JP2009222200A - Hydrogen storage tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen storage tank easy in manufacturing by restraining the deformation of a tank vessel even if the expansion of a hydrogen storage alloy is caused. <P>SOLUTION: This hydrogen storage tank 11 is provided with a plurality of fins 14 for partitioning an inside space of the substantially cylindrical tank vessel 12 forming its contour into a plurality of storage chambers 25. The plurality of fins 14 are installed in an outer peripheral part of a hydrogen flowing pipe 13 composed of a cylindrical wall 19 capable of making hydrogen flow in the thickness direction and a hydrogen flowing passage 20 capable of making the hydrogen flow. MH powder P is filled in the respective storage chambers 25, and the MH powder P cannot move between the storage chambers 25. A swelling part 26 swelling to the storage chamber 25 side is formed at a first partition plate 22 of the fins 14. The swelling part 26 is arranged at each chamber 25, and constituted so as to be crushable by an action force when the MH powder P expands. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage tank using a hydrogen storage alloy.

  As a hydrogen storage tank, a powdered hydrogen storage alloy (hereinafter referred to as MH) is stored inside and stored by storing hydrogen in MH and releasing hydrogen from MH for use. ing. However, in such a hydrogen storage tank, when MH is accommodated inside, MH settles, MH in the tank is partially consolidated, and when MH absorbs hydrogen and expands in this state, the tank locally Excessive stress may be generated and adversely affected.

  Therefore, conventionally, a partition wall for partitioning the inner space of the sealed cylinder body into a plurality of small chambers is provided in a well-heat-conductive sealed cylinder body, and each chamber is filled with metal hydride powder (MH). A heat exchanger with a built-in metal hydride powder that holds the metal hydride powder has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the heat exchanger with a built-in metal hydride powder described in Patent Document 1, a hydrogen gas inlet / outlet pipe for hydrogen gas in / out is fitted into the sealed cylinder so as to be along the axis of the sealed cylinder and the hydrogen gas in / out By providing the pipe with a plurality of partition walls extending in the radial direction, the hydrogen can be discharged to the outside and filled with hydrogen from the outside through the hydrogen gas inlet / outlet pipe.

In addition, as a hydrogen storage tank containing MH inside, a plurality of corrugated first heat transfer fins bent at a plurality of bent portions and a plurality of second heat transfer formed in a flat plate shape. There has been proposed a hydrogen storage tank in which a plurality of regions are partitioned by fins and a portion of the plurality of regions is excluded and filled with MH powder (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The hydrogen storage tank described in Patent Document 2 includes a heat medium pipe formed of a pipe extending in the longitudinal direction of the hydrogen storage tank in the tank body, and a heat transfer fin disposed in a state orthogonal to the direction in which the heat medium pipe extends. The heat exchanger provided with is accommodated. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of first heat transfer fins 50 and second heat transfer fins 51 are alternately arranged at equal intervals in a state orthogonal to the direction in which the heat transfer tube extends. The region 52 is partitioned, and the absorbing portion 53 is configured by not filling a part of the plurality of regions 52 with the MH powder P1. And in the hydrogen storage tank of patent document 2, the absorption part 53 deform | transforms with the action force at the time of expansion | swelling of MH powder P1, and absorbs the action force of expansion | swelling.
JP-A-8-178463 JP 2005-240983 A

  However, in the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1, when the metal hydride powder absorbs hydrogen and expands in a state in which the chamber is filled with a large amount of metal hydride powder and the hydrogen storage alloy is micronized, Excessive stress may be locally generated in the cylinder. When such a situation occurs, the sealed cylinder may be deformed. However, in the heat exchanger with a built-in metal hydride powder described in Patent Document 1, when excessive stress is locally generated in the sealed cylinder. No consideration has been given.

