JP2011179519A - Structure of pipe connection for connecting hydrogen tank with hydrogen filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique of suppressing degradation of connection properties between a filling nozzle for filling a hydrogen tank with hydrogen and a filling port on the hydrogen tank side. <P>SOLUTION: A hydrogen filling device 200 supplies the outside with a high-pressure hydrogen that is cooled to below zero by a cooler 230, through the filling nozzle 220. A nozzle connector 151 to which the filling nozzle 220 is connected and which functions as the filling port, is provided in a pipe 152 for filling hydrogen that is connected to the hydrogen tank 111 of a fuel cell system 100. In an outer surface of a connector end 160 of the nozzle connector 151, two or more grooves 167 that directly face an inner wall surface of a housing 223 when a hydrogen jetting port 222 is connected to a pipe communication hole 162, are formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for filling a hydrogen tank with high-pressure hydrogen.

  Fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel vehicles are usually equipped with hydrogen tanks that store hydrogen as fuel. When the hydrogen in the hydrogen tank is insufficient in those vehicles, the hydrogen tank is replenished from a hydrogen supply source outside the vehicle. When the hydrogen is replenished, a filling nozzle for ejecting high-pressure hydrogen from a hydrogen supply source outside the vehicle is connected to a filling port for hydrogen filling provided on the hydrogen tank side (Patent Document 1 below). ).

  Here, in order to complete the filling of hydrogen into the hydrogen tank in a short time while suppressing leakage of high-pressure hydrogen, the filling nozzle and the filling port for replenishing these hydrogen are closely connected to each other. It is preferable. Moreover, when the hydrogen supply is completed, it is preferable that the connection between the filling nozzle and the filling port can be easily released. However, until now, it has been the actual situation that sufficient contrivance has not been made regarding the connectivity between the filling nozzle and the filling port for supplying hydrogen. Such problems are not limited to fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel vehicles, but are common issues in apparatuses and systems including a hydrogen tank filled with high-pressure hydrogen.

JP 2009-208534 A

  An object of this invention is to provide the technique which suppresses the fall of the connectivity between the filling nozzle for filling hydrogen into a hydrogen tank, and the filling port by the side of a hydrogen tank.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
It is a pipe connection structure for connecting a tank side pipe connected to a hydrogen tank and a filling apparatus side pipe connected to a hydrogen filling apparatus for filling high pressure hydrogen in the hydrogen tank while cooling below freezing point. A filling nozzle provided at an end of the filling device side pipe and a nozzle connecting portion provided at an end of the tank side pipe to which the filling nozzle is connected, and the filling nozzle ejects hydrogen. And a nozzle housing portion surrounding the outer periphery of the hydrogen jet port and extending in the hydrogen jet direction, wherein the nozzle connection portion is inserted into the housing portion. The connector tip is connected to the hydrogen outlet of the filling nozzle when the connector tip is inserted into the housing and communicates with the tank side pipe. A pipe communication hole is provided, and when the hydrogen outlet and the pipe communication hole are connected to the inner wall surface of the housing part or the outer surface of the connector tip part, the connector tip part is provided. A pipe connection structure in which a plurality of grooves directly facing the outer surface or the inner wall surface of the housing portion are formed.
According to this pipe connection structure, when high-pressure hydrogen having a temperature below the freezing point is circulated between the tank side pipe and the filling apparatus side pipe, there is a case where moisture exists between the filling nozzle and the nozzle connection portion. Even if it exists, the volume for the freezing expansion | swelling of the said water | moisture content can be escaped to a some groove part. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the difficulty in releasing the connection between the filling nozzle and the nozzle connection portion due to the freezing of moisture between the filling nozzle and the nozzle connection portion. That is, it is possible to suppress a decrease in connectivity between the filling nozzle for filling the hydrogen tank with hydrogen and the filling port on the hydrogen tank side.

