JP2006160020A - Fuel cell vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fuse a deposited ice on an outer surface of a vehicle by effectively utilizing heat generated on a fuel cell. <P>SOLUTION: In the fuel cell vehicle, the fuel cell 2 for generating power by a reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidizing agent gas is mounted. Production water of the fuel cell 2 is fed to a front wheel FW, i.e., a steering wheel. Since the production water of the fuel cell 2 possesses heat generated by power generation, ice-deposition onto the front wheel FW can be reduced by applying the production water to the front wheel FW. Further, ice-deposition onto a wheel house part and a lower arm can be suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, and more particularly to a technique effective for preventing icing on the outer surface of the vehicle.

  In recent years, as a power source for vehicles such as passenger cars, buses, trucks, etc., fuel cells that generate electricity by the reaction of fuel gas and oxidant gas have attracted attention, and development of fuel cell vehicles equipped with fuel cells has been promoted. Yes. Even in this fuel cell vehicle, it is necessary to take measures against icing when used in a cold region.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a countermeasure against icing in a wheel house, a technique for melting ice with engine exhaust gas is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 02-034390

  However, even if the technology of Patent Document 1 is applied to a fuel cell vehicle, the temperature of the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell is significantly lower than that of the engine exhaust gas. It is not enough as a countermeasure against ice.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems by effectively using heat generated in a fuel cell, and to provide a fuel cell vehicle with sufficient anti-icing measures.

  The fuel cell vehicle of the present invention is a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell that generates power by reaction of fuel gas and oxidant gas, and the vehicle outer surface and the liquid that holds the heat generated in the fuel cell are heated. It is configured to be replaceable.

  According to such a configuration, the outer surface of the vehicle is heated by direct or indirect contact with the liquid that retains the heat generated in the fuel cell. Since this liquid has a larger heat capacity than the off-gas (gas) discharged from the fuel cell, it is possible to quickly melt icing on the outer surface of the vehicle.

  In the present invention, heat exchange is performed between at least one of a transmission mechanism that transmits steering by a handle to a wheel, a wheel, a wheel house, a window, and a mirror, and a liquid that holds heat generated in the fuel cell. Also good.

  According to such a configuration, since the icing of the movable part such as the transmission mechanism and the wheel and the peripheral part thereof is melted, deterioration of the mobility in the movable part is suppressed. In particular, the icing on the wheel house and lower arm is mainly caused by the ice on the road surface being rolled up and adhering to the wheel. It is possible to effectively prevent icing on the surface. Further, since the fogging is prevented with respect to the window, the mirror and the like, it is possible to ensure good visibility.

  In the present invention, the liquid may be generated water of a fuel cell. Since the generated water of the fuel cell retains heat generated by power generation, it is possible to melt the icing on the outer surface of the vehicle by heat exchange with the generated water.

  In the present invention, the generated water may be discharged by being energized by the pressure of off-gas from the fuel cell. According to such a configuration, generated water can be sprayed toward the icing portion.

  In the present invention, the liquid may be cooling water for a fuel cell. Since the cooling water of the fuel cell collects the heat generated by the power generation from the fuel cell, the icing on the outer surface of the vehicle can be melted by heat exchange with the cooling water.

  In the present invention, the wheel and the wheel house part may be a wheel and a wheel house part corresponding to a steered wheel. According to such a configuration, deterioration of steering performance accompanying icing is effectively suppressed.

  In the present invention, the temperature related to the vehicle use environment may be detected, and heat exchange may be permitted only when the temperature satisfies a predetermined condition. According to such a configuration, heat exchange is performed only when icing is necessary to melt.

  According to the fuel cell vehicle of the present invention, since the heat exchange with the outer surface of the vehicle is performed using a liquid having a larger heat capacity than the off gas discharged from the fuel cell, the icing can be rapidly melted. Therefore, it is possible to provide a fuel cell vehicle with sufficient anti-icing measures that can be suitably used even in cold regions.

  Hereinafter, a fuel cell vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
In the fuel cell vehicle V of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell system 1 including the fuel cell 2 is mounted on the front of the vehicle, and the generated water of the fuel cell 2 (the heat generated in the fuel cell is reduced). The liquid held is supplied to a front wheel (wheel) FW which is a steering wheel.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell system 1 includes, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell 2 and a control device 3 that performs overall control of the entire system. The fuel cell 2 has a stack structure in which a large number of single cells are stacked, and generates power upon receiving supply of air as an oxidant gas and hydrogen gas as a fuel gas.

