JP2012046103A - Hydrogen energy vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen energy generation technology which can be easily handled for mounting on a vehicle and relatively inexpensively supplied.SOLUTION: By detaching a cap 26, tap water is supplied, and by detaching a cap 27, aluminum powder is supplied. The tap water is converted to active hydrogen water in an active hydrogen water generation part 22. In a hydrogen generation part 25, the active hydrogen water and the aluminum powder are made to react with each other, so as to generate hydrogen. By using the hydrogen as fuel, the vehicle 10 is made to run. It is only necessary to supply the aluminum powder and water to the vehicle 10 as the fuel. The water is converted to active hydrogen water in the vehicle. The active hydrogen water reacts with the aluminum so as to generate hydrogen. As the aluminum powder, substances obtained by crushing normal aluminum cans are allowed. Since it is only necessary to supply the aluminum powder and water to the vehicle 10, costs required for fuel materials are relatively inexpensive. Since the aluminum powder and water are stable, they can easily handled.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen energy vehicle that travels with hydrogen energy.

  Research on alternative energy alternatives to oil is ongoing. One alternative energy is hydrogen, and a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine using hydrogen as a fuel has been proposed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1 (see paragraphs [0028] and [0044]).

Patent Document 1 relates to a hydrogen generating material including a metal hydride and a substance that induces heat generation by heating, and uses AlH ₃ as the metal hydride.

This AlH ₃ is a hydrogen fuel vehicle that travels by being decomposed into Al and H ₂ when reacted with water and supplying H ₂ obtained by the decomposition to the internal combustion engine.

However, the production cost for producing a metal hydride such as AlH ₃ is high, and the fuel cost increases.
In addition, AlH ₃ is difficult to handle because it generates hydrogen gas when it comes into contact with moisture in the atmosphere. Furthermore, a metal hydride must be tightly sealed at the time of manufacture and supply, and a transfer device to an airtight container or the like is also required when mounted on the vehicle, which increases the size of the device and increases the weight of the vehicle.

On the other hand, a fuel cell electric vehicle is known as a vehicle that uses hydrogen as energy. Hydrogen and oxygen are taken into the fuel cell to generate a chemical reaction and generate electricity. Inflation, such as large-scale equipment for supply and filling, is necessary, which increases costs.
Thus, there is a need for a hydrogen generating material that can supply hydrogen to vehicles using hydrogen as an energy source and a hydrogen generating material that can be supplied relatively inexpensively and that can be handled easily.

JP 2009-62215 A

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydrogen energy generation technique that can be handled easily and can be supplied at a relatively low cost.

The invention according to claim 1 is a water storage unit that stores water in a vehicle body, and active hydrogen that converts the water supplied from the water storage unit into active hydrogen water (H ₃ O ₂ ) by an electrical action of tourmaline. A water generation unit, an active hydrogen water storage unit for storing the active hydrogen water generated in the active hydrogen water generation unit, an aluminum powder storage unit for storing aluminum alloy powder, and an aluminum supplied from the aluminum powder storage unit A hydrogen generation unit that generates hydrogen by mixing powder and the active hydrogen water supplied from the active hydrogen water storage unit, and power that generates traveling power using the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen generation unit The generator is mounted.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that sodium acetate (CH ₃ COONa) is mixed as a reaction accelerator in the hydrogen generator.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the power generation unit is disposed in a front portion of the vehicle body, and the hydrogen generation unit is disposed in the vicinity of the power generation unit.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the active hydrogen water generator is disposed at the rear of the vehicle body.

  In a fifth aspect of the invention, the power generation unit includes an internal combustion engine that uses hydrogen from the hydrogen generation unit as fuel, and a motor driven by a battery.

  In the invention according to claim 6, the power generation unit takes in the hydrogen from the hydrogen generation unit and oxygen in the air and chemically reacts to generate electricity, and the motor driven by the electricity generated in the fuel cell Are provided.