[Application Example 2]
In the pipe connection structure according to Application Example 1, the plurality of groove portions are formed so that at least one end portion is opened when the hydrogen jet port and the pipe communication hole are connected. The pipe connection structure.
According to this pipe connection structure, since at least one end of the plurality of groove portions is opened, the plurality of groove portions can be more effectively used as a frozen moisture escape portion between the filling nozzle and the nozzle connection portion. Can function.

[Application Example 3]
The pipe connection structure according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2, wherein the connector when the connector tip is inserted into the housing inside the wall surface of the housing or inside the connector tip A pipe connection structure in which a heating part is arranged so as to heat a boundary part between a tip part and the housing part.
According to this pipe connection structure, even if the water between the filling nozzle and the nozzle connection is frozen and the fastening force between them is increased, the frozen water is thawed by the heating unit. be able to. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the difficulty in releasing the connection between the filling nozzle and the nozzle connection portion due to the freezing of moisture between the filling nozzle and the nozzle connection portion.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, a pipe connection structure in a pipe connecting a hydrogen tank and a hydrogen filling device, a hydrogen supply system using the pipe connection structure, and a hydrogen supply thereof. It can be realized in the form of a vehicle or the like that employs the system.

Schematic which shows the structure of a fuel cell system and a hydrogen filling apparatus. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the connection of a filling nozzle and a nozzle connection part. Schematic which shows the structure of a filling nozzle. Schematic which shows the other structural example of a filling nozzle. The schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the filling nozzle as 2nd Example, and a nozzle connection part.

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the configuration of a fuel cell system and a hydrogen filling apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. The fuel cell system 100 is a power generation system mounted on a fuel cell vehicle or the like. The fuel cell system 100 includes a fuel cell 101, an anode gas supply unit 110, and a cathode gas supply unit 120. The fuel cell 101 is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that generates electric power by receiving supply of high-pressure hydrogen and high-pressure air as reaction gases (anode gas and cathode gas). The fuel cell 101 is not limited to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and various types of fuel cells using hydrogen as fuel can be employed.

  The anode gas supply unit 110 includes a hydrogen tank 111, a hydrogen supply pipe 112, a cutoff valve 114, and a regulator 116. The hydrogen tank 111 is connected to the anode side of the fuel cell 101 via a hydrogen supply pipe 112. The shut-off valve 114 and the regulator 116 are provided in the hydrogen supply pipe 112. The anode gas supply unit 110 supplies the high-pressure hydrogen stored in the hydrogen tank 111 to the fuel cell 101 after controlling the pressure and flow rate using these valves 114 and 116. The cathode gas supply unit 120 includes an air compressor (not shown), and supplies high-pressure air whose pressure is controlled by the air compressor to the fuel cell 101 via the supply pipe 121. The supply pipe 121 may be provided with a valve for controlling the pressure and flow rate of the high-pressure air and a humidifier for controlling the humidification state of the high-pressure air.

  The fuel cell 101 further has an anode exhaust gas pipe 131 and a cathode exhaust gas pipe 141 connected to the anode and cathode discharge sides, respectively. From these exhaust gas pipes 131 and 141, gas that has not been subjected to the fuel cell reaction, moisture generated by the fuel cell reaction, and the like are discharged. These exhaust gas pipes 131 and 141 may be provided with valves for adjusting the back pressure of the fuel cell 101.

  Here, the fuel cell system 100 includes a hydrogen supply system 150 for supplying hydrogen to the hydrogen tank 111 from the outside. The hydrogen supply system 150 includes a nozzle connection portion 151, a hydrogen filling pipe 152, and a check valve 153. The hydrogen filling pipe 152 extends to the outside of the system, and at its end, a filling nozzle 220 of the hydrogen filling apparatus 200 is connected, and a nozzle connection portion 151 that functions as a hydrogen filling port is provided. The connection between the nozzle connecting portion 151 and the filling nozzle 220 will be described later. The other end of the hydrogen filling pipe 152 is inserted into the hydrogen tank 111. The check valve 153 is provided at a portion of the hydrogen filling pipe 152 inserted into the hydrogen tank 111 in order to prevent a back flow of hydrogen from the hydrogen tank 111.

