JP2018170087A - Gas pressure regulator for fuel cell system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas pressure regulator for a fuel cell system, suppressing gas containing an odorant with high concentration from being supplied into the fuel cell system.SOLUTION: A gas pressure regulator includes: a cutoff device 10 which cuts off the supply of gas from a container Bby detecting that the concentration of an odorant which increases with decreasing gas pressure has reached a predetermined concentration from the gas pressure of gas that is supplied from the container Bstoring gas and that is added with an odorant containing sulfur; and a regulator body 20 which reduces the gas pressure of gas supplied from the cutoff device 10 to be sent to a fuel cell system..SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas pressure regulator for a fuel cell system that supplies a fuel cell system after reducing the gas pressure of high-pressure liquefied petroleum gas stored in a container to a predetermined pressure.

  A gas pressure regulator for a fuel cell system is used for reducing the pressure of a high-pressure liquefied petroleum gas (such as propane) stored in a container such as a gas cylinder to a supply gas pressure to the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel reforming unit and a power generation unit. The liquefied petroleum gas is reformed to hydrogen in the fuel reforming section, and further, hydrogen and oxygen reformed in the power generation section are reacted to obtain electricity and heat.

  An odorant is added to the liquefied petroleum gas so that the user can immediately notice when the gas leaks. Many of these odorants contain sulfur as a component. Since sulfur added to the odorant adversely affects the function of the fuel reforming section, it is removed using a desulfurizing agent before the reforming. As shown in FIG. 5, the concentration of the odorant is relatively low when the amount of residual liquid in the container is large, but gradually increases with a decrease in the residual liquid amount. This is because the odorant is less likely to vaporize than gas components such as liquefied petroleum gas, and the odorant is gradually concentrated. When the concentration of the odorant increases, the desulfurizing agent must be frequently replaced, which is problematic in terms of cost.

  Thus, for example, in Patent Document 1, in a fuel gas supply device that supplies fuel gas from a gas container containing a sulfur-based odorant to a fuel cell system, a gas containing an odorant of a predetermined concentration or more does not flow to the fuel cell system. The control is performed as follows. For example, when the concentration of the odorant that begins to adversely affect the fuel cell system is c, as shown in FIG. 5, the residual liquid amount in the container corresponding to the concentration c of the odorant is Vc. As can be seen from FIG. 6 showing the relationship between the amount of residual liquid in the container and the pressure in the container, the pressure in the container decreases as the amount of residual liquid in the container decreases, and the amount of residual liquid in the container becomes Vc ( The concentration of the odorant is c) when the internal pressure of the container is Pc.

  Therefore, in this fuel gas supply device, an intermediate pressure coil spring having an appropriate urging force is built in an automatic switching regulator for switching between gas supply from the use side gas cylinder and gas supply from the backup side gas cylinder. By adopting, when the internal pressure of the use side gas cylinder is lowered to Pc, the gas supply path is switched so that gas is supplied from the backup side gas cylinder, and the odorant having a concentration of c or more is supplied to the fuel cell system. Gas is prevented from flowing (see paragraphs 0067 to 0069, 0093, etc. of this document).

JP 2005-11753 A

  In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the gas flow path on the use side gas cylinder side is in an open state even after the gas pressure of the use side gas cylinder is reduced and the gas supply path is switched to the backup side gas cylinder. It has become. For this reason, for example, when the gas flow rate is small and the gas pressure in the intermediate pressure chamber is low, a gas having a relatively high odorant concentration (concentration of c or higher) is transferred from the use-side gas cylinder, which has stopped supplying, to the intermediate pressure chamber. Gas) and gas containing a high concentration odorant may be supplied to the fuel cell system as it is.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent a gas containing a high concentration odorant from being supplied to a fuel cell system.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides an odor that increases with a decrease in the gas pressure from the gas pressure of a gas supplied from a container for storing gas to which an odorant containing sulfur is added. Detecting that the concentration of the agent has reached a predetermined concentration, and shutting off the gas supply from the container, and reducing the gas pressure of the gas supplied from the shutoff device to a predetermined pressure A gas pressure regulator for a fuel cell system comprising the regulator main body that is sent to the fuel cell system above.

