JP2005347190A - Moving body and refueling station - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a moving body or the like which can discharge appropriately product water that is formed by a fuel cell. <P>SOLUTION: Based on a judgment result whether or not a fuel gas is replenished to the fuel cell, discharge of the product water accumulated in a tank 90 is controlled. When the judgment is made that a fuel lid which is installed at a rear part or the like of the vehicle for replenishing the fuel gas is opened and that power generation operation by the fuel cell 20 is suspended, a control part 50 switches an outer exhaust valve 91 from "CLOSE" to "OPEN" for exhausting the water stored in the tank 90 outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

    The present invention relates to a technique for discharging generated water generated by a fuel cell to the outside.

Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells are regarded as promising for application to automobiles (mobiles) and others as small and light power sources using hydrogen and oxygen as fuel. This solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane having an ion exchange function, and a positive electrode and a negative electrode arranged in contact with both sides. In such a fuel cell, water (product water) is generated by the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and thus the exhaust gas contains a large amount of water.
As a configuration for discharging such generated water, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, the generated water is efficiently discharged from the lower part of the vehicle by providing a discharge valve in the vicinity of the wheel in an automobile equipped with a fuel cell. A configuration is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-204126 (see page 3, FIG. 1)

  However, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not preferable because the generated water adheres to other vehicles, people, roadside objects, and the like that exist behind or on the side of the vehicle depending on the discharge timing of the generated water.

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a moving body and a fuel supply facility that can appropriately discharge generated water generated in association with the operation of a fuel cell. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a mobile body according to the present invention is a fuel cell, a tank that stores generated water generated by the fuel cell, and a discharge unit that discharges the generated water stored in the tank to the outside. A drainage valve, drainage determination means for determining whether or not the movable body is in a drainable position, and the generated water from the drainage valve when the drainage determination means determines that the drainage valve is in a drainable position. And a control means for discharging the water.

  According to such a configuration, the generated water generated by the fuel cell is discharged to the outside through the drain valve when it is determined that the moving body is in a position where the mobile body can be drained. Here, the drainable position refers to a place where there is a facility (for example, a drainage ditch) for receiving drainage, and includes a fuel supply facility provided with a drainage ditch and the like, and a stop facility provided with a drainage ditch etc. The mobile fuel drainage determination means determines whether or not the mobile body is in a position where drainage is possible, and limits the discharge timing of the generated water and the location where the mobile water is discharged based on the determination result. Drainage is possible.

Further, the fuel supply facility according to the present invention is a facility for supplying fuel to a mobile body equipped with a fuel cell,
Of the floor surface, at least the stop area where the moving body stops for fuel supply is formed by a conductive member.

Here, in the above-described configuration, a mode including a transmission unit that transmits a signal indicating that the moving body has the stop area to the moving body, or fuel replenishment that replenishes the moving body with fuel of the fuel cell. An embodiment comprising means is preferred. In addition, an aspect including command means for instructing the mobile body to permit water discharge when the mobile body replenishes fuel, and an aspect in which the stop area is formed by a mesh-like conductive member are also preferable.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the generated water generated by the fuel cell can be appropriately discharged.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A. First Embodiment FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of a fuel cell system 100 according to a first embodiment. In the present embodiment, a vehicle (moving body) such as an automobile is assumed as an application target of the fuel cell system 100, but it can be applied to any moving body such as a ship or an airplane.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air as the oxidizing gas is supplied to the air supply port of the fuel cell 20 via the air supply path 71. The air supply path 71 is provided with an air filter 11 that removes particulates from the air, a compressor 12 that pressurizes the air, a pressure sensor 51 that detects supply air pressure, and a humidifier 13 that adds required moisture to the air. The air filter is provided with an air flow meter that detects air flow.

  The air off gas discharged from the fuel cell 20 is discharged to the outside through the exhaust path 72. The exhaust path 72 is provided with a pressure sensor 52 that detects the exhaust pressure, the pressure adjustment valve 14, the heat exchanger of the humidifier 13, and the gas-liquid separator 15. The pressure adjustment valve 14 functions as a pressure regulator that sets the pressure of the supply air to the fuel cell 20. Detection signals (not shown) of the pressure sensors 51 and 52 are sent to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 sets the supply air pressure and the supply flow rate by adjusting the compressor 12 and the pressure adjustment valve 14. The gas-liquid separator 15 extracts water (liquid) contained in the air off-gas and supplies it to the tank 90, while discharging the air off-gas from which water has been removed to the exhaust path 72.