  In the hydrogen storage tank described in Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 5, the first heat transfer fin 50 and the second heat transfer fin 51 include MH powder P <b> 1 in a portion not corresponding to the absorption portion 53. A plurality of holes 54 that allow passage are formed, and no hole 54 is formed in a portion corresponding to the absorbing portion 53. Therefore, when manufacturing a heat exchanger including the first heat transfer fins 50 and the second heat transfer fins 51, the holes 54 are formed only in the portions of the heat transfer fins 50 and 51 that do not correspond to the absorption portion 53. Manufacturing is cumbersome because it is necessary. In addition, as described in Patent Document 2, a configuration in which only wave-shaped heat transfer fins are in contact with each other and partitioned into a plurality of regions, or a plurality of standing portions projecting on one side of the flat portion and the flat portion Even if it is the structure which partitions a some area | region using the heat-transfer fin comprised by these, manufacture is troublesome for the same reason. Moreover, when a pipe is provided separately from the heat transfer fins in the space between the heat transfer fins to form the absorption part, the production is troublesome as long as the pipes must be assembled.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen storage tank that can suppress the deformation of the tank container even if the hydrogen storage alloy expands and is easy to manufacture. There is.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of fins that divide an internal space of a sealed cylindrical tank container into a plurality of storage chambers, and each storage chamber has a hydrogen storage capacity. A hydrogen storage tank filled with an alloy, the hydrogen storage tank being provided in the tank container, provided with a hydrogen circulation part capable of preventing the hydrogen storage alloy from leaking out of the storage chamber and allowing hydrogen to pass through the fin; The gist of the invention is that a bulge portion is formed on the side of the storage chamber, and the bulge portion has a space inside when the fin is disposed in the tank container.

  “When the fin is placed in the tank container, the bulge has a space inside” means that the fin has a space inside the bulge only when the fin is placed in the tank container. For example, it includes a fin having a space inside the bulging portion even before the fin is arranged in the tank container, such as a fin with a lid.

  In the present invention, when the hydrogen storage tank is filled with hydrogen, the hydrogen storage alloy is cooled through the fins, and hydrogen from the outside passes through the hydrogen circulation portion and is stored in the hydrogen storage alloy. Further, when hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage tank, the hydrogen storage alloy is heated via the fins, and the hydrogen released from the hydrogen storage alloy passes through the hydrogen circulation part and is released to the outside. Then, by repeating such hydrogen release and occlusion, the hydrogen occlusion alloy is pulverized, and when the hydrogen occlusion is in contact with the tank container and the fins, the hydrogen occlusion alloy is expanded by the expansion of the hydrogen occlusion alloy. The pressure acting on is increased. In this case, as the hydrogen storage alloy expands, the bulging portion formed by the fins is crushed to increase the volume in the storage chamber. Therefore, even if the hydrogen storage alloy expands, it is possible to suppress excessive pressure from acting on the tank container, and it is possible to suppress deformation of the tank container.

  Further, a bulge portion having a space inside can be formed without forming a hole for allowing the fin to move from the storage chamber filled with the hydrogen storage alloy to another storage chamber. Therefore, it is easier to manufacture the hydrogen storage tank as compared to a case where a fin is provided in a portion not corresponding to the absorption portion and a hole corresponding to the absorption portion is not provided.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the gist of the invention according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fins are arranged radially, and the storage chamber and the bulge portion extend in a longitudinal direction of the tank container. To do.

  In this invention, if the hydrogen storage alloy is supplied from the longitudinal direction of the tank container, the hydrogen storage alloy can be filled in the entire storage chamber extending in the longitudinal direction of the tank container. Therefore, the hydrogen storage alloy can be filled in each storage chamber without moving the hydrogen storage alloy into each storage chamber through the hole, and therefore, it is easy to fill the storage chamber with the hydrogen storage alloy.

  Also, even if the hydrogen storage alloy is unevenly distributed in the longitudinal direction of the tank container, the storage chamber is filled, and even if the portion where the hydrogen storage alloy is unevenly expanded when the hydrogen storage alloy is stored, the bulging portion is crushed. Thus, it is possible to suppress an excessive pressure from acting on the tank container. Therefore, even when the hydrogen storage alloy is unevenly distributed and filled in the longitudinal direction of the tank container, the tank container can be prevented from being deformed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the hydrogen flow part is formed of a cylindrical wall through which hydrogen can flow and is fitted along the axis of the tank container. A hydrogen distribution pipe, and the fin includes a curved plate portion curved so as to contact an inner peripheral surface of the tank container, and a pair of partition plate portions extending in a radial direction of the tank container from both sides of the curved plate portion. The gist is that the plurality of fins are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the tank container so that one partition plate portion of the fin and the other partition plate portion of the fin adjacent to each other are in contact with each other. .

