JP2012167767A - Apparatus and method for supplying fuel hydrogen gas - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and method for supplying fuel hydrogen gas for filling an on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank of a vehicle with hydrogen gas in a short time.SOLUTION: The fuel hydrogen gas supply method includes the steps of: pressurizing liquid hydrogen introduced from a liquid hydrogen storage container 1; introducing the pressurized liquid hydrogen into a heat exchanger 3 to vaporize the liquid hydrogen; and filling the on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank with the hydrogen gas introduced from the heat exchanger 3, through a filling nozzle 6. Flow control valves 4, 9, 16 disposed in hydrogen supply lines 7, 8, 15 are controlled to be opened/closed to adjust a mixed gas temperature to a target temperature. The mixed gas is made by mixing the low-temperature gas flowing in a hydrogen supply bypass line B formed to bypass at least a part of the heat exchanger 3 and the flow control valve 4, and vaporized normal-temperature gas passing through the heat exchanger 3 and flowing in the hydrogen supply line 7.

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for filling hydrogen gas for fuel, and in particular, a hydrogen station for supplying hydrogen gas to an on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank mounted on a vehicle such as a fuel cell vehicle or a hydrogen engine vehicle that runs using hydrogen as fuel. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for filling hydrogen gas for fuel in a (hydrogen stand).

  In recent years, due to demands for environmental problems and energy problems, it has been considered to use hydrogen gas as an alternative energy for automobile fuel such as gasoline, and in particular, a fuel cell that generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. A demonstration running test of a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell as an energy source is underway.

  In the case of a vehicle using hydrogen gas as a fuel, fuel hydrogen is charged into an in-vehicle hydrogen filling tank mounted on the vehicle at a hydrogen station. In the hydrogen station, it is required to fill the hydrogen gas while controlling the temperature of the hydrogen gas to be filled at a target temperature of −40 ° C. or a target temperature of about −20 ° C. in order to shorten the filling time. As such a hydrogen station, conventionally, a hydrogen storage tank filled with liquefied hydrogen and / or slush hydrogen, a booster pump that compresses and pressurizes liquefied hydrogen flowing out of the hydrogen storage tank, and a temperature rising pump are discharged. Has been proposed which comprises a heat exchanger for evaporating and raising the temperature of the liquefied hydrogen and a hydrogen supply line provided with a filling nozzle that can be attached to and detached from a coupler provided in the on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank (Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2008-196590 A

  In the hydrogen station proposed in the previous patent document, a low temperature hydrogen gas derived from a heat exchanger and a room temperature hydrogen gas derived from a separately installed pressure accumulator (air accumulator) are mixed to a predetermined temperature. I try to control it. For this reason, in this system, a pressure accumulator for storing room temperature hydrogen gas is required, which requires a space for installing the pressure accumulator, and has a problem that the installation cost and the maintenance cost increase.

Next, as an example showing the characteristics of the air temperature heat exchanger, the gas temperature change in each part of the piping system when filling the container through the air temperature heat exchanger while increasing the pressure of the liquefied gas with the booster pump ( FIG. 5 shows the case where the pipe surface temperature is substituted.
From FIG. 5, the temperature at the pump outlet portion decreases linearly to the same extent as when liquefaction is imposed after the start of pump operation, whereas it is curved (convex) in the middle of the heat exchanger inlet and heat exchanger. It can be seen that it takes several minutes or more until the temperature drops to a steady state from room temperature.

  In other words, in the hydrogen station that has been proposed earlier, there is not so much a problem when the fuel cell vehicle is continuously filled with hydrogen at short intervals, but there are few fuel cell vehicles and the frequency of use of the hydrogen station is low. When the filling interval is long, filling starts from the temperature of the heat exchanger at normal temperature (outside air temperature), so when vaporized through the heat exchanger, the gas temperature drops to the desired gas temperature. It takes a long time until the vehicle-mounted hydrogen filling tank cannot be quickly filled. In addition, when filling is started after the temperature of the heat exchanger is sufficiently lowered, the gas vaporized until the temperature is lowered to the desired temperature cannot be used for filling, and thus a facility for storing the gas is required. The problem also arises.

