JP2018185032A - Tank mounting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tank mounting device capable of securing a total filling amount of fuel gas while restraining increase in an internal pressure difference between first and second tanks with different capacity.SOLUTION: A tank mounting device includes: a first tank; a second tank having a temperature rise rate in filling smaller than that of the first tank; a filling passage having a common passage, a first branch passage, and a second branch passage, and filling fuel gas to the first and the second tanks; a shutoff valve provided in the first branch passage; a supply passage including first and second supply passages respectively communicated with the inside of the first and the second tanks, and a merging passage where the first and the second supply passages merge together, and supplying the fuel gas to a supply destination; a first main stop valve switching between supply and supply stop of the fuel gas from the first tank; a second main stop valve switching between supply and supply stop of the fuel gas from the second tank; a determination section for determining whether or not prescribed time has passed after starting of filling; and a control section for increasing an opening of the shutoff valve to be larger than before the prescribed time has passed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a tank mounting device.

  In Patent Document 1, in order to ensure the total filling amount of the fuel gas in the first tank and the second tank having a smaller capacity than the first tank, the temperature in the first tank is lower than that in the second tank. In this way, the fuel gas from the first tank is preferentially used, and the first and second tanks are started to be filled with the fuel gas when the temperature in the first tank is lower than that of the second tank. An apparatus is described. In such an apparatus, the supply passage for supplying the fuel gas from the first and second tanks to the supply destination includes a first main stop valve for switching supply or stop of the fuel gas from the first tank, and a second And a second main stop valve for switching supply or stop of fuel gas from the tank.

JP2015-132329A

  As described above, in the state where the temperature in the first tank having a large capacity is lower than that in the second tank having a small capacity, the internal pressure of the first tank is lower than that in the second tank. Therefore, for example, when the fuel gas is used, the first main stop valve is closed and the second main stop valve is opened and the fuel gas is supplied from the second tank to the supply destination. In addition to the pressure of the fuel gas from the tank, a pressure larger than the pressure from the first tank side is received from the second tank side through the supply passage described above. Here, as described above, the first main stop valve switches the supply or stop of the fuel gas from the first tank. For this reason, although it is assumed that the first main stop valve receives a large pressure from the first tank side, it is not assumed that the first main stop valve receives a large pressure from the second tank side, which affects its durability. there is a possibility. As described above, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the total filling amount of the fuel gas in the first and second tanks can be ensured, but the durability of the first main stop valve may be affected.

  Similarly, when the internal pressure of the second tank is lower than that of the first tank, the second main stop valve is closed, the first main stop valve is opened, and fuel gas is supplied from the first tank to the supply destination. Inside, the 2nd main stop valve receives the pressure larger than the pressure from the 2nd tank side from the 1st tank side. For this reason, the durability of the second main stop valve may be affected. Thus, if the internal pressure difference between the first and second tanks is large, the durability of the first and second main stop valves may be reduced.

  Further, as described above, in Patent Document 1, the temperature in the first tank is lowered than the second tank by preferentially using the fuel gas from the first tank, but the amount of fuel gas used is not sufficient. In this case, there is a possibility that the temperature difference between the first and second tanks does not sufficiently occur and the total filling amount cannot be ensured.

  Therefore, an object is to provide a tank mounting device that secures a total filling amount of fuel gas while suppressing an increase in the internal pressure difference between the first and second tanks.

  The object is to provide a first tank, a second tank whose rate of temperature increase during filling of fuel gas is smaller than that of the first tank, a common path, and a first branch communicating from the common path into the first tank. And a second branch passage that communicates from the shared passage into the second tank, and a filling passage that fills the first and second tanks with the fuel gas, and is provided in the first branch passage. Including a shutoff valve, first and second supply passages communicating with the first and second tanks, respectively, and a merge passage where the first and second supply passages merge. A supply passage for supplying the filled fuel gas to a supply destination, a first main stop valve for switching supply or stop of the fuel gas from the first tank to the first supply path, and from the second tank Switching the supply or stop of the fuel gas to the second supply path A second main stop valve, a determination unit for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the filling of the fuel gas into the filling passage was started, and the predetermined time after the filling of the fuel gas was started And a control unit that increases the opening degree of the shut-off valve more than before the predetermined time has elapsed.

