JP2013200020A - Fuel gas filling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel gas filling system capable of filling as much fuel gas as possible.SOLUTION: In a hydrogen filling system, hydrogen SOC corresponding to a hydrogen gas amount in a high pressure tank of a vehicle is calculated during hydrogen filling (S8), whether or not the hydrogen SOC has reached to a predetermined interruption SOC threshold is determined (S11), and interrupts the filling if the hydrogen SOC has reached the interruption SOC threshold (S13). Hereat, in the hydrogen filling system, environment information correlated with future temperature in the high pressure tank of the vehicle is acquired when filling hydrogen (S1), possibility of a temperature rise in the high pressure tank after hydrogen filling is estimated on the basis of the acquired environment information (S5), and the interruption SOC threshold is set to a larger value as compared with a case where high possibility of temperature rise is estimated if low possibility of the temperature rise is estimated (S6).

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel gas filling system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fuel gas filling system including a vehicle including a storage container that stores fuel gas, and a supply device that supplies the fuel gas into the storage container.

  The fuel cell vehicle travels by supplying oxygen-containing air and hydrogen to the fuel cell and driving the electric motor using the electric power generated thereby. In recent years, a fuel cell vehicle using such a fuel cell as an energy source for generating power has been put into practical use. Hydrogen is required to generate electricity with a fuel cell. However, in recent fuel cell vehicles, a sufficient amount of hydrogen is stored in advance in a hydrogen tank equipped with a high-pressure tank or an occlusion alloy. Those that use hydrogen are the mainstream. Along with this, research is actively being conducted on the technology for filling the tank with hydrogen.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a filling system for filling hydrogen while communicating between a vehicle equipped with a hydrogen tank and a station equipped with a dispenser for filling the hydrogen tank with hydrogen. In this system, during the filling of hydrogen gas, the temperature and pressure values of the hydrogen tank are transmitted from the vehicle side to the station side, and the station side determines full filling based on these temperature and pressure values and completes the filling. .

JP 2003-269893 A

  In the conventional system, the full charge is often determined by comparing the remaining amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen tank, and parameters such as pressure and temperature correlated with the remaining amount with a predetermined full filling threshold. However, this full filling threshold is set to a slightly smaller value in anticipation of the possibility that the temperature of the hydrogen tank will rise after hydrogen filling is completed. There is a problem that hydrogen cannot be charged.

  An object of this invention is to provide the fuel gas filling system which can be filled with as much fuel gas as possible.

  (1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is connected to a vehicle (for example, a fuel cell vehicle 2 to be described later) including a storage container (for example, a high pressure tank 32 to be described later) for storing fuel gas, and to the vehicle. And a supply device (for example, a hydrogen gas station 1 described later) for supplying fuel gas into the storage container, and a full-fill parameter value (for example, a hydrogen SOC described later) correlated with the amount of fuel gas in the storage container. A full-fill parameter calculation means (for example, a communication charge ECU 51 described later and a means related to the execution of S8 in FIG. 2), and at the time of fuel gas filling, the calculated full-fill parameter value is a predetermined full-fill threshold value ( For example, a full filling determination means (for example, a communication filling ECU 51 described later, and a means related to execution of S6 and S11 in FIG. 2) for determining whether or not an interrupted SOC threshold (described later) has been reached, and fuel Environmental information acquisition means (for example, an environmental information acquisition system described later) for acquiring environmental information (for example, current position, altitude value, date and time, predicted maximum temperature described later) correlated with the temperature of the future storage container at the time of gas filling 6 and communication filling ECU 51) and container temperature estimation means (for example, communication filling described later) for estimating the possibility of temperature rise of the fuel gas in the storage container after fuel gas filling based on the acquired environmental information And a fuel gas filling system (e.g., hydrogen filling system S described later). When the container temperature estimation unit estimates that the temperature rise is low, the full-fill determination unit sets the full-fill threshold to a larger value than when it is estimated that the temperature rise is high. It is characterized by setting.

  (1) In the present invention, at the time of fuel gas filling, environmental information correlated with the temperature in the future storage container is acquired, and the temperature rise in the storage container after fuel gas filling is based on this environmental information. If the possibility that the temperature rises is low, the full filling threshold is set to a larger value than the case where the possibility that the temperature rises is high. Thereby, it is possible to fill as much fuel gas as possible according to the environment in which the vehicle is used.

  (2) In this case, it is preferable that the environmental information acquisition unit acquires at least one of the predicted maximum temperature and the vehicle position information within a predetermined time after the fuel gas filling as environmental information.

  (2) It can be said that the predicted maximum temperature and vehicle position information are useful parameters for estimating the possibility of temperature rise in the storage container. In the present invention, by acquiring at least one of these predicted maximum temperature and position information as environmental information, the possibility of temperature rise is accurately estimated, and as a result, the full filling threshold is set to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle. Can be set.

  (3) In this case, it is preferable that the said container temperature estimation means estimates that possibility that a temperature rises is so high that the acquired predicted maximum temperature becomes higher than the present temperature.

  (3) In the present invention, it is possible to set the full filling threshold to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle by estimating that the higher the predicted maximum temperature is, the higher the temperature is likely to rise.

  (4) In this case, the environmental information acquisition means acquires the elevation value of the vehicle as environmental information, and the container temperature estimation means estimates that the temperature rises more likely as the acquired elevation value becomes smaller. It is preferable to do.

  (4) Since the air temperature decreases as the altitude increases, it can be said that the altitude value of the vehicle is a useful parameter for estimating the possibility of temperature rise in the storage container. In the present invention, the altitude value is acquired as environment information, and it is estimated that as the altitude value becomes smaller, the possibility that the temperature will rise is higher, so that the full filling threshold can be set to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle.