  Thus, even if the gas flow rate is small, the regulator main body can be shut off in response to the gas pressure of the gas before the gas is sent to the regulator main body. Thus, it is possible to prevent a gas containing a high concentration odorant from being sent to the fuel cell system.

  In the above configuration, the shut-off device includes a check valve provided on the container side and a differential pressure valve provided on the downstream side of the check valve, and the differential pressure valve includes a valve body and the valve body. A primary chamber formed on the upstream side of the valve body, and an orifice provided so as to be slidable in the axial direction with respect to the valve body, and a biasing member that biases the orifice in a direction in which the orifice contacts the valve body When the differential pressure obtained by subtracting the gas pressure in the secondary chamber formed on the downstream side of the orifice from the gas pressure is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the orifice moves in the axial direction against the biasing force of the biasing member. Slide to form a flow path through which gas flows between the valve body and the orifice, while the orifice abuts the valve body when the differential pressure is smaller than the predetermined pressure, It is preferable that the flow path is closed.

  When the shut-off device is configured in this way, the supply of gas to the regulator body can be shut off with a simple configuration.

  The present invention employs a configuration in which a shut-off device that prevents a gas containing an odorant having a concentration higher than a predetermined concentration from flowing in a regulator body that sends a decompressed gas from a gas storage container to a fuel cell system is adopted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the gas containing a high concentration odorant from being supplied to the fuel cell system.

Overall configuration diagram (partly longitudinal sectional view) showing a first embodiment of a gas pressure regulator for a fuel cell system according to the present invention It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the interruption | blocking apparatus of the gas pressure regulator for fuel cell systems shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is at the time of gas flow interruption | blocking, (b) is at the time of gas flow permission, (c) is a non-return valve operation | movement. Time Sectional drawing which follows the III-III line in FIG. Sectional drawing which follows the IV-IV line in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the density | concentration change of the propane and odorant in a storage container The figure which shows the relationship between the residual liquid in the storage container and the pressure in the container Overall configuration diagram (partly longitudinal sectional view) showing a second embodiment of a gas pressure regulator for a fuel cell system according to the present invention

A first embodiment of a gas pressure regulator for a fuel cell system according to the present invention (hereinafter abbreviated as a pressure regulator) is shown in FIGS. This pressure regulator is a device for sending liquefied petroleum gas (propane or the like) stored in a container such as a gas cylinder to a fuel cell system. As shown in FIG. 20 is a main component. Via the hose H, the main container B ₁ and the auxiliary container B ₂ used as a backup when the remaining amount of gas in the main container B ₁ is reduced are connected to the shut-off device 10. Further, a fuel cell system (not shown) is connected to the adjuster body 20 via a hose (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the shut-off device 10 includes a cylindrical first tube portion 11 and a second tube portion 12 that is screwed into the first tube portion. A check valve 13 is provided on the connection side with the main container B ₁ or the sub container B ₂ (see FIG. 1) in both the cylinder portions 11 and 12, and a differential pressure valve 14 is provided on the downstream side of the check valve 13. It is done.

  The check valve 13 includes an axially movable valve body 13a, a valve seat 13b with which the valve body 13a can abut, and the valve body 13a axially so that the valve body 13a and the valve seat 13b are separated from each other. And an urging member 13c for urging the lens. An O-ring 13d is provided at the distal end portion of the valve body 13a to enhance the airtightness when the valve body 13a is seated on the valve seat 13b. A retaining ring (CR type retaining ring) 13e is provided on the downstream side of the valve body 13a, and the retaining ring 13e prevents the valve body 13a from moving to the downstream side beyond a predetermined amount.

This check valve 13 is a normally open type, and when the differential pressure obtained by subtracting the gas pressure in the primary chamber 16 on the downstream side of the check valve 13 from the gas pressure in the container connection port 15 is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure (container When B ₁ and B ₂ are connected to the container connection port 15), the valve body 13 a and the valve seat 13 b are separated from each other. On the other hand, for example, when the gas pressure in the container connection port 15 becomes atmospheric pressure due to the replacement of the container, as shown in FIG. 2C, the valve body 13a is seated on the valve seat 13b by the differential pressure. Thus, backflow of gas is prevented.