  It is possible to provide a tank mounting device that secures a total filling amount of fuel gas while suppressing an increase in the internal pressure difference between the first and second tanks.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a gas station and a vehicle. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of filling control. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an example of filling control.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the gas station 10 and the vehicle 20. The vehicle 20 is mounted with a plurality of tanks Ta to Tc filled with hydrogen gas, which is a fuel gas, and a fuel cell 21 that generates power using the hydrogen gas, and travels with the power generated by the fuel cell 21. The gas station 10 fills the tanks Ta to Tc mounted on the vehicle 20 with hydrogen gas. Among the tanks Ta to Tc, the tank Ta has the largest capacity, the tank Tc has the smallest capacity, and the tank Tb has a capacity smaller than the tank Ta but larger than the tank Tc. The vehicle 20 is an example of a tank mounting device on which tanks Ta to Tc having different capacities are mounted.

  First, the gas station 10 will be described. The gas station 10 includes a pressure accumulator 3, a cooler 5, a dispenser 11, a filling hose 12, a nozzle 13, a pressure sensor 14, a communication device 15, a control unit 16, and a flow rate sensor 17. The accumulator 3 stores hydrogen gas that has been boosted to a predetermined pressure from a hydrogen curdle (not shown) by a compressor. The cooler 5 precools the hydrogen gas from the pressure accumulator 3. The dispenser 11 sends out hydrogen gas from the cooler 5 to a filling hose 12 connected to the dispenser 11. The dispenser 11 is provided with an operation panel 11a that receives a setting of a desired target filling amount or target filling pressure of hydrogen gas filled in the tanks Ta to Tc of the vehicle 20 by the user. The nozzle 13 is attached to the tip of the filling hose 12. The pressure sensor 14 and the flow rate sensor 17 are provided in the vicinity of the dispenser 11 and detect the pressure and flow rate of hydrogen gas passing through the nozzle 13, respectively. The pressure sensor 14 and the flow rate sensor 17 may be in the vicinity of the nozzle 13 as long as they can detect the pressure and flow rate in the path from the dispenser 11 to the nozzle 13. The communication device 15 will be described later. The control unit 16 is a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a memory. The control unit 16 is electrically connected to the cooler 5, the pressure sensor 14, the communication device 15, and the flow rate sensor 17, and controls the operation of the entire gas station 10.

  The cooler 5 is provided to prevent the temperature of the hydrogen gas from exceeding the heat resistance temperature of the tanks Ta to Tc by being heated by adiabatic compression when the hydrogen gas is filled in the tanks Ta to Tc of the vehicle 20. Yes. The cooler 5 cools the hydrogen gas to, for example, about −40 ° C. Specifically, the cooler 5 is a heat exchanger that cools the hydrogen gas by exchanging heat between the hydrogen gas and the brine. A brine facility for circulating this brine between the cooler 5 and the evaporator is provided. In addition, a refrigeration facility for circulating the evaporator, an expansion valve, an accumulator, a compressor, and the like is provided. The evaporator and the brine exchange heat with each other, and the brine is cooled.

  Further, when the hydrogen gas is filled in the tanks Ta to Tc of the vehicle 20, the hydrogen gas filled in the passage between the cooler 5 and the dispenser 11 is supplied to the vehicle 20 side, and then the cooler Hydrogen gas after passing through 5 is supplied. For this reason, the temperature of the hydrogen gas immediately after the start of filling is not lowered to the desired temperature, and a predetermined time is required until the hydrogen gas lowered to the desired temperature is supplied to the vehicle 20 side.

  Next, the vehicle 20 will be described. The vehicle 20 includes a fuel cell 21, tanks Ta to Tc, a filling passage 23, a supply passage 24, a receptacle 25, a communication device 26, a control unit 28, temperature sensors 41a to 41c, a pressure sensor 42, and a motor M. The fuel cell 21 generates power using the supplied oxidant gas and the hydrogen gas supplied from the tanks Ta to Tc. The tanks Ta to Tc can be filled with high-pressure hydrogen gas, and details will be described later. The filling passage 23 guides the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas station 10 to the tanks Ta to Tc. The supply passage 24 supplies hydrogen gas from the tanks Ta to Tc to the fuel cell 21. The receptacle 25 communicates with the front end of the filling passage 23, and is a portion to which the nozzle 13 is connected when hydrogen gas is filled into the tanks Ta to Tc. For example, the receptacle 25 is provided in a lid box of the vehicle 20. The communication device 26 and the control unit 28 will be described later. The motor M is driven by electric power supplied from the fuel cell 21, and the power is transmitted to the drive wheels of the vehicle 20. The temperature sensors 41a to 41c detect the temperatures in the tanks Ta to Tc, that is, the temperature of hydrogen gas, respectively. The pressure sensor 42 detects the pressure of hydrogen gas that passes through the filling passage 23.

