JP2012057788A - High pressure gas supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high pressure gas supply system having simple structure which prevents a backflow of a fuel gas.SOLUTION: In the high pressure gas supply system for supplying a fuel gas from a plurality of high pressure gas tanks to a fuel cell, capacities of the high pressure gas tanks are different, a check valve and an overflow preventing valve are provided in a fuel supply channel connected to a high pressure gas tank having low capacity, and a valve element of the check valve and a valve element of the overflow preventing valve are integrally gathered to slide in opening and closing directions by a single elastic body.

Description

  The present invention relates to a high-pressure gas supply system that supplies fuel gas stored in a high-pressure gas tank to a fuel cell.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, fuel cell vehicles equipped with a fuel cell that generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between an oxidizing gas such as air and a fuel gas such as hydrogen have been developed. In a fuel cell vehicle, for example, a fuel gas such as hydrogen gas is filled in a plurality of high pressure gas tanks and mounted on the vehicle, and is supplied to the fuel cell from the plurality of high pressure gas tanks.

  At this time, there is a possibility that differential pressure may occur between the multiple supply pipes connected to each of the high-pressure gas tanks, so that the fuel gas flows from the high-pressure side supply pipe into the low-pressure side supply pipe and enters the low-pressure side supply pipe. As a result, a backflow of fuel gas occurs. As a result, a reverse pressure is applied to the valve assembled in the high-pressure gas tank, which may cause deterioration or galling of the valve. Therefore, it is desired to prevent the backflow of fuel gas in the supply pipe connected to the high pressure gas tank.

  In Patent Document 1, in a high-pressure gas supply system having a plurality of high-pressure gas tanks having the same capacity, a supply pipe for supplying fuel from the high-pressure gas tank is connected to each high-pressure gas tank, and a check valve is arranged in the supply pipe. Is disclosed.

JP 2002-206696

  According to the configuration of Patent Document 1, the check valve is provided in each of the supply pipes connected to the plurality of high-pressure gas tanks, thereby preventing the back flow of the fuel gas. However, it is impossible to predict which of the supply pipes connected to each of the plurality of high-pressure gas tanks will cause the fuel gas to flow backward, and it is necessary to install check valves in all the supply pipes. In addition, since a normal high-pressure gas supply system is also provided with an on-off valve and a flow rate control device that control the opening and closing of the high-pressure gas tank, the construction of the check valve further complicates the structure and increases the number of parts. Problems such as increased complexity and manufacturing costs.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a high-pressure gas supply system that can efficiently prevent backflow with a simple configuration.

  The high-pressure gas supply system of the present invention is a high-pressure gas supply system that supplies high-pressure gas simultaneously from a plurality of high-pressure gas tanks, a plurality of high-pressure gas tanks having different capacities, an on-off valve that controls opening and closing of the high-pressure gas tank, and each high-pressure gas tank The fuel supply path connected to the low-capacity high-pressure gas tank is provided with a plurality of fuel supply paths for supplying high-pressure gas from and a junction of the plurality of fuel supply paths. It has a valve, and the check valve and the valve body of the overflow prevention valve are integrated back to back. Moreover, it is preferable that the valve seat of the check valve is pressed and fixed to the on-off valve.

  According to the high pressure gas supply system having the above configuration, the valve bodies are integrated by integrating the check valve and the overflow prevention valve back to back, and the backflow prevention effect and the overflow prevention effect are achieved by one valve body. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the apparatus can be simplified. Further, by pressing and fixing the valve seat of the check valve to the opening / closing valve, a surface pressure is generated between the valve seat of the check valve and the opening / closing valve. This also plays a role, and this also makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the apparatus. Furthermore, since the capacities of the high-pressure gas tanks are different, the high-pressure gas tanks can be arranged according to the volumes of various spaces, and the degree of freedom of mounting space on the fuel cell vehicle increases.

  Further, the integrated check valve and overflow prevention valve body are biased in the opening and closing direction by a single elastic body. A compression spring is used as the elastic body, and the minimum use height of the compression spring is preferably larger than the contact height of the spring.

  According to the high pressure gas supply system having the above configuration, the elastic body that urges the check valve and the elastic body that urges the overflow prevention valve are integrated, and the check valve and the overflow prevention valve are combined with one elastic body. Since it can slide in the opening and closing direction, the number of parts can be reduced and the apparatus can be simplified. In addition, since the flow rate can be adjusted according to the direction and magnitude of the pressure applied to the overflow prevention valve and check valve by elastic biasing, all the states of normal supply state, backflow state, and overflow state Therefore, the flow rate can be adjusted appropriately and efficiently. Specifically, when the pressure on the high-pressure gas tank side is smaller than that on the supply path merging part side, such as when the fuel gas is flowing backward, the elastic member expands according to the pressure difference, leading to high-pressure gas tank components such as on-off valves. It is possible to prevent reverse pressure from being applied. On the other hand, when the pressure on the high-pressure gas tank side is larger than the supply path merging portion side, such as when normal fuel is supplied or when the piping is broken, the elastic member contracts according to the pressure difference and flows out of the high-pressure gas tank. The amount of fuel gas can be reduced.