The differential pressure valve 14 includes a valve body 14a provided in the second cylinder portion 12, an orifice 14b provided so as to be slidable in the axial direction with respect to the valve body 14a, and the orifice 14b abutting against the valve body 14a. A biasing member 14c biasing in the direction. The valve body 14a is provided with a tip member 14a _1, composed of the shaft member 14a ₂ to be inserted into the distal end member 14a _1. Tip member 14a ₁ via a snap ring (CR-type retaining ring) 14d, which is immovably secured in the axial direction to the second cylindrical portion 12.

  The differential pressure valve 14 is a normally closed type, and the differential pressure obtained by subtracting the gas pressure in the downstream secondary chamber 17 from the gas pressure in the upstream primary chamber 16 of the valve body 14a is smaller than a predetermined pressure. As shown in FIG. 2A, the urging force of the urging member 14c causes the orifice 14b to come into contact with the valve body 14a, thereby closing the gas flow path. On the other hand, when the differential pressure is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure, the orifice 14b slides against the urging force of the urging member 14c as shown in FIG. 2B. Along with the sliding of the orifice 14b, a flow path through which gas flows is formed between the valve body 14a and the orifice 14b. And gas flows through this flow path (refer arrow f in this figure).

  Thus, by providing the check valve 13 and the differential pressure valve 14 in succession, the backflow of gas from the shut-off device 10 at the time of container replacement can be reliably prevented.

As conceptually shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the residual amount of liquid in the main container B _1, a predetermined relationship between the concentration and the container internal pressure of the odorant. For this reason, if the pressure in the container is known, the odorant concentration can be estimated. There is also a predetermined relationship between the pressure in the container and the differential pressure. For this reason, the odorant concentration and the differential pressure can be directly related to each other. A predetermined pressure difference for setting the odorant concentration c that does not adversely affect the fuel cell system is determined in advance, and the differential pressure valve 14 of the shut-off device 10 is operated based on the pressure difference, thereby adjusting the main body of the regulator. 20 and the fuel cell system can be prevented from flowing a gas containing an odorant having a predetermined concentration c or more.

The regulator body 20 is a so-called automatic switching type pressure regulator that automatically switches the gas supply from the main container B ₁ and the sub container B ₂ and reduces the gas pressure thereof. as shown in cross-section, a switching mechanism 21 for switching the gas flow path from the gas flow path and the sub container B ₂ from the main container B _1, the gas pressure of the gas supplied from the cutoff device 10 to the fuel cell system And a decompression mechanism 22 for lowering the supply pressure. The mechanisms 21 and 22 are accommodated in a housing 23 (a front housing 23a and a rear housing 23b).

  The switching mechanism 21 has an intermediate pressure diaphragm 24 provided so as to be sandwiched between the front housing 23a and the rear housing 23b. The inside of the switching mechanism 21 is partitioned into a first atmospheric chamber 25 and an intermediate pressure chamber 26 by the intermediate pressure diaphragm 24. An intermediate pressure interlock 27 and an intermediate pressure receiving plate 28 are coaxially provided at the center of the intermediate pressure diaphragm 24, and the intermediate pressure diaphragm 24 is sandwiched between the intermediate pressure interlock 27 and the intermediate pressure receiving plate 28. It is in a state. A flange 27a extending in the axial direction is formed on one end side (left side in FIG. 3) of the intermediate pressure interlock member 27, and a screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flange 27a.

  The first atmospheric chamber 25 communicates with an internal space 29a of an intermediate pressure cap 29 described later by an air passage (not shown). The internal space 29a communicates with the outside through a ventilation gap 30 formed between the hollow cap 29 and the front housing 23a. Thereby, the atmospheric pressure in the first atmospheric chamber 25 is maintained at atmospheric pressure.

  A switching shaft 31 is inserted through the shaft centers of the intermediate pressure diaphragm 24, the intermediate pressure interlocking member 27, and the intermediate pressure receiving plate 28. A nut 32 is screwed into the flange 27 a of the intermediate pressure interlock member 27. Thereby, the intermediate pressure diaphragm 24, the intermediate pressure interlocking member 27, and the intermediate pressure receiving plate 28 are fastened to the switching shaft 31, and these are moved integrally in the axial direction.