  The filling passage 23 includes a common path 23A, a branch path 23a communicating from the common path 23A to the tank Ta, a branch path 23b communicating from the common path 23A to the tank Tb, and a branch path 23c communicating from the common path 23A to the tank Tc. . Further, the branch paths 23a and 23b are provided with shut-off valves Va and Vb, respectively, but are not provided in the branch path 23c. The supply passage 24 includes supply passages 24a to 24c communicating with the tanks Ta to Tc, respectively, and a merge passage 24A where the supply passages 24a to 24c merge. The combined flow path 24 </ b> A is connected to the fuel cell 21.

  The tanks Ta to Tc have tank main bodies Ma to Mc, check valves Ca to Cc, and main stop valves Da to Dc, respectively. The check valve Ca and the main stop valve Da are provided on one end side of the tank body Ma. The check valve Ca allows the flow of hydrogen gas from the branch path 23a into the tank body Ma, but restricts the flow of hydrogen gas in the reverse direction. The main stop valve Da switches supply or stop of hydrogen gas from the tank body Ma to the supply path 24a. Similarly, the check valve Cb and the main stop valve Db are provided on one end side of the tank body Mb. The check valve Cb allows the flow of hydrogen gas from the branch path 23b into the tank body Mb, but restricts the flow of hydrogen gas in the reverse direction. The main stop valve Db switches supply or stop of hydrogen gas from the tank body Mb to the supply path 24b. The check valve Cc and the main stop valve Dc are provided on one end side of the tank body Mc. The check valve Cc allows the flow of hydrogen gas from the branch path 23c into the tank body Mc, but restricts the flow of hydrogen gas in the reverse direction. The main stop valve Dc switches the supply or stop of hydrogen gas from the tank body Mc to the supply path 24c. As described above, the tank body Ma has the largest capacity and the tank body Mc has the smallest capacity.

  When the tanks Ta to Tc are filled with hydrogen gas, if the shutoff valves Va and Vb are open, the hydrogen gas flows from the common path 23A to the branch paths 23a to 23c. Further, when hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell 21 from any one of the tanks Ta to Tc, this is realized by opening any or all of the main stop valves Da to Dc.

  The control unit 28 is a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a memory, and controls the operation of the entire vehicle 20 based on each input sensor signal. The control unit 28 is electrically connected to the communication device 26, the temperature sensors 41a to 41c, and the pressure sensor 42. The control unit 28 is electrically connected to the shut-off valves Va and Vb and the main stop valves Da to Dc, and controls the open / close state of each. The control unit 28 performs filling control for controlling filling of hydrogen gas from the gas station 10 to the tanks Ta to Tc. The filling control is realized by a determination unit and a control unit that are functionally realized by the CPU, the ROM, the RAM, and the memory of the control unit 28. Details will be described later.

  The control unit 16 of the gas station 10 and the control unit 28 of the vehicle 20 can communicate predetermined information via the communication devices 15 and 26. Specifically, wireless communication such as infrared communication is enabled from the communication device 26 to the communication device 15. The control unit 16 acquires information such as pressure and gas temperature in the tanks Ta to Tc from the control unit 28 of the vehicle 20 via the communication devices 15 and 26. Further, the control unit 16 may acquire information such as the refillable amount of the tanks Ta to Tc and the allowable pressure of the tanks Ta to Tc. The control unit 16 controls each device in the gas station 10 based on such information acquired from the vehicle 20 side, information such as a target filling amount of hydrogen gas received by the operation panel 11a of the dispenser 11, The filling speed and filling amount of hydrogen gas into the vehicle 20 are controlled. The communication devices 15 and 26 are provided in the vicinity of the nozzle 13 and the receptacle 25, respectively, and can communicate with the nozzle 13 and the receptacle 25 connected.

