JP2012057713A - Liquefied gas filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically determine which filling method it is when a filling method to a filling object vessel is different.SOLUTION: This liquefied gas filling device 60 includes a first pressure detector 131, a second pressure detector 132, a third pressure detector 133, a second opening-closing valve V2 and a third opening-closing valve V3. The respective pressure detectors 131-133 output a signal to a control circuit 90 as a detected pressure detecting signal. The control circuit 90 executes respective control programs by reading a control program A for determining whether to be a pressure equalizing filling method or a pushing-in filling method based on a comparing result and a control program B for controlling valve opening and opening-closing of a first opening-closing valve V1 and the second opening-closing valve V2 based on a determining result, from a memory 120, by comparing a first pressure value detected by the first pressure detector 131 with a second pressure value detected by the second pressure detector 132 in a state of closing the first opening-closing valve V1 by an input signal from a filling starting switch 94.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquefied gas filling device, and more particularly to a liquefied gas filling device configured to fill liquefied gas in accordance with a plurality of filling methods.

  As a liquefied gas used as a fuel for vehicles such as automobiles, for example, LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) mainly composed of butane / propane, DME (diesel fuel having a high oxygen content and no black smoke) Dimethyl ether). Since this type of liquefied gas can be liquefied by compressing gaseous fuel, a liquid phase region and a gas phase region coexist in the tank.

  As the liquefied gas filling system for filling the liquefied gas, there are two filling methods of “indentation filling method” and “equal pressure filling method”.

  The “push-in filling method” is a method in which the liquefied gas storage tank and the filled container are connected to each other by a piping path of only the filling line, and the filled container is filled with the liquefied gas from the filling line. is there.

  The "equal pressure filling method" means that the liquid phase part of the liquefied gas storage tank and the liquid phase part of the filled container are connected by a filling line, the gas phase part of the liquefied gas storage tank and the gas phase part of the filled container Is connected to the inside of the liquefied gas storage tank by the pressure equalization line, and the pressure inside the filled container (vaporized gas) is released outside the filled container (liquefied gas storage tank) using the pressure equalizing line. This is a system that equalizes the pressure of the gas in the filling container and prevents a decrease in the charging efficiency of the liquefied gas from the filling line to the filling container as the pressure in the filling container becomes high ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application No. 11-99258

  In the liquefied gas filling device, the liquefied gas filling method differs depending on the structure of the filled container. For example, in the case of filling by the push-filling method, the integrated flow rate based on the flow rate measurement value measured by the flow meter provided in the filling line becomes the total filling amount to the filling container. In addition, when filling with the pressure equalization filling method, the flow rate value obtained by subtracting the amount of vapor collected in the liquefied gas storage tank via the pressure equalization line from the integrated flow rate obtained from the flow rate measurement value becomes the total filling amount. . As described above, the method of measuring the total filling amount of the liquefied gas into the filling container is different between the push filling method and the pressure equalization filling method.

  In addition, when filling with the indentation filling method, the pressure of the gas phase portion of the filled container increases with the filling of the liquefied gas, and the flow rate of the liquefied gas filled in the filled container decreases with this pressure increase. Therefore, the filling flow rate (flow velocity) decreases immediately before the pressure of the filled container reaches the target pressure. For this reason, since the impact (water hammer phenomenon) at the time of closing the on-off valve provided in the filling line in order to stop the supply of the liquefied gas into the filled container is small, when the filling of the liquefied gas is finished Therefore, the on-off valve can be quickly closed without considering the water hammer phenomenon.

  On the other hand, in the case of filling with the pressure equalizing method, the pressure in the gas phase portion of the filled container is discharged to the liquefied gas storage tank through the pressure equalizing line. For this reason, the pressure in the gas phase portion of the filled container does not increase with the filling of the liquefied gas as in the case of the push-filling method, and the filled container is filled without the flow rate of the liquefied gas being decreased. For this reason, if the first on-off valve V1 is closed (fully closed) when the filling of the container to be filled is completed, there is a possibility that a large impact is caused by the water hammer. Therefore, when stopping the supply of the liquefied gas to the tank to be filled in the pressure equalization filling method, the valve opening degree of the first on-off valve V1 is gradually reduced in order to reduce the influence of the water hammer phenomenon. It has been considered to perform control to reduce the flow rate (flow velocity) of the liquefied gas. Thus, the filling control of the liquefied gas into the filling container is different between the indentation filling method and the pressure equalization filling method.

  Therefore, it is necessary to provide a dedicated liquefied gas filling device for each of the two filling methods in order to fill the liquefied gas in the filling container of both the above-mentioned filling methods. It is desired that the gas filling device can cope with both types.

  However, in order to be able to fill liquefied gas into any of the filling containers of indentation filling method and pressure equalization filling method with one liquefied gas filling device, the filling container corresponds to the indentation filling method. It is necessary to judge whether it is a thing corresponding to a pressure equalization filling system.