  (5) In this case, the environmental information acquisition means acquires the road surface information of the stop position of the vehicle and the predicted maximum temperature within a predetermined time after fuel gas filling as environmental information, and the container temperature estimation means is acquired. It is preferable to estimate the radiant heat from the road surface based on the road surface information and the predicted maximum temperature, and to estimate the possibility of temperature rise in the storage container based on the estimation of the radiant heat.

  (5) On the paved road, the influence of the radiant heat from the road surface on the temperature in the storage container is large. In the present invention, the road surface information of the stop position of the vehicle and the predicted maximum temperature are acquired as environmental information, and the radiant heat from the road surface is estimated based on the environmental information, and the possibility of temperature rise is estimated. The threshold value can be set to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle.

  (6) In this case, the environmental information acquisition means acquires the amount of solar radiation as environment information, and the container temperature estimation means estimates the possibility of temperature rise in the storage container based on the acquired amount of solar radiation. It is preferable.

  (6) In the present invention, it is possible to set the full filling threshold to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle by acquiring the amount of solar radiation as environment information and estimating the possibility of temperature rise based on this environment information. .

  (7) In this case, the vehicle has destination setting means (for example, a car navigation system 61 described later) in which the destination is set and normal stop setting means (for example, a normal stop position of the vehicle is set). A vehicle navigation system 61, which will be described later, and the full-fill determination means from the vehicle position at the time of fuel gas filling to the destination or from the vehicle position at the time of fuel gas filling to the normal stop When the travel distance is longer than a predetermined distance, the full filling threshold is set to a larger value compared to the case where the planned travel distance is shorter than the predetermined distance, regardless of the estimation of the temperature rise possibility by the container temperature estimation means. It is preferable to set.

  (7) When the vehicle travels a long distance after filling with fuel gas, it is considered that the fuel gas in the storage container decreases with time. Therefore, it is not necessary to expect a temperature increase in the storage container. Can be filled. In the present invention, if the estimated travel distance after filling the fuel gas is longer than a predetermined distance and it is estimated that the vehicle is likely to travel a long distance after filling with the fuel gas, the temperature in the storage container may increase. Regardless, the full filling threshold is set to a larger value than when the planned travel distance is shorter than the predetermined distance. Thereby, the full filling threshold value can be set to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle.

  (8) In this case, the vehicle has a container temperature detecting means (for example, a temperature sensor 37 described later) for detecting the temperature of the storage container, and a predetermined positive first temperature margin in the detection value of the container temperature detecting means. Temperature transmission value determining means (for example, described later) using a value (for example, a temperature sensor first margin described later) and a second temperature margin value (for example, temperature sensor second margin described later) added as a temperature transmission value. Communication filling ECU 51 and means relating to execution of S7 and S9 in FIG. 2) and transmission means for transmitting a data signal generated based on the temperature transmission value to the supply device (for example, communication system 5 described later) The supply device includes a receiving unit (for example, an infrared communication device 14 to be described later) that receives a data signal transmitted from the transmitting unit and a data received by the receiving unit when fuel gas is charged. And a filling control means (for example, a dispenser 12 to be described later) for controlling filling of the fuel gas into the storage container, and the temperature transmission value determining means increases the temperature by the container temperature estimating means. When it is estimated that the possibility is low, it is preferable to set the second temperature margin value to a smaller value than when it is estimated that the temperature is likely to rise.

  (8) In the present invention, a temperature transmission value obtained by adding the first and second temperature margin values to the detection value of the container temperature detection means is transmitted from the vehicle side to the supply device side, and the second temperature margin value is further expressed as described above. If it is estimated that the temperature rise is unlikely to occur in the same manner as the full-fill threshold, it is set to a smaller value than when it is estimated that the temperature rise is high. Thereby, the supply device can be controlled so that as much fuel gas as possible is filled in accordance with the use environment of the vehicle.

  (9) In this case, the vehicle has pressure detection means (for example, a pressure sensor 36 described later) for detecting the pressure of the gas in the storage container, and a positive first pressure that is a predetermined positive value detected by the pressure detection means. Pressure transmission value determining means (for example, a pressure transmission value that is obtained by adding a margin value (for example, a pressure sensor first margin described later) and a second pressure margin value (for example, a pressure sensor second margin described later)) Communication filling ECU 51 described later, and means for executing S7 and S9 in FIG. 2), and the transmission means transmits a data signal generated based on the temperature transmission value and the pressure transmission value. The pressure transmission value determining means, when it is estimated that the temperature rise is low by the container temperature estimating means, the second pressure margin value than when it is estimated that the temperature rise is high. The small value Setting it is preferable to.

  (9) In the present invention, similar to the temperature transmission value in the invention of (8), the pressure transmission value is added to the supply device side with the first and second pressure margin values added, and this second pressure is transmitted. When it is estimated that there is a low possibility that the temperature will rise, the margin value is set to a smaller value than when it is determined that the possibility that the temperature will rise is high. Thereby, the supply device can be controlled so that as much fuel gas as possible is filled in accordance with the use environment of the vehicle.

  (10) In this case, it is preferable that the fuel gas is hydrogen gas, and the vehicle is a fuel cell vehicle including a fuel cell system that generates power using the hydrogen gas in the storage container.