  In the case of a forced heat exchanger such as a double pipe type, if the heat exchanger is at room temperature (outside air temperature), the heat exchanger is cooled with a refrigerant, and liquefied hydrogen If the heat exchanger is cooled by circulating through the heat exchanger, a method of heating the heat exchanger using a heat medium and filling low temperature hydrogen gas at a predetermined temperature is conceivable. This leads to an increase in equipment costs and an increase in equipment installation space. In addition, it is difficult to control the gas temperature at the outlet of the heat exchanger by controlling the temperature and supply amount of the refrigerant and heat medium within the target filling time (3 to 5 minutes) per vehicle. There is also a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen gas filling device for fuel and a method thereof, which can fill in-vehicle hydrogen filling tank of a vehicle in a short time, paying attention to such points. To do.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention as set forth in claim 1 derives from a liquefied hydrogen storage container an apparatus for supplying hydrogen to an in-vehicle hydrogen filling tank mounted on a vehicle that runs on hydrogen as fuel. At the tip of the hydrogen supply line, a filling nozzle that can be connected to and connected to an on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank is installed, and a booster pump, a heat exchanger, a flow control valve, a flow meter, In order to form a hydrogen supply bypass line with at least a part of the heat exchanger and the flow rate adjustment valve bypassed, and a flow rate adjustment valve for cryogenic fluid installed in the hydrogen supply bypass line. It is a feature.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration described in the first aspect, the hydrogen supply bypass line is branched from between the booster pump and the heat exchanger, and is joined between the flow regulating valve and the flow meter. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration described in the first or second aspect, the hydrogen supply bypass line is branched from the middle of the heat exchanger. However, it is characterized by comprising a branch passage that joins between the flow regulating valve and the flow meter.

  In the present invention described in claim 5, the pressure of the liquefied hydrogen derived from the liquefied hydrogen storage container is increased, the increased pressure of the liquefied hydrogen is introduced into the heat exchanger, the temperature is increased, and the temperature is increased. In a hydrogen gas filling method for fuel that fills an in-vehicle hydrogen filling tank from a filling nozzle attached to the tip of a hydrogen supply line, hydrogen formed so as to bypass at least a part of a heat exchanger and a flow rate adjustment valve Each hydrogen supply line so that the gas temperature of the mixed gas, which is a mixture of low-temperature gas flowing through the supply bypass line, vaporization flowing through the heat exchanger and flowing through the hydrogen supply line, and room temperature gas raised in temperature, becomes the target temperature. It is characterized by controlling the flow rate regulating valve arranged in the above.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration described in the fifth aspect, when the heat exchanger is at room temperature, filling is started using the hydrogen supply bypass line, and the hydrogen supply bypass line is provided. When the temperature of the pipe drops below the preset temperature, the hydrogen supply line in which the heat exchanger is installed is opened, and the low temperature gas flowing through the hydrogen supply bypass path and the normal temperature gas flowing through the hydrogen supply line are It is characterized by mixing.

  In the present invention, at least a part of the heat exchanger that vaporizes and raises the temperature of liquefied hydrogen and a flow rate adjustment valve that adjusts the flow rate of the normal temperature gas derived from the heat exchanger are bypassed by a hydrogen supply bypass line. Since the low temperature gas flowing through the supply bypass line and the normal temperature gas that has passed through the heat exchanger are mixed so that the mixed gas temperature becomes the target temperature, the hydrogen station is operated. Even if the filling interval is long and the temperature of the heat exchanger is at room temperature, the on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank can be quickly filled with the low-temperature gas at the target temperature after the filling operation is started.