  The gas piping line of the fuel cell system 1 includes a cathode supply passage 11 for supplying air to the fuel cell 2, a cathode discharge passage 12 for discharging the cathode off-gas from the fuel cell 2, and hydrogen gas to the fuel cell 2. , An anode circulation passage 14 for circulating and supplying the anode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell 2 to the fuel cell 2 again, and a purge passage for discharging the anode off-gas together with impurities to the outside 15 are provided.

  The fuel cell system 1 includes a cooling water circulation passage 41 that supplies cooling water to the fuel cell 2 in addition to these reaction gases (air and hydrogen gas). The cooling water is circulated through the cooling water circulation passage 41 by the pump 42, and after the heat generated by the power generation is recovered from the fuel cell 2, it is cooled by the radiator 43 and supplied to the fuel cell 2 again. Temperature sensors (not shown) for detecting the coolant temperature are provided on the fuel cell inlet and outlet sides of the coolant circulation passage 41.

  The cathode supply passage 11 is provided with a compressor 22 that takes in air in the atmosphere and pumps it to the humidifier 21. The humidifier 21 is provided over both the cathode supply passage 11 and the cathode discharge passage 12, and exchanges moisture between the purified air and the cathode off gas. The cathode discharge passage 12 is provided with a pressure regulating valve 23 that adjusts the pressure of air in the fuel cell 2 and a gas-liquid separator 24 that is located downstream of the humidifier 21 and separates liquid components from the cathode offgas. Yes.

  The gas-liquid separator 24 separates a liquid component such as generated water contained in the cathode offgas, and temporarily stores the separated liquid component in a liquid reservoir in the gas-liquid separator. A drainage passage 27 is connected to the lower part of the liquid reservoir for discharging the liquid temporarily stored outside the system. The drain passage 27 is provided with a drain valve 28 for opening and closing the drain passage 27. Note that the gas-liquid separated liquid on the anode side also flows from the middle of the drainage passage 27 and is discharged out of the system.

  The anode supply passage 13 includes a gas supply source 31 such as a high-pressure tank that stores hydrogen gas at high pressure, a shut-off valve 32 that serves as a main valve that opens and closes the anode supply passage 13, and a gas supply source 31. And a regulator 33 for reducing the pressure of the supplied hydrogen gas.

  The anode circulation passage 14 is provided with a gas-liquid separator 36 and a pump 37 that is located downstream of the gas-liquid separator 36 and pumps the anode off gas to the anode supply passage 13. The gas-liquid separator 36 separates a liquid component such as generated water contained in the anode off gas, and temporarily stores the separated liquid component in a liquid reservoir in the gas-liquid separator. A drainage passage 51 is connected to the lower part of the liquid reservoir for discharging the liquid temporarily stored outside the system. A drain valve 52 that opens and closes the drainage passage 51 is interposed.

  The anode off-gas that has become only a gas component by the action of the gas-liquid separator 36 merges with new hydrogen gas from the gas supply source 31 at the merge point A, and is re-supplied to the fuel cell 2 as a mixed gas.

  The purge passage 15 is branched from the portion of the anode circulation passage 14 on the downstream side of the pump 37. By appropriately opening the purge valve 38 provided in the purge passage 15, impurities in the anode off-gas flowing through the anode circulation passage 14 are discharged out of the system together with the anode off-gas.

  The drain valves 28 and 52 are, for example, electromagnetic valves, and are opened and closed based on the detection result of the outside air temperature sensor. Specifically, the drain valves 28 and 52 are normally closed, and when the outside air temperature (temperature related to the vehicle use environment) satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, −20 ° C. to −5 ° C.) The detected control device 3 outputs a control signal so that the drain valves 28 and 52 are opened. As a result, the drain valves 28 and 52 are opened, and the liquid in the liquid reservoir portion mainly composed of the generated water of the fuel cell 2 flows out downstream of the drainage passages 27 and 51.

  The drain passages 28 and 51 have a predetermined downward gradient so that the liquid moves toward the downstream side. The downstream end of the drainage passage 51 is connected to the middle of the drainage passage 27 so as to merge with the downstream side of the drain valve 28 of the drainage passage 27 on the cathode side. As shown in FIG. 1, the downstream end of the drainage passage 27 opens to the outer surface of the wheel house portion 5 located above the front wheel FW. In addition, the opening position is set in the vicinity of the approximate center of the vehicle straight direction and in the vicinity of the approximate center of the front wheel width direction.