  In this invention, when the bulging part is formed on the partition plate part, the swelled part faces the other partition plate part of the adjacent fin, and the inside of the bulge part is covered by the other partition plate part of the fin adjacent to the bulge part. . Further, when the bulging portion is formed on the curved plate portion, the inside of the bulging portion is covered with the inner peripheral surface of the tank container. Therefore, if the fins are arranged in the tank container, the hydrogen storage alloy can be prevented from entering the space, and the production process can be reduced compared to the case of producing plate-like fins that cover the inside of the bulge using the roll bond method. Can be simple.

The gist of the invention according to claim 4 is that, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the bulging portion is provided for each of the storage chambers.
In this invention, the bulging portion is easily crushed by the force acting on the fins that define each housing chamber when the hydrogen storage alloy filled in each housing chamber expands.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if expansion | swelling of a hydrogen storage alloy arises, it can suppress that a tank container deform | transforms and can manufacture easily.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the hydrogen storage tank 11 has a hydrogen flow extending linearly over substantially the entire length in the tank container 12 in a substantially cylindrical tank container 12 that forms the outer portion thereof. A tube 13 and a plurality of fins 14 made of a metal (for example, aluminum alloy) plate material are provided.

  The tank container 12 is made of metal and has a strength that can sufficiently withstand even when the inside of the tank container 12 is fully filled with hydrogen and reaches a predetermined pressure (for example, 10 MPa). And the tank container 12 is comprised by the cylindrical part 15 and the 1st end wall 16 and the 2nd end wall 17 which were welded to the both-ends opening, and the inside is sealed.

  The first end wall 16 is provided with a cylindrical portion 18 for hydrogen gas in and out protruding from the center of the first end wall 16. The cylinder portion 18 is provided with a valve (not shown) configured so that the use state of the hydrogen storage tank 11 can be switched between a hydrogen release state and a hydrogen filling state. The cylinder portion 18 is capable of transferring hydrogen gas to and from the internal space of the tank container 12 by communicating with the hydrogen circulation pipe 13 serving as a hydrogen circulation portion disposed so as to correspond to the axis of the tank container 12.

  The first and second end portions 13a and 13b of the hydrogen flow pipe 13 are fitted into ring-shaped recesses 16a and 17a formed on the inner surfaces of the first and second end walls 16 and 17, respectively. The hydrogen flow pipe 13 is composed of a cylindrical wall 19 made of a porous material through which hydrogen can flow (permeate) in the thickness direction, and a hydrogen flow path 20 through which hydrogen can flow. The hydrogen flow pipe 13 has a function as a filter that prevents passage of the finely powdered MH powder P. As shown in FIG. 1B, the hydrogen circulation pipe 13 is formed with a plurality of grooves 21 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the hydrogen circulation pipe 13 in the outer peripheral portion thereof. The groove 21 extends linearly over the entire length of the hydrogen flow pipe 13 and is also refracted in the radially inward direction of the tank container 12, and the front end portions 22 a and 23 a of the first partition plate portion 22 and the second partition plate portion 23 of the fin 14. Is inserted.

  The plurality of fins 14 extend along the axial direction of the hydrogen circulation pipe 13 and are arranged radially in the circumferential direction of the tank container 12. The fin 14 includes a curved plate portion 24 and first and second partition plate portions 23 that are curved so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface 12 a of the tank container 12. And the 2nd partition plate part 23 of the fin 14 adjacent to the 1st partition plate part 22 has the front-end | tip parts 22a and 23a fitted in the same groove | channel 21, and is mutually touching. The plurality of fins 14 divide the internal space of the tank container 12 into a plurality of storage chambers 25 arranged in the circumferential direction of the tank container 12.

  Each storage chamber 25 extends in the longitudinal direction of the tank container 12 (in the direction of arrow Y shown in FIG. 1A) and is filled with MH powder P. The second end wall 17 (see FIG. 1A) is provided with screw holes (not shown) at portions corresponding to the storage chambers 25, and screws (not shown) are screwed into the screw holes. . For example, the storage chamber 25 is filled with MH powder P having a bulk density of 2.5 g / cc to 3 g / cc, and is configured so that the MH powder P does not move between the storage chambers 25. In addition, one bulge-shaped, that is, hemispherical bulge portion 26 is formed in the first partition plate portion 22 of one fin 14 so as to correspond to each storage chamber 25.