  The hydrogen filling device 200 is a device for supplying hydrogen for filling the hydrogen tank 111 of the fuel cell system 100 with high-pressure hydrogen. The hydrogen filling apparatus 200 includes a hydrogen pipe 201, a shutoff valve 202, a regulator 203, a hydrogen storage unit 210, a filling nozzle 220, and a cooling unit 230. The hydrogen storage unit 210 includes a hydrogen tank that stores high-pressure hydrogen, and the hydrogen storage unit 210 and the filling nozzle 220 are connected via a hydrogen pipe 201. The filling nozzle 220 is connected to the nozzle connection portion 151 of the fuel cell system 100 as described above. The filling nozzle 220 is provided with a lever 221 for locking the connection with the nozzle connecting portion 151. The hydrogen pipe 201 is provided with a shutoff valve 202 and a regulator 203 for adjusting the pressure and flow rate of hydrogen output from the filling nozzle 220 in order from the upstream side (hydrogen storage unit 210 side), and further downstream. A cooling unit 230 is provided on the side.

  The cooling unit 230 functions as a precooler that cools the hydrogen output from the filling nozzle 220 below the freezing point. In general, hydrogen has a property of increasing the temperature by the Joule-Thompson effect in expansion when shifting from a high pressure state to a low pressure state. Therefore, in the hydrogen filling device 200, the hydrogen in the hydrogen pipe 201 is cooled in advance by the cooling unit 230, thereby preventing the hydrogen supply system 150 and the hydrogen tank 111 of the fuel cell system 100 from rising in temperature. In addition, it is preferable that the cooling unit 230 can cool the hydrogen in the hydrogen pipe 201 to about −20 ° C. to −40 ° C.

  2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the connection between the filling nozzle 220 of the hydrogen filling device 200 and the nozzle connection portion 151 of the fuel cell system 100. FIG. FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic cross-sectional views of a part of the filling nozzle 220 and a part of the nozzle connection portion 151, respectively. 2A shows a state before the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connecting portion 151 are connected, and FIG. 2B shows that the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connecting portion 151 are connected, The connection is locked.

  The filling nozzle 220 communicates with the hydrogen pipe 201 (FIG. 1) and has a hydrogen outlet 222 for ejecting hydrogen. The filling nozzle 220 has a cylindrical housing portion 223 that surrounds the hydrogen outlet 222 and extends in the opening direction of the hydrogen outlet 222 (the right direction in FIG. 2), which is the direction in which hydrogen is ejected. Yes. Furthermore, the filling nozzle 220 has a convex portion 224 that protrudes in the opening direction of the hydrogen jet port 222 around the hydrogen jet port 222 in the internal space of the housing portion 223.

  The nozzle connecting portion 151 has a rod-shaped connector tip 160 that is inserted into the housing portion 223 of the filling nozzle 220 when connected to the filling nozzle 220. A concave portion 161 into which the convex portion 224 in the housing portion 223 can be fitted is provided at the center of the end portion of the connector tip portion 160. Further, the connector front end portion 160 is provided with a pipe communication hole 162 that communicates from the center of the bottom surface of the recess 161 to the hydrogen filling pipe 152 (FIG. 1) along the insertion direction of the connector front end portion 160. That is, the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connecting portion 151 are connected to the hydrogen outlet 222 and the pipe communication hole 162 when the convex portion 224 and the concave portion 161 are fitted (FIG. 2B). Can be distributed. In addition, it is preferable that a sealing member for ensuring a hydrogen sealing property is provided at the boundary between the convex portion 224 and the concave portion 161.