  Therefore, in order to be able to cope with both of the above-mentioned methods with one liquefied gas filling device, a method in which an attendant manually inputs a filling method when filling the filled container is conceivable. However, in this manual operation input method, there is a risk that an operation error may occur due to an erroneous operation, misunderstanding, or forgetting operation of the attendant, and this operation error may cause, for example, that the total filling amount of liquefied gas is not accurately measured. There is a problem that the filling control to the filling container cannot be performed accurately.

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a liquefied gas filling device that can automatically determine which of the in-fill filling method and the pressure equalization filling method the container to be filled corresponds to. For the purpose.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following means.
(1) The present invention provides a liquefied gas storage in which liquefied gas is stored;
A liquefied gas filling path having one end connected to the liquid phase portion of the liquefied gas storage and the other end connectable to the liquid phase portion of the container to be filled;
A pressure equalization path with one end connected to the gas phase part of the liquefied gas storage and the other end connected to the gas phase part of the filled container;
A filling start switch operated when starting filling of the liquefied gas into the filled container;
A flow meter that is provided in the liquefied gas filling path and measures the filling amount of the liquefied gas filled in the filled container from the liquefied gas filling path;
A liquefied gas filling on-off valve provided in the liquefied gas filling path;
A pressure equalizing on-off valve provided in the pressure equalizing path;
Control means for controlling opening and closing of the liquefied gas filling on-off valve and the pressure equalizing on-off valve based on the operation of the filling start switch to control filling of the liquefied gas into the filled container;
In a liquefied gas filling device comprising:
A first pressure detector for detecting the pressure on the side of the connecting portion to the filled container with respect to the liquefied gas filling on-off valve in the liquefied gas filling path;
A second pressure detector for detecting the pressure on the side of the connecting portion to the filled container with respect to the pressure equalizing on-off valve in the pressure equalizing path;
With
The control means includes
When the filling start switch is operated, the pressure equalization path is compared with the first pressure value detected by the first pressure detector and the second pressure value detected by the second pressure detector. By determining whether or not the container is connected to the filling container, it is determined whether the filling container is a filling container corresponding to the indentation filling method or a filling container corresponding to the pressure equalization filling method. It is characterized by having a filling method determination means.
(2) In the state where the liquefied gas filling on-off valve and the pressure equalizing on-off valve are closed when the filling start switch is operated, the filling method determining means of the present invention is By comparing the first pressure value detected by the detector and the second pressure value detected by the second pressure detector, whether the filled container is a filled container corresponding to the indentation filling method, Or it is characterized by determining whether it is a to-be-filled container corresponding to a pressure equalization filling system.
(3) When the filling start switch is operated, the filling method determination means of the present invention opens the pressure equalizing on / off valve and closes the liquefied gas filling on / off valve. By comparing the first pressure value detected by the first pressure detector with the second pressure value detected by the second pressure detector, the filled container is a filled container corresponding to the push-filling method. It is characterized in that it is determined whether there is a container to be filled corresponding to a pressure equalization filling method.
(4) The filling method determination means of the present invention may be configured such that the first pressure in the state where the liquefied gas filling on-off valve and the pressure equalizing on-off valve are opened when the filling start switch is operated. Based on a change in the first pressure value detected by the detector, it is determined whether the filling container is a filling container corresponding to the push-filling method or a filling container corresponding to the pressure-equalizing filling method. It is characterized by doing.

  According to the present invention, when a liquefied gas is filled into a container to be filled, it is determined whether the container to be filled is a filling container corresponding to an indentation filling method or a filling container corresponding to a pressure equalization filling method. Therefore, there is no human error in operation, and liquefied gas filling suitable for the filling method of the filling container can be performed.

1 is a system diagram of a pressure equalizing system using an embodiment of a liquefied gas filling apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. It is a system system | strain diagram of the indentation filling system using one Example of the liquefied gas filling apparatus by this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the liquefied gas filling control process which the control circuit of a liquefied gas filling apparatus performs. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the control process performed following the control process of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a pressure equalizing system using an embodiment of a liquefied gas filling apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquefied gas filling system 100 includes a liquefied gas storage tank 20, a liquefied gas filling path (filling line) 40, and a gas phase pressure equalizing path (pressure equalizing line) 50. The liquefied gas storage tank 20 is a large tank with a large capacity for storing liquefied gas.

  Further, the filling container 30 of the vehicle 80 includes a filling side connection port 32 to which the filling side connection couplings 34 and 38 are connected and a pressure equalization side connection port 36 to which the pressure equalization side connection coupling 38 is connected, as will be described later. And is a container to be filled that can be filled by a pressure-equalizing filling method.

  The liquefied gas filling pipe path 40 has one end connected to the liquid phase region of the liquefied gas storage tank 20 and the other end filled with a filling side connection port of a filled container (fuel tank) 30 mounted on the vehicle 80 filled with the liquefied gas. 32 has a filling side connection coupling 34 connected to 32.