  In the high-pressure gas supply system having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the high-pressure gas tank includes a valve assembly at each opening, and the on-off valve, the check valve, and the overflow prevention valve are disposed in the valve assembly.

  According to the high pressure gas supply system having the above configuration, the back flow of the fuel gas can be efficiently prevented with a simple configuration, thereby reducing the number of parts, simplifying the device, reducing the manufacturing cost, and mounting on the vehicle. The degree of freedom can be increased.

It is a figure which shows the high pressure gas supply system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the valve structure of the supply flow path 7a in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the valve structure of the supply flow path 7b in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the opening / closing operation | movement of the solenoid valve in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the opening / closing operation | movement of the non-return valve 12 and the overflow prevention valve 14b in embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a high-pressure gas supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Moreover, although the gas with which a high pressure gas tank is filled is demonstrated as hydrogen gas, it is not limited to hydrogen gas, Other high pressure gas may be sufficient.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a high-pressure gas supply system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the high-pressure gas supply system 1 includes high-pressure gas tanks 2a and 2b, valve assemblies 4a and 4b, fuel filling pipes 16a and 16b, fuel supply pipes 6a and 6b, and pipe junctions 8 and 18. The valve assemblies 4a and 4b include electromagnetic valves 10a and 10b, a check valve 12, and overflow prevention valves 14a and 14b.

  The high-pressure gas tanks 2a and 2b are sealed containers for filling and storing high-pressure fuel gas (for example, hydrogen gas of 35 to 70 MPa) inside, and preferably have strength by a fiber reinforced resin layer such as an FRP layer. The capacity of the high-pressure gas tank 2a is larger than the capacity of the high-pressure gas tank 2b, and valve assemblies 4a and 4b are provided in the openings of the high-pressure gas tanks 2a and 2b so as to communicate the inside and outside of the high-pressure gas tanks 2a and 2b. Provided.

  The valve assemblies 4a and 4b are configured by integrally incorporating a plurality of piping elements such as valves and joints into a metal such as stainless steel. The valve assembly 4a has a filling flow path 17a and a supply flow path 7a inside. The filling flow path 17a flows fuel gas from the outside to the fuel gas tank 2a, and the supply flow path 7a is fueled from the fuel gas tank 2a to the outside. The gas flows out. The filling channel 17a is provided with an orifice 20a on the upstream side (external side) and a check valve 22a on the downstream side (high pressure gas tank 2a side), and the flow rate of the fuel gas flowing from the outside into the high pressure gas tank 2a is controlled by the orifice 20a. While adjusting, the backflow of the filled fuel gas is prevented by the check valve 22a. The supply flow path 7a is provided with an electromagnetic valve 10a on the upstream side (high pressure gas tank 2a side) and an overflow prevention valve 14a on the downstream side (external side), and the opening and closing control of the high pressure gas tank 2a is performed by the electromagnetic valve 10a. The flow rate of the fuel gas flowing out to the outside is adjusted by the overflow prevention valve 14a.

  Similarly, the valve assembly 4b has a filling flow path 17b and a supply flow path 7b inside, and the filling flow path 17b flows fuel gas into the fuel gas tank 2b from the outside, and the supply flow path 7a extends from the fuel gas tank 2b. The fuel gas flows out to the outside. The filling channel 17b is provided with an orifice 20b on the upstream side (external side) and a check valve 22b on the downstream side (high pressure gas tank 2b side). Unlike the supply flow path 7a in the valve assembly 4a, the supply flow path 7b is provided with an electromagnetic valve 10b on the upstream side (high-pressure gas tank 2b side), and flows into the downstream side (external side) with the check valve 12 in order. A prevention valve 14b is provided.

  One end of each of the fuel filling pipes 16 a and 16 b is connected to the filling passages 17 a and 17 b of the valve assemblies 4 a and 4 b, and the other end is joined at the pipe joining part 18. The pipe junction 18 communicates with the fuel filling pipes 16 a and 16 b and is connected to an external hydrogen supply facility, for example, a hydrogen station (not shown) through the receptacle 24. Therefore, the fuel gas supplied from the hydrogen station is filled into the high-pressure gas tanks 2a and 2b from the fuel filling pipes 16a and 16b via the receptacle 24 and the pipe junction 18.