  Also, by using an air temperature heat exchanger, the heat medium equipment and pressure accumulator can be omitted, and there is no need to prepare a space for installing the heat medium equipment or pressure accumulator. Can be reduced.

It is a schematic block diagram of the hydrogen station which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the hydrogen station which shows another embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the hydrogen station which shows different embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows an example of the pressure | voltage rise of liquefied gas, the piping system surface temperature at the time of vaporization, the relationship between piping pressure, and elapsed time.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a hydrogen station, which is an example of a fuel hydrogen gas filling apparatus according to the present invention, will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hydrogen station showing one embodiment, in which reference numeral (1) denotes a liquefied hydrogen storage container as a hydrogen gas supply source, and (2) denotes a liquefied hydrogen storage container (1). (3) is an air temperature heat exchanger, (4) is a flow control valve for normal temperature fluid that is heated and vaporized by heat exchange with outside air, and (5) is a flow meter. , (6) are filling nozzles that can be connected to an on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank (not shown). These booster pump (2), heat exchanger (3), flow rate adjustment valve (4), flow meter (5), The filling nozzle (6) is attached to the hydrogen supply line (7) led out from the liquefied hydrogen storage container (1) in order from the liquefied hydrogen storage container (1) side. In the present invention, the liquefied hydrogen stored in the liquefied hydrogen container (1) includes hydrogen formed in a slush shape.

  A branch path (8) is branched out from the hydrogen supply line (7) between the booster pump (2) and the heat exchanger (3), and the downstream end of the branch path (8) is a flow rate regulating valve (4) ) And the flow meter (5) are joined to the hydrogen supply line (7). The branch passage (8) is equipped with a flow rate adjusting valve (9) for low-temperature fluid, and this branch passage (8) is connected to the air temperature heat exchanger (3) and the flow rate adjusting valve (4). The hydrogen supply bypass line (B) is constructed.

  A temperature detector (10) is provided at the outlet side of the heat exchanger (3) in the hydrogen supply line (7), and a temperature detector is provided at the upstream side of the flow regulating valve (9) for the cryogenic fluid in the branch passage (8). The temperature detector (12) and the pressure detector (13) are arranged at the junction of the hydrogen supply line (7) and the branch path (8), respectively.

  Then, the detection data from each of the detectors (10), (11), (12), and (13) is input to the control device (14). Based on these detection data, the operation control of the booster pump (2) and the flow rate adjustment are performed. Opening and closing control of the valve (4) and the flow regulating valve (9) for low temperature fluid is performed.

In the fuel hydrogen gas filling apparatus having the above-described configuration, the hydrogen gas is transferred and filled in the procedure shown in FIG.
At the start of filling, open the flow rate adjustment valve (4) (for room temperature) provided in the hydrogen supply line (7) and the flow rate adjustment valve (9) for low temperature fluid provided in the bypass line (8). The degree is confirmed (step S1). If shut-off valves are installed before and after the flow control valve, check that the shut-off valve is closed. Next, the pipe surface temperature (T1) of the filling device is taken into the control device (14) from the temperature detector (11) (step S2).

  The pipe surface temperature (T1) is compared with the target filling temperature (for example, −40 ° C.) (TSV) (step S3). When the filling frequency is low, the pipe surface temperature (T1) of the filling device is the same as the outside air temperature, which is higher than the target temperature (T1 ≧ TSV). Next, the booster pump (2) is started (step S4), and after the booster pump (2) is started, the gas pressure (P12) and the gas temperature (T12) at the junction are taken into the controller (14) (step S5). ).

  The gas pressure at the junction (P12) is compared with the target filling pressure (for example, 35 MPa) (PSV) (step S6). When the gas pressure at that time does not reach the target filling pressure (P12 <PSV), The gas temperature (T12) at the junction is compared with the target temperature (TSV) (step S7). If the gas temperature at the merging point at that time is higher than the target temperature (TSV) (T12 ≧ TSV), the flow regulating valve (9) for the low-temperature fluid installed in the branch path (8) is opened. The degree is adjusted (step S8), the amount of liquefied hydrogen gas flowing through the branch path (8) is increased, the process returns to step S5, and the above procedure (steps S5 to S8) is repeated.