  The gas phase equalizing path 50 has a pressure equalizing side connection coupling 38 having one end connected to the gas phase region of the liquefied gas storage tank 20 and the other end connected to the pressure equalizing side connection port 36 of the filled container 30. The gas-phase part pressure equalizing path 50 is provided with a second on-off valve V2 (pressure equalizing on-off valve).

  The second on-off valve V2 is composed of an electromagnetic valve, and is switched to an open or closed state by a signal from the control circuit 90. Further, the second on-off valve V2 is opened when the liquefied gas is charged by the pressure equalizing method. In FIG. 1, the charging side connection coupling 34 and the pressure equalization side connection coupling 38 are provided separately. However, the couplings 34 and 38 are integrated, and the charging side connection port 32 of the vehicle 80 By providing the pressure equalization side connection port 36 close (or integrated), the pressure equalization side connection coupling 38 is connected to the charge side connection port 32 and the pressure equalization side connection coupling 38 is connected to the pressure equalization side connection port 36. You may make it connectable to.

  The liquefied gas filling path 40 is connected to the filling container 30 via the liquefied gas filling device 60. A pump 70 serving as a pressurizing unit that pumps the liquefied gas is provided at a portion that communicates between the liquefied gas storage tank 20 and the liquefied gas filling device 60.

  In addition, a separator 62, a flow meter 64, a back pressure valve 66, and a first on-off valve V1 (an on-off valve for liquefied gas filling) including an electromagnetic valve are provided inside the housing of the liquefied gas filling device 60. Yes. The separator 62 is a gas-liquid separator that separates bubbles from the liquefied gas filled by the liquefied gas filling piping path 40.

  The flow meter 64 measures the flow rate of the liquefied gas filled by the liquefied gas filling piping path 40 and outputs a flow rate pulse corresponding to the measured flow rate.

  The filling side connection coupling 34 has a built-in valve that opens when connected to the filling side connection port 32, and a filling hose 42 (see FIG. 5) constituting the liquefied gas filling piping path 40 drawn from the liquefied gas filling device 60. 1 is shown at the tip (the other end) of the thick line. Further, the pressure equalization side coupling 38 has a built-in valve that opens when connected to the pressure equalization side connection port 36, and the pressure equalization constituting the gas phase pressure equalization path 50 drawn from the liquefied gas filling device 60. It is provided at the tip (the other end) of the hose 52 (indicated by a thick line in FIG. 1).

  In addition, the filled container 30 mounted on the vehicle 80 includes a liquid level gauge 82 that detects the height position (liquid level) of the liquefied gas that serves as a boundary between the gas phase portion and the liquid phase portion, and a filling side. And an overfilling prevention valve 84 provided at the tip of a pipe line communicating with the connection port 32.

  The liquid level gauge 82 transmits an overfill detection signal to the liquefied gas filling device 60 wirelessly (or via a communication line) when the liquid level of the filled container 30 reaches a preset overfill prevention position. The overfill prevention valve 84 is filled when the liquefied gas is filled and the liquid level in the filled container 30 reaches an upper limit position (filling limit position) exceeding a predetermined overfill prevention position. The valve is configured to be closed by the surface rising pressure.

  Each connection port 32, 36 has a built-in open / close valve (not shown) that opens when connected. Therefore, when each connection coupling 34, 38 is connected to each connection port 32, 36, each built-in on-off valve opens to open the internal passage. In this state, each connection coupling 34, 38 The main valve (open / close valve) provided separately from the open / close valve in each connection coupling 34, 38 is opened by opening the lever (not shown) provided in the valve. Gas filling and vapor recovery in the gas phase can be performed.

  The back pressure valve 66 has a pressure equalized in the gas phase region introduced as a back pressure through a back pressure pipe 68 branched from the gas phase pressure equalizing path 50, and is applied by a pump 70 from the introduced pressure. The valve is configured to open when the pressurized hydraulic pressure increases.

  That is, the back pressure valve 66 has a set pressure higher than the saturated vapor pressure of the liquefied gas so that the liquefied gas filled in the liquefied gas filling path 40 is not vaporized in the flow meter 64. It is set to open when it becomes.

  Here, an outline of the control of the control circuit 90 in filling the liquefied gas will be described. First, the case where the to-be-filled container 30 is a container corresponding to an indentation filling system is demonstrated. When the filling start switch button 94 is turned on, the control circuit 90 opens only the first on-off valve V1 (the second on-off valve V2 may be opened) to the filling container 30. The liquefied gas filling is started, and the flow rate pulse output from the flow meter 64 is read to calculate the flow rate of the liquefied gas (liquid) filled in the filled container 30 as the filling amount. At the same time, the filling amount is displayed on the flow rate display 92.

