JP2010052633A - System for operating carrier using fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for operating a carrier to which electric power is continuously supplied even in power failure of a system power source and to melt snow on the carrier such as a chair lift, a gondola, etc., and to heat the carrier by receiving supply of hot water. <P>SOLUTION: The system for operating the carrier includes: the carrier having hot water piping used for heat insulation; a power part to operate the carrier; a fuel cell having a power generation part to generate electric power to supply to the power part by electrochemical reaction and a conversion part to convert heat generated by power generation to the hot water; and a hot water supply part to supply the hot water converted in the conversion part of the fuel cell to the hot water piping of the carrier. Consequently, the electric power is continuously supplied even in the power failure of the system power source and it is possible to melt the snow on the carrier and heat the carrier by the heat of the hot water. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a transporter operating system that is installed in a ski resort or the like and transports transporters such as chair lifts and gondola.

  The transporter operation system is used mainly in winter, but there are many cases where heating equipment is not installed in transporters such as chair lifts and gondola, and users have to endure the cold that falls below freezing point. It was. Also, in the case of a chair lift, the worker shakes off the snow accumulated on the seating surface, or the operator folds the seating surface on the side of getting off to prevent the snow from accumulating, and the worker reopens the seating surface when getting on Work has been done. In addition, the transporter operation system is driven by the system power supply, and if power supply from the system power supply is stopped due to snow damage or the like, a situation where the user is confined for a long time on the chair lift or in the gondola occurs for a long time. Was.

  Patent Document 1 describes a chair lift in which a heating device is provided on a seat cushion and a back cushion of a chair, and the seat cushion and the back cushion are heated while stopped at a station. Patent Document 2 describes a heating method of a gondola that is heated by an electric heating device mounted on the base of the gondola only when it is stopped in the station.

  Patent Document 3 describes an emergency power supply device that uses a fuel cell when a commercial power supply fails in an information display device that displays road information or the like installed on a highway or a general road.

JP-T-2006-519725 JP 2006-82799 A JP 2002-78238 A

Even when the system power supply fails, it is necessary to operate the transporter without stopping, ensuring the safety of the user, and providing the user with comfort by heating. Furthermore, it is also important to reduce the operating cost by preventing snowfall on the seating surface and eliminating operations such as snow falling off and reopening of the seating surface.

However, since the conventional emergency power supply apparatus supplies only electric power, the efficiency of energy use is not good. In addition, heat energy can be supplied to the transporting machine only when it is stopped or passing through the boarding / exiting station, and heating by a conventional electric heating device has only a temporary effect.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and power supply is continued even when the power supply of the system power supply is interrupted, and further, by supplying hot water, snow melting or heating of a portable machine such as a chair lift or a gondola is performed. The purpose is to realize a carrier operation system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a transporter operating system according to the present invention includes a transporter having a hot water pipe used for heat insulation, a power unit that operates the transporter, and electric power supplied to the power unit by an electrochemical reaction. A fuel cell having a power generation unit that converts the heat generated by power generation into hot water, and a hot water supply unit that supplies the hot water converted by the conversion unit of the fuel cell to the hot water piping of the portable machine. It is characterized by providing.

  Even if the power supply from the system power supply is stopped by connecting the system power supply and the fuel cell, the operation of the transporter operation system is continued even if the power supply from the system power supply is stopped. And stable operation of the system becomes possible. In addition, the heat generated by the fuel cell is supplied as warm water, and the warm water is circulated to the transporter to heat it, making it possible to melt snow on the transporter or provide warmth to the user. Efficient operation can be achieved.

  Further, in the portable machine operating system according to the present invention, the portable machine is a chair lift, the chair lift has a hot water supply port that receives supply of hot water from the hot water supply unit, and the hot water pipe is a seat surface of the chair lift or It is arranged inside the backrest.

  Furthermore, in the transporter operating system according to the present invention, the transporter is a gondola, the gondola has a hot water supply port that receives the supply of hot water from the hot water supply unit, and the hot water pipe is attached to the seat of the gondola or the casing. It is arranged.

  Moreover, in the transporter operating system according to the present invention, the hot water pipe has a heat insulating part covered with a heat insulating material and a heat radiating part covered with a heat storage material.

  Thereby, since the quantity of heat of the hot water supplied to the transporter can be gradually dissipated, it is possible to obtain a heat retention effect for a long time.

  In the transporter operating system according to the present invention, the warm water supply unit includes a warm water tank that stores warm water converted by the conversion unit of the fuel cell, and a warm water supply port that supplies warm water stored in the warm water tank to the transport device. It is characterized by providing.

  By providing the hot water tank, stable hot water supply can be performed even if the hot water supply load to the transporting machines constituting the system fluctuates.

  Moreover, the transporter operating system according to the present invention is characterized in that the hot water supply unit and the transporter are connected by a meshing joint.