  Then, as a result of comparing the gas pressure (P12) at the merging point with the target filling pressure (PSV) in step S6, the gas pressure (P12) at the merging point reaches the target filling pressure (PSV) (P12 ≧ PSV) includes a flow rate adjusting valve (4) (for room temperature) interposed in the hydrogen supply line (7) and a bypass line (8 ) Is closed (step S9), the booster pump (2) is stopped (step S10), and the filling operation is completed.

  Also, as a result of comparing the pipe temperature (T1) with the target temperature (TSV) in step S3, the pipe surface temperature (T1) of the filling device is the target temperature because the elapsed time from the end of the previous filling operation is short. If the temperature is lower (T1 <TSV), the booster pump (2) is started (step S11), and after the booster pump (2) is started, the gas pressure (P12) and gas temperature at the confluence (T12) is taken into the control device (14) (step S12).

  The gas pressure at the junction (P12) is compared with the target filling pressure (for example, 35 MPa) (PSV) (step S13), and the pressure at that time does not reach the target filling pressure (PSV) (P12 <PSV) Sometimes, the opening degree of the flow regulating valve for low-temperature fluid (9) installed in the branch passage (8) so that the gas temperature (T12) at the junction becomes the target temperature (TSV) in consideration of the temperature gradient. (Step S14), the opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve (4) for room temperature interposed in the hydrogen supply line (7) is adjusted (step S15), the process returns to step S12, and the above procedure (step S12 to step S12) is performed. Repeat S15).

  In step S13, when the pressure at the junction (P12) and the target filling pressure (PSV) are compared, the pressure (P12) at the junction reaches the target filling pressure (PSV) (P12 ≧ PSV). In this case, the hydrogen gas filling work for the on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank is completed, and the flow rate adjusting valve (4) (for room temperature) interposed in the hydrogen supply line (7) and the bypass line (8) are installed. After closing the low-temperature fluid flow regulating valve (9) provided (step S9), the booster pump (2) is stopped (step S10), and the filling operation is completed.

  On the other hand, as a result of comparing the gas temperature (T12) at the junction point with the target temperature (TSV) in step S7, the gas temperature at the junction point is lower than the target temperature (TSV) (T12 <TSV). In this case, the process proceeds to step S12.

  Mixing ratio when mixing normal temperature gas with constant temperature (outside temperature) and low temperature gas with varying temperature at a constant flow rate (1Kg / min) and constant temperature (-40 ° C) at 35MPa pressure Is calculated as shown in the table below.

  FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the bypass line (B) is constituted by a branch path (15) derived from the middle of the internal fluid path of the air temperature heat exchanger (3), This branch (15) is joined to the hydrogen supply line (7) between the flow control valve (4) and the flow meter (5) on the downstream side of the air temperature heat exchanger (3). The branch path (15) is provided with a flow regulating valve for low temperature fluid (16) and a temperature detector (17) as in the embodiment described above.

  Thus, when the bypass line (B) branched from the middle of the air temperature heat exchanger (3) is provided, the bypass line (between the booster pump (2) and the air temperature heat exchanger (3) ( Compared with the case where B) is branched, the temperature drop is moderate and the temperature control becomes easy.

  FIG. 4 shows a different embodiment of the invention, which consists of a hydrogen supply line (7) between a booster pump (2) and an air temperature heat exchanger (3) to a flow regulating valve (9) for a cryogenic fluid. From the middle of the fluid path of the air temperature type heat exchanger (3) via the branch flow path (8) interposing the temperature detector (11), and the low temperature fluid flow control valve (16) and the temperature detector (17) The bypass line (B) is formed with the mounted branch path (15), and this second branch path (15) merges with the branch path (8) to form an air temperature heat exchanger (3). The hydrogen supply line (7) is joined between the flow rate adjustment valve (4) and the flow meter (5) at the downstream end.