  Next, when it was detected that the flow rate measured by the flow meter 64 almost disappeared (filling was almost stopped), or when the operator determined that the filling was finished, the liquefied gas filling device 60 was provided. When the filling stop switch button 96 is turned on, the first on-off valve V1 is closed to stop filling the container 30 with the liquefied gas.

  Next, the case where the to-be-filled container 30 is a container corresponding to a uniform pressure filling system is demonstrated. When the filling start switch button 94 is turned on, the control circuit 90 opens the first on-off valve V1 and the second on-off valve V2, and starts filling the liquefied gas into the filling container 30. When the filling of the liquefied gas is started, the control circuit 90 reads the flow rate pulse output from the flow meter 64 to calculate the flow rate of the liquefied gas (liquid) filled in the filling container 30 as the filling amount. Furthermore, the control circuit 90 calculates the amount of vaporized gas (or a mixed gas of vaporized gas and liquefied gas) released from the filled container 30 to the liquefied gas storage tank 20 via the gas phase equalizing path 50. Then, the discharge amount is subtracted from the filling amount of the liquefied gas. The control circuit 90 calculates and stores the filling amount of the liquefied gas filled in the filling container 30 and displays the filling amount on the flow rate display 92.

  Next, when it was detected that the flow rate measured by the flow meter 64 almost disappeared (filling was almost stopped), or when the operator determined that the filling was finished, the liquefied gas filling device 60 was provided. When the filling stop switch button 96 is turned on, the second on-off valve V2 is closed and the first on-off valve V1 is gradually closed stepwise. This stepwise valve closing control stops filling of the liquefied gas into the filling container 30 while reducing the impact of the water hammer.

  In addition, the liquefied gas filling device 60 in this embodiment includes a first pressure detector 131, a second pressure detector 132, a third pressure detector 133, and a third on-off valve V3. Each of the pressure detectors 131 to 133 is composed of a pressure sensor, and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the detected pressure to the control circuit 90 as a pressure detection signal. The third on-off valve V <b> 3 is an electromagnetic valve that opens when a voltage is applied, and is opened / closed by a signal from the control circuit 90. Further, the third on-off valve V3 is normally closed. For example, when the filling container 30 is a push-filling system, the filling container 30 is filled with liquefied gas at the start of filling. The valve is opened when the liquefied gas cannot be filled into the filling container 30 due to the high pressure. Further, in the three on-off valve V3, the filling of the liquefied gas into the filling container 30 proceeds and the pressure of the gas in the filling container 30 becomes high, and the filling efficiency (flow rate) of the liquefied gas into the filling container 30 is increased. When the pressure drops, the pressure of the gas in the filled container 30 is released to the outside of the filled container 30 (liquefied gas storage tank 20), and the pressure in the filled container 30 is lowered to reduce the pressure of the liquefied gas to the filled container 30. The valve is opened to increase the charging efficiency.

  The first on-off valve V1 employs an electromagnetic valve whose valve opening is adjusted according to the magnitude of the applied voltage value (or the voltage application time interval (duty ratio)). Here, when an electromagnetic valve whose valve opening degree cannot be adjusted is adopted as the first on-off valve V1, a fourth on-off valve V4 (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1) having a smaller diameter than the on-off valve V1. Provided in parallel, the first on-off valve V1 is controlled to open when the liquefied gas is filled at a large flow rate, and the fourth on-off valve V4 is opened when the liquefied gas is filled at a small flow rate. You may make it control to. Thus, by controlling the opening and closing of the first on-off valve V1 and the fourth on-off valve V4, it is possible to perform the same function as the first on-off valve V1 that can adjust the valve opening. Moreover, when the capacity | capacitance of the to-be-filled container is large, you may make it open both the 1st on-off valve V1 and the 4th on-off valve V4 simultaneously.

  The first pressure detector 131 is provided in a branch pipe 110 that is branched and connected downstream from the first on-off valve V1, and a filling side connection coupling provided at the tip of a filling hose 42 that constitutes the liquefied gas filling path 40. 34 is connected to the filling side connection port 32 of the filling container 30, and a lever (not shown) of the filling side connection coupling 34 is operated to open the pressure (first phase) of the filling container 30. Pressure).

  The first pressure detector 131 is arranged on the upstream side (the liquefied gas filling path 40 side) of the third on-off valve V3 provided in the branch pipe 110.

  The second pressure detector 132 is provided in the gas-phase part pressure equalizing path 50 upstream (on the filling container 30 side) upstream of the second on-off valve V2 provided in the gas-phase part pressure-equalizing path 50. The pressure equalization side connection coupling 38 provided at the tip of the pressure equalization hose 52 constituting the path 50 is connected to the pressure equalization side connection port 36 of the filled container 30, and a lever (not shown) of the pressure equalization side connection coupling 38 is provided. By opening the valve, the pressure (second pressure) of the gas phase portion of the filled container 30 is detected.