In the invention according to claim 1, in order to obtain hydrogen energy, aluminum powder and water may be supplied to the vehicle. Water is converted to active hydrogen water on the vehicle. Active hydrogen water reacts with aluminum to generate hydrogen. The vehicle is driven using this hydrogen.
The aluminum powder may be a product obtained by pulverizing a normal aluminum can.

Since it is only necessary to supply aluminum powder and water to the vehicle, the energy procurement cost is relatively low. Moreover, since aluminum powder and water are stable, handling is easy.
Therefore, according to the present invention, a hydrogen energy generation technique that is easy to handle and can be supplied at a relatively low cost is provided.

In the invention according to claim 2, mixed with hydrogen generation portion of sodium acetate _(CH 3 COONa) as a reaction accelerator.
By mixing the reaction accelerator, the amount of hydrogen generated can be increased.
Sodium acetate can be generated by reacting acetic acid with sodium bicarbonate, which is a food additive. Since food additives are readily available and inexpensive, sodium acetate can be easily and inexpensively generated.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the power generation unit is disposed in the front portion of the vehicle body, and the hydrogen generation unit is disposed in the vicinity of the power generation unit. The place where hydrogen is generated and the place where hydrogen is consumed are brought closer. Since it is only necessary to take limited measures such as hydrogen leaking into the atmosphere, the manufacturing cost of the hydrogen supply path from the hydrogen generator to the power generator can be reduced.

In the invention which concerns on Claim 4, the active hydrogen water production | generation part is arrange | positioned at the rear part of the vehicle body.
The active hydrogen water generation unit is a device that converts water into active hydrogen water, and water and active hydrogen water are non-hazardous materials. By disposing the active hydrogen water generation unit at the rear of the vehicle body, it is possible to improve the capacity of the hydrogen generation unit and improve the practicality.

In the invention which concerns on Claim 5, the motive power generation part is provided with the internal combustion engine which uses the hydrogen from a hydrogen generation part as a fuel, and the motor driven with a battery. The present invention can be applied to so-called hybrid type vehicles.
According to the fifth aspect, the hybrid of the internal combustion engine and the motor can suppress the consumption of hydrogen energy and the required amount of hydrogen, thereby reducing the size of the hydrogen generator and the like, and reducing the size and weight of the vehicle. Can be achieved.

  In the invention according to claim 6, the power generation unit takes in the hydrogen from the hydrogen generation unit and oxygen in the air and chemically reacts to generate electricity, and the motor driven by the electricity generated in the fuel cell And has. The present invention can be applied to so-called fuel cell vehicles.

A conventional fuel cell vehicle travels by receiving supply of hydrogen from a large facility called a hydrogen supply station grounded on the ground. Long-distance travel is hindered because travel is restricted in areas where large facilities are not available.
According to the sixth aspect, since hydrogen is generated by the on-vehicle hydrogen generator, it is possible to travel in an area where large-scale equipment is not maintained, and long-distance travel is possible.

1 is a schematic left side view of a vehicle according to the present invention. It is a typical top view of a hybrid type vehicle. It is sectional drawing of a hydrogen generation part. It is another Example figure of a hydrogen generation part. It is a top view of a fuel cell vehicle. It is sectional drawing of a fuel cell vehicle.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 is a passenger car in which a front seat 14, a rear seat 15, and a loading platform 16 are provided on a vehicle body 13 including front wheels 11 and rear wheels 12.
A power generation unit 17 is provided in front of the vehicle body 13, that is, in front of the front seat 14, and the front wheels 11 are driven by the power generation unit 17.

  The power generation unit 17 is a hybrid drive unit that includes an internal combustion engine 17a and a motor (electric motor) 17b. The vehicle 10 is a hybrid type vehicle. It is desirable to mount a solar cell (solar panel) 18 on the roof of such a vehicle 10 and store the electric power obtained by the solar cell 18 in a battery (reference numeral 63 in FIG. 5). The solar battery 18 can also be mounted on the bonnet.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle body 13, a water reservoir 21 for storing water, active hydrogen water the water supplied from a built-in tourmaline water reservoir 21 by an electric action of tourmaline (H 3 _{O 2)} An active hydrogen water generating unit 22 to be converted, an active hydrogen water storing unit 23 for storing active hydrogen water generated by the active hydrogen water generating unit 22, an aluminum powder storing unit 24 for storing aluminum alloy powder, and the aluminum powder A hydrogen generation unit 25 that generates hydrogen by mixing aluminum powder supplied from the storage unit 24 and active hydrogen water supplied from the active hydrogen water storage unit 23 is provided.