  A through hole 34 is formed on the front side of the front housing 23a (on the left side in FIG. 3), through which the switching shaft 31 and a signal base 33 described later are inserted. The peripheral edge of the through hole 34 is once folded toward the switching shaft 31 and further folded toward the rear side (right side in FIG. 3) of the front housing 23a. An intermediate pressure spring 36 is provided in the recess 35 (spring seat) formed by the two foldings. The intermediate pressure spring 36 urges the intermediate pressure receiving plate 28 from the first atmospheric chamber 25 side toward the intermediate pressure chamber 26 side. A gas having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure is introduced into the intermediate pressure chamber 26, and the gas pressure of the gas causes the intermediate pressure diaphragm 24 (intermediate pressure interlock 27, intermediate pressure receiving plate 28) to be biased by the intermediate pressure spring 36. Pushing back against. The intermediate pressure diaphragm 24 and the like stop at an axial position where the biasing force and the gas pressure are balanced.

  On the front side of the front housing 23a, a signal base 33 having a through hole 33a formed in the shaft center is fitted. An intermediate pressure cap 29 is fitted to the signal base 33 so as to be rotatable around the axis together with the signal base 33. One end side of the switching shaft 31 is inserted into the through hole 33 a formed in the signal base 33. The signal stand 33 is provided with a signal 37 that can be raised and lowered. When the switching shaft 31 is located on the intermediate pressure cap 29 side (left side in FIG. 3), the signal 37 is in a face-down state (the state shown in FIG. 3), while the switching shaft 31 is on the intermediate pressure chamber 26 side (the state shown in FIG. 3). When it moves to the right side of FIG. 3, it gets up and its end is positioned in front of the display window 38 formed in the axial center of the intermediate pressure cap 29.

When the remaining fluid volume of the main container B ₁ is the gas pressure is high there enough, high enough gas pressure of the middle chamber 26 as compared to the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the switching shaft 31 that moves integrally with the intermediate pressure diaphragm 24 in the axial direction is located on the intermediate pressure cap 29 side. At this time, since the signal 37 is in a face-down state, the signal 37 cannot be viewed from the display window 38. On the other hand, the residual liquid amount of the main container B ₁ is reduced, the gas pressure in the middle chamber 26 is relatively low compared to the use start time, the switching shaft 31 is gradually to the medium-pressure chamber 26 side Moving. Along with this movement, a signal 37 rises, and this signal 37 can be viewed from the display window 38. This enables the user becomes low internal pressure of the main container B _1, can know that it is in replacement timing.

The intermediate pressure cap 29 is formed with a switching display portion 39 protruding outward in the radial direction. By rotating the intermediate pressure cap 29 about an axis, connecting port side of the connected hose H to the tip of the switching display unit 39 to the main vessel B _1, or the connection between the connected hose H into sub container B ₂ By directing to either of the mouth sides, the containers B ₁ and B ₂ that initially receive the gas supply can be designated. Typically, in the initial state, the switching display unit 39 is set so as to face the connection port of the connected hose H to the main vessel B _1.

  On the rear end side (the right side in FIG. 3) of the switching shaft 31, a switching plate 40 that rotates around the axis together with the switching shaft 31 and moves in the axial direction is provided. The switching plate 40 includes a thick portion 40a that is thick in the axial direction and a thin portion 40b that is thin in the axial direction. The thick portion 40a and the thin portion 40b are connected by an inclined surface 40c. The switching plate 40 rotates around the axis together with the intermediate pressure cap 29.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear housing 23b is connected port 41a for connecting the main container B ₁ and connected to shut-off device 10 to the secondary container B ₂ respectively, 41b are formed. In the recess 42 formed on the back side of the connection ports 41a and 41b, a pair of medium pressure valve mechanisms 43a and 43b for blocking the gas supplied from the containers B ₁ and B ₂ and adjusting the flow rate are provided. Is provided.

  An intermediate pressure nozzle 44 is provided inside the intermediate pressure valve mechanisms 43a and 43b. A through hole 45 through which the rotation shaft 40 d of the switching plate 40 is inserted is formed at the center of the intermediate pressure nozzle 44. An intermediate pressure valve seat 46 is formed at the end of a guide hole 49 described later formed in the intermediate pressure nozzle 44. An intermediate pressure valve body 47 is provided coaxially with the central axis of the intermediate pressure valve seat 46 and movable in the axial direction so as to be able to contact and separate from the intermediate pressure valve seat 46. The intermediate pressure valve body 47 is integrally provided with a valve rod 48 coaxially with the intermediate pressure valve body 47.