  A cooling path 74 for circulating the cooling water is provided at the cooling water inlet / outlet of the fuel cell 20. In the cooling path 74, a temperature sensor 61 that detects the temperature of the cooling water drained from the fuel cell 20, a radiator 21 that radiates heat of the cooling water to the outside, a pump 22 that pressurizes and circulates the cooling water, and the fuel cell 20. Although the temperature sensor 62 for detecting the temperature of the cooling water supplied to is provided, these are not directly related to the gist of the present invention, so that further explanation is omitted.

  Hydrogen gas as fuel gas is supplied from a hydrogen supply source (fuel storage means) 31 to a hydrogen supply port of the fuel cell 20 through a fuel supply path 75. In the present embodiment, for example, a hydrogen tank is assumed as the hydrogen supply source 31, but a fuel reformer, a hydrogen storage alloy, or the like may be used. On the other hand, in the fuel supply path 75, a pressure sensor 54 that detects the pressure of the hydrogen supply source 31, a hydrogen pressure regulating valve 32 that adjusts the supply pressure of hydrogen gas to the fuel cell 20, a shutoff valve 41, and an abnormality in the fuel supply path 75. A relief valve 39 opened at the time of pressure, a shut-off valve 33, and a pressure sensor 55 for detecting the inlet pressure of hydrogen gas are provided. Detection signals (not shown) of the pressure sensors 54 and 55 are supplied to the control unit 50.

The control unit 50 receives control information from a requested load such as an accelerator signal of a vehicle (not shown) and sensors of each unit of the fuel cell system 100, and controls the operation of various valves and motors. The control unit 50 is configured by a control computer system (not shown). The control computer system can be constituted by a known and available system.

  The hydrogen gas that has not been consumed in the fuel cell 20 is discharged as hydrogen off-gas to the hydrogen circulation path 76 and returned to the downstream side of the shutoff valve 41 of the fuel supply path 75. The hydrogen circulation path 76 includes a temperature sensor 63 that detects the temperature of the hydrogen offgas, a shutoff valve 34 that discharges the hydrogen offgas, and a gas-liquid separation that recovers water (product water) generated by the fuel cell 20 contained in the hydrogen offgas. , An internal drain valve 36 for storing water collected in the gas-liquid separator 35 in a tank 90, a hydrogen pump 37 for pressurizing hydrogen off-gas, and a backflow prevention valve 40 are provided. A detection signal (not shown) of the temperature sensor 63 is supplied to the control unit 50. The operation of the hydrogen pump 37 is controlled by the control unit 50.

The hydrogen off-gas from which moisture has been removed by the gas-liquid separator 35 merges with the hydrogen gas in the fuel supply path 75, is supplied to the fuel cell 20, and is reused. The backflow prevention valve 40 prevents the hydrogen gas in the fuel supply path 75 from flowing back to the hydrogen circulation path 76 side. The hydrogen circulation path 76 is connected to the exhaust path 72 by the purge flow path 77 through the purge valve 38. The purge valve 38 is an electromagnetic shut-off valve, and releases (purges) hydrogen off-gas to the outside by operating in accordance with a command from the control unit 50.

  On the other hand, the water collected by the gas-liquid separator 35 is stored in the tank 90 via the internal drain valve 36. The internal drain valve 36 is an electromagnetic valve, and stores water collected in the tank 90 by operating according to a command from the control unit 50. The water stored in the tank 90 is discharged to the outside through an external drain valve (drain valve) 91. The opening / closing operation of the external discharge valve 91 is controlled by the control unit 50 (hereinafter referred to as “drainage control”). Hereinafter, the drainage control process executed by the control unit 50 will be described in detail.

(Drainage control treatment)
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a drainage control process executed by the control unit 50.
Based on control information supplied from a sensor (not shown), the control unit 50 determines whether or not a fuel lid (fuel supply port) for supplying fuel gas (hydrogen gas) to the hydrogen supply source 31 has been opened. Perform (step S1). When the control unit 50 receives control information indicating that the fuel lid has been opened from the sensor (step S1; YES), for example, a detection signal supplied from the pressure sensor 51 or the like (that is, a detection signal representing the flow rate of the air off gas). Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the power generation operation by the fuel cell 20 is stopped (step S2). When the control unit 50 determines that the power generation operation by the fuel cell 20 is still continuing (step S2; NO), the control unit 50 determines that the vehicle is not in a state where fuel gas can be supplied (that is, the vehicle is not supplied with fuel). The drainage control process is terminated without discharging the water stored in the tank 90 to the outside.