  (10) According to the present invention, it is possible to fill as much hydrogen gas as possible according to the use environment of the vehicle, and to increase the distance that can be traveled per hydrogen filling of the fuel cell vehicle.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the hydrogen filling system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure by the side of the vehicle at the time of filling hydrogen gas by communication filling. It is a figure which shows typically the breakdown of a pressure transmission value. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting an interruption SOC threshold value (Example 1). (Example 1) which is a figure which shows the breakdown of interruption | blocking SOC threshold value typically. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting an interruption SOC threshold (second embodiment). (Example 2) which shows an example of the map which determines interruption | blocking SOC threshold value based on a temperature rise parameter. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting a second margin value for transmission value calculation (Example 1); 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting a value of a second margin for transmission value calculation (Example 2). (Example 2) which is a figure which shows an example of the map which determines the value of a 2nd margin based on a temperature rise parameter.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a hydrogen filling system S according to the present embodiment. The hydrogen filling system S includes a vehicle 2 and a hydrogen gas station 1.

  The vehicle 2 includes a fuel cell system 3 that generates power using hydrogen stored in the high-pressure tank 32, and a moving body called a fuel cell vehicle that travels using the power generated by the fuel cell system 3. It is. The hydrogen gas station 1 is a facility different from the vehicle 2 that fills the high-pressure tank 32 with hydrogen required for traveling of the vehicle 2. Hereinafter, the configuration of the hydrogen gas station 1 and the fuel cell vehicle 2 will be described in order.

<Configuration of hydrogen gas station>
The hydrogen gas station 1 includes a hydrogen storage tank 11 and a dispenser 12.
Hydrogen to be supplied to the vehicle 2 is stored in the hydrogen storage tank 11 at a high pressure. The hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank 11 is obtained by vaporizing liquid hydrogen, produced by reforming a raw material with a reformer, or produced by an electrolyzer with a compressor. Used.

  When the hydrogen filling nozzle 13 is inserted into the hydrogen inlet 22 provided in the vehicle 2, the dispenser 12 depressurizes the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage tank 11, adjusts it to a preferred flow rate, and then supplies the hydrogen from the hydrogen filling nozzle 13. Supply. The hydrogen filling nozzle 13 is provided with an infrared communication device 14. By inserting the hydrogen filling nozzle 13 into the hydrogen inlet 22 of the vehicle 2, the infrared communication device 14 can transmit and receive data signals via infrared rays to and from a communication system 5 described later mounted on the vehicle 2. ing. The dispenser 12 can selectively execute two filling methods, a filling method called communication filling and a filling method called non-communication filling, when filling the vehicle 2 with hydrogen.

  The communication filling is a filling method in which the vehicle 2 is filled with hydrogen while communicating between the vehicle 2 and the station 1. More specifically, the dispenser 12 receives a data signal indicating the current state of the high-pressure tank 32 from the communication system 5 described later mounted on the vehicle 2 by the infrared communication device 14, and from this data signal, the current high-pressure tank The state of the tank 32 is grasped, and the high-pressure tank 32 is filled with hydrogen while adjusting the filling flow rate according to the state. Thereafter, when the remaining amount of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank calculated based on the data signal transmitted from the communication system 5 has reached a predetermined full-fill threshold (see S12 in FIG. 2 described later), the vehicle is fully filled. In the case where it is determined that the pressure has reached (see S13 in FIG. 2 to be described later), the filling of hydrogen is terminated when a predetermined filling completion condition is satisfied.

  Non-communication filling is a filling method in which the vehicle 2 is filled with hydrogen without performing communication between the vehicle 2 and the station 1. More specifically, the dispenser 12 fills the high-pressure tank 32 with hydrogen at a predetermined predetermined filling flow rate. The non-communication filling dispenser 12 assumes that the current high-pressure tank 32 is in a high temperature state, and therefore the filling flow rate is set to a relatively small value. However, in non-communication filling, unlike the communication filling, the dispenser 12 cannot grasp the current state of the high-pressure tank 32, so even if the temperature in the tank rises during filling, the filling flow rate is reduced accordingly. Can't, keep filling at a constant flow rate. For this reason, in non-communication filling, the temperature in the high-pressure tank 32 approaches the specified upper limit temperature during filling, and filling may be interrupted before reaching full filling. Therefore, assuming that the temperature in the high-pressure tank 32 during filling does not exceed the specified upper limit temperature, communication filling and non-communication filling can be more appropriately controlled when comparing communication filling and non-communication filling. It can be filled quickly.

<Configuration of fuel cell vehicle>
The vehicle 2 includes a fuel cell system 3, a communication system 5, and an environment information acquisition system 6.
The fuel cell system 3 includes a fuel cell 31, a high-pressure tank 32 that supplies hydrogen as a fuel gas to the fuel cell 31, an air pump 33 that supplies air as an oxidant gas to the fuel cell 31, and the fuel cell system 3. And an ignition switch 39 for detecting an activation request for.

  The fuel cell 31 has, for example, a stack structure in which tens to hundreds of cells are stacked. Each fuel cell is configured by sandwiching a membrane electrode structure (MEA) between a pair of separators. The membrane electrode structure is composed of two electrodes, an anode electrode (cathode) and a cathode electrode (anode), and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between these electrodes. Usually, both electrodes are formed of a catalyst layer that performs an oxidation / reduction reaction in contact with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst layer.

  The air pump 33 is connected to a cathode channel formed on the cathode electrode side of the fuel cell 31 via an air supply pipe 34. The high-pressure tank 32 is connected to an anode flow path formed on the anode electrode side of the fuel cell 31 via a hydrogen supply pipe 35. When the fuel cell system 3 is activated in response to the operation of the ignition switch 39 by the user, hydrogen from the high-pressure tank 32 is supplied to the anode flow path of the fuel cell 31, and air from the air pump 33 is supplied to the cathode flow path. Is supplied to generate electricity. The electric power generated by the fuel cell 31 is supplied to a drive motor (not shown), whereby the vehicle 2 travels.

  The high-pressure tank 32 includes a tank body 321 that stores hydrogen compressed to a high pressure, and a hydrogen introduction pipe 322. One end side of the hydrogen introduction pipe 322 is connected to the tank main body 321, and the other end side is connected to a hydrogen introduction port 22 provided in a lid box 21 described later.