  The third pressure detector 133 is provided in the gas-phase part pressure equalization path 50 downstream (the liquefied gas storage tank 20 side) from the second on-off valve V2, and the liquefied gas storage tank is in a state where the second on-off valve V2 is closed. The pressure in the gas phase part 20 (third pressure) is detected.

  When the filling side connection coupling 34 and the pressure equalization side connection coupling 38 are connected to the filling side connection port 32 and the pressure equalization side connection port 36 of the filling container 30 mounted on the vehicle 80 as described above, the first and first The two pressures detected by the two pressure detectors 131 and 132 are substantially equal to the pressure of the container 30 to be filled. Therefore, when the pressures detected by the first and second pressure detectors 131 and 132 before the start of liquefied gas filling are substantially the same, in the control circuit 90, the filled container 30 is filled by the pressure equalizing method. It is possible to determine the configuration.

  The control circuit 90 is connected to the memory 120 that stores the pressure detection values detected by the pressure detectors 131 to 133 and the control programs. The program is read from the memory 120 and each control program is executed.

  Further, the memory 120 receives the first pressure value detected by the first pressure detector 131 and the first pressure value when the first on-off valve V1 and the second on-off valve V2 are closed by an input signal from the filling start switch 94. The second pressure value detected by the two pressure detectors 132 is compared, and when the first pressure value and the second pressure value are the same based on the comparison result, the gas phase pressure equalizing path 50 is covered. It is determined that the pressure-equalizing filling method is connected to the filling container 30, and when the first pressure value and the second pressure value are different, the push-filling method in which the gas phase pressure equalizing path 50 is not connected to the filling container 30. And a control program B for controlling the opening and closing of the first on-off valve V1 and the second on-off valve V2 and the valve opening degree of the first on-off valve V1 based on the above determination result are stored. . Therefore, the control circuit 90 includes a filling method determination unit based on the control programs A and B and a filling control unit.

  FIG. 2 is a system diagram of the indentation filling system using an embodiment of the liquefied gas filling apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the filling container 30 </ b> A mounted on the vehicle 80 </ b> A is a push-filling filling container having only a filling side connection port 32 filled with liquefied gas. Therefore, the filling operation to the filling container 30A is performed only by connecting the filling-side connection coupling 34 to the filling-side connection port 32 of the filling container 30A, and the pressure equalization-side connection coupling 38 is not connected.

  In this case, since the filling side connection coupling 34 is connected only to the filling side connection port 32 of the filled container 30A, the two pressures detected by the first and second pressure detectors 131 and 132 have different pressure values. Detected as Therefore, when the first pressure value detected by the first pressure detector 131 before the start of liquefied gas filling and the second pressure value detected by the second pressure detector 132 are different, the control circuit 90 performs the filling. It can be determined that the container 30A is configured to be filled by the push-fill method.

  Here, a control process executed by the control circuit 90 will be described.

  When the vehicle 80 or 80A to be filled with the liquefied gas arrives, the worker can determine whether the structure of the filling container 30 or 30A mounted on the vehicle 80 or 80A is a pressure-equalizing filling method (see FIG. 1) or push-filling. Check if it is a method (see Fig. 2). Then, when the structure of the filling container is a pressure equalization filling container 30, the worker fills the filling side connection port 32 and the pressure equalization side connection port 36 of the filling container 30 as shown in FIG. The filling side connection coupling 34 and the pressure equalization side connection coupling 38 are connected to each other, the levers of the filling side connection coupling 34 and the pressure equalization side connection coupling 38 are opened, and then the filling start switch 94 of the liquefied gas filling device 60 is opened. Operate on.

  In addition, when the structure of the filling container is a filling container 30A of the push-filling method, as shown in FIG. 2, a connection coupling 34 is connected to the filling side connection port 32 of the filling container 30A, and the filling side After opening the lever of the connection coupling 34, the filling start switch 94 of the liquefied gas filling device 60 is turned on.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the liquefied gas filling control process executed by the control circuit of the liquefied gas filling device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control process executed subsequent to the control process of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the control when the filling stop switch button 96 is operated is not shown, but the filling stop switch button 96 is filled during the filling of the liquefied gas into the filling container 30 or 30A. The liquefied gas filling stop process by the above operation is always effective. When the filling stop switch button 96 is operated, if the filling container is a filling container 30A of the push-filling method, the first on-off valve V1 is closed to end the filling, When the filling container is a pressure-equalized filling container 30, control is performed to close the second on-off valve and gradually close the first on-off valve V1 stepwise.

  In S11 of FIG. 3, it is checked whether or not the filling start switch 94 is turned on. In S11, when the filling start switch 94 is turned on (in the case of YES), the process proceeds to S12, and the first pressure value P11 and the second pressure value detected by the first and second pressure detectors 131 and 132 are processed. P22 is read. Then, it is checked whether or not the two first pressure values P11 and the second pressure value P22 are substantially equal.