  One end of each of the fuel supply pipes 6 a and 6 b is connected to the supply flow paths 7 a and 7 b of the valve assemblies 4 a and 4 b, respectively, and the other end is joined at the pipe junction 8. The pipe junction 8 communicates with the fuel supply pipes 6a and 6b and is connected to the fuel cell. After the fuel gas stored in the high-pressure gas tanks 2a and 2b passes through the fuel supply pipes 6a and 6b, The fuel cell 26 is supplied via the pipe junction 8. The solenoid valves 10a and 10b, the check valve 12, and the overflow prevention valves 14a and 14b are not limited to the configuration incorporated in the high pressure valves 4a and 4b, and may be disposed in the fuel supply pipes 6a and 6b.

  The detailed structure and operation of the valves in the supply flow paths 7a and 7b in the valve assemblies 4a and 4b will be described below. FIG. 2 shows the electromagnetic valve 10a and the overflow prevention 14a in the supply flow path 7a, and FIG. 3 shows the electromagnetic valve 10b, the check valve 12 and the overflow prevention 14b in the supply flow path 7b. 4 is a diagram showing the opening / closing operation of the electromagnetic valves 10a, 10b, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the opening / closing operation of the check valve 12 and the overflow prevention valve 14b.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the supply flow path 7a is provided with an electromagnetic valve 10a and an overflow prevention valve 14a from the upstream side (high pressure tank 2a side), and the overflow prevention valve 14a goes downstream (outside). Control the flow rate of flowing fuel gas. As shown in FIG. 3, the supply flow path 7b is provided with a solenoid valve 10b, a check valve 12, and an overflow prevention valve 14b from the upstream side (the high-pressure tank 2b side). The valve body 30 of the check valve 12 and the valve body 36 b of the overflow prevention valve 14 b are integrated back to back, and the integrated valve body 30 and valve body 36 b are spring force of a spring (compression spring) 34. Is biased toward the electromagnetic valve 10b. When high pressure gas flows out from the solenoid valve 10b, the spring 34 is compressed by the gas pressure, and the integrated valve body 30 and valve body 36b move toward the fuel supply pipe 6b. Thereby, the check valve 12 prevents the fuel gas from flowing into the upstream side (the high-pressure tank 2b side), and the overflow prevention valve 14b controls the flow rate of the fuel gas flowing to the downstream side (external side). Further, the valve seat 32 of the check valve 12 is made of resin or rubber and abuts on the valve seat 50 of the adjacent electromagnetic valve 10b. The valve seat 50 of the solenoid valve 10b is pressed in the direction of the check valve 12, and the valve main body 52 is supported from the opposite side of the valve seat 50 against the pressing force. The valve seat 32 of the valve 12 is pressed and fixed. As a result, a surface pressure is generated between the valve seat 32 and the electromagnetic valve 10b, and the valve seat 32 functions as a seal member. Therefore, the fuel gas flows from the gap of the electromagnetic valve 10b to the check valve without passing through the flow path. It is possible to reduce a sealing member that prevents inflow, such as an O-ring.

  Here, “back to back” will be described. When the end of the overflow prevention valve 14a opposite to the tip of the needle valve is the rear end, and similarly, the end of the check valve 12 opposite to the tip of the needle valve is the rear end, preventing overflow. The rear end portion of the valve 14a and the rear end portion of the check valve 12 face each other, and the rear end portions of both valves are joined to each other so that both ends are integrated. As a result, the needle valve tip portion of the overflow prevention valve 14a and the needle valve tip portion of the check valve 12 are disposed in opposite directions in the supply flow path, and the needle valve tip portion of the overflow prevention valve 14a is the fuel cell. The needle valve tip portion of the check valve 12 is arranged facing the low-pressure tank 2b side. In the present embodiment, the state in which the rear end portions of both valves are opposed to each other in this manner is simply defined as a “back-to-back” state.

  The solenoid valve 10a controls the amount of fuel gas flowing from the high-pressure gas tank 2a to the fuel supply pipe 6a by switching the fuel gas flow path. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the plunger 44 is attracted to the stopper 42 by the electromagnetic force of the coil 40 to open the pilot valve 46, and after the differential pressure upstream and downstream of the pilot valve 46 becomes small, the main valve 48 valve bodies are opened by sliding in the opening and closing direction. The fuel gas passes through the flow path indicated by the white arrow and flows from the high-pressure gas tank 2a to the fuel supply pipe. The solenoid valve 10b also has the same structure and opening / closing operation as the solenoid valve 10a.