  The bulging portion 26 bulges toward the storage chamber 25 defined by the fins 14 forming the bulging portion 26, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the tank container 12 in the same manner as the storage chamber 25. The bulging portion 26 is formed by applying a pressing process to the plate-like first partition plate portion 22 and bending a part of the first partition plate portion 22. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in the longitudinal direction of the tank container 12, the bulging portion 26 is formed so that its overall length is shorter than the overall length of the first partition plate portion 22, and The height is formed to be substantially constant. Note that the first partition plate portion 22 is formed with a contact portion 27 that can come into contact with the second partition plate portion 23 of another fin 14 on the end side of both ends of the bulge portion 26. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, in the state where the fins 14 are arranged in the tank container 12, the bulging portion 26 has a space 28 therein. The bulging portion 26 is configured to collapse toward the space 28 when the MH powder P filled in the storage chamber 25 expands and pressure is applied. In the state where each fin 14 is arranged in the tank container 12, the inside of the bulging portion 26 is covered with the second partition plate portion 23 of the fin 14 adjacent to the fin 14 on which the bulging portion 26 is formed. 28 is configured so that MH powder P does not enter 28. Further, the space 28 is formed to have a volume that can prevent an excessive pressure from acting on the tank container 12 when the MH powder P expands. Therefore, the volume of the space 28 is set to be approximately the same as the maximum expansion amount of the MH powder P filled in the corresponding storage chamber 25. Note that the actual space 28 is set so that its volume is, for example, 1/6 of the volume of the storage chamber 25, but for convenience of illustration, the volume of the space 28 in FIG. It is shown smaller than 1/6 of the volume of the storage chamber 25.

Next, a method for manufacturing the hydrogen storage tank 11 will be described.
First, the hydrogen flow pipe 13 is prepared, and the front end portion 23 a of the second partition plate portion 23 of the fin 14 and the front end portion 22 a of the first partition plate portion 22 of another fin 14 are inserted into one groove 21 of the hydrogen flow tube 13. Fit. Next, the tip portion 23a of the second partition plate portion 23 of the fin 14 in which the tip portion 22a is already fitted in the groove 21 adjacent to the groove 21 in which the tip portion 22a and the tip portion 23a are fitted is different from the tip portion 23a. The front end portion 22a of the first partition plate portion 22 of the fin 14 is fitted. Then, the same operation is sequentially performed on each groove 21, whereby the front end portion 22 a of the first partition plate portion 22 of the fin 14 and the front end portion 23 a of the second partition plate portion 23 of another fin 14 are provided in each groove 21. Are attached to the outer periphery of the hydrogen flow pipe 13.

  Next, the hydrogen circulation pipe 13 and the fin 14 are inserted into the cylindrical portion 15. Thereafter, the second end wall 17 is welded to the opening end portion of the cylindrical portion 15 in a state where the second end portion 13 b of the hydrogen flow pipe 13 is fitted into the concave portion 17 a formed on the inner surface of the second end wall 17. Further, the first end wall 16 is welded to the opening end of the cylindrical portion 15 in a state where the first end 13 a of the hydrogen flow pipe 13 is fitted into the recess 16 a formed on the inner surface of the first end wall 16.

  Next, in order to fill each storage chamber 25 with MH powder P, a funnel-shaped filling jig provided with a cylindrical portion inserted through a screw hole (not shown) formed in the second end wall 17 is prepared. First, with the hydrogen storage tank 11 held in such a posture that the first end wall 16 is on the lower side, the MH powder P is filled through a screw hole (not shown) formed in the second end wall 17. Do. Then, after filling the entire accommodation chamber 25 with the MH powder P from the screw hole, the filling jig is removed, and a screw (not shown) is screwed into the screw hole, so that the MH powder P is applied to the entire accommodation chamber 25. Filling is complete. Further, the same filling operation is performed for the other storage chambers 25, and after filling of all the storage chambers 25 with the MH powder P is completed, a valve (not shown) is attached to the cylindrical portion 18 to thereby provide a hydrogen storage tank. 11 is completed.