  In S12, when P11≈P22 (in the case of YES), the process proceeds to S13, and it is determined that the filling container is a pressure equalizing method (first determination before the start of filling). In S12, when P11≈P22 is not satisfied (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to S14, where it is determined that the filling container is the push-filling method (first determination before filling is started). If it is determined in S14 that the container to be filled is the push-filling method, the processing of S15 to S19 described later is omitted and the process proceeds to S21.

  If it is determined in S13 that the container to be filled is a pressure equalization filling method, the process proceeds to the next S15, the second pressure value P22 detected by the second and third pressure detectors 132, 133, The third pressure value P33 is read. Subsequently, the process proceeds to S16, and the detected second pressure value P22 and third pressure value P33 are stored in the memory 120 as the pressure values before the start of filling. After this, it progresses to S17 and the 2nd on-off valve V2 is opened.

  When the second on-off valve V2 is opened in S17, the gas phase portion of the filled container 30 and the gas phase portion of the liquefied gas storage tank 20 are communicated with each other via the gas phase pressure equalizing path 50, and the second and second The second pressure value P22 and the third pressure value P33 detected by the three pressure detectors 132 and 133 are substantially equal (P22≈P33).

  As a result, when the pressure of the gas phase portion of the filled container 30 is increased due to the temperature rise, the pressure of the gas phase portion of the filled container 30 is reduced to the pressure of the gas phase portion of the liquefied gas storage tank 20. Further, high pressure filling (filling with a large flow rate) can be performed by preventing an increase in pressure when filling the liquefied gas.

  In next S18, it is checked whether or not the first pressure value P11, the second pressure value P22, and the third pressure value P33 detected by the pressure detectors 131 to 133 are substantially equal. In S18, when each pressure value is P11≈P22≈P33, the process proceeds to S19, and the filling hose 42, the filling side connection portion 32, the filling side connection coupling 34, the filled container 30, the pressure equalization side connection portion 36, the pressure equalization side. Since the pressures of the connection coupling 38, the pressure equalizing hose 52, the second on-off valve V2, and the gas phase pressure equalizing path 50 are equal, the filled container 30 and the liquefied gas storage tank 20 are communicated with each other and filled by the pressure equalizing method. This is reconfirmed (second determination before starting filling). In S18, if each pressure value is not P11≈P22≈P33, it is considered that the pressure equalizing side connection coupling 38 of the pressure equalizing hose 52 is not connected to the pressure equalizing side connecting portion 36 of the filling container 30, and the process proceeds to S20. Then, it is determined that the structure of the to-be-filled container 30 is the push-filling method (second determination before the start of filling).

  In next S21, the pump 70 is started and the first on-off valve V1 is opened. When the fourth on-off valve V4 is provided in parallel with the first on-off valve V1, the first and fourth on-off valves V1, V4 are opened. Here, when it is necessary to fill the liquefied gas by reducing the flow rate of the liquefied gas to the filled container 30 such as when the capacity of the filled container 30 is small, the first on-off valve V1 or the fourth on-off valve Only one of V4 may be opened to fill the liquefied gas.

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to S22, the flow rate pulse measured by the flow meter 64 is read, the flow rate pulse is integrated in S23, and the flow rate measurement value Q1 is stored in the memory 120 and displayed on the display 92.

  In next S24, the first pressure value P12 detected by the first pressure detector 131 is read, and in S25, the first pressure value P12 detected by the first pressure detector 131 is stored in the memory 120.

  In S26, the flow rate pulse measured by the flow meter 64 is read. In S27, the flow rate pulse is integrated, and the integrated flow rate value is added and stored in the memory 120 as the flow rate measurement value Q1 and displayed on the display 92.

  Subsequently, in S28, the first pressure value P1n detected by the first pressure detector 131 is read. In S29, the first pressure value P12 and the current first pressure value P1n are compared, and the current first pressure value P1n is compared. It is checked whether the pressure value P1n is greater than the first pressure value P12. In S29, when P1n> P12 (in the case of YES), the filling time elapses and the filling pressure detected by the first pressure detector 131 is gradually increased due to the pressure of the filling container (pressure increase in the gas phase portion). Therefore, the process proceeds to S30 and it is determined that the structure of the container to be filled is the filling container 30A for push-filling (the third determination during filling). If it is determined in S30 that the structure of the filling container is the filling container 30A of the push-filling method, the process proceeds to S37 described later. In addition, when it is necessary to reduce the flow rate of the liquefied gas into the filling container 30A and fill the liquefied gas, the first on-off valve V1 or the fourth on-off valve V4 before proceeding to the process of S37 described later. Only one of these may be opened to fill the liquefied gas.

  In S29, when P1n> P12 is not satisfied (in the case of NO), the filling pressure detected by the first pressure detector 131 has not increased, so the pressure of the filling container (pressure increase in the gas phase part) Is almost constant, and it is reconfirmed that the container 30 is filled with the uniform pressure filling method. Therefore, it progresses to following S31 and it is checked whether the upper limit position detection signal was output from the liquid level meter 82 provided in the said to-be-filled container 30. FIG.