The valve stem 48 faces the switching plate 40. In being directed to the connection port 41a side of the hose H to the tip of the switching display unit 39 connected to the main vessel B ₁ medium pressure cap 29, the connected to the main vessel B ₁ connecting port 41a side medium pressure The valve rod 48 of the valve mechanism 43 a faces the thick portion 40 a of the switching plate 40, and the valve rod 48 of the intermediate pressure valve mechanism 43 b on the connection port 41 b side connected to the sub container B ₂ is thin-walled of the switching plate 40. It faces the portion 40b. A guide hole 49 through which the valve rod 48 is inserted is formed in the intermediate pressure nozzle 44. By passing the valve stem 48 through the guide hole 49, the valve stem 48 can be smoothly guided in the axial direction.

  A spring seat 50 is provided in the recess 42. The spring seat 50 is provided with a counter spring 51 that contacts the intermediate pressure valve body 47 and biases the intermediate pressure valve body 47 toward the intermediate pressure valve seat 46. In a state where no external force acts on the valve stem 48, the intermediate pressure valve mechanisms 43a and 43b are closed by the biasing force of the counter spring 51.

During the gas supply from the main container B _1, gas pressure biasing force and the middle chamber 26 of the medium-pressure spring 36 in the axial position of balance, in a state of intermediate pressure diaphragm 24 is almost stopped. In this case, the thick portion 40a of the switch plate 40 moves with the medium pressure diaphragm 24 in the axial direction, the valve stem 48 of the medium pressure valve mechanism 43a of the main container B ₁ side against the urging force of the counter spring 51 is pushed Thus, the intermediate pressure valve mechanism 43a is open. The degree of opening of the intermediate pressure valve mechanism 43a is appropriately adjusted so that the gas pressure in the intermediate pressure chamber 26 is maintained at a predetermined value. Valve stem 48 of the sub-container B ₂ side of the medium pressure valve mechanism 43b, the thin-walled portion 40b of the switching plate 40 are spaced apart, the medium pressure valve mechanism 40b is stuck in the closed state (FIG. 4 reference).

With the gas supply from the main container B _1, the main container pressure is lowered to a predetermined pressure Pc, the main container B ₁ side cut-off device 10 of is interrupted the supply of gas in operation, medium-pressure chamber 26 The gas pressure decreases. As the gas pressure decreases, the intermediate pressure diaphragm 24 moves to the intermediate pressure chamber 26 side together with the switching plate 40. Then, the thin portion 40 b of the switching plate 40 and the valve rod 48 of the intermediate pressure valve mechanism 43 b on the sub container B ₂ side come into contact with each other, and the valve rod 48 is pushed against the urging force of the counter spring 51. Thus, medium pressure valve mechanism 43b of the sub-container B ₂ side becomes an open state, even after the gas supply from the main container B ₁ is cut off, the gas is supplied successively from the sub-container B _2.

When the medium pressure valve mechanism 43b of the sub-container B ₂ side is opened, the medium pressure valve mechanism 43a of the main container B ₁ side is stuck in the open state, provided on the main container B ₁ side since the shut-off device 10 is in the cutoff state, there is no possibility that gas containing the main container B ₁ side from the high concentration odorant flow into the regulator body 20.

  The decompression mechanism 22 includes a low-pressure diaphragm 52 provided so as to be sandwiched between the front housing 23a and the rear housing 23b. By the low pressure diaphragm 52, the inside of the decompression mechanism 22 is partitioned into a second atmospheric chamber 53 and a low pressure chamber 54. A low pressure interlock 55 and a low pressure receiving plate 56 are coaxially provided at the center of the low pressure diaphragm 52, and the low pressure diaphragm 52 is sandwiched between the low pressure interlock 55 and the low pressure receiving plate 56. Yes. A low pressure spring 57 is interposed between the inner wall surface of the second atmospheric chamber 53 and the low pressure receiving plate 56. The low pressure spring 57 urges the low pressure receiving plate 56 from the second atmospheric chamber 53 side toward the low pressure chamber 54 side. A gas having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure is introduced into the low-pressure chamber 54, and the low-pressure diaphragm 52 (low-pressure interlock 55, low-pressure receiving plate 56) resists the urging force of the low-pressure spring 57 by the gas pressure of this gas. Pushing back. The low pressure diaphragm 52 stops at an axial position where the urging force and the gas pressure are balanced.