  The control device 3 (ECU) includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control device 3 receives detection signals from various sensors and outputs control signals to various drivers of various components (22, 23, 32, 33, 37, 38, etc.), so that the fuel cell system 1 Control the whole. For example, the amount of gas supplied to the fuel cell 2 is adjusted by controlling the regulator 33, the compressor 22, the pressure regulating valve 23, and the like.

  When the control device 3 detects that the outside air temperature satisfies the predetermined condition, the control device 3 opens the drain valves 28 and 52 and supplies the generated water to the front wheels FW (heat exchange with the vehicle outer surface). ) Then, the generated water is urged and discharged by the pressure of the off-gas from the fuel cell 2, so that it is blown toward the top of the front wheel FW and is evenly distributed over the front wheel width. Since the generated water retains heat generated by power generation, the front wheels FW are heated by direct contact with the generated water.

  Thereby, the icing on the front wheel FW can be melted. At this time, the generated water has a larger heat capacity than the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell 2, so that the icing on the front wheel FW can be melted more quickly than when heat exchange with the off-gas is used. it can. In addition, moistening the front wheel FW suppresses ice from rolling up on the road surface at the front wheel FW, effectively avoiding icing on the wheel house 5 and the lower arm, etc., and good steering performance. Can be secured.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a fuel cell vehicle V with sufficient anti-icing measures that can be suitably used even in cold regions.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the example in which the front wheel FW and the generated water of the fuel cell 2 are subjected to heat exchange has been described. However, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the ceiling of the wheel house 6 of the front wheel FW and / or the rear wheel RW. A heat exchanger 61 may be installed on the inner surface side of the wheel house part 5 forming the part, and the wheel house part 5 and the cooling water of the fuel cell 2 may be subjected to heat exchange via the heat exchanger 61. The heat exchanger 61 is provided with the cooling water circulation passage 41, and the cooling water before flowing out of the fuel cell 2 and passing through the radiator 43 is introduced into the heat exchanger 61.

  Since the cooling water circulating in the cooling water circulation passage 41 is heated by collecting heat generated by the power generation from the fuel cell 2, according to the present embodiment, heat exchange with the heated cooling water is performed. Can be used to melt the icing I on the outer surface of the wheel house 5. On the other hand, since the cooling water is cooled by heat exchange with the wheel house unit 5, it is possible to reduce the rotational speed and operation frequency of the fan in the radiator 43. As a result, the power consumption of the fuel cell system 1 as a whole is reduced. Can also be reduced.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can be applied with various modifications other than the above embodiment. For example, the generated water of the fuel cell may be urged by the ejection device and discharged to the outer surface of the vehicle. Further, the generated water discharge from the fuel cell may be urged by off-gas pressure using an ejector.

  Furthermore, in addition to the above embodiment, at least one of a transmission mechanism that transmits steering by a steering wheel to a wheel, a steering wheel (front wheel FW) or / and a wheel other than a steering wheel (rear wheel RW), a window W, and a mirror, You may make it heat-exchange with the production | generation water or cooling water of the fuel cell 2. FIG. According to such a configuration, it is possible to melt the icing of the movable part such as the transmission mechanism and the wheel and the peripheral part thereof, so that the mobility in the movable part can be favorably maintained. On the other hand, the window W, the mirror, and the like are prevented from fogging, so that good visibility can be ensured.

The block diagram which shows the fuel cell vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the fuel cell system mounted in the fuel cell vehicle shown in FIG. The principal part expanded sectional view of the fuel cell vehicle concerning a 2nd embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fuel cell system, 2 ... Fuel cell, 3 ... Control apparatus, 5 ... Wheel house part, 61 ... Heat exchanger, FW ... Front wheel (wheel corresponding to a steering wheel), W ... Wind

Claims (7)

A fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell that generates electricity by a reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas,
A fuel cell vehicle configured such that heat exchange is possible between a vehicle outer surface and a liquid that retains heat generated in the fuel cell.   2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a transmission mechanism that transmits steering by a handle to a wheel, a wheel, a wheel house, a window, and a mirror exchanges heat with a liquid that retains heat generated in the fuel cell. vehicle.   The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is generated water of a fuel cell.   The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the generated water is urged and discharged by the pressure of off-gas from the fuel cell.   The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is cooling water for a fuel cell.   The fuel cell vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the wheel and the wheel house part are a wheel and a wheel house part corresponding to a steered wheel.   The fuel cell vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a temperature related to a vehicle use environment is detected, and heat exchange is permitted only when the temperature satisfies a predetermined condition.

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