36 is connected to the filling mode in which the a and b ports are communicated or the a and c ports are communicated. It operates to switch to either one of the decompression modes. Note that the other end of the atmospheric discharge pipe 42 communicates with the atmosphere, and when the manual three-way valve 36 is depressurized after the completion of filling, the gas remaining in the filling nozzle 49 is recovered to the low pressure side to fill the filling nozzle. The pressure in 49 is reduced.

  Further, the connection coupling 37 of the filling nozzle 49 is coupled to the vehicle side connection coupling 38 of the filling line 39 communicated with the fuel tank 13 of the automobile 12. Each of the connection couplings 37 and 38 has a valve (not shown) built therein, and each valve is opened and held in a connected state by coupling, and each valve is closed by releasing the coupling. Prevent gas outflow.

  Further, a manual on-off valve 40 and a check valve 41 are provided in the filling line 39 of the automobile 12. The manual on-off valve 40 is opened when a gas filling operation is performed. The check valve 41 prevents the gas filled in the fuel tank 13 from flowing backward, and opens when the gas pressure to be filled becomes equal to or higher than the pressure of the fuel tank 13 so that the gas can be filled. .

  The control device 16 is connected to the above devices, and is connected to a card reader 53, a display 54, a filling start switch 55, a filling stop switch 56, and an emergency stop switch 57. Further, in the memory 60 of the control device 16, as will be described later, a control program (pressure setting means) for setting a pressure value obtained by adding a predetermined correction value to a preset target pressure value as a filling pressure value, and a preset value are set. A control program (comparison means) for comparing the measured filling pressure value with the pressure measurement value detected by the secondary pressure transmitter 29, and a pressure value obtained by adding a predetermined correction value to the target pressure value based on the comparison result 13 stores a control program (valve control means) that closes the control valve when it is detected that the fuel has been filled.

Here, an example of the external shape of the dispenser unit 15 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the dispenser unit 15.
As shown in FIG. 2, the dispenser unit 15 is provided with a filling hose 35 and a filling nozzle 49 on the right side surface 62 a of the vertical casing 62. Further, a nozzle latching portion 64 for latching the filling nozzle 49 is attached to the right side surface 62 a of the housing 62.

  Further, a display device 54 that displays a filling amount, a filling start switch 55, a filling stop switch 56, and an emergency stop switch 57 are arranged on the front surface 62b of the housing 62. A housing portion 58 for housing the manual depressurization valve 30 is provided on the front surface 62 b of the housing 62. The storage 58 is normally sealed by a door 59, but is provided so as to be openable and closable so that it can be opened from the outside.

Next, the gas filling operation in the gas supply device 11 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 filling nozzle 49 from the nozzle hooking portion 64 of the dispenser unit 15 and couples the connection coupling 37 to the connection coupling 38 of the automobile 12. Let Then, the operator performs a switching operation so that the inflow port a of the three-way valve 36 and the filling port c communicate with each other.

  Next, when the operator operates the filling start switch button 55 to turn on, the control device 16 opens the shut-off valve 27 and opens the control valve 28. Thereby, the high-pressure gas accumulated in the gas accumulator 21 passes through the gas supply line 24, the flow meter 26, the shutoff valve 27, the control valve 28, the gas filling hose 35, the three-way valve 36, and the connection couplings 37 and 38. The fuel tank 14 is filled.

  Immediately after the start of filling, in order to calculate the container capacity of the fuel tank 13, the opening degree of the control valve 28 is slightly reduced, and the supply amount to the fuel tank 13 is suppressed to 3 kg / min, for example. When the capacity of the fuel tank 13 is obtained, gas filling into the fuel tank 13 is started by a control law (constant pressure control or constant flow rate control) according to the capacity.

  In this way, when the fuel tank 13 is filled with gas and the filling pressure of the fuel tank 13 reaches 20 MPa, the fuel tank 13 becomes full.

  The gas filling amount that has passed through the gas supply line 24 is measured by the flow meter 26, and a flow rate measurement signal is output to the control device 16. Then, the control device 16 integrates the flow rate pulses from the flow meter 26 and displays the gas filling amount filled in the fuel tank 13 on the display 54.