  The hydrogen introduction pipe 322 is provided with check valves 324 and 325 and a filling path cutoff valve 326. The filling path cutoff valve 326 blocks the inflow of gas to the tank body 321 and the outflow of gas from the tank body 321. The filling path cutoff valve 326 operates in response to a control signal from the communication system 5. The check valves 324 and 325 are provided in the vicinity of the tank body 321 and in the vicinity of the hydrogen inlet 22, respectively, and prevent hydrogen from flowing back from the tank body 321 side to the outside of the vehicle 2.

  The high-pressure tank 32 is provided with a pressure sensor 36 and a temperature sensor 37 as sensors for detecting the state. The pressure sensor 36 detects the hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen introduction pipe 322 in the high-pressure tank 32 and transmits a detection signal substantially proportional to the detected value to the communication filling ECU 51 described later. The temperature sensor 37 detects the hydrogen temperature in the tank main body 321 in the high-pressure tank 32 and transmits a detection signal substantially proportional to the detected value to the communication filling ECU 51.

  The lid box 21 is provided on the rear side of the vehicle 2 and protects the hydrogen inlet 22 therein. A lid 23 is rotatably provided on the lid box 21. In the hydrogen gas station 1, the user opens the lid 23 to expose the hydrogen inlet 22 to the outside, and inserts the hydrogen filling nozzle 13 of the dispenser 12 into the hydrogen inlet 22 to fill the hydrogen.

  The environmental information acquisition system 6 acquires information necessary for determining the possibility of a future increase in the temperature of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank 2 of the vehicle 2, such as a car navigation system 61, a sunlight sensor 62, and an outside air temperature sensor 63. Consists of a plurality of devices.

  The car navigation system 61 communicates with GPS satellites to identify the current position and current date and time of the vehicle 2 and to communicate with GPS satellites (not shown) and wireless communication means (not shown) to acquire traffic information and weather information. ), A recording means (not shown) in which map information and road surface information (whether paved road is recorded), a route from a specified current position to a destination set by a user or a normal stop (home) And a display for guiding the user. The current vehicle position information acquired by the GPS communication means includes altitude values as well as latitude and longitude values, and the weather information acquired by the wireless communication means includes information on the weather, The predicted maximum temperature within a predetermined time from now is also included.

  The sunshine sensor 62 detects the amount of solar radiation and transmits a detection signal substantially proportional to the detected value to the communication filling ECU 51. The outside air temperature sensor 63 detects the outside air temperature around the vehicle 2 and transmits a detection signal substantially proportional to the detected value to the communication filling ECU 51.

  In the present embodiment, information correlated with the temperature of the hydrogen gas in the future high-pressure tank 32 of the vehicle 2 is collectively referred to as environmental information. In the environmental information acquisition system 6 configured as described above, the car navigation system 61 acquires the current position (latitude, longitude), altitude value, date / time, weather, predicted maximum temperature, road surface information, and the like as environmental information. The current amount of solar radiation is acquired as environmental information by the sunshine sensor 62, and the current outside air temperature is acquired as environment information by the outside air temperature sensor 63.

  The communication system 5 includes a communication filling ECU 51, a battery 52, an infrared transmitter 56, and a lid switch 57.

  The battery 52 is mainly used as a power supply source for electric devices constituting the communication system 5 such as the communication filling ECU 51, the infrared transmitter 56, the lid switch 57, and the like. It is also used as a power supply source for machinery. The battery 52 is charged with power generated by the fuel cell 31.

  The lid switch 57 is provided in the lid box 21 and detects the open / closed state of the lid 23. When the lid 23 is closed and the hydrogen inlet 22 is protected in the lid box 21, the lid switch 24 sends a closing signal indicating this to the communication filling ECU 51, the lid 23 is opened, and the hydrogen inlet 22 is externally connected. In an exposed state, an open signal indicating this is transmitted to the communication filling ECU 51. Note that either one of the close signal and the open signal may be a no signal.

  The infrared transmitter 56 includes an infrared LED 54 and its driver 55. The driver 55 blinks the infrared LED 54 based on the data signal transmitted from the communication filling ECU 51.

  The communication filling ECU 51 is a control device that controls various devices constituting the communication system 5 in order to perform communication filling, and includes electronic circuits such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and various interfaces. Detection signals from various sensors of the communication system 5 and the fuel cell system 3 such as the lid switch 57, the pressure sensor 36, the temperature sensor 37, and the ignition switch 39 are input to the communication filling ECU 51.

  When executing communication filling, the communication filling ECU 51 drives the driver 55 and causes the infrared LED 54 to blink, whereby the data signal generated based on the outputs of the pressure sensor 36 and the temperature sensor 37 is sent to the infrared communication device 14 on the station 1 side. Send.

  The communication system 5 configured as described above starts / stops when the lid 23 is opened and closed by the user. Hereinafter, the starting procedure and the stopping procedure of the communication system 5 will be described.

<Activation of communication system>
When the lid 23 is opened by the user, the lid switch 57 detects this and transmits an open signal indicating that the lid 23 has been opened to the communication filling ECU 51 in the sleep state. In response to this, the communication filling ECU 51 returns from the sleep state and starts supplying power from the battery 52 to the infrared transmitter 56. Thereafter, transmission of a data signal from the communication system 5 becomes possible, and the hydrogen filling nozzle 13 on the station 1 side is inserted into the hydrogen introduction port 22 to fill the hydrogen between the vehicle 2 and the station 1. In response to communication being possible, the filling path cutoff valve 326 is opened and communication filling is started.