  Next, filling control executed by the control unit 28 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of filling control. The filling control is repeatedly executed by the control unit 28 every predetermined period. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an example of filling control. FIG. 3 shows the temperatures Tma to Tmc in the tanks Ta to Tc, the states of the shutoff valves Va and Vb, and the temperature Tmg of the hydrogen gas to be filled. FIG. 3 also shows the temperature Tma ′, which will be described in detail later. Here, the rate of temperature increase during the filling of hydrogen gas is highest in the tank Ta and lowest in the tank Tc. The order of the temperature increase rates between the tanks Ta to Tc is acquired in advance by experiments and stored in the ROM or memory of the control unit 28. This is because the difference in the temperature rise rate affects not only the capacity of each tank but also the heat dissipation due to the material and the like, and the pressure loss of the filling path to each tank. Note that the order of the temperature increase rates may be determined by the control unit 28 based on the detection values of the temperature sensors 41a to 41c during the filling of the hydrogen gas into the tanks Ta to Tc.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not the filling of hydrogen gas is started (step S1). Specifically, the communicators 15 and 26 are in a communicable state, the lid box fuel cover is opened, or an increase in the pressure value of the filling passage 23 indicated by the pressure sensor 42 is detected. It is determined that charging of hydrogen gas has started. If the determination in step S1 is negative, this control ends.

  If the determination in step S1 is affirmative, the shutoff valves Va and Vb are controlled to be fully closed (step S3). Thereby, hydrogen gas is filled only into tank Tc with the smallest temperature increase rate during filling of hydrogen gas among tanks Ta-Tc mounted in the vehicle 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when charging of hydrogen gas is started at time t1 in a state where the temperatures Tma to Tmc in the tanks Ta to Tc are substantially the same and the shutoff valves Va and Vb are fully open, the shutoff valves Va and Vb is controlled to be fully closed. For this reason, although the temperatures Tma and Tmb do not change, the temperature Tmc increases as the filling amount of the hydrogen gas in the tank Tc increases. At time t1, since hydrogen gas is charged from the downstream side of the cooler 5, the temperature Tmg of the hydrogen gas is high.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time tb has elapsed since time t1 when filling was started (step S5). This predetermined time tb is acquired in advance by experiments and stored in the memory of the control unit 28. If the determination is negative, the process of step S5 is executed again. If the determination is affirmative, the shutoff valve Vb is controlled to fully open (step S7). Thereby, in addition to the tank Tc, the tank Tb begins to be filled with hydrogen gas. The process of step S5 is an example of a process executed by a determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined time tb has elapsed after the filling of the hydrogen gas into the filling passage 23 has started. The process of step S7 is a control unit that increases the opening of the shutoff valve Vb more than before the elapse of the predetermined time tb when it is determined that the predetermined time tb has elapsed since the filling of hydrogen gas was started. It is an example of the process performed. In the present embodiment, the shutoff valve Vb is controlled to be fully opened as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the shutoff valve Vb is controlled to be fully opened at a time t2 when a predetermined time tb has elapsed from the time t1, the temperature Tmb increases as the filling amount of the hydrogen gas in the tank Tb increases. The reason why the increase rate of the temperature Tmb is higher than the temperature Tmc will be described later. Further, after time t2, the rate of decrease in the temperature Tmg of the hydrogen gas gradually becomes gradually with time, and the temperature Tmg of the hydrogen gas approaches −40 ° C. described above.

  Next, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time ta has elapsed from the time when the shutoff valve Vb is controlled to be fully opened (step S9). The predetermined time ta is acquired in advance by experiments and stored in the memory of the control unit 28. If the determination is negative, the process of step S9 is executed again. If the determination is affirmative, the shutoff valve Va is controlled to be fully opened (step S11). Thereby, in addition to the tanks Tb and Tc, the tank Ta begins to be filled with hydrogen gas. The fact that the predetermined time ta has elapsed from the time when the shutoff valve Vb is fully opened means that a predetermined time (tb + ta) obtained by adding the predetermined time ta to the predetermined time tb has elapsed since the time when filling was started. means. Therefore, the process of step S9 is an example of a process executed by a determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined time (tb + ta) has elapsed since the filling of the hydrogen gas into the filling passage 23 was started. For this reason, in the process of step S9, you may determine whether predetermined time (tb + ta) passed since the filling start. Further, in the process of step S11, when it is determined that the predetermined time (tb + ta) has elapsed since the start of the hydrogen gas filling, the opening of the shutoff valve Va is set to be greater than that before the predetermined time (tb + ta) has elapsed. It is an example of the process which the control part made to increase performs. In the present embodiment, the shutoff valve Va is controlled to be fully opened as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the shut-off valve Va is controlled to be fully opened at time t3 when a predetermined time ta has elapsed from time t2, the temperature Tma rises as the filling amount of hydrogen gas in the tank Ta