JP2005344873A - Fluid control valve - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the residence of water in a filter arranged in a flow path in which wet gas flows. <P>SOLUTION: A hydrogen exhaust valve 24 for controlling the exhaust amount of fluid (hydrogen) in a fuel battery system 10 comprises the filter 60 for removing unnecessary components in the fluid and a needle 52 to be moved in preset conditions for controlling the flow of the fluid. The needle 52, when moved, approaches the filter 60 up to a distance point where a channel is formed at least between the filter 60 and itself. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid control valve, and is particularly suitable for application to a fluid control valve used in a fuel cell system, an internal combustion engine, and the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a structure in which a filter (filter) for removing impurities from a fluid passing through an inside is used in an injection valve, a control valve, or the like used in an internal combustion engine, a fuel cell system, or the like. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-148438 discloses a configuration in which a filter for filtering fuel is provided at a fuel inlet of an injection valve in which a solenoid coil is incorporated.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-148438 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2631979

  However, when a filter is installed in a flow path through which wet gas flows based on the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-148438, water stays in the filter due to surface tension, and the flow of gas in the flow path There is a risk of being disturbed. In addition, if the water staying at a low temperature freezes, the flow path may be blocked.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to prevent moisture from staying in a filter disposed in a flow path through which a wet gas flows.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first invention is a fluid control valve for controlling a flow of a fluid, the fluid control valve for removing an unnecessary component contained in the fluid, and a fluid movable under a predetermined condition. And a member that moves in conjunction with the mover, and the mover or the member that moves in conjunction with the mover stays in the capturing means when moving. Proximity to the capture means up to the distance where the fluid contacts.

  According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the movable element or a member that moves in conjunction with the movable element contacts the capturing means when the movable element is movable.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the movable element or a member that moves in conjunction with the movable element is movable when the fluid flows through the valve.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the wet gas flow path of the fuel cell system is provided.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the apparatus further includes fluid guiding means for connecting the capturing means and a wall surface of the flow path through which the fluid flows.

  A sixth invention is characterized in that, in the fifth invention, the fluid guiding means has a water guiding function, and the fluid guiding means is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment.

  According to the first invention, since the movable element or the member that moves in conjunction with the movable element is close to the capturing means to the distance that the fluid staying in the capturing means comes into contact with the movable element or the movable element, the capturing means is obtained by surface tension. The fluid staying in can be attached to the mover side. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the fluid flow from being obstructed by the fluid remaining in the capturing means. In addition, it is possible to prevent the fluid that has accumulated in the trapping means from being frozen at a low temperature and block the valve.

  According to the second invention, since the movable element or the member that moves in conjunction with the movable element comes into contact with the capturing means when the movable element is movable, the fluid staying in the capturing means due to surface tension is moved to the movable element side. Can be attached.

  According to the third invention, since the movable element or the member that moves in conjunction with the movable element is configured to move when the valve is opened, when the fluid flows in the valve when the valve is opened, The fluid staying in the capturing means can be attached to the movable element side using the flow. Therefore, the fluid staying in the capturing means can be surely discharged.

  According to the fourth invention, by providing the fluid control valve in the wet gas flow path of the fuel cell system, the moisture can be discharged from the capture means when the moisture in the wet gas stays in the capture means.

  According to the fifth invention, since the fluid guiding means for connecting the capturing means and the wall surface of the flow path is provided, the fluid staying in the capturing means can be moved to the wall surface of the flow path. Therefore, the fluid staying in the capturing means can be discharged with a simple configuration.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the fluid guiding means has a water guiding function and the fluid guiding means is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment, the water staying in the capturing means is reliably moved to the channel wall surface. be able to.

  Several embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element which is common in each figure, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a fuel cell system 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the fuel cell 12 is a fuel cell (PEMFC) provided with a solid polymer separation membrane, and is configured by stacking a plurality of cells composed of a separation membrane (electrolyte membrane), an anode, a cathode, and a separator. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an anode gas channel 14 and a cathode gas channel 16 are introduced into the fuel cell 12. The anode gas flow path 14 is connected to a hydrogen tank 18, and hydrogen-rich anode gas is sent from the hydrogen tank 18 to the anode. In addition, an air pump 20 is provided in the cathode gas flow path 16, and cathode gas as an oxidizing gas containing oxygen is sent to the cathode by driving the air pump 20.

In the anode of the fuel cell 12, when an anode gas is sent in, hydrogen ions are generated from hydrogen in the anode gas (H ₂ → 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ ), and in the cathode gas when the cathode gas is sent in, Oxygen ions are generated from the oxygen and electric power is generated in the fuel cell 12. At the same time, water is generated from the hydrogen ions and oxygen ions at the cathode ((1/2) O ₂ + 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ → H ₂ O). Most of this water absorbs the heat generated in the fuel cell 12 to become water vapor, which is contained in the cathode offgas and discharged.