  The low pressure diaphragm 52 also has a function as a safety valve 58. The safety valve 58 has an annular protrusion 55a that is formed radially outward from the low-pressure interlock 55 and can abut on the surface of the low-pressure diaphragm. In the second atmosphere chamber 53, a spring seat 59 having a through hole formed in the axial center is provided. A retaining portion 55b formed on one end side of the low-pressure interlock 55 is held by the through hole. A safety valve spring 60 is interposed between the spring seat 59 and the low pressure receiving plate 56. The safety valve spring 60 biases the spring seat 59 forward (left side in FIG. 3) with respect to the low pressure receiving plate 56. By this urging, the annular protrusion 55 a of the low pressure interlock 55 held by the spring seat 59 is pressed against the surface of the low pressure diaphragm 52, and airtightness between the second atmospheric chamber 53 and the low pressure chamber 54 is ensured.

  When the pressure in the low-pressure chamber 54 rises above an allowable value for some reason, the low-pressure diaphragm 52 moves to the second atmospheric chamber 53 side due to the differential pressure between the second atmospheric chamber 53 and the low-pressure chamber 54. On the other hand, the low-pressure interlock 55 is locked by a lever 64 described later, and therefore cannot move in the same direction as the low-pressure diaphragm 52. As a result, a gap is generated between the low pressure diaphragm 52 and the annular protrusion 55 a of the low pressure interlock 55 against the biasing force of the safety valve spring 60. Through this gap, the gas in the low-pressure chamber 54 is released to the second atmospheric chamber 53 side, thereby ensuring safety.

  The second atmospheric chamber 53 communicates with the first atmospheric chamber 25 through the atmospheric communication passage 61, and the atmospheric pressure in the second atmospheric chamber 53 is maintained at atmospheric pressure. Further, an intermediate pressure channel 62 is formed between the low pressure chamber 54 and the intermediate pressure chamber 26.

  A locking portion 55 c is formed on the other end side of the low-pressure interlock 55. One end of a lever 64 that is rotatable about a rotation shaft 63 is locked to the locking portion 55c. A low-pressure valve mechanism 65 for further reducing the gas decompressed by the intermediate-pressure valve mechanisms 43a and 43b to the supply pressure to the fuel cell system is provided at the end portion of the intermediate-pressure channel 62.

  A low pressure nozzle 66 is provided inside the low pressure valve mechanism 65. A through hole 67 is formed in the axial center of the low pressure nozzle 66, and a low pressure valve seat 68 is formed at the outlet end of the through hole 67. A low-pressure valve body 69 is provided coaxially with the central axis of the low-pressure valve seat 68 and capable of moving in the axial direction and contacting and leaving the low-pressure valve seat 68. A low pressure valve rubber 70 is provided at a contact portion of the low pressure valve body 69 with the low pressure valve seat 68 to enhance airtightness when the valve is closed. An engagement hole 71 is formed in the low-pressure valve body 69, and the other end side of the lever 64 is engaged with the engagement hole 71.

  When the gas pressure in the low-pressure chamber 54 decreases, the low-pressure interlock 55 moves together with the low-pressure diaphragm 52 toward the low-pressure chamber 54 due to the biasing force of the low-pressure spring 57. Then, the lever 64 rotates in one direction around the rotation axis (clockwise in FIG. 3), and the low pressure valve body 69 locked to the other end of the lever 64 is separated from the low pressure valve seat 68. Move to. As a result, the low pressure valve mechanism 65 is opened, and gas is introduced from the intermediate pressure chamber 26 to the low pressure chamber 54 through the intermediate pressure flow path 62.