<Suspension of communication system>
When the communication filling is properly completed, the hydrogen filling nozzle 13 is pulled out from the hydrogen inlet 22 by the user, and the lid 23 is closed. When the lid 23 is closed, the lid switch 57 detects this, and transmits a closing signal indicating that the lid 23 is closed to the communication filling ECU 51. In response to this, the communication filling ECU 51 closes the filling path cutoff valve 326, stops the supply of power to the infrared transmitter 56, and enters a sleep state.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure on the vehicle side when hydrogen gas is filled by communication filling. The process shown in FIG. 2 is started when the vehicle is stopped and the ignition switch is turned off, and then the lid is opened to be filled with hydrogen gas.

  In S1, the communication filling ECU acquires environmental information necessary for the following processing from the environmental information acquisition system, and proceeds to S2. In S2, the current season and region are determined based on the acquired environmental information, and the process proceeds to S3. More specifically, the current season is determined based on the date information and the outside temperature, and the current region is determined based on the position information and the outside temperature.

  In S3, the planned travel distance is calculated, and the process proceeds to S4. More specifically, the distance from the current vehicle stop position to the current destination, or the distance from the current vehicle stop position to the home is calculated as the planned travel distance.

  In S4, it is determined whether or not communication filling has started. More specifically, it is determined whether the hydrogen filling nozzle of the station is inserted into the hydrogen inlet of the vehicle by the user, so that hydrogen filling and communication between the vehicle and the station are possible. If the determination in S3 is YES, the process proceeds to S5. If NO, the process returns to S1, and the environment information and the planned travel distance are updated to the latest one.

  In S5, the environmental information acquired in S1 and the season and region determined in S2 are used as arguments to estimate the possibility of temperature rise of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank after hydrogen gas filling. In S5, methods for estimating the possibility of temperature rise of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank after hydrogen gas filling include, for example, methods as shown in the following 1 to 5.

1. Estimating method based on the current season The temperature rise possibility of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank after filling depends greatly on the season. More specifically, for example, if the current season is the winter season, it is estimated that the temperature rise possibility is low, and if it is other seasons (spring, summer, autumn), the temperature rise possibility is likely. It can be estimated to be high.

2. Estimation method based on the current region The possibility of the temperature rise of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank after filling depends greatly on the region. More specifically, if the current area specified in S2 belongs to a warm area, it is estimated that there is a high possibility of temperature increase, and if the current area belongs to a cold area, the temperature can be increased. It can be estimated that the property is low.

3. Estimating method based on the predicted maximum temperature The possibility of the temperature rise of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank after filling is greatly influenced by the predicted maximum temperature during a predetermined time from the time of filling. Therefore, the possibility of temperature rise can be estimated by comparing the predicted maximum temperature with the current temperature. More specifically, it can be estimated that the higher the predicted maximum air temperature is higher than the current temperature, the higher the possibility that the temperature will rise, and the lower the predicted maximum temperature is lower than the current temperature or the closer the predicted maximum temperature is to the current temperature. Therefore, it can be estimated that the temperature rise possibility is low.

4). Estimation method based on altitude The possibility of temperature rise of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank after filling depends greatly on the altitude of the current vehicle. Therefore, it can be estimated that the lower the current altitude value of the vehicle, the higher the possibility of temperature increase, and the higher the altitude value, the lower the possibility of temperature increase.

5. Estimating method based on radiant heat from the road The possibility of temperature rise of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank after filling depends greatly on the radiant heat from the road. Therefore, the magnitude of radiant heat is estimated based on the road surface information (whether it is a paved road) acquired in S1, the predicted maximum temperature, the amount of solar radiation, etc., and it can be estimated that the higher the radiant heat, the higher the possibility of temperature rise. It can be estimated that the lower the temperature, the lower the temperature rise possibility.

  In S5, the temperature increase possibility of the high-pressure tank is estimated by using any of the above five estimation methods or by combining the estimation results obtained by these five estimation methods. The estimation result of the possibility of temperature rise based on the above five estimation methods is binary, that is, the presence or absence of the possibility of temperature rise after filling with hydrogen gas, or continuously, that is, the degree of possibility of temperature rise. Expressed as the value of a continuous temperature rise parameter.

In S6, a process for setting the interruption SOC threshold is executed, and the process proceeds to S7.
The interruption SOC threshold value is a threshold value for the hydrogen gas SOC in which the amount of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank is expressed as a percentage [%], and is a threshold value required for determining interruption of hydrogen gas filling on the vehicle side. (Refer to S11 described later). A specific procedure of the interruption SOC threshold setting process will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  In S7, a process for setting the value of the second margin used for calculating the transmission value is executed, and the process proceeds to S8. More specifically, in S7, the second margin value for the pressure sensor used for calculating the pressure transmission value and the second margin value for the temperature sensor used for calculating the temperature transmission value are calculated.

  When performing communication filling, a data signal corresponding to the pressure and temperature in the high-pressure tank is transmitted from the vehicle side to the station side (see S10 described later). Here, the data signal transmitted to the station side is It is generated based on a transmission value obtained by adding various positive margins to the detection value of the pressure sensor or temperature sensor.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a breakdown of pressure transmission values.
For the pressure transmission value, various margins such as the value of the first margin and the value of the second margin as shown in FIG. 3 are added to the detection value of the pressure sensor provided on the vehicle side.
Of these, the first margin corresponds to an error (incorrect reading) of the pressure sensor. As the value of the first margin, a value determined in advance according to the specification of the sensor is used.