  In addition, although the tank made from steel or resin is suitable for the water storage part 21, the active hydrogen water storage part 23, and the aluminum powder storage part 24, if a storage function is provided, a shape will not be limited to a tank.

  Although the layout is arbitrary, in this example, the water storage part 21 is arranged at the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 13, the active hydrogen water generation part 22 is arranged at the rear part of the vehicle body 13, and the front seat (driver's seat) The active hydrogen water storage unit 23 is disposed substantially below the vehicle body 13, and the power generation unit 17 is disposed at the front of the vehicle body 13. An aluminum powder storage unit 24 is disposed substantially below the front seat (passenger seat), and a hydrogen generation unit 25 is disposed in the vicinity of the power generation unit 17.

The active hydrogen water generator 22 is disposed at the rear part of the vehicle body 13.
The active hydrogen water production | generation part 22 is an apparatus which converts water into active hydrogen water, and water and active hydrogen water are non-dangerous substances. In a vehicle, the possibility of external force being applied to the rear cannot be excluded. By disposing the active hydrogen water generation unit 22 at such a location, the vehicle-mounted device can be located at another location.

The water storage unit 21 may be replenished with water such as tap water by opening the cap 26.
Similarly, the aluminum powder reservoir 24 may be replenished with the cap 27 opened. The aluminum powder does not need to be pure aluminum, and any type can be used as long as it is an aluminum alloy powder obtained by pulverizing an aluminum can.

The active hydrogen water generation unit 22 contains tourmaline. Tourmaline acts as a permanent electrode. That is, when the tourmaline crystals come into contact with water, they promote light electrolysis and separate water molecules (H ₂ O) into hydrogen ions (H ⁺ ) and hydroxyl ions (OH ⁻ ). The hydroxyl ions (OH ⁻ ) are combined with surrounding water molecules (H ₂ O) to become active hydrogen water (H ₃ O ₂ ).
Thus, in the active hydrogen water production | generation part 22 incorporating tourmaline, weak electrolysis is performed without supplying electric power from the outside, and active hydrogen water (H ₃ O ₂ ) is produced.

Since the aluminum powder storage unit 24 stores stable aluminum powder, it is not necessary to have a strict airtight structure.
Note that a crusher for crushing the aluminum can may be mounted if the installation space of the vehicle body 13 is sufficient. In this case, an aluminum can may be put into the on-vehicle crusher. In the crusher, the aluminum can is made into fine aluminum powder and supplied to the aluminum powder storage unit 24.

Next, an example of the hydrogen generator 25 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the hydrogen generator 25 includes a sealed cylindrical container 31, a lid 32 that closes the upper opening of the cylindrical container 31, an agitator 33 lowered from the lid 32, and the cylindrical container 31. It consists of a liquid supply pipe 34 for supplying active hydrogen water, a powder transfer pipe 36 for sending aluminum powder 35 into the cylindrical container 31, and a hydrogen pipe 37 for taking out hydrogen from the upper part of the cylindrical container 31.

The stirrer 33 includes, for example, a stirring motor 33a, a shaft member 33b rotated by the stirring motor 33a, and a plurality of stirring blades (impellers) 33c extending radially from the shaft member 33b.
When the cylindrical container 31 is filled with the active hydrogen water 38, and the aluminum powder 35 is mixed with the active hydrogen water 38 and stirred by the stirring blade 33c of the stirrer 33, hydrogen is generated by the reaction described below.

  As the reaction accelerator 40, it is desirable to add a so-called food additive such as sodium hydrogen carbonate or acetic acid. The amount of hydrogen generation can be controlled by the amount of the food additive.