  Thereby, the connection between the hot water supply port from the hot water tank and the hot water receiving port provided in the transporter can be simplified, and the hot water can be circulated through the pipe in a short time.

  In the transporter operating system according to the present invention, the fuel cell has a plurality of fuel supply sources.

  Thereby, even if the fuel supply from the system power supply and one of the plurality of fuel supply sources is stopped, the operation of the system can be continued, and the stability of the system can be further improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to continue power supply from the fuel cell even during a power failure of the system power supply, and to carry out snow melting or heating of a portable machine such as a chair lift or a gondola with hot water supplied from the fuel cell. Thereby, an energy efficient carrier operating system can be realized.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing functions of the transporter operating system according to the present invention. The transporter operating system according to the present invention includes a fuel cell 2 having a plurality of fuel supply sources composed of city gas 5 and liquefied petroleum gas 6. In addition, an interconnection device 3 that interconnects the electric power supplied from the system power supply line 1 and the fuel cell 2 is provided. The power unit 10 receives power supply from the system power supply line 1 and the fuel cell 2 interconnected by the interconnecting device 3, drives the driving pulley 12, and transports the transporter 14. On the other hand, the hot water supply unit 9 receives supply of hot water from the fuel cell 2 and performs snow melting and heating of the transporter 14. The power unit 10 and the hot water supply unit 9 are installed at the boarding / exiting station 4 where the user gets on and off the transporter 14.

  The fuel cell 2 in this embodiment is a phosphoric acid fuel cell having a maximum rating of 100 kW, and is connected to a system power source to drive an automatic circulating lift having a rated operating power of 75 kW. Thereby, even if the supply of electric power from the system power supply is stopped, the operation of the lift can be continued by the electric power supply from the fuel cell.

  In normal times, the fuel cell 2 generates power using the city gas 5 supplied on the line as fuel. As described above, when the system power supply fails, the transporter 14 can be operated only by the fuel cell 2. Furthermore, when the supply of both the system power supply line 1 and the city gas 5 is stopped, the power generation can be continued using the liquefied petroleum gas 6 that is always available as fuel. For example, when 400 kg of liquefied petroleum gas is provided, the lift operation can be continued for about 24 hours with a rating of 75 kW. Thereby, while improving the convenience, the safety of the user can be ensured.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a circulating system of hot water in the transporter operating system according to the present invention. The fuel cell 2 includes a fuel cell main body 2a that is a power generation unit and a heat exchanger 2b that is a conversion unit. The fuel cell main body 2a generates power by an electrochemical reaction, and the heat exchanger 2b converts the heat generated in the fuel cell main body 2a into hot water and supplies it to the outside. The hot water supply unit 9 includes a hot water tank 15 a that stores hot water supplied from the heat exchanger 2 b and a hot water supply port 17 a that supplies hot water to the transporter 14. Further, a hot water supply port 17d that receives hot water supplied from the hot water supply port 17a to the transporter 14 (see FIG. 1) and circulated through the hot water pipe 8 provided in the transporter 14 and returned, and hot water that stores the returned hot water. A tank 15b is provided. Moreover, the circulation pump 16a for supplying warm water from the warm water tank 15a to the portable machine 14 and the circulation pump 16b for returning warm water from the warm water tank 15b to the heat exchanger 2b are provided.

  In this embodiment, the transporter 14 is a chair lift 14 having a support rod 14a and a chair portion 14b. A hot water pipe 8 is installed inside the support rod 14a and the chair portion 14b. The support rod 14 a includes a hot water receiving port 17 b that is a hot water receiving port and a hot water supply port 17 c for returning to the hot water supply unit 9. As will be described later, each of the hot water supply port 17b and the hot water supply port 17c is one of engaging portions that constitute a meshing joint (see FIG. 6). The warm water supply port 17a on the warm water supply unit 9 side and the warm water supply port 17b on the chair lift 14 side, and the warm water supply port 17c on the chair lift 14 side and the warm water supply port 17d on the warm water supply unit 9 are engaged with each other to warm water. The hot water pipe 8 of the supply unit 9 and the hot water pipe 8 of the transporter 14 are connected to circulate the hot water.

  In the present embodiment, the heat generated in the fuel cell 2 is released by the heat exchanger 2b, adjusted to 50 ° C. warm water, and stored in the warm water tank 15a. At the boarding / exiting station, a gripping machine (not shown) provided at the tip of the support rod 14a of the chair lift 14 unloads the rope, and while running on the chair lift transfer rail, the hot water supply port 17a and the receiving port 17b, the hot water supply port 17c and the hot water supply port 17d are engaged, and hot water is circulated and supplied to the hot water piping 8 of the transporter 14. Thereby, the chair part 14b of the chair lift 14 can be heated, and the snow accumulated on the seat surface and the backrest can be melted. Furthermore, the seat surface temperature of the chair when it is changed from the transfer rail to the rope is 45 ° C., and it is possible to supply the user with heat.