  In this way, the branch path (8) is led out between the boost pump (2) and the air temperature heat exchanger (3), and the second branch path (from the middle of the air temperature heat exchanger (3) ( 15), when the air temperature heat exchanger (3) is sufficiently cooled by continuous filling, it is between the booster pump (2) and the air temperature heat exchanger (3). In place of the branch path (8) branched out from, branching out from the middle of the air temperature heat exchanger (3) and using the branch path (15) enables more stable temperature control.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a hydrogen filling technique at a hydrogen station for supplying hydrogen gas to an on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank mounted on a vehicle that runs on hydrogen such as a fuel cell vehicle or a hydrogen engine vehicle. .

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid hydrogen storage container, 2 ... Booster pump, 3 ... Heat exchanger, 4 ... Flow control valve, 5 ... Flow meter, 6 ... Filling nozzle, 7 ... Hydrogen supply line, 9.16 ... Flow control valve for low temperature fluid , 8.15 ... Branch, B ... Bypass line for hydrogen supply.

Claims (6)

An apparatus for supplying hydrogen to an on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank mounted on a vehicle that runs using hydrogen as fuel,
At the tip of the hydrogen supply line (7) derived from the liquefied hydrogen storage container (1), a filling nozzle (6) that can be connected to an on-vehicle hydrogen filling tank is mounted, and the liquefied hydrogen storage container is attached to the hydrogen supply line (7). From the side, the booster pump (2), the heat exchanger (3), the flow rate adjustment valve (4), and the flow meter (5) are installed in order, and at least a part of the heat exchanger (3) and the flow rate adjustment valve The hydrogen supply bypass line (B) is formed in a state of bypassing (4), and the flow control valves (9) and (16) for low-temperature fluid are attached to the hydrogen supply bypass line (B). A hydrogen gas filling device for fuel.   The hydrogen supply bypass line (B) is led out from between the booster pump (2) and the heat exchanger (3), and is branched from the flow control valve (4) and the flow meter (5) ( 8. The hydrogen gas filling device for fuel according to claim 1, which is constituted by 8).   The hydrogen supply bypass line (B) is led out from the middle of the heat exchanger (3), and consists of a branch line (15) that joins between the flow control valve (4) and the flow meter (5). The hydrogen gas filling apparatus for fuel according to claim 1 or 2.   The hydrogen gas filling apparatus for fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heat exchanger (3) is an air temperature type heat exchanger. The pressure of the liquefied hydrogen derived from the liquefied hydrogen storage container (1) is increased, the increased liquefied hydrogen is introduced into the heat exchanger (3) and vaporized, and the hydrogen gas derived from the heat exchanger (3) is converted into hydrogen. In a fuel hydrogen gas filling method for filling an in-vehicle hydrogen filling tank from a filling nozzle (6) attached to the tip of a supply line (7),
At least a part of the heat exchanger (3) and the flow rate adjusting valve (4) bypass the hydrogen supply bypass line (B), and the low temperature gas flowing through the heat exchanger (3) and hydrogen. Flow rate adjusting valves (4) (9) arranged in each hydrogen supply line (7) (B) so that the gas temperature of the mixed gas mixed with the vaporized normal temperature gas flowing through the supply line (7) becomes the target temperature. (16) is controlled, a hydrogen gas filling method for fuel.   When the heat exchanger (3) is at room temperature, filling is started using the hydrogen supply bypass line (B), and the piping temperature of the hydrogen supply bypass line (B) is lowered from a preset temperature. Then, the hydrogen supply line (7) in which the heat exchanger (3) is disposed is opened, and the low temperature gas flowing through the hydrogen supply bypass line (B) and the normal temperature gas flowing through the hydrogen supply line (7) The fuel hydrogen gas filling method according to claim 5, wherein the fuel is mixed.

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