  Here, the housing portion 223 of the filling nozzle 220 is provided with a lock mechanism 250 for locking the connection state with the nozzle connection portion 151. Further, a constricted portion 163 for the lock mechanism 250 is provided at the connector distal end portion 160 of the nozzle connecting portion 151. The lock mechanism 250 includes a plurality of spheres 251 arranged in an annular shape along the inner wall surface of the housing portion 223.

  When the lever 221 (FIG. 1) of the filling nozzle 220 is in the “open” position (when unlocked), the spherical surface of each spherical body 251 is accommodated inside the wall portion of the housing portion 223. (FIG. 2 (A)). On the other hand, in the locking mechanism 250, when the lever 221 is in the “closed” position (when locked), a part of the spherical surface of each spherical body 251 protrudes from the inner wall surface of the housing portion 223 (FIG. 2B). ). That is, when the convex portion 224 of the filling nozzle 220 and the concave portion 161 of the nozzle connecting portion 151 are fitted, when the lever 221 is operated to “close”, each sphere 251 of the lock mechanism 250 is 160 constricted portions 163 are pressed. As a result, even when the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connecting portion 151 are tightly fastened and high-pressure hydrogen is ejected from the hydrogen filling device 200, the filling nozzle 220 may fall off the nozzle connecting portion 151. It is suppressed.

  Incidentally, as described above, the hydrogen filling apparatus 200 supplies high-pressure hydrogen to the fuel cell system 100 while being cooled by the cooling unit 230. Therefore, when hydrogen is replenished to the fuel cell system 100, the temperature of the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connection portion 151 may drop to below freezing point. In this case, if moisture exists between the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connection portion 151, the moisture will freeze. Then, it may be difficult to remove the filling nozzle 220 from the nozzle connecting portion 151 after the hydrogen replenishment is completed. Therefore, the processing described below is performed on the outer surface of the nozzle connection portion 151 of the fuel cell system 100 of the present embodiment.

  3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating the configuration of the nozzle connection portion 151. FIG. 3A is a schematic side view of the connector front end portion 160 in the nozzle connecting portion 151, and FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the connector front end portion 160 taken along the line BB shown in FIG. 3A. It is. Note that in FIG. 3A, the formation site of the groove 167 is hatched. Here, in the connector front end portion 160, the front end side (left side of the paper in FIG. 3A) from the constricted portion 163 is referred to as a “front end barrel portion 164”, and the rear end side from the constricted portion 163 (in FIG. 3A). The right side of the drawing is referred to as “rear end body 165”.

  A plurality of groove portions 167 extending along the insertion direction of the connector front end portion 160 (left and right direction in FIG. 3A) on the outer surface of the front end body portion 164 and the rear end body portion 165 of the connector front end portion 160, It is formed over the entire outer periphery of the connector tip 160. That is, each groove portion 167 is provided on the outer surface of the connector tip portion 160 that directly faces the inner wall surface of the housing portion 223 when the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connection portion 151 are connected. Here, “directly opposed” means that the two outer surfaces of the two members face each other without interposing other members.

  When the plurality of grooves 167 are not provided on the outer surface of the connector tip 160, when the moisture between the connector tip 160 and the inner wall surface of the housing 223 is frozen, the connector tip is caused by volume expansion of the frozen moisture. The fastening force between the part 160 and the housing part 223 increases. However, if the groove portions 167 are provided, the volume expansion of moisture due to freezing can be released to each groove portion 167. Moreover, the area of the outer surface bonded by the frozen moisture between the connector tip 160 and the housing part 223 is reduced by the amount of each groove 167 provided. In other words, each groove portion 167 can suppress an increase in fastening force or adhesive force between the connector tip portion 160 and the housing portion 223 due to freezing of moisture between the connector tip portion 160 and the housing portion 223. .

  In addition, it is preferable that each groove part 167 of the front-end | tip trunk | drum 164 is connected to the narrow part 163, and each groove part 167 of the rear-end trunk | drum 165 is when the nozzle connection part 151 and the filling nozzle 220 are connected. It is preferable that the configuration communicates with the outside. As described above, by adopting a configuration in which at least one end portion of each groove portion 167 is opened, the groove portion 167 functions more effectively as a moisture escape portion between the nozzle connection portion 151 and the filling nozzle 220. It is possible to make it.

  FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views showing other configuration examples of the nozzle connecting portion 151, respectively. 4 (A) and 4 (B) are substantially the same as FIG. 3 (A) except that the groove 167 is formed differently. In FIG. 4A, each groove 167 is formed as an annular groove that runs along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the connector tip 160 is inserted (the left-right direction in FIG. 4). On the other hand, in FIG. 4 (B), each groove part 167 is formed as a groove | channel which runs at an oblique angle with respect to the direction in which the connector front-end | tip part 160 is inserted. Even in the groove portion 167 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fastening force between the connector tip portion 160 and the housing portion 223 due to freezing of moisture is the same as the groove portion 167 described in FIG. 3. Can be prevented from increasing.

  In addition, since it is formed along the insertion direction of the connector front-end | tip part 160 if it is the groove part 167 of FIG. 3, it can function as a guide groove which guides the connector front-end | tip part 160 to an insertion direction. Therefore, the attachment property to the nozzle connection part 151 of the filling nozzle 220 improves. 4A and 4B, since all or part of each groove 167 does not have an open end, the plurality of grooves 167 in FIG. More water can escape.

  Here, it is preferable that water repellent processing is performed on the surface of the outer surface of the front end body portion 164 and the rear end body portion 165 where the groove portion 167 is not formed. Thus, when the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connection portion 151 are connected, moisture between the connector tip portion 160 and the housing portion 223 can be guided to each groove portion 167 in advance. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress an increase in the fastening force between the connector tip portion 160 and the housing portion 223 due to freezing of moisture between the connector tip portion 160 and the housing portion 223. The wall surface of each groove 167 may be subjected to a hydrophilic treatment.

  Thus, according to the pipe connection structure using the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connection portion 151 of the present embodiment, even when hydrogen cooled below the freezing point is replenished, the filling nozzle It can be suppressed that the connection between the nozzle 220 and the nozzle connecting portion 151 is difficult to be released. That is, a decrease in connectivity between the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connection portion 151 can be suppressed.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the nozzle connecting portion 151A and the filling nozzle 220A as the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is substantially the same as FIG. 2B except that heating units 169 and 229 are provided inside the nozzle connecting portion 151A and the filling nozzle 220A, respectively. In the second embodiment, the configurations of the fuel cell system 100 and the hydrogen filling apparatus 200 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, except for the configurations of the nozzle connecting portion 151A and the filling nozzle 220A.

  Each of the heating units 169 and 229 is configured by an electric heater that is driven by receiving power supplied from a power supply unit (not shown) of the fuel cell system 100 or the hydrogen filling device 200. In addition, illustration of the conductive wire of the heating parts 169 and 229 is omitted. The heating portion 169 of the nozzle connection portion 151 </ b> A is provided in the vicinity of the outer surface of each of the front end barrel portion 164 and the rear end barrel portion 165, avoiding the formation site of each groove portion 167. Further, the heating part 229 of the filling nozzle 220A is provided in the vicinity of the outer surface inside the housing part 223, avoiding the formation site of the lock mechanism 250. That is, the heating parts 169 and 229 are arranged so that the boundary between the connector tip 160 of the nozzle connection part 151A in the connected state and the housing part 223 of the filling nozzle 220A can be heated.

  In the case of the nozzle connecting portion 151A and the filling nozzle 220A of the second embodiment, the heating portions 169 and 229 are driven even when the moisture between the connector tip portion 160 and the housing portion 223 is frozen. Thus, the frozen water can be thawed. Moreover, each groove part 167 can be functioned as a drainage path of the thawed water. That is, according to the pipe connection structure using the nozzle connection portion 151A and the filling nozzle 220A of the second embodiment, it is difficult to release the connection between the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connection portion 151 due to freezing of moisture. Can be suppressed.

C. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

C1. Modification 1:
In the above embodiment, the plurality of groove portions 167 are formed on the outer surface of the connector tip portion 160 of the nozzle connection portion 151. However, the plurality of grooves 167 may be formed on the inner peripheral wall surface of the housing part 223 of the filling nozzle 220. That is, the plurality of groove portions 167 may be formed at the boundary between the filling nozzle 220 and the nozzle connection portion 151 in the connected state.

C2. Modification 2:
In the second embodiment, the heating portions 169 and 229 are provided in the housing portion 223 of the filling nozzle 220A and the connector tip portion 160 of the nozzle connection portion 151A, respectively. However, the heating unit may be provided in any one of the housing part 223 and the connector tip part 160.

C3. Modification 3:
A plurality of groove portions 167 were formed in the nozzle connection portion 151A of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment. However, in the nozzle connection portion 151A of the second embodiment, the plurality of groove portions 167 may be omitted.

C4. Modification 4:
In the above embodiment, the nozzle connection portions 151 and 151 </ b> A are provided in the fuel cell system 100. However, the nozzle connection portions 151 and 151 </ b> A are not limited to the fuel cell system 100, and may be provided in other devices and systems including various hydrogen tanks. For example, it may be provided in a hydrogen fuel vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Fuel cell system 101 ... Fuel cell 110 ... Anode gas supply part 111 ... Hydrogen tank 112 ... Hydrogen supply pipe 114 ... Shut-off valve 116 ... Regulator 120 ... Cathode gas supply part 121 ... Supply pipe 131 ... Anode exhaust gas pipe 141 ... Cathode exhaust pipe 150 ... Hydrogen replenishment system 151, 151A ... Nozzle connection 152 ... Hydrogen filling pipe 153 ... Check valve 160 ... Connector tip 161 ... Recess 162 ... Pipe communication hole 163 ... Constriction 164 ... Tip trunk 165 ... Rear end barrel 167 ... Multiple grooves 169 ... Heating part 200 ... Hydrogen filling device 201 ... Hydrogen piping 202 ... Shut-off valve 203 ... Regulator 210 ... Hydrogen storage part 220, 220A ... Filling nozzle 221 ... Lever 222 ... Hydrogen jet outlet 223 ... Housing 224 ... Convex 229 ... Addition Part 230 ... cooling unit 250 ... lock mechanism 251 ... spheres

Claims (3)

It is a pipe connection structure for connecting a tank side pipe connected to a hydrogen tank and a filling apparatus side pipe connected to a hydrogen filling apparatus for filling high pressure hydrogen in the hydrogen tank while cooling below freezing point. And
A filling nozzle provided at an end of the filling device side pipe;
A nozzle connection portion provided at an end of the tank-side pipe and connected to the filling nozzle;
With
The filling nozzle has a hydrogen ejection port for ejecting hydrogen, a cylindrical housing portion surrounding the outer periphery of the hydrogen ejection port and extending in the hydrogen ejection direction,
The nozzle connection portion has a connector tip portion inserted into the housing portion,
The connector tip is connected to the hydrogen outlet of the filling nozzle when the connector tip is inserted into the housing, and is provided with a pipe communication hole that communicates with the tank side pipe.
The outer surface of the connector tip or the inner wall of the housing when the hydrogen outlet and the pipe communication hole are connected to the inner wall of the housing or the outer surface of the connector tip. A pipe connection structure in which a plurality of groove portions that are directly opposed to each other are formed. The pipe connection structure according to claim 1,
The said groove part is a pipe connection structure currently formed so that at least one edge part may be in the state opened when the said hydrogen jet nozzle and the said piping communication hole are connected. The pipe connection structure according to claim 1 or 2,
The inside of the wall surface of the housing part or the inside of the connector tip part is heated so that the boundary part between the connector tip part and the housing part can be heated when the connector tip part is inserted into the housing part. Piping connection structure where parts are arranged.

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