  On the other hand, if the control unit (replenishment determination means) 50 determines that the power generation operation by the fuel cell 20 is stopped (step S2; YES), it determines that the vehicle is in a state where fuel gas can be supplied (that is, the It is determined that fuel gas is supplied to the vehicle). When such a determination is made, the control unit (control means) 50 proceeds to step S3 to switch the external discharge valve 91 from “closed” to “open”, thereby discharging the stored water to the outside and performing the drainage control process. Exit.

  As described above, according to the fuel system 100 according to the present embodiment, the generated water stored in the tank 90 is discharged to the outside only when it is determined by the control unit 50 that fuel is supplied to the vehicle. To do. Thereby, the timing at which the generated water is discharged, the place where it is discharged, and the like are limited, and appropriate drainage becomes possible. In the present embodiment, whether or not the fuel gas is replenished is determined based on the state of the fuel lid and the fuel cell 20, but the fuel gas is determined based only on one of the states (for example, the state of the fuel lid). It may be determined whether or not it is replenished. Further, instead of (or in addition to) detecting the open / close state of the fuel lid, the open / close state of the cap provided at the inlet of the hydrogen supply source 31 may be detected, and the fuel gas is replenished by any method. It can be appropriately changed according to the design of the fuel system 100 or the like.

<Modification>
In the above-described first embodiment, when it is determined that the fuel is being replenished, the generated water stored in the tank 90 is regarded as being determined (determined) that the vehicle is in a drainable position. However, instead of (or in addition to) detecting the power generation state of the fuel cell and determining that power generation has stopped, it is assumed that the vehicle is in a drainable position ( And the generated water stored in the tank 90 may be discharged to the outside. Further, as will be described in the second embodiment, when the vehicle enters the fuel supply facility, it is assumed that the vehicle is in a drainable position (determined) and stored in the tank 90. The generated water may be discharged to the outside. The location where drainage is possible means a place where there is a facility (such as a drainage ditch) that accepts drainage, and includes a fuel supply facility equipped with a drainage ditch, etc., as well as a stopping facility equipped with a drainage ditch etc. is there.

B. Second Embodiment FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a fuel supply facility 200 according to a second embodiment.
The fuel supply facility 200 is a facility for supplying fuel gas to a vehicle on which the fuel cell system 100 is mounted. The fuel supply facility 200 detects a hydrogen station (fuel supply means) 220 for supplying a fuel gas (hydrogen gas) to the hydrogen supply source 31 (see FIG. 1), and a vehicle entry into the fuel supply facility 200. And a communication device (transmission means) 230 that wirelessly transmits an entry detection signal indicating that the entry of the vehicle has been detected by the sensor 210. The sensor 210 may be any sensor (such as an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor) as long as it can detect that the vehicle has entered the fuel facility 200. On the other hand, the fuel system 100 mounted on the vehicle is mounted with a communication unit (not shown) that exchanges various signals with the communication device 230. When the communication unit receives the approach detection signal from the communication device 230, the communication unit supplies this to the control unit 50.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a drainage control process according to the modification.
The control unit 50 determines whether or not an entry detection signal has been received from the fuel supply facility 200 (step S1). When the control unit (replenishment determination means) 50 receives the approach detection signal from the fuel supply facility 200 via the communication unit (step Sa1; YES), the control unit 50 determines that the vehicle is in a state where fuel gas can be supplied (that is, the It is determined that fuel gas is supplied to the vehicle). When such a determination is made, the control unit (control means) 50 proceeds to step Sa2 to switch the external discharge valve 91 from “closed” to “open”, thereby discharging the stored water to the outside and performing the drainage control process. Exit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the floor structure of the fuel supply facility 200.
The floor surface of the refueling facility 200 is formed with a conductive member (such as a wire mesh) at least in a region where the vehicle stops and in which water is discharged through the external discharge valve 91. The drainage area 240 is provided with a drainage groove (drainage means) 250 for draining water discharged into the area, and a grounding means (ground wire, etc.) 260 for electrical connection to the ground. It has been.