  The second margin corresponds to the amount added in consideration of the possibility of temperature increase after filling with hydrogen gas. The pressure transmission value corresponds to the current pressure value of the high-pressure tank recognized on the station side, and the station side adjusts the filling flow rate according to the pressure transmission value or determines the completion of filling. Therefore, on the vehicle side, when the possibility of temperature rise after hydrogen gas filling is estimated, the value of the second margin is set to a larger value, and the pressure transmission value is set larger than the actual value, whereby the station It is possible to adjust the amount of hydrogen gas to be filled in the hydrogen tank to the reduction side by advancing the timing of the determination of completion of filling on the side.

  The temperature transmission value is the same as the pressure transmission value, but the temperature sensor detection value added with the first margin value and the second margin value for the temperature sensor is used. Omitted.

  Returning to FIG. 2, in S7, after calculating the value of the second margin used for calculating the pressure transmission value and the temperature transmission value as described above, the process proceeds to S8. The specific procedure of the second margin setting process in S7 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  Returning to FIG. 2, in S8, the current hydrogen SOC of the high-pressure tank is calculated based on the detected values of the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor, and the process proceeds to S9. The hydrogen SOC of the high-pressure tank is obtained by, for example, calculating the pressure sensor's detected value corresponding to the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank and the temperature of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank according to an arithmetic expression predetermined by the equation of state of the ideal gas It is calculated by substituting the detection value of the corresponding temperature sensor.

In S9, the pressure transmission value of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank and the temperature transmission value of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank are calculated, and the process proceeds to S10.
More specifically, the pressure transmission value is calculated by adding the first margin for the predetermined pressure sensor and the second margin for the pressure sensor calculated in S7 to the detection value of the pressure sensor. . Similarly, the temperature transmission value is calculated by adding the first margin for the predetermined temperature sensor and the second margin for the temperature sensor calculated in S7 to the detection value of the temperature sensor.

  In S10, a data signal is generated based on the pressure transmission value and the temperature transmission value calculated in S9, and this is transmitted to the station side. On the station side, the pressure transmission value is equivalent to the current hydrogen gas pressure value in the high-pressure tank, and the temperature transmission value is equivalent to the current hydrogen gas temperature value in the high-pressure tank. The filling flow rate of hydrogen gas is adjusted, and completion of filling is determined.

  In S11, it is determined whether or not the current hydrogen SOC calculated in S8 has reached the interrupted SOC threshold calculated in S6. If this determination is YES and the hydrogen SOC has reached the interruption SOC threshold value, that is, if it is determined that the hydrogen gas is fully filled on the vehicle side, the process proceeds to S13, and the completion of filling is not determined on the station side. Both stop filling with hydrogen gas. On the other hand, if this determination is NO, the process proceeds to S12, where it is determined whether or not it is determined that the filling of hydrogen gas is completed on the station side. If this determination is NO, the process returns to S8 to continue the communication filling, and if YES, the communication filling is terminated.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, two examples of the procedure for setting the interruption SOC threshold will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting the interruption SOC threshold value according to the first embodiment. As described with reference to FIG. 2, the interrupt SOC threshold value setting process is executed in the communication filling ECU immediately after the determination of the start of communication filling.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the breakdown of the interruption SOC threshold value.
As described above, the interruption SOC threshold is set for the hydrogen SOC during communication filling, and is a threshold for determining the timing at which filling of hydrogen gas is interrupted on the vehicle side. In this interrupted SOC threshold value setting process, the possibility of temperature rise after hydrogen filling is determined, and the interrupted SOC threshold value is switched between two threshold values A and B having different sizes based on the determination result. As shown in FIG. 5, the threshold value B is set to a value smaller than the threshold value A in consideration of the possibility of an increase in the pressure of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank after hydrogen filling. That is, the difference between the threshold A and the threshold B corresponds to a margin that allows for a temperature increase after hydrogen filling.

  Returning to FIG. 3, in S21, it is determined whether or not the planned travel distance calculated in S2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance in order to determine the possibility of traveling a long distance immediately after filling with hydrogen gas. If the determination in S21 is NO and it is determined that there is no long-distance travel plan, the process proceeds to the next step S22.

  In S22, it is determined whether or not it is determined that there is a possibility of a temperature increase after hydrogen filling as a result of the estimation of the temperature increase possibility in S5. If the determination in S22 is NO and it is determined that there is no possibility of a temperature increase after hydrogen filling, a relatively large threshold A is set as the interruption SOC threshold (S23), and this process ends. On the other hand, if the determination in S22 is YES and it is determined that there is a possibility of a temperature increase after hydrogen filling, a threshold value B smaller than the threshold value A is set as the interruption SOC threshold value (S24), and this process is terminated. To do.

  If the determination in S21 is YES and it is determined that there is a long-distance travel plan after hydrogen filling, the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank is considered to decrease after hydrogen filling. Regardless of the estimation result of the possibility of increase, the process proceeds to S23, where a relatively large threshold A is set as the interruption SOC threshold, and this process ends.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting the interruption SOC threshold value according to the second embodiment.
In the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 4, the interruption SOC threshold is changed between the two thresholds A and B according to the possibility of temperature rise. In the second embodiment, the interruption SOC threshold is estimated as the possibility of temperature rise. Change continuously according to the result.

  In S31, a suspended SOC threshold is calculated by searching a map as shown in FIG. 7 based on the value of the temperature increase parameter calculated as a result of the estimation of the temperature increase possibility in S5, and this process is terminated. To do. According to the map shown in FIG. 7, the interruption SOC threshold is set to a smaller value as the value of the temperature increase parameter increases, that is, as the temperature increase possibility is estimated to be higher.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 to 9, two examples of the procedure for setting the value of the second margin for transmission value calculation will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting the value of the second margin according to the first embodiment. As described with reference to FIG. 2, the second margin setting process is executed in the communication filling ECU immediately after the determination of the start of communication filling.