Next, the operation of the hydrogen storage tank 11 configured as described above will be described.
The hydrogen storage tank 11 is disposed horizontally in a cylindrical housing (not shown). A heat medium passage (not shown) through which a heat medium (water, oil, engine coolant, etc.) flows is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing, and when the hydrogen storage tank 11 is disposed in the housing, the heat medium flow path. The heat medium flowing through the tank container 12 is configured to contact the outer peripheral surface of the tank container 12. And the hydrogen storage tank 11 is mounted in a fuel cell vehicle by attaching the housing in which the hydrogen storage tank 11 is arranged to the fuel cell mounted electric vehicle.

  Here, when hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen storage tank 11 to the fuel electrode as a hydrogen supply destination, a valve (not shown) is switched to a hydrogen release state, and hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage tank 11. Hydrogen released from the hydrogen storage tank 11 is supplied to the fuel electrode via a pipe (not shown) connected to a valve. When hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage tank 11, the hydrogen storage / release reaction of the MH powder P moves to the release side, and hydrogen is released from the MH powder P. Here, since the release of hydrogen by the MH powder P involves an endothermic reaction, if the heat necessary for releasing the hydrogen is not supplied by the heating medium, the MH powder P consumes sensible heat and releases hydrogen, so the temperature decreases. To do. However, heat exchange with the hydrogen storage tank 11 is performed when a heat medium having a predetermined temperature flows through the heat medium flow path, and the MH powder P is heated to a preset temperature via the tank container 12 and the fins 14. The hydrogen release reaction proceeds smoothly.

  The MH powder P stored in the storage chamber 25 releases hydrogen in the entire longitudinal direction of the tank container 12, and the released hydrogen reaches the hydrogen flow path 20 through the fine holes in the cylindrical wall 19. And it discharge | releases outside the hydrogen storage tank 11 through the valve | bulb from the hydrogen distribution path 20, and is supplied to a fuel electrode. The temperature of the MH powder P is maintained at a temperature at which the hydrogen releasing reaction proceeds smoothly by adjusting the temperature or flow rate of the heat medium, so that hydrogen corresponding to the amount of hydrogen required in the fuel cell is released. As described above, hydrogen is efficiently released.

  When the hydrogen storage tank 11 from which hydrogen has been released is refilled with hydrogen, that is, when the hydrogen is stored in the MH powder P, the valve is switched to the hydrogen-filled state, and hydrogen is passed from the valve to the hydrogen flow path 20 of the hydrogen flow pipe 13. To flow into. The hydrogen flowing into the hydrogen flow path 20 flows through the entire length of the tank container 12, reaches the storage chamber 25 through the fine holes in the cylindrical wall 19, and then the MH powder stored in the storage chamber 25. MH powder P is occluded by reacting with P to form a hydride. The supply of hydrogen to the MH powder P is performed until the inside of the hydrogen storage tank 11 reaches a predetermined pressure (for example, 10 MPa).

  Here, since the occlusion reaction of hydrogen is an exothermic reaction, the occlusion reaction does not proceed smoothly unless the heat generated by the occlusion reaction of hydrogen is removed. However, since a low-temperature heat medium flows through the heat medium flow path when filling with hydrogen, heat exchange between the heat medium and the hydrogen storage tank 11 is performed. At this time, the heat generated from the MH powder P is absorbed by the heat medium via the tank container 12 and the fins 14 and conveyed outside the hydrogen storage tank 11. Therefore, since the temperature of the MH powder P is maintained at a temperature at which the hydrogen occlusion reaction proceeds smoothly, the occlusion of hydrogen is performed efficiently.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, in the state where the storage chamber 25 of the hydrogen storage tank 11 is filled with a large amount of MH powder P, the storage and release of hydrogen by the MH powder P stored in the storage chamber 25 are repeated. When done, the MH powder P is micronized. When the MH powder P occludes hydrogen in a state of being unevenly distributed so as to be in contact with the tank container 12 and the fins 14, the bulging portion 26 is formed in the space 28 by the acting force due to the expansion of the MH powder P as shown in FIG. Crush to the side (deform). As a result, the volume of the storage chamber 25 becomes larger than the initial size when the MH powder P is filled. Therefore, even if the MH powder P occludes hydrogen after the bulging portion 26 is crushed, it is possible to suppress a large pressure from acting on the fins 14 and the tank container 12 and to suppress deformation of the tank container 12.