  The anode off gas discharged from the anode is sent from the anode off gas channel 22 to the channel 28. A pump 30, a filter 32, and a check valve 34 are provided in the flow path 28. The anode off gas sent to the flow path 28 is sent to the flow path 14 by the operation of the pump 30 and is sent to the anode of the fuel cell 12 again. As described above, the system according to the present embodiment includes the anode circulation system that circulates the anode off gas and sends it to the anode of the fuel cell 12.

  A hydrogen discharge valve 24 is connected to the flow path 22. When a large amount of impurities are contained in the gas flowing through the flow path 22, the gas containing impurities is discharged by opening the hydrogen discharge valve 24. A processing device 26 for diluting hydrogen in the exhaust gas is provided downstream of the hydrogen discharge valve 24.

  The cathode off gas discharged from the cathode is sent to the cathode off gas flow path 36. An air pressure regulating valve 38 is provided in the cathode off gas passage 36. A flow path 40 branched from the cathode off-gas flow path 36 and connected to the cathode gas flow path 16 is provided downstream of the air pressure regulating valve 38. Part of the cathode off gas is sent to the flow path 40 and returned to the cathode gas flow path 16. The flow path 40 is provided with an air circulation valve 42 for adjusting the cathode off-gas amount returned to the cathode gas flow path 16. As described above, the system of the present embodiment includes the cathode circulation system that circulates the cathode off gas and sends it to the cathode of the fuel cell 12.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the hydrogen discharge valve 24. 2A shows the closed state of the hydrogen discharge valve 24, and FIG. 2B shows the opened state of the hydrogen discharge valve 24. The hydrogen discharge valve 24 includes a so-called solenoid valve, and includes a stator 50, a mover 52, a spring 54, a rubber sheet 56, and a solenoid 58. The mover 52 includes an armature 52a on the surface facing the solenoid 58 at the upper end. Further, the rubber sheet 56 is fixed to the lower surface of the mover 52.

  The hydrogen discharge valve 24 incorporates a filter 60 as a filter. The filter 60 has a function of removing foreign substances such as dust from the gas flowing through the hydrogen discharge valve 24.

  In the valve closed state shown in FIG. 2A, the rubber sheet 56 fixed to the mover 32 is in close contact with the convex portion 50 a of the stator 50 by the pressing force of the spring 54. Therefore, the gas flow in the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is stopped.

  When the solenoid 58 is energized, an electromagnetic force is generated in a direction that displaces the armature 52a provided integrally with the mover 52 upward. For this reason, the armature 52 a is attracted to the solenoid 58, and the mover 52 moves upward against the pressing force of the spring 54. As a result, the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is opened as shown in FIG. In this state, since the rubber sheet 56 and the convex portion 50a are separated from each other, the gas flows in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2B through the opening 52b provided in the movable element 52, and the gas passes through the hydrogen discharge valve 24. It becomes possible.

  The filter 60 built in the hydrogen discharge valve 24 includes a mesh part 60a made of a metal mesh or a nonwoven fabric, and a ring-shaped frame part 60b to which the mesh part 60a is fixed. The filter 60 is attached to the stator 50 by fitting its frame portion 60 b into the gas flow path inner wall of the stator 50. As shown in FIG. 2, the filter 60 is provided on the upstream side of the gas flow with respect to the portion where the rubber sheet 56 and the convex portion 50a are in close contact with each other. Accordingly, foreign matters such as dust can be removed upstream of the contact portion between the rubber sheet 56 and the convex portion 50a, and problems such as foreign matter being caught in the contact portion can be reliably prevented.

  In the hydrogen discharge valve 24 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the upper surface of the mover 52 is configured to be close to the lower portion of the mesh portion 60a of the filter 60 in the valve open state shown in FIG. Yes. That is, the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is configured so that the mesh portion 60a and the upper surface of the mover 52 are close each time the valve is set to the open state.

  Since the anode off-gas flowing through the hydrogen discharge valve 24 contains moisture, when the anode off-gas passes through the hydrogen discharge valve 24, the moisture in the anode off-gas accumulates in the filter 60, and the moisture film forms a mesh portion due to surface tension. 60a may be formed. In this case, the flow of gas passing through the filter 60 may be hindered. Further, if the water accumulated in the filter 60 is frozen at a low temperature, the gas flow in the hydrogen discharge valve 24 may be interrupted.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, when the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is opened, the moisture staying in the mesh portion 60a is obtained by bringing the upper surface of the mover 52 closer to the lower portion of the mesh portion 60a until the distance is small enough to introduce water. And the mover 52 are brought into contact with each other, and the moisture accumulated in the mesh portion 60a is moved to the mover 52 side. Thereby, it becomes possible to discharge the moisture accumulated in the mesh portion 60a. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the gas flow in the hydrogen discharge valve 24 from being hindered by the moisture accumulated in the mesh portion 60a.