According to experiments, it was found that acetic acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate were reacted to produce sodium acetate (CH ₃ COONa), which was effective in generating hydrogen from aluminum and active hydrogen water. Acetic acid alone does not generate hydrogen. Hydrogen was not generated with sodium bicarbonate alone. Hydrogen was not generated by citric acid alone. Acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate were reacted to generate and purify sodium acetate (CH ₃ COONa), which reacted with aluminum and active hydrogen water to generate hydrogen, and generation of aluminum oxide due to chemical reaction was also observed. .

  From the experiment, of course, hydrogen extraction from active hydrogen water. As an accelerating effect, it has been found that addition of sodium acetate, acetic acid (vinegar), and sodium bicarbonate is effective.

  For the hydrogen generation process, a mixing reaction of active hydrogen water, aluminum, and sodium acetate is effective. Moreover, the reaction rate and the amount of hydrogen generation can be controlled by controlling the mixing, the rotation speed, the rotation speed, and the temperature control.

  The stirrer 33 may be stirred by an electric motor, and the amount of hydrogen generation may be adjusted by changing the rotation speed of the electric motor by inverter control.

The generated hydrogen (H ₂ ) is sent to the power generation unit through the hydrogen pipe 37. The hydrogen pipe 37 is a pipe that carries hydrogen gas, and the hydrogen gas burns violently when it comes into contact with oxygen in the atmosphere. Therefore, measures for leakage are strictly applied to the hydrogen pipe 37, and a hydrogen detection sensor (not shown) is also installed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hydrogen generation part 25 is placed very close to the power generation part 17 in the engine room in which the power generation part 17 is accommodated, so that the piping length of the hydrogen pipe 37 can be minimized. Costs can be reduced.

Aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ) is discharged from a drain pipe 39 attached to the lower part of the cylindrical container 31. The drain pipe 39 has a valve and is provided so as to be freely discharged during maintenance.

  Thus, by supplying aluminum powder and water, water is converted into active hydrogen water on the vehicle by the active hydrogen water generator 22 mounted on the vehicle. The generated active hydrogen water can be reacted with aluminum to generate hydrogen. The vehicle travels by generating a driving force by a motor 17b that is powered by an internal combustion engine 17a or a battery using this hydrogen as fuel. The battery is charged by the internal combustion engine 17a and a solar battery (FIG. 1, reference numeral 18).

Since aluminum powder and water are stable, handling is easy, supply equipment for supplying aluminum powder and water can be simplified, and fuel supply costs can be reduced.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique that allows hydrogen fuel to be supplied at low cost and facilitates handling of the hydrogen generating material.

  In addition to the structure shown in FIG. 3, the hydrogen generation part may have a structure in which aluminum powder is packed in a bag or cartridge and is immersed in active hydrogen water. In this case, the amount of hydrogen generated can be easily adjusted by pulling up the bag from the active hydrogen water with the lifting means to suppress the reaction.

As another embodiment, a plurality of cylindrical rotary drums may be connected, activated hydrogen water and aluminum powder may be charged, and hydrogen may be generated by rotating the rotary drum.
Therefore, the structure of the hydrogen generator can be changed as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the active hydrogen 38 from the active hydrogen water storage unit 23 is connected to the plurality of (three in this example) rotating drums 41, 42, and 43 constituting the hydrogen generating unit 25B via the pump P1. The aluminum powder is supplied from the aluminum powder storage unit 24 via the pump P2 via the pipe 36, and the reaction accelerator 40 is supplied via the pipes 51, 52, 53 via the pump (not shown).

A shaft 54 passes through the rotary drums 41, 42, 43, and a plurality of impellers 55 are attached radially to the shaft 54, and a motor 56 is provided at the end of the shaft 54.
The shaft 54 is rotated by the motor 56 to rotate the impeller 55. A plurality of rotating drums 41 to 43 can be covered by a single motor 56.