  In S31, when the upper limit position detection signal is not output from the level gauge 82 (in the case of NO), the flow proceeds to S32, the flow rate pulse measured by the flow meter 64 is read, the flow rate pulse is integrated in S33, and the integration is performed. The flow rate values thus added are added and stored in the memory 120 as a flow rate measurement value Q1 and displayed on the display 92.

  In the next S34, it is checked whether or not the flow rate has significantly decreased based on the flow rate measurement value Q1. In S34, when the flow rate is greatly reduced based on the flow rate measurement value Q1 (in the case of YES), it is determined that the overfill prevention valve 84 is closed, and the process proceeds to S35, and the on-off valves V1, V2 are closed. At the same time, the driving of the pump 70 is stopped, and the current filling control is terminated.

  In S34, when the flow rate is not significantly reduced based on the flow rate measurement value Q1 (in the case of NO), since the liquefied gas is still charged, the process returns to S26, and after S26. Repeat the process.

  In S31, when the upper limit position detection signal is output from the level gauge 82 (in the case of YES), the process proceeds to S36, and the valve opening degree of the first on-off valve V1 is made semi-closed. As a result, the flow rate of filling the filled container 30 is reduced to about half of that when fully opened, so that when the liquid level of the filled container 30 reaches the upper limit position, a water hammer is formed by closing the overfill prevention valve 84. Can be prevented. Subsequently, the flow rate pulse measured by the flow meter 64 is read in S37, the flow rate pulse is integrated in S38, the accumulated flow rate value is added and stored in the memory 120 as the flow rate measurement value Q1 and displayed on the display 92. To do.

  In the next S39, it is checked whether or not the filling flow rate is substantially zero based on the flow rate measurement value Q1. In S39, when the filling flow rate is not substantially zero (in the case of NO), the process returns to the process of S37 and the processes of S37 to S39 are repeated. In S39, when the filling flow rate becomes almost zero (in the case of YES), the flow proceeds to S35, the on-off valves V1 and V2 are closed and the driving of the pump 70 is stopped, and the current filling control is finished. To do.

  Thus, in this embodiment, when P11≈P22 in S12 (in the case of YES), it is determined in S13 that the container to be filled is a pressure-equalizing filling method, and in S12, P11≈ If it is not P22 (in the case of NO), whether or not the filling container is the pressure equalization filling method before the filling is started by performing the first determination process in which it is determined in S14 that the filling container is the push filling method. Alternatively, it is possible to automatically determine whether it is an indentation filling method.

  In S18, when the first pressure value P11, the second pressure value P22, and the third pressure value P33 detected by the pressure detectors 131 to 133 are P11≈P22≈P33, the process proceeds to S19, and the filling is performed. It is reconfirmed that the container 30 and the liquefied gas storage tank 20 communicate with each other and are filled by the pressure equalizing method. In S18, if the pressure values are not P11≈P22≈P33, the pressure equalizing side of the pressure equalizing hose 52 It is assumed that the connection coupling 38 is not connected to the pressure equalization side connection portion 36 of the filling container 30 and a second determination process is performed in which it is determined in S20 that the structure of the filling container 30 is the push-filling method. Thus, it is possible to automatically determine again whether the container to be filled is the pressure equalization filling method or the push filling method before the filling is started.

  Further, in S29, the first pressure value P12 detected before the present time is compared with the current first pressure value P1n, and the current first pressure value P1n is larger than the first pressure value P12 ( In the case of P1n> P12), as the filling time elapses, the filling pressure detected by the first pressure detector 131 gradually increases due to the pressure of the filling container 30 (pressure increase in the gas phase portion). , By performing a third filling method determination process in which it is determined in S30 that the structure of the filling container 30 is the indentation filling method, the filling container is again the pressure equalizing filling method or It is possible to automatically determine whether it is an indentation filling method. The reason why the third determination process is performed is that the second filling method determination condition may coincide with P11≈P22≈P33, and thus the first pressure value detected by the first pressure detector P1 after the filling is started. It is possible to automatically reconfirm whether the container to be filled is a pressure equalization filling method or an indentation filling method depending on whether or not there is a change with time.

  The determination process may be performed by performing one or two of the 1 to 3 filling method determination processes, or by performing all the filling method determination processes to further increase the reliability of the determination result. Also good.