  On the other hand, as another embodiment, when priority is given to the supply of heat to the user during transportation of the chair lift 14, the structure of the chair portion 14b is preferably configured as follows.

Heat dissipating portions 18a and 18b shown in FIG. 2 are provided on the backrest and seating surface of the chair portion 14b. As will be described later, the hot water pipes 8 of the heat radiating portions 18a and 18b are covered with a heat storage material. Moreover, parts other than the thermal radiation parts 18a and 18b in the hot water piping 8 of the support rod 14a and the chair part 14b are covered with the heat insulating material. The heat insulating material blocks heat radiation from portions other than the heat radiation portions 18a and 18b. Further, the heat of the hot water remaining in the hot water pipe 8 of the chair lift 14 is also released from the heat radiating portions 18a and 18b. Thereby, since the heat stored in the heat storage material and the hot water is gradually radiated from the heat radiating portions 18a and 18b, the heat can be supplied to the user for a long time.

  Furthermore, by covering the hot water pipe with the heat insulating material, it is possible to prevent the hot water from being cooled and frozen while being transported by the cableway. Thereby, when supplying hot water at a boarding / alighting station, it is possible to eliminate the trouble that the hot water remaining in the hot water pipe 8 is frozen and the hot water does not circulate.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically showing the chair portion 14b of the chair lift 14 provided with the heat radiating portions 18a and 18b. The state which removed the surface panel 43 (refer FIG. 4) of the thermal radiation part 18a of a backrest and the thermal radiation part 18b of a seat surface is shown. A hot water pipe 8 is provided inside the chair portion 14b, and a heat storage material 41 is filled around the hot water pipe 8 in the heat radiating portions 18a and 18b. As described above, the hot water pipes 8 other than the heat radiating portions 18a and 18b are covered with the heat insulating material.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an AA cross section of the chair portion 14b of the chair lift. As described above, the periphery of the hot water pipe 8 of the heat radiating portion 18a on the back and the heat radiating portion 18b on the seating surface is filled with the heat storage material 41. Furthermore, a surface panel 43 to which a heat insulating material 42 is attached is installed on the surfaces of the heat radiating portions 18a and 18b. Moreover, the housing | casing of the chair part 14b is manufactured with the heat insulating material, and the heat | fever stored in the thermal storage material 41 is mainly discharge | released from the thermal radiation part 18a, 18b.

  The hot water can be circulated through the hot water pipe 8 of the chair lift 14 to store heat in the heat storage material 41 at the boarding / exiting station at the hot water supply port 17a and the receiving port 17b, and the hot water supply port 17c and the hot water receiving port 17d. Only while engaged and hot water is circulating through the hot water pipe 8 of the carrier. While the hot water supply port and the hot water receiving port are disengaged and the chair lift 14 is transported by the cableway, there is no supply of heat, and the heat stored in the hot water remaining in the heat storage material 41 and the hot water pipe 8 is retained. It is only released. Therefore, when the release of heat from the heat storage material 41 ends in a short time and a long time is required until the next hot water circulation, the user's purpose of keeping warm cannot be achieved.

  Therefore, the chair lift 14 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of types of surface panels 43 with different thicknesses of the heat insulating material 42, and the required time from when hot water is supplied at the boarding station until the next hot water is supplied. A surface panel 43 having a heat insulating material 42 having a suitable thickness is selected and used according to time. That is, by selecting the thickness of the heat insulating material 42, it is possible to change the release time of the heat stored in the heat storage material 41. Therefore, by selecting a suitable front panel 43 according to the time interval of hot water supply It is possible to keep the user warm while the transporter is transported.

  On the other hand, when the heat insulating material 42 is thickened, the backrest and the seat surface reach a relatively low temperature when heated by circulation of hot water, and there is a risk that the heat retaining effect may be reduced, but when sitting on the chair portion 14b If you don't feel cold, you can often achieve the purpose of giving comfort to your users.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a gondola which is a carrying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the gondola shown in the figure, a hot water receiving port 17b and a hot water supply port 17c are installed at the tip of the support rod 21, and the hot water pipe 8 is disposed on the side surface 18c of the housing 20 through the support rod 21, and further, the seat interior 18d. Is arranged. Unlike the chair lift described above, the user of the gondola does not come into direct contact with the outside air during transportation of the cableway, so if the inside of the gondola is heated by circulating hot water through the hot water pipe 8 at the boarding station A person can achieve the purpose by having a comfortable feeling of heating when getting on.