  In S41, it is determined whether or not the planned travel distance calculated in S2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance in order to determine the possibility of traveling a long distance immediately after filling with hydrogen gas. If the determination in S41 is NO and it is determined that there is no long-distance travel plan, the process proceeds to the next step S42.

  In S42, it is determined whether or not it is determined that there is a possibility of a temperature increase after hydrogen filling as a result of the estimation of the temperature increase possibility in S5. If the determination in S42 is NO and it is determined that there is no possibility of temperature rise after hydrogen filling, the process proceeds to S43. In S43, the values of the second margins for the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor are set to “0”, and this process ends. On the other hand, if the determination in S42 is YES and it is determined that there is a possibility of a temperature increase after hydrogen filling, the values of the second margin for the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor are respectively set to positive predetermined values. This process is terminated.

  If the determination in S41 is YES and it is estimated that there is a long-distance travel plan after filling with hydrogen, the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank is considered to decrease after filling with hydrogen. Regardless of the determination result of the ascending possibility, the process proceeds to S43, where the values of the second margin for the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor are set to “0”, and this process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting the value of the second margin according to the second embodiment.
In the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 8, the value of the second margin is changed to “0” or a positive predetermined value according to the possibility of temperature rise, but in the second embodiment, the value of the second margin is changed. It is changed continuously according to the estimation result of the temperature rise possibility.

  In S51, the second margin for the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor is searched by searching a map as shown in FIG. 10 based on the value of the temperature increase parameter calculated as a result of the estimation of the temperature increase possibility in S5. Is calculated, and this process is terminated. According to the map shown in FIG. 10, the value of the second margin for the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor is set to a large value as the value of the temperature increase parameter increases, that is, as the temperature increase possibility is estimated to be high. Is done.

According to the hydrogen filling system S of the present embodiment described in detail above, the following effects are obtained.
(1) According to the present embodiment, during hydrogen filling, environmental information correlated with the future temperature in the high-pressure tank is acquired, and the temperature in the high-pressure tank after hydrogen filling may increase based on this environmental information. When the possibility that the temperature rises is low, the interruption SOC threshold is set to a larger value than when the possibility that the temperature rises is high. Thereby, it is possible to fill as much fuel gas as possible according to the environment in which the vehicle is used.
(2) In this embodiment, by acquiring at least one of the predicted maximum temperature and position information useful for estimating the possibility of temperature rise in the high-pressure tank as environmental information, the possibility of temperature rise is accurately determined. The interruption SOC threshold value can be set to an appropriate value according to the estimation of the vehicle's usage environment.
(3) In the present embodiment, it is possible to set the interruption SOC threshold value to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle by estimating that the higher the predicted maximum temperature is, the higher the temperature is likely to rise.
(4) In the present embodiment, an altitude value useful for estimating the possibility of temperature rise in the high-pressure tank is acquired as environmental information, and it is estimated that the possibility that the temperature rises increases as the altitude value decreases. Thus, the interruption SOC threshold value can be set to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle.
(5) In this embodiment, the road surface information and the predicted maximum temperature of the current stop position of the vehicle are acquired as environmental information, and the radiant heat from the road surface is estimated based on the environmental information to estimate the possibility of temperature rise. By doing so, the interruption SOC threshold value can be set to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle.
(6) In the present embodiment, the amount of solar radiation is acquired as environmental information, and the possibility of temperature rise is estimated based on this environmental information, so that the interruption SOC threshold is set to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle. it can.
(7) In this embodiment, when it is estimated that the planned travel distance after filling with hydrogen is longer than a predetermined distance and it is highly likely that the vehicle travels a long distance after filling with fuel gas, the temperature of the storage container Regardless of the possibility of increase, the full filling threshold is set to a large value as compared with the case where the planned travel distance is shorter than the predetermined distance. Thereby, the full filling threshold value can be set to an appropriate value according to the use environment of the vehicle.
(8) In the present embodiment, a temperature transmission value obtained by adding the first and second margin values to the detected value of the temperature sensor is transmitted from the vehicle side to the station side, and this second margin value is further transmitted to the interrupted SOC. When it is estimated that the temperature rise is low as in the case of the threshold value, the value is set to be smaller than that when it is estimated that the temperature rise is high. Accordingly, the dispenser can be controlled so that as much hydrogen gas as possible is filled in accordance with the use environment of the vehicle.
(9) In the present embodiment, as with the temperature transmission value, the pressure transmission value plus the first and second margin values is transmitted to the station side, and the temperature of the second margin value is increased. When it is estimated that the possibility is low, the value is set to be smaller than that when it is determined that the possibility that the temperature rises is high. Accordingly, the dispenser can be controlled so that as much hydrogen gas as possible is filled in accordance with the use environment of the vehicle.
(10) According to the present embodiment, as much hydrogen gas as possible can be charged according to the use environment of the vehicle, and the distance that can be traveled per hydrogen charging of the fuel cell vehicle can be increased.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this.
In the above embodiment, in the hydrogen filling system S configured by combining the fuel cell vehicle 2 and the hydrogen gas station 1, the full filling parameter calculation means, the full filling judgment means, the environmental information acquisition means, and the container temperature estimation means include: Although all examples provided on the fuel cell vehicle 2 side have been described, the present invention is not limited to this. Even if each of the above means is provided on the hydrogen gas station 1 side, the same effect is expected.

  In the above embodiment, the full filling parameter correlated with the amount of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank is the hydrogen SOC indicating the hydrogen gas amount in the high-pressure tank as a percentage, and the full-fill threshold is set for this hydrogen SOC. However, the definition of the full filling parameter and the interrupted SOC threshold value is not limited to this. In addition to the hydrogen SOC as described above, the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank, the temperature of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank, and parameters calculated from these pressures and temperatures are also parameters for determining full filling of the high-pressure tank. Therefore, the full-filling parameter correlated with the amount of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the pressure transmission value and the temperature transmission value are defined by adding a first margin that allows for erroneous reading of the sensor and a second margin that allows for an increase in temperature after filling. Alternatively, other margins may be added.