  When the gas filling to the fuel tank 13 is completed, the operator performs a switching operation so that the exhaust port b and the filling port c of the three-way valve 36 are communicated and the inflow port a is shut off. The gas remaining between the three-way valve 36 and the backflow prevention valve 41 provided in the automobile 12 is discharged from the exhaust port b to the low pressure line 47, and the pressure in the connection couplings 37 and 38 is reduced to atmospheric pressure. The Thereby, the operator can separate the connection couplings 37 and 38 with a light force.

  Thereafter, the operator separates the connection coupling 37 of the filling nozzle 49 from the connection coupling 38 of the automobile 12 and hooks it on the nozzle hooking portion 64, thereby completing a series of gas filling operations.

Here, the control processing executed by the control device 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the filling start switch button 50 is turned on in S11, the control device 16 proceeds to S12 and resets the display on the display 54 to zero.

In next S13, a preset target pressure Pa is read. Subsequently, the process proceeds to S14, and a preset correction value ΔP is read. In S15, the filling pressure obtained by adding the correction value ΔP to the target pressure Pa is set as the correction target value _P01 (filling pressure setting means).

In next S16, the shutoff valve 27 and the control valve 28 are opened, and gas filling to the fuel tank 13 is started. Subsequently, in S17, the gas supply amount measured by the flow meter 26 is displayed on the display 54. In the next S18, reads the measurement pressure _{P 1} measured with the secondary pressure transmitter 29. Then, the process proceeds to S19, the second pressure transmitter 29 compares the corrected target value P ₀₁ obtained by adding the correction value △ P to a preset target pressure Pa and the measured pressure P ₁ that is measured (comparison means).

In S16, to see if it has reached the filling pressure P ₀ obtained by adding the correction value △ P to the target pressure Pa of measuring the pressure P ₁ is set in advance. For this correction value ΔP, for example, a pressure value corresponding to a pressure drop in the fuel tank 13 by a gas filling experiment in a factory or the like may be used as the correction value. Alternatively, gas filling may be performed at the place where the dispenser unit 15 is installed, and the pressure drop in the fuel tank 13 may be input as the correction value ΔP.

When measuring the pressure P ₁ in the above S19 does not reach the corrected target value P ₀₁ is the gas filling of the fuel tank 13 is not completed, returns to S17, and continues the gas filling.

Further, in S19, when it reaches the corrected target value P ₀₁ obtained by adding the correction value △ P to the target pressure Pa of measuring the pressure P ₁ is set in advance, the process proceeds to S20, the pressure of the fuel tank 13 to the target pressure Pa Therefore, it can be determined that the gas filling into the fuel tank 13 has been normally completed. Therefore, the shutoff valve 27 and the control valve 28 are closed to stop the gas filling (valve control means).

Thus, in the fuel tank 13, because it was filled with the corrected target value P ₀₁ obtained by adding the correction value △ P to the target pressure Pa at the completion gas filling, the pressure of the fuel tank 13 is secured to the initial target pressure after filling is completed The Thereby, it can correct | amend so that the difference | error of the pressure measurement value at the time of gas filling completion and the actual filling pressure with which the fuel tank 13 was filled can be corrected, and distrust with respect to gas filling precision can be wiped out.

The gas supply device 11 is a system in which gas is filled into the fuel tank 13 using a pressure difference between the gas accumulator 21 on the high pressure side and the fuel tank 13 on the low pressure side. The pressure drop also occurs in the gas supply line 24 and the filling hose 35 connecting the secondary pressure transmitter 29 to the fuel tank 13. Since a differential pressure is generated during gas filling, the pressure value detected by the secondary pressure transmitter 29 is higher than the actual pressure in the fuel tank 13 by a predetermined pressure. Accordingly, when the pressure value measured by the secondary pressure transmitter 29 reaches the corrected target value P ₀₁ obtained by adding the correction value ΔP to the target pressure Pa, the actual pressure in the fuel tank 13 becomes substantially the target pressure Pa. .

Here, a formula for calculating the flow rate Q and the correction value ΔP will be described.
The relationship between the flow rate Q and the correction value ΔP is derived from the following equation according to Bernoulli's theorem.
Q = k√ (2ΔP / ρ) (1)
In the above (1), Q is a volume flow rate, ρ is a gas density, ΔP is a pressure difference between two points, and k is a value determined by a throttle structure between two points.