On the other hand, even in the case of a gondola, it is possible to prevent heat dissipation by providing a heat radiating part for releasing heat from the hot water pipe 8 in the housing side face 18c and the seat interior 18d and covering the other part of the hot water pipe 8 with a heat insulating material. preferable. This is because the hot water left inside the hot water pipe 8 is frozen and the trouble that the hot water cannot be circulated at the boarding / alighting station can be prevented.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the meshing joint according to the present invention. The meshing joint shown in the drawing functions as a connecting means for the hot water pipe 8 by engaging a supply port 17a (17c) for supplying hot water and a receiving port 17b (17d) for receiving the supplied hot water.

  The supply port 17a is provided with a warm water inflow pipe 34 and a warm water discharge port 35. Further, a sealing valve 32 urged by a spring 33 is disposed inside the supply port 17 a in a state of being inserted through the discharge port 35. On the other hand, a valve receiving portion 36 that receives the sealing valve 32 is disposed in the receiving port 17b, and an inlet 37 through which hot water flows is provided on a side surface of the valve receiving portion 36. In addition, an outflow pipe 38 for flowing hot water from the receiving port 17b to the hot water pipe 8 is provided.

  FIG. 6A is a schematic view showing a state where the supply port 17a and the receiving port 17b are engaged, and the hot water flowing in from the inflow pipe 34 flows into the outflow pipe 38 through the inside of the supply port 17a and the receiving port 17b. FIG. The supply port 17a and the receiving port 17b are engaged with each other by engaging the convex portion provided with the discharge port 35 of the supply port 17a and the concave portion provided with the valve receiving portion 36 of the receiving port 17b. By this engagement, the tip of the sealing valve 32 biased by the spring 33 is pushed up against the bottom surface of the valve receiving portion 36, and the discharge port 35 is opened to form a hot water flow path.

  FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram showing the state of the supply port 17a in a state where the engagement with the receiving port 17b is released. When the engagement is disengaged, the sealing valve 32 biased by the spring 33 is pressed against the discharge port 35, and the flange portion of the seal valve 32 closes the discharge port 35 to stop the warm water from flowing out.

  Needless to say, the engagement between the supply port 17a and the receiving port 17b can be performed manually by the operator. However, in order to reduce operating costs, it is preferable to use an automatic meshing mechanism that automatically engages. For example, when the transporter passes through a predetermined position, the pair of the supply port 17a and the receiving port 17d installed in the hot water supply unit 9 is held at the front end of the transport mechanism having an alignment function, This can be implemented by engaging a pair of the receiving port 17b and the supplying port 17d.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments according to the present invention, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Is possible.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the function of the carrier operating system which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the warm water circulation system of the portable machine operating system which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the chair part of the chairlift which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed the chair part AA cross section of the chair lift which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the gondola which is another embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the cross section of the meshing joint which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 .... System power line 2 .... Fuel cell 2a ... Fuel cell body 2b ... Heat exchanger 3 .... Interconnection device 4 .... Boarding station 5 .... City gas 6 .... Liquefied petroleum gas 7 .... Power supply Line 8. Hot water piping 9. Hot water supply unit 10. Power unit 12. Drive pulley 14. Transporter 14a. Support rod 14b. Chair 15a, 15b. Hot water tank 16a, 16b ... Circulation Pumps 17a, 17b .. meshing joint (hot water supply port, hot water supply port)
17c ··· Hot water supply port 17d · · Hot water supply port 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d · · Radiating part 20 · · Case 21 · · Support rod 22 · · Seat 32 · · Sealing valve
33 ... Spring 43 ... Front panel 41 ... Heat storage material 42 ... Thermal insulation 43 ... Front panel

Claims (7)

A transporter having a hot water pipe used for heat insulation;
A power unit for operating the transporter;
A fuel cell comprising: a power generation unit that generates electric power to be supplied to the power unit by an electrochemical reaction; and a conversion unit that converts heat generated by the power generation into hot water;
A hot water supply unit that supplies the hot water converted by the conversion unit of the fuel cell to the hot water piping of the transporter;
A portable machine operating system comprising: The carrier is a chair lift;
The chair lift has a hot water receiving port that receives supply of hot water from the hot water supply unit,
The said hot water piping is arrange | positioned inside the seat surface or backrest of the said chair lift, The portable machine operating system of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The carrier is a gondola;
The gondola has a hot water supply port that receives supply of hot water from the hot water supply unit,
The portable machine operation system according to claim 1, wherein the hot water pipe is arranged in a seat or a casing of the gondola. The said hot water piping has the heat insulation part covered with the heat insulating material, and the thermal radiation part covered with the heat storage material, The portable machine operating system in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The hot water supply unit includes a hot water tank that stores hot water converted by the conversion unit of the fuel cell, and a hot water supply port that supplies the hot water stored in the hot water tank to the transporter. The carrier operating system according to any one of 1 to 4. The said warm water supply part and the said portable machine are connected by a meshing joint, The portable machine operating system in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell has a plurality of fuel supply sources.

Images