  Since the hydrogen flow pipe 13 has a function as a filter for the MH powder P, the MH powder P does not leak from the storage chamber 25 even if the MH powder P stored in the storage chamber 25 is pulverized. It is suppressed. Further, the holes that allow the MH powder P to pass therethrough are not formed in the fin 14, and the MH powder P accommodated in the accommodation chamber 25 moves from the accommodation chamber in which the MH powder P is accommodated to the other accommodation chamber 25. Never do. Therefore, the MH powder P filled in each storage chamber 25 does not surely enter the space 28.

In this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The first partition plate portion 22 of each fin 14 forms a bulge portion 26 configured so as to be crushed by the acting force during expansion of the MH powder P. And the swelling part 26 is formed so that it may swell to the storage chamber 25 side which the fin 14 which forms self divides. Therefore, when the MH powder P is pulverized and is filled with hydrogen so as to be in contact with the tank container 12 and the fins 14, the bulging portion 26 is crushed and an excessive pressure is applied to the tank container 12. It can suppress acting.

  (2) The internal space of the tank container 12 is partitioned into a plurality of storage chambers 25 by a plurality of fins 14. The plurality of fins 14 are not formed with holes that allow the movement of the MH powder P. Therefore, it is easier to manufacture the hydrogen storage tank 11 as compared with the case of manufacturing a fin provided with holes.

  (3) The plurality of fins 14 are arranged radially in the circumferential direction of the tank container 12. The storage chamber 25 and the bulging portion 26 extend in the longitudinal direction of the tank container 12. Therefore, since the MH powder P can be filled in each accommodation chamber 25 without moving the MH powder P into each accommodation chamber 25 through the hole, the filling of the MH powder P into the accommodation chamber 25 is easy.

  (4) Even when the MH powder P is filled in the storage chamber 25 extending in the longitudinal direction of the tank container 12 and the MH powder P expands by absorbing hydrogen, the entire bulging portion 26 extending in the longitudinal direction is used. It can receive the action force due to the expansion of P. Therefore, even if the storage chamber 25 is filled in a state where the MH powder P is unevenly distributed in the longitudinal direction of the tank container 12, and the portion where the MH powder P is unevenly expanded greatly, the swelling portion 26 is large in the tank container 12. It can be crushed so that pressure does not act.

  (5) A bulging portion 26 is formed on the first partition plate portion 22 of the fin 14. And the inside of the fin 14 is covered with the 2nd partition plate part 23 of another fin 14 which opposes. Therefore, the MH powder P can be prevented from entering the space 28, and the fin manufacturing process can be simplified as compared with the case of manufacturing a plate-like fin that covers the inside of the bulging portion using the roll bond method. .

  (6) The fin 14 is curved so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface 12a of the tank container 12, and extends in the radial direction of the tank container 12 from both sides of the curved plate 24, and the tip portions 22a and 23a are mutually connected. The first and second partition plate portions 22 and 23 are fitted into the grooves 21 of different hydrogen flow pipes 13. And compared with the case where the accommodation chamber is partitioned by disposing the fin 14 so that the bent portion of the corrugated plate-shaped fin comes into contact with the flat fin, the MH powder P filled in the accommodation chamber 25 is reduced. Leakage can be reliably suppressed. Further, since the movement of the MH powder P between the storage chambers 25 can be prevented without joining the fins and the inner peripheral surface 12a of the tank container 12 by welding, the manufacture of the hydrogen storage tank 11 is simplified.

  (7) Since the bulging portion 26 is formed in the first partition plate portion 22 of each fin 14, the bulging portion 26 is provided for each storage chamber 25. Therefore, the bulging part 26 is easily crushed by the force acting on the fins 14, and the deformation of the tank container 12 can be further suppressed as compared with the case where the bulging part is provided in each of the storage chambers 25.

  (8) The bulging portion 26 is formed in a bulge shape. Therefore, the acting force that acts when the MH powder P expands uniformly acts on the bulge portion 26 as compared with the case where the bulge portion is formed in a substantially polygonal shape.