  The overflow prevention valve 14a includes a needle valve body 36a formed in a needle shape and a valve seat 38a. When high pressure gas flows out from the electromagnetic valve 10a, a spring (compression spring) 34 is generated by gas pressure. Is compressed, and the valve body 36a moves toward the fuel supply pipe 6b. Further, the amount of elastic deformation of the spring of the overflow prevention valve 14a is changed by the pressure difference between the high pressure gas tank 2a and the fuel supply pipe 6a, and the amount of fuel gas supplied to the fuel supply pipe 6a is adjusted accordingly. The minimum use height of the spring is set to be larger than the contact height of the spring, and the pressure on the upstream side (high-pressure gas tank 2a side) is larger than the pressure on the downstream side (supply pipe 6a side) exceeding the specified value. The valve body 36a and the valve seat 38a come into contact with each other, and the fuel gas is prevented from suddenly flowing out. The overflow prevention valve 14b has the same structure and sliding operation as the overflow prevention valve 14a except that the check valve 12 is disposed on the back surface of the valve body 36b.

  The check valve 12 is a needle valve formed in a needle shape, and the valve body 30 is integrated back-to-back with the valve body 36b of the overflow prevention valve 14b, and a spring of a spring (compression spring) 34 together with the valve body 36b. The force is biased toward the electromagnetic valve 10b. When the fuel gas flows backward from the supply pipe 6b, the valve body 30 is pressed and moved toward the high-pressure gas tank 2b, and the valve body 30 and the valve seat 32 come into contact with each other to prevent the fuel gas from flowing back.

  The opening / closing operation of the integrated overflow prevention valve 14b and the check valve 12 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, (a) is a normal open / close state, (b) is an open / close state during overflow, and (c) is an open / close state during reverse flow. In the normal state of (a), both the valve seat 32 of the check valve 12 and the valve seat 38b of the overflow prevention valve 14b do not contact each other, and the fuel gas flowing out from the high-pressure gas tank 2a is supplied to the fuel supply pipe 6b. The Further, the elastic deformation amount of the spring 34b changes according to the pressure, and the flow rate of the flowing fuel gas is adjusted. At the time of overflow of (b), when the pressure on the upstream side (solenoid valve 10b side) is larger than the pressure on the downstream side (fuel supply piping 6b side) and the pressure difference is a predetermined value or more, for example, on the downstream side A case where the fuel supply pipe 6b is damaged is shown. At the time of overflow, the spring 34b contracts, the valve body 36b of the overflow prevention valve 14b and the valve seat 38b come into contact with each other, and the fuel gas is prevented from suddenly flowing out to the fuel supply pipe 6b. The reverse flow of (c) is a case where the fuel gas flows backward and flows into the electromagnetic valve 10b from the fuel supply pipe 6b, for example, when a differential pressure is generated between the fuel supply pipes 6a and 6b. At the time of reverse flow, the spring 34b extends to prevent the valve body 30 of the check valve 12 from coming into contact with the valve seat 32 and to flow into the electromagnetic valve 10b.

  According to the high pressure gas supply system of the present embodiment described above, the flow rate of the fuel gas can be appropriately adjusted in all the states of the normal flow, the back flow, and the overflow of the fuel gas. In addition, since the flow rate can be efficiently controlled with a simple configuration, the number of parts can be reduced, the apparatus can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, a plurality of high-pressure gas tanks can be arranged according to the volume of various spaces, and the degree of freedom for mounting space on the fuel cell vehicle increases.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 High pressure gas supply system, 2a, 2b High pressure gas tank, 6a, 6a Fuel supply piping, 8 Piping junction, 10a, 10b Solenoid valve, 12 Check valve, 14a, 14b Overflow prevention valve, 16a, 16b Fuel filling piping, 18 piping junction, 24 receptacle, 26 fuel cell.

Claims (4)

In a high-pressure gas supply system that supplies high-pressure gas,
Multiple high pressure gas tanks with different capacities,
An on-off valve that controls the opening and closing of the high-pressure gas tank;
A plurality of fuel supply passages for supplying high-pressure gas from each high-pressure gas tank;
A junction of a plurality of fuel supply paths;
With
The fuel supply path connected to the low-capacity high-pressure gas tank has a check valve and an overflow prevention valve downstream of the on-off valve,
A high-pressure gas supply system for a fuel cell, wherein the check valve and the overflow prevention valve are integrated back to back. The high-pressure gas supply system according to claim 1,
A high pressure gas supply system in which the valve body of the integrated check valve and overflow prevention valve is urged in the opening and closing direction by a single elastic member. The high-pressure gas supply system according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
The valve seat on which the valve body of the check valve moves and contacts is pressed and fixed by the on-off valve. The high-pressure gas supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The high-pressure gas tank is provided with a valve assembly at each opening,
The high-pressure gas supply system, wherein the on-off valve, the check valve, and the overflow prevention valve are disposed in a valve assembly.

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