  In particular, when the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is set to the open state, a gas flow is generated from the mesh portion 60a toward the mover 52, so that moisture can be reliably moved from the mesh portion 60a toward the mover 52. It is.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which moisture accumulated in the mesh portion 60a flows out toward the mover 52 when the mover 52 and the mesh portion 60a are brought close to each other. Here, FIG. 3A shows a case where the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is in a closed state as in FIG. 2A, and in this state, the upper surface of the mover 52 and the mesh portion 60a are separated from each other. . In this state, the moisture W in the gas flowing through the hydrogen discharge valve 24 adheres to the mesh portion 60a, and a film is formed by the surface tension of the moisture W.

  FIG. 3B shows a case where the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is in the open state as in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the movable element 52 is brought close to the mesh portion 60a to open the valve, the surface of the moisture W accumulated in the mesh portion 60a and the upper surface of the movable element 52 come into contact with each other. Thereby, the water | moisture content W adhering to the mesh part 60a moves to the needle | mover 52 side, and the water | moisture content W is discharged | emitted from the mesh part 60a.

  And as shown in FIG.3 (c), in the state which the hydrogen discharge valve 24 returned to the valve closing state again, it will be in the state by which the water | moisture content was discharged | emitted from the mesh part 60a. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the flow of gas from being hindered by the water W accumulated in the mesh portion 60a or the water W accumulated in the mesh portion 60a from freezing.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the lower surface of the film of moisture W formed by surface tension is located below the lower end of the mesh portion 60a. Therefore, in order to move the moisture from the mesh portion 60a to the mover 52 when the valve is opened, it is preferable to bring the mover 52 and the mesh portion 60a close to a distance where the lower surface of the moisture film contacts the upper surface of the mover 52. It is. More specifically, the position of the lower surface of the water W formed in the mesh portion 60a varies depending on the mesh pitch in the mesh portion 60a, the material of the mesh portion 60a, and the like. It is preferable that the distance between the upper surface of the mover 52 and the bottom surface of the mesh portion 60a is set to an optimum value so that the lower surface of the moisture W and the upper surface of the mover 62 are in contact with each other when the valve is opened.

  FIG. 4 shows a case where the upper surface of the mover 52 and the lower surface of the mesh portion 60a are brought into contact with each other when the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is opened. Thus, even when the movable element 52 and the mesh portion 60a are brought into contact with each other when the valve is opened, the water accumulated in the mesh portion 60a can be moved to the movable element 52 side, and the moisture is discharged from the mesh portion 60a. Is possible.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is opened, the lower surface of the mesh portion 60a of the filter 60 built in the hydrogen discharge valve 24 and the movable element 52 of the hydrogen discharge valve 24 are brought close to each other. Therefore, the water accumulated in the filter 60 can be moved to the movable element 52 side. Thereby, since the water accumulated in the mesh part 60a of the filter 60 can be discharged, the gas flow can be filtered effectively using the surface area of the filter 60, and the pressure loss of the gas flow can be reduced. it can. In addition, since moisture can be discharged from the mesh portion 60a, the gas flow in the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is hindered by moisture accumulated in the mesh portion 60a, or the gas flow is interrupted by freezing moisture at a low temperature. Can be suppressed. Therefore, the reliability of the hydrogen discharge valve 24 can be improved.

  In the first embodiment, the movable element 52 and the mesh part 60a are arranged close to each other when the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is opened. However, the member that moves in conjunction with the movable element 52 when the valve is opened and the mesh part 60a You may make it adjoin. For example, the filter 60 may be incorporated in a pilot valve or the like having a plurality of movable parts that move differently, and one of the movable parts may be brought close to the mesh part 60a of the filter 60 when the valve is opened.