  Note that the control circuit 90 varies the way of measuring the filling amount of the liquefied gas filled in the filling container 30 based on whether the filling container 30 is an indentation filling method or a pressure equalization filling method. ing. When it is determined that the indentation filling method is used, the flow rate measurement value Q1 calculated from the flow rate pulse output from the flow meter 64 is used as the filling amount of the liquefied gas filled in the filling container 30 as it is. When it is determined that the pressure equalization filling method is used, the liquefied gas of the flow rate measurement value Q1 is filled in the filled container 30. As a result, the vaporized gas corresponding to the flow rate measurement value Q1 in the filled container 30 becomes the filled container. Therefore, the amount obtained by subtracting the discharged amount of the vaporized gas from the flow rate measurement value Q1 is used as the flow rate measurement value Q1 to the filling container 30. Note that the measurement of the amount of vaporized gas discharged from the filling container 30 to the outside through the vapor phase equalizing path 50 is not limited to the above method, and for example, a flow meter is provided in the vapor phase equalizing path 50. And the amount of vaporized gas discharged from the filling container 30 to the outside may be directly measured from the flow rate of vaporized gas measured by this flow meter.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the filling container 30 mounted on the vehicle 80 is filled with the liquefied gas is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the filling container other than the fuel tank for the vehicle from the tank of the tank truck Of course, the present invention can also be applied to the case where liquefied gas is filled in a storage tank (for example, a storage tank for filling liquefied gas in a heating facility of a house or a building).

  As the liquefied gas, for example, LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) mainly containing butane / propane may be used, or DME (dimethyl ether) used as diesel fuel may be used.

20 liquefied gas storage tank 30 container to be filled 32 filling side connection port 36 pressure equalization side connection port 34 filling side connection coupling 38 pressure equalization side connection coupling 40 liquefied gas filling path 42 filling hose 50 gas phase portion pressure equalization path (pressure equalization path)
52 Pressure equalizing hose 80 Vehicle 60 Liquefied gas filling device 62 Separator 64 Flow meter 66 Back pressure valve 70 Pump 82 Level gauge 84 Overfill prevention valve 90 Control circuit 92 Flow rate indicator 94 Fill start switch button 96 Fill stop switch button 100 Liquefied gas Filling system 110 Branch pipe 120 Memory 131 First pressure detector 132 Second pressure detector 133 Third pressure detector V1 First on-off valve (open / close valve for liquefied gas filling)
V2 Second open / close valve (equal pressure open / close valve)
V3 3rd on-off valve V4 4th on-off valve

Claims (4)

A liquefied gas storage in which liquefied gas is stored;
A liquefied gas filling path having one end connected to the liquid phase portion of the liquefied gas storage and the other end connectable to the liquid phase portion of the container to be filled;
A pressure equalization path with one end connected to the gas phase part of the liquefied gas storage and the other end connected to the gas phase part of the filled container;
A filling start switch operated when starting filling of the liquefied gas into the filled container;
A flow meter that is provided in the liquefied gas filling path and measures the filling amount of the liquefied gas filled in the filled container from the liquefied gas filling path;
A liquefied gas filling on-off valve provided in the liquefied gas filling path;
A pressure equalizing on-off valve provided in the pressure equalizing path;
Control means for controlling opening and closing of the liquefied gas filling on-off valve and the pressure equalizing on-off valve based on the operation of the filling start switch to control filling of the liquefied gas into the filled container;
In a liquefied gas filling device comprising:
A first pressure detector for detecting the pressure on the side of the connecting portion to the filled container with respect to the liquefied gas filling on-off valve in the liquefied gas filling path;
A second pressure detector for detecting the pressure on the side of the connecting portion to the filled container with respect to the pressure equalizing on-off valve in the pressure equalizing path;
With
The control means includes
When the filling start switch is operated, the pressure equalization path is compared with the first pressure value detected by the first pressure detector and the second pressure value detected by the second pressure detector. By determining whether or not the container is connected to the filling container, it is determined whether the filling container is a filling container corresponding to the indentation filling method or a filling container corresponding to the pressure equalization filling method. A liquefied gas filling device characterized by comprising a filling method determination means.   The filling method determining means is detected by the first pressure detector when the filling start switch is operated and the liquefied gas filling on-off valve and the pressure equalizing on-off valve are closed. By comparing the first pressure value and the second pressure value detected by the second pressure detector, whether the filling container is a filling container corresponding to the indentation filling method, or a pressure equalization filling method The liquefied gas filling device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether the container is a filling container corresponding to the above.   When the filling start switch is operated, the filling method determining means opens the pressure equalizing on / off valve and closes the liquefied gas filling on / off valve by the first pressure detector. By comparing the detected first pressure value with the second pressure value detected by the second pressure detector, it is determined whether the filled container is a filled container corresponding to the indentation filling method, or equalization. 3. The liquefied gas filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether the container is a filling container corresponding to the pressure filling method.   The filling method determination means is detected by the first pressure detector in a state where the liquefied gas filling on-off valve and the pressure equalizing on-off valve are opened when the filling start switch is operated. Based on a change in the first pressure value, it is determined whether the to-be-filled container is a to-be-filled container corresponding to the indentation filling method or a to-be-filled container corresponding to the pressure equalization filling method. The liquefied gas filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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