  (9) The first partition plate portion 22 of the fin 14 is formed with a contact portion 27 that can contact the second partition plate portion 23 of another fin 14. Therefore, the area where the first partition plate portion 22 formed with the bulge portion 26 and the second partition plate portion 23 of another fin 14 abut can be increased.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be embodied as follows, for example.
O You may change the site | part which forms a bulging part with respect to a fin. For example, a part of the curved plate portion 24 is pressed to form a bulge portion that can be crushed by the acting force during expansion of the MH powder P in the curved plate portion 24, and the tank container 12 facing the bulge portion is formed. You may make it cover the inside of a bulging part with the internal peripheral surface 12a.

  -You may provide the fin with a lid | cover which covers a bulging part. For example, by a roll bond method, a fin comprising a long plate material with a bulging portion formed on one side in the short side direction and a lid plate member that covers the bulging portion is provided, and then the long plate material is bent. You may form the part in which the swelling part and the cover member are provided as a 1st partition plate part of a fin. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, one plate material 31 on which the bulging portion 30 is formed and the other plate-like plate material 32 that covers the bulging portion 30 are joined by a roll bond method. A plurality of fins 33 may be manufactured, and the internal space of the tank container 12 may be partitioned into a plurality of storage chambers 34 by the fins 33. In this case, the first end portion 33a of the fin 33 is fitted into the groove 21 of the hydrogen flow pipe 13, and the second end portion 33b of the fin 14 is joined to the inner peripheral surface 12a of the tank container 12 by welding. The storage chamber 34 is partitioned and the MH powder P is stored in a state where it cannot move between the storage chambers 34.

  ○ The shape of the bulge may be changed. The bulge part does not need to be bulge-like, for example, you may make it the shape where the top part of the bulge part was slightly depressed. Further, the bulging portion may be formed in a substantially triangular shape or a substantially rectangular shape in cross section.

  The bulge portion may not be constant in the longitudinal direction of the tank container. For example, the storage chamber may be defined using fins having a high portion and a low portion. In this case, as shown in FIG.4 (b), with respect to the 1st partition part 40 of a fin, the part 41 with high height and the part 42 with low height exist alternately in the longitudinal direction of a tank container. A bulging portion 43 is formed. When the storage chamber is partitioned using the fins having such a bulge portion 43 formed, when the bulge portion 26 is crushed, the storage chamber sparses the MH powder at a location corresponding to the high portion 41. The MH powder P is accommodated in a compacted state at a location corresponding to the portion 42 having a low height. Therefore, when the hydrogen storage tank having such a configuration is mounted on an electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, even if vibration is applied to the hydrogen storage tank, the MH powder in the sparse part is compressed by the part where the MH powder is compacted. Sedimentation and movement can be suppressed.

(Circle) you may form a bulging part so that it may extend over the whole longitudinal direction of a fin.
○ The number of bulges provided on one fin is not particularly limited. For example, a plurality of bulge portions may be formed by the first partition plate portion 22, or a bulge portion may be formed by the first partition plate portion 22 and the second partition plate portion 23. Further, a bulging portion may be formed in the first partition plate portion 22, the second partition plate portion 23, and the curved plate portion 24.

  ○ The bulging part does not need to be formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the tank container. For example, by arranging a plurality of bulges having a short length in the longitudinal direction of the tank container so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the tank container, the bulges are crushed when the MH powder P filled in the storage chamber 25 expands. You may comprise so that it can suppress that a big pressure acts on the tank container 12. FIG.

  ○ The size of the bulging portion is not particularly limited as long as it is a size that can prevent an excessive pressure from acting on the tank container when the MH powder expands. The size of the bulging portion is, for example, a size capable of partitioning a space having a volume that falls within a range of ± 10 to 30% of one-sixth of the capacity of the storage chamber.

  ○ You may change the way the fins are placed in the tank container. For example, instead of placing the fins in the tank container by fitting the tip portions 22a, 23a of the first partition plate portion 22 and the second partition plate portion 23 of the fin 14 into the groove 21, the curved plate portion of the fin is used. You may arrange | position in a tank container by welding to the inner surface of a tank container. Further, if all the fins are arranged in the tank container, the dimensions of the fins may be set so that all the fins are fitted in the tank container and the mutual movement is restricted. In this case, the front end portions of the first partition plate portion and the second partition plate portion of the fin do not have to reach the outer peripheral portion of the hydrogen flow pipe 13, but reach the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the hydrogen flow pipe 13. Any shape may be used.