  On the other hand, when the gas pressure in the low pressure chamber 54 increases, the low pressure interlock 55 moves to the second atmospheric chamber 53 side together with the low pressure diaphragm 52 against the urging force of the low pressure spring 57. Then, the lever 64 rotates in a direction opposite to the one direction around the rotation axis (counterclockwise in FIG. 3), and moves the low pressure valve body 69 so as to contact the low pressure valve seat 68. Thereby, the valve opening degree of the low pressure valve mechanism 65 is reduced, or the low pressure valve mechanism 65 is closed, and the increase in the gas pressure in the low pressure chamber 54 is controlled. The degree of opening of the low pressure valve mechanism 65 is appropriately adjusted so that the gas pressure in the low pressure chamber 54 is maintained at a predetermined value. The gas decompressed by the low pressure valve mechanism 65 is sent to the fuel cell system through the low pressure flow path 72 and the delivery port 73.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the pressure regulator according to the present invention. In this pressure regulator, the configuration of the shut-off device 10 is the same as the shut-off device 10 of the pressure regulator according to the first embodiment, but the configuration of the regulator main body 20 is the regulator main body 20 according to the first embodiment. Is different. The regulator body 20 is a so-called two-stage integrated pressure regulator that reduces the internal pressure of the container to an intermediate pressure and then further reduces the pressure to a low pressure suitable for supply to the fuel cell system. The regulator body 20, a function of switching the supply of gas from the vessel B _1, B ₂ has no, the gas supplied before the gas introduction into the regulator body 20 from one of the containers B _1, gas supplied from the other vessel B ₂ are mixed. A shutoff device 10 is provided in each supply path from each of the containers B ₁ and B ₂ .

Also in the pressure regulator according to the second embodiment, when the pressure in each container B ₁ , B ₂ falls below a predetermined pressure, the gas supply from each container B ₁ , B ₂ is shut off by the shut-off device 10. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a gas containing a high concentration odorant from being supplied to the fuel cell system via the regulator body 20.

  The pressure regulator according to each of the above embodiments can be installed by exchanging with an existing pressure regulator. However, when the regulator body 20 is already installed, only the shut-off device 10 is installed as a retrofit. A regulator can also be configured. Thus, the installation cost can be significantly reduced by using the existing adjuster body 20 as it is.

The pressure regulator described above is merely an example, and as long as the problem of the present invention of suppressing the supply of a gas containing a high concentration odorant to the fuel cell system can be solved, the shutoff device 10 and the configuration of the adjuster body 20 can be changed as appropriate. In each embodiment described above, the main container has been illustrated a structure in which features a (one vessel) B ₁ to the secondary container (other vessel) B _2, and the main container connecting only (one vessel) B ₁ Configuration It can also be.

10 shut-off device 13 check valve 14 differential pressure valve 14a valve body 14b orifice 14c urging member 16 primary chamber 17 secondary chamber 20 regulator body B ₁ container (main container)

Claims (2)

The concentration of the odorant that increases as the gas pressure decreases from the gas pressure of the gas supplied with the sulfur-containing odorant supplied from the gas storage container (B ₁ ) is a predetermined concentration. And a shut-off device (10) for detecting the arrival of the gas and shutting off the gas supply from the container (B ₁ ),
A regulator body (20) for sending the gas pressure of the gas supplied from the shut-off device (10) to a fuel cell system after reducing the gas pressure to a predetermined pressure;
A gas pressure regulator for a fuel cell system. The shut-off device (10) includes a check valve (13) provided on the container (B ₁ ) side, and a differential pressure valve (14) provided on the downstream side of the check valve (13),
The differential pressure valve (14) includes a valve body (14a), an orifice (14b) provided to be slidable in the axial direction with respect to the valve body (14a), and the orifice (14b) as the valve body (14a). An urging member (14c) for urging in a direction to contact the
A differential pressure obtained by subtracting the gas pressure in the secondary chamber (17) formed on the downstream side of the orifice (14b) from the gas pressure in the primary chamber (16) formed on the upstream side of the valve body (14a). When the pressure is higher than a predetermined pressure, the orifice (14b) slides in the axial direction against the urging force of the urging member (14c), and between the valve element (14a) and the orifice (14b). The orifice (14b) abuts on the valve body (14a) to close the flow path when the flow path for gas is formed and the differential pressure is smaller than the predetermined pressure. The gas pressure regulator for fuel cell systems described in 1.

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