  Further, the correction value ΔP is determined by the piping structure of the dispenser unit 15 (for example, ΔP = 0.4 MPa).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a modification of the control process executed by the control device 16.
In FIG. 4, the processes of S21 to S24 are the same as the processes of S11 to S14 described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

In S25, by subtracting the correction value △ P from the target pressure Pa sets the target pressure _{P 02} in the fuel tank 13 (pressure setting means). Since the next S26 to S28 are the same as S16 to S18 described above, the description thereof is omitted.

In S29, the correction value △ P from pressure values P ₁ measured by the secondary pressure transmitter 29 subtracts calculates the estimated pressure P ₂ in the fuel tank 13. Then, the process proceeds to S30, the estimated pressure _{P 2} in the fuel tank 13 to see if it has reached the target pressure _{P 02} which is set in S25 (comparing means). In S30, when the estimated pressure P ₂ in the fuel tank 13 does not reach the target pressure P ₀₂ is the gas filling of the fuel tank 13 is not completed, returns to S27, and continues the gas filling.

Further, in S30, when it reaches the filling pressure P ₀ the measured pressure P ₁ is obtained by adding the correction value △ P to the target pressure Pa which has been set in advance, the process proceeds to S31, the pressure of the fuel tank 13 reaches the target pressure Pa Therefore, it can be determined that the gas filling into the fuel tank 13 has been normally completed, and therefore the shutoff valve 27 and the control valve 28 are closed to stop the gas filling (valve control means).

Thus, in the fuel tank 13, since the estimated pressure P ₂ obtained by subtracting the correction value △ P from pressure values P ₁ measured by the secondary pressure transmitter 29 is filled, the pressure of the fuel tank 13 after completion of filling The initial target pressure is filled. Thereby, it can correct | amend so that the difference | error of the pressure measurement value at the time of gas filling completion and the actual filling pressure with which the fuel tank 13 was filled can be corrected, and distrust with respect to gas filling precision can be wiped out.

  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 supply apparatus which becomes this invention. 3 is a front view of the dispenser unit 15. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining control processing executed by a control device 16; 7 is a flowchart for explaining a modification of the control process executed by the control device 16;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Gas supply apparatus 12 Automobile 13 Fuel tank 14 Pressure generating unit 15 Dispenser unit 16 Control apparatus 18 Compressor 19, 24 Gas supply line 21 Gas accumulator 22 Discharge line 23 On-off valve 25 Primary pressure transmitter 26 Mass flow meter 27 Gas supply on / off valve 28 Pressure control valve 29 Secondary pressure transmitter 30 Manual depressurization valve 35 Filling hose 36 Manual three-way valve 37 Connection coupling 38 Vehicle side connection coupling 49 Filling nozzle 54 Indicator 55 Filling start switch 56 Filling stop switch 62 Enclosure

Claims (2)

A flow meter, a control valve, and a pressure detector are arranged in a gas supply path for supplying compressed gas, and the flow measurement value measured by the flow meter and the pressure measurement value detected by the pressure detector are In the gas supply device for controlling the valve opening of the control valve to fill the gas supply body with gas,
A filling pressure setting means for setting a pressure value obtained by adding a predetermined correction value to a preset target pressure value as a filling pressure value;
Comparison means for comparing a filling pressure value preset by the filling pressure setting means with a pressure measurement value detected by the pressure detector;
Valve control means for closing the control valve when a pressure value obtained by adding a predetermined correction value to the target pressure value according to a comparison result of the comparison means is detected by the pressure detector;
A gas supply device comprising: A flow meter, a control valve, and a pressure detector are arranged in a gas supply path for supplying compressed gas, and the flow measurement value measured by the flow meter and the pressure measurement value detected by the pressure detector are In the gas supply device for controlling the valve opening of the control valve to fill the gas supply body with gas,
Filling pressure setting means for setting a pressure value obtained by subtracting a predetermined correction value from a preset target pressure value as a filling pressure value;
Comparison means for comparing a filling pressure value preset by the filling pressure setting means with a pressure measurement value detected by the pressure detector;
Valve control means for closing the control valve when it is detected that a pressure value obtained by subtracting a predetermined correction value from the pressure measurement value according to a comparison result of the comparison means is filled in the gas supply body;
A gas supply device comprising:

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