According to such a configuration, the static electricity charged in the generated water can be reliably discharged by the grounding means 260 provided in the drainage region 240. In addition, since the water drained from the vehicle is surely drained by the drainage groove 250 provided in the drainage area 240, it is possible to prevent the floor surface of the fuel supply facility 200 from being wetted or frozen by drainage. The drainage region 240 is preferably composed of a mesh-like conductive member in consideration of drainage and the like. Moreover, although the communication apparatus 230 of the fuel supply facility 200 illustrated the aspect which transmits an approach detection signal to a vehicle wirelessly in this embodiment, the communication apparatus (command means) 230 permits discharge | emission of the water stored in the vehicle. The drainage command signal to be commanded may be wirelessly transmitted to the vehicle. Further, an approach detection signal or the like may be transmitted directly from the sensor 210 to the vehicle (that is, without going through the communication device 230).

<Modification>
In the second embodiment described above, when the control unit 50 of the vehicle receives an entry detection signal from the information means of the communication device 230 or the sensor 210 provided in the refueling facility 200, the vehicle is in a drainable position. The generated water stored in the tank 90 is discharged to the outside. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be determined whether or not it is in a position where it can be drained using a navigation system or the like. The navigation system will be described in detail. A navigation device including a GPS receiver and a communication terminal is mounted on the vehicle, and position information representing the current position of the vehicle can be grasped in real time. A vehicle determines whether it exists in the position which can drain from the present position of the said vehicle grasped | ascertained using a navigation system. In this way, instead of using the communication device 230 and the sensor 210, it may be determined whether or not the vehicle is at a drainable position using the navigation system.

C. Others In each of the embodiments described above, the case where gaseous fuel (that is, hydrogen gas) is supplied to the fuel supply source 31 has been described. However, for example, liquid fuel (such as liquid hydrogen) or solid fuel is used. Of course it may be. Further, since the functions of the control unit 50 according to each embodiment described above are realized by the CPU (or DSP) executing a program stored in the memory, the recording medium such as a CD-ROM is used for the program. It may be recorded and distributed on the Internet or distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the fuel cell system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waste_water | drain control process which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the fuel supply facility which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the waste_water | drain control process which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the floor structure of the fuel supply facility which concerns on the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Fuel cell system, 20 ... Fuel cell, 90 ... Tank, 91 ... External drain valve, 50 ... Control part, 200 ... Fuel supply facility, 210 ... Sensor, 220 ... hydrogen station, 230 ... communication device, 240 ... drainage area, 250 ... drainage ditch, 260 ... grounding means.

Claims (11)

A fuel cell;
A tank for storing generated water generated by the fuel cell;
A drain valve for discharging the generated water stored in the tank to the outside;
Drainage determination means for determining whether or not the moving body is in a position where drainage is possible;
And a control unit that discharges the generated water from the drain valve when it is determined by the drain determination unit that the drain is present. The drainage determination means is
The fuel cell further comprises replenishment determining means for determining whether or not fuel in the fuel cell is replenished to the fuel storage means, and when it is determined that the fuel is replenished, the movable body is in a position capable of draining. The moving body according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made.   The mobile body according to claim 1, wherein the drainable position is a fuel supply facility that supplies fuel to the mobile body.   The movable body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a conductive member is provided in a region where the generated water is discharged.   The mobile body according to claim 1, wherein the drainage determination unit determines that the mobile body is in a drainable position when detecting a power generation stop state of the fuel cell.   The drainage determination means determines that the mobile body is in a drainable position when it is detected that a fuel supply port for supplying fuel to the fuel storage means is opened. The moving body according to claim 2.   The drainage determination means is capable of draining the moving body when detecting that the moving body has entered the fuel supply facility by at least one information means of a communication device, an entry detection sensor, and a navigation device. The moving body according to claim 3, wherein the moving body is determined to be in a position. A facility for refueling a mobile body equipped with a fuel cell,
A fuel replenishing facility, wherein a stop area in which at least the moving body stops for refueling is formed of a conductive member on a floor surface.   9. The fuel supply facility according to claim 8, further comprising a grounding means for grounding the stop area to the ground, and a drain means for draining water discharged from the mobile body onto the stop area. The fuel supply facility according to claim 9, further comprising command means for instructing the mobile body to permit water discharge when the mobile body is refueling. The fuel supply facility according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the stop area is formed by a mesh-like conductive member.

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