  In the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to the hydrogen discharge valve 24 of the fuel cell system 10. However, the present invention can also be applied to other open / close valves such as the air pressure regulating valve 38 and the air circulation valve 42. By applying to an on-off valve provided in the flow path through which the wet gas flows, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the movable element 52 and the mesh part 60a are arranged close to each other when the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is opened, but the movable element 52 and the mesh part 60a are arranged close to each other when the valve is closed. Also good. In this case, it is possible to discharge water accumulated in the mesh portion 60a when the valve is closed.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the filter 60 is built in the valve mechanism such as the hydrogen discharge valve 24 is shown. However, even in a structure other than the valve mechanism, the movable member and the filter that are movable in a predetermined case are provided. As long as the movable member moves, the movable member and the filter are configured so as to be close to or in contact with each other, so that the water remaining in the filter can be discharged.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a filter 60 according to the second embodiment. The filter 60 shown in FIG. 5 is used, for example, as the filter 32 arranged upstream of the pump 30 of the anode circulation system in FIG. By providing the filter 32 upstream of the pump 30, foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from flowing into the pump 30. The configuration of the filter 60 is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and the filter 60 includes a mesh portion 60a and a frame portion 60b.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the filter 60 is disposed in a flow path extending in the horizontal direction. And the linear part 62 which connects the mesh part 60a and a flow-path inner wall is provided in the lower part of the mesh part 60a. The linear part 62 is comprised from the metal wire, the resin fiber, etc., and has the function to guide a water | moisture content to a longitudinal direction.

  Thus, by connecting the mesh part 60a and the flow path inner wall with the linear part 62, the water accumulated in the mesh part 60a can be moved to the flow path inner wall side. Therefore, when moisture is accumulated in the mesh part 60a, it is possible to drain moisture from the mesh part 60a. Thereby, it can suppress reliably that the gas flow which flows through the filter 60 will be inhibited by the water | moisture content collected in the mesh part 60a. Preferably, it is desirable that the linear portion 62 is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment such as glycol in order to further enhance the water guiding function and the water discharging function of the linear portion 62. Moreover, you may improve a water conveyance function and a water | moisture-content discharge | release function physically by forming an unevenness | corrugation etc. in the surface of the linear part 62. FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which the filter 60 of FIG. 5 is viewed from the downstream side of the flow path. As shown in FIG. 6, the linear part 62 which connects the mesh part 60a and a flow-path inner wall is provided in multiple places in the circumferential direction of the mesh part 60a. In the example of FIG. 6, the linear part 62 is provided for every predetermined angle (for example, 15 degrees) in the circumferential direction of the mesh part 60a. As described above, by providing the linear portions 62 at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the mesh portion 60a, it is possible to reliably drain the water retained in the mesh portion 60a. Further, when the system of FIG. 1 provided with the filter 60 is mounted on a fuel cell vehicle, it is a case where the vehicle body is inclined by providing the linear portion 62 at a predetermined angular position with respect to the vertical direction. In addition, it becomes possible to move moisture from the filter 60 to the channel wall surface.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the mesh part 60a of the filter 60 and the flow path inner wall are connected by the linear part 62, the water accumulated in the mesh part 60a can flow along the linear part 62. It is possible to move the moisture to the inner wall side of the flow path. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent moisture from staying in the mesh portion 60a, and it is possible to suppress freezing of the moisture that has remained at low temperatures. Thereby, it becomes possible to flow gas reliably in the flow path provided with the filter 60.

  As in the first embodiment, the filter 60 may be built in a fluid control valve such as the hydrogen discharge valve 24, and the mesh portion 60a of the filter 60 and the inner wall of the fluid control valve may be connected by a linear portion 62.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a fuel cell system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a hydrogen discharge valve. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the water | moisture content collected in the mesh part flows out to the needle | mover side, when a needle | mover and a mesh part are made to adjoin. It is a schematic diagram which shows the case where the upper surface of a needle | mover and the lower surface of a mesh part are made to contact | abut at the time of valve opening of a hydrogen discharge valve. It is a schematic diagram which shows the filter which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the filter of FIG. 5 as viewed from the downstream side of the flow path.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel cell system 24 Hydrogen discharge valve 52 Movable element 60 Filter 62 Linear part

Claims (6)

A fluid control valve for controlling the flow of fluid,
Capturing means for removing unnecessary components contained in the fluid;
A movable element that moves under a predetermined condition to control the flow of the fluid, or a member that moves in conjunction with the movable element,
The fluid control valve according to claim 1, wherein the movable element or a member movable in conjunction with the movable element is close to the capturing means to a distance where the fluid staying in the capturing means contacts when the movable element is movable.   The fluid control valve according to claim 1, wherein the movable element or a member that moves in conjunction with the movable element contacts the capturing unit when the movable element is movable.   The fluid control valve according to claim 1, wherein the movable element or a member that moves in conjunction with the movable element moves when the fluid flows through the valve.   The fluid control valve according to claim 1, wherein the fluid control valve is provided in a wet gas flow path of the fuel cell system.   The fluid control valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising fluid guiding means for connecting the capturing means and a wall surface of the flow path through which the fluid flows.   6. The fluid control valve according to claim 5, wherein the fluid guiding means has a water guiding function, and the fluid guiding means is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment.

Images