  In the above embodiment, the distance from the current vehicle stop position to the destination or the distance from the current vehicle stop position to the home is the planned travel distance, but the method for calculating the planned travel distance is It is not limited. More specifically, for example, a user's usage mode such as a hydrogen gas filling place and a travel route after filling may be learned, and a planned travel distance after filling may be estimated based on this learning. .

Although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which used the storage container which stores fuel gas as a high pressure tank, it is good also as a storage container not only in this but the hydrogen tank provided with the occlusion alloy.
Moreover, although the fuel cell vehicle which used hydrogen as the fuel gas was demonstrated to the example in the said embodiment, it can apply also to the natural gas vehicle which used not only this but the natural gas as fuel gas.

S ... Hydrogen filling system (fuel gas filling system)
1 ... Hydrogen gas station (supply device)
12. Dispenser (filling control means)
14 ... Infrared communication device (receiving means)
2 ... Fuel cell vehicle (vehicle)
3 ... Fuel cell system 32 ... High pressure tank (storage container)
36 ... Pressure sensor (pressure detection means)
37 ... Temperature sensor (container temperature detection means)
5. Communication system (transmission means)
51. Communication filling ECU (full filling parameter calculation means, full filling determination means, environmental information acquisition means, container temperature estimation means, temperature transmission value determination means, pressure transmission value determination means)
6 ... Environmental information acquisition system (environmental information acquisition means)
61. Car navigation system (destination setting means, normal stop setting means)

Claims (10)

A vehicle with a storage container for storing fuel gas;
A fuel gas filling system comprising: a supply device connected to the vehicle for supplying fuel gas into the storage container;
A full-fill parameter calculating means for calculating a value of a full-fill parameter correlated with the amount of fuel gas in the storage container;
A full-fill determination means for determining whether the calculated full-fill parameter value has reached a predetermined full-fill threshold during fuel gas filling;
Environmental information acquisition means for acquiring environmental information correlated with the temperature of the future storage container at the time of fuel gas filling;
A container temperature estimating means for estimating the possibility of an increase in the temperature of the fuel gas in the storage container after fuel gas filling based on the acquired environmental information,
When the container temperature estimation unit estimates that the temperature rise is low, the full-fill determination unit sets the full-fill threshold to a larger value than when it is estimated that the temperature rise is high. A fuel gas filling system characterized by setting.   2. The fuel gas filling system according to claim 1, wherein the environmental information acquisition unit acquires at least one of a predicted maximum temperature within a predetermined time after fuel gas filling and position information of the vehicle as environmental information. .   3. The fuel gas filling system according to claim 2, wherein the container temperature estimation means estimates that the higher the obtained predicted maximum temperature is, the higher the temperature is likely to rise. The environmental information acquisition means acquires the elevation value of the vehicle as environmental information,
4. The fuel gas filling system according to claim 2, wherein the container temperature estimating means estimates that the temperature rises as the acquired altitude value decreases. The environmental information acquisition means acquires the road surface information of the stop position of the vehicle and the predicted maximum temperature within a predetermined time after fuel gas filling as environmental information,
The container temperature estimating means estimates the radiant heat from the road surface based on the acquired road surface information and the predicted maximum temperature, and estimates the possibility of temperature rise in the storage container based on the estimation of the radiant heat. The fuel gas filling system according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The environmental information acquisition means acquires the amount of solar radiation as environmental information,
6. The fuel gas filling system according to claim 2, wherein the container temperature estimating means estimates the possibility of temperature rise in the storage container based on the acquired amount of solar radiation. The vehicle includes destination setting means for setting the destination, and normal stop setting means for setting a normal stop of the vehicle,
When the planned travel distance from the vehicle position during fuel gas filling to the destination or from the vehicle position during fuel gas filling to the normal stop is longer than a predetermined distance, the full filling determination means 7. The full filling threshold value is set to a large value as compared with a case where the planned travel distance is shorter than the predetermined distance, regardless of the estimation of the temperature rise possibility by the temperature estimation means. The fuel gas filling system according to any one of the above. The vehicle is
Container temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the storage container;
A temperature transmission value determination means for setting a temperature transmission value to a value obtained by adding a predetermined positive first temperature margin value and a second temperature margin value to the detection value of the container temperature detection means;
Transmission means for transmitting a data signal generated based on the temperature transmission value to the supply device,
The supply device includes:
Receiving means for receiving a data signal transmitted from the transmitting means at the time of fuel gas filling;
Filling control means for controlling filling of the fuel gas into the storage container based on the data signal received by the receiving means,
The temperature transmission value determining means determines the second temperature margin value when it is estimated that the temperature rise is low by the container temperature estimation means than when it is estimated that the temperature rise is high. 8. The fuel gas filling system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel gas filling system is set to a small value. The vehicle is
Pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure of the gas in the storage container;
Pressure transmission value determining means for adding a predetermined positive first pressure margin value and second pressure margin value to the detection value of the pressure detection means as a pressure transmission value; and
The transmission means transmits a data signal generated based on the temperature transmission value and the pressure transmission value,
The pressure transmission value determining means determines the second pressure margin value when it is estimated that the temperature rise is low by the container temperature estimating means than when it is estimated that the temperature rise is high. 9. The fuel gas filling system according to claim 8, wherein the fuel gas filling system is set to a small value. The fuel gas is hydrogen gas;
The fuel gas filling system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the vehicle is a fuel cell vehicle including a fuel cell system that generates power using hydrogen gas in the storage container.

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