The control unit 45 controls the rotational speed of the shaft 54, the amount of active hydrogen water supplied to the rotary drum 41, the amount of aluminum powder, and the amount of reaction accelerator, and supplies them to the hydrogen storage units 48 provided in three rows in this embodiment. Control the amount of hydrogen generated.
Similarly, the control unit 46 controls the rotary drum 42, and the control unit 47 controls the rotary drum 43.

  Further, the number of operating cylinders can be varied as necessary, and the number of hydrogen generating cylinders can be controlled by controlling the supply amount of aluminum powder and active hydrogen water and controlling the supply valve of the reaction accelerator.

Next, the fuel cell vehicle will be described.
In the following drawings, elements common to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 2, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the motive power generation unit 17 </ b> B takes in hydrogen from the hydrogen generation unit 25 and oxygen in the air and chemically reacts to generate electricity, and is generated in the fuel cell 61. A motor 62 rotated by electricity and a battery 63 are provided.

  The battery 63 stores electricity generated by the fuel cell 61 (surplus electricity), electricity generated by a solar cell (FIG. 1, reference numeral 18), electricity supplied from a household power source or the like by a harness 65 with a plug 64, and the like. The battery 63 is preferably a lithium ion battery, but may be other in-vehicle batteries.

A conventional fuel cell vehicle travels by receiving supply of hydrogen from a large facility called a hydrogen supply station grounded on the ground. Long-distance travel is hindered because travel is restricted in areas where large facilities are not available.
According to the present invention, since hydrogen is generated by the on-vehicle hydrogen generator, it is possible to travel in an area where large-scale equipment is not maintained, and long-distance travel is possible.

  The present invention can also be applied to so-called electric vehicles. In other words, a solar battery is attached to the surface of the flat part of the vehicle body, charged to the lithium ion battery, supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen generating part, charged with electricity generated by the fuel cell, charged to the lithium ion battery, and run by rotating the motor with the lithium ion battery. It is applicable also to the electric vehicle of the form to do.

  The present invention is suitable for vehicles that run on hydrogen energy.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle, 13 ... Vehicle body, 17, 17B ... Power generation part, 17a ... Internal combustion engine, 17b, 62 ... Motor, 21 ... Water storage part, 22 ... Active hydrogen water production | generation part, 23 ... Active hydrogen water storage part, 24 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Aluminum powder storage part, 25 ... Hydrogen generating part, 35 ... Aluminum powder, 38 ... Active hydrogen water, 61 ... Fuel cell, 63 ... Battery.

Claims (6)

A water storage unit that stores water in the vehicle body, an active hydrogen water generation unit that converts the water supplied from the water storage unit into active hydrogen water (H ₃ O ₂ ) by an electric action of tourmaline, and the active hydrogen An active hydrogen water storage unit for storing the active hydrogen water generated in the water generation unit, an aluminum powder storage unit for storing aluminum alloy powder, an aluminum powder supplied from the aluminum powder storage unit, and the active hydrogen water storage unit A hydrogen generation unit that generates hydrogen by mixing the active hydrogen water supplied from the hydrogen generation unit and a power generation unit that generates travel power using the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen generation unit are mounted. A hydrogen energy vehicle characterized by that. 2. The hydrogen energy vehicle according to claim 1, wherein sodium acetate (CH ₃ COONa) is mixed as a reaction accelerator in the hydrogen generator.   The hydrogen energy vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the power generation unit is disposed in a front portion of the vehicle body, and the hydrogen generation unit is disposed in the vicinity of the power generation unit.   The hydrogen energy vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the active hydrogen water generation unit is disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle body.   5. The hydrogen according to claim 1, wherein the power generation unit includes an internal combustion engine that uses hydrogen from the hydrogen generation unit as a fuel, and a motor that is driven by a battery. Energy vehicle.   The power generation unit includes a fuel cell that takes in hydrogen from the hydrogen generation unit and oxygen in the air and causes a chemical reaction to generate electricity, and a motor that is rotated by electricity generated by the fuel cell. The hydrogen energy vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a hydrogen energy vehicle.

Images