  -You may change the structure of the fin which divides one storage chamber. For example, fins that are divided into a plurality in the longitudinal direction of the tank container and whose length in the longitudinal direction of the tank container is shorter than the length in the radial direction of the tank container are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the tank container. Two storage rooms may be partitioned.

  O The storage chamber filled with the hydrogen storage alloy is not limited to the storage chamber extending in the longitudinal direction of the tank container. For example, prepare a plurality of substantially disk-shaped fins consisting of a plate material that partially forms a bulging part and a lid plate that covers the bulging part. A plurality of storage chambers extending in the circumferential direction of the tank container may be formed by being attached so as to be arranged at equal intervals in the axial direction of the pipe. In addition, the bulge part formed with a plate material is formed so that it may extend in the circumferential direction of a tank container similarly to a storage chamber. And a screw hole is formed in the site | part corresponding to each storage chamber with respect to a tank container, and a screw is screwed together in a screw hole. And at the time of manufacture of a hydrogen storage tank, each accommodation chamber is filled with MH powder through a screw hole. The outer peripheral end of the fin is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the tank container by welding or the like so that the MH powder filled in the storage chamber extending in the circumferential direction of the tank container by the fin does not move to another storage chamber. .

○ The shape of the tank container may be changed. The tank container only needs to have a cylindrical shape that can be hermetically sealed. For example, the tank container may be formed in a substantially polygonal cylindrical shape.
○ The tank container configuration may be changed. For example, both ends may be changed to a tank container formed as a dome part, or one of the ends may be changed to a tank container formed as a dome part.

○ The metal constituting the tank container is not particularly limited as long as it has good thermal conductivity. For example, the tank container may be made of aluminum, iron, or copper.
The hydrogen storage tank is not limited to the one used as a hydrogen source for an electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell. For example, the hydrogen storage tank may be applied to a hydrogen source of a hydrogen engine, a heat pump, or the like.

(A) is a schematic cross section of the hydrogen storage tank in one Embodiment, (b) is an AA line schematic cross section of Fig.1 (a). (A) is a typical partial top view of the fin seen from the B arrow direction of FIG.1 (b), (b) is a transversal direction side view of the fin shown to Fig.2 (a). (A) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1 (a), and (b) is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the hydrogen storage tank in a state where MH powder is expanded. (A) is a typical fragmentary sectional view of the hydrogen storage tank in another embodiment, (b) is a schematic sectional view of the 1st partition plate of the fin in another embodiment. The typical fragmentary sectional view explaining the conventional hydrogen storage tank.

Explanation of symbols

  P ... MH powder, 11 ... hydrogen storage tank, 12 ... tank container, 12a ... inner peripheral surface, 13 ... hydrogen circulation pipe as a hydrogen circulation part, 14,33 ... fins, 19 ... cylinder wall, 22,40 ... first Partition plate part, 23 ... second partition plate part, 24 ... curved plate part, 25, 34 ... accommodating chamber, 26, 30, 43 ... bulge part.

Claims (4)

A hydrogen storage tank provided with a plurality of fins for partitioning an internal space of a sealed cylindrical tank container into a plurality of storage chambers, wherein each storage chamber is filled with a hydrogen storage alloy,
Provided in the tank container, comprising a hydrogen circulation part through which hydrogen can pass while preventing the hydrogen storage alloy from leaking from the storage chamber,
The fin has a bulge portion that bulges toward the storage chamber, and the bulge portion has a space inside when the fin is disposed in the tank container. . The plurality of fins are arranged radially,
The hydrogen storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the storage chamber and the bulge portion extend in a longitudinal direction of the tank container. The hydrogen flow part is a hydrogen flow pipe formed of a cylindrical wall through which hydrogen can flow and fitted along the axis of the tank container,
The fin is composed of a curved plate portion curved so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the tank container, and a pair of partition plate portions extending in the radial direction of the tank container from both sides of the curved plate portion,
The said several fin is arrange | positioned along with the circumferential direction of the said tank container so that the one partition plate part of the said fin and the other partition plate part of the said fin adjacent may contact | connect. The hydrogen storage tank described.   The hydrogen storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bulge portion is provided for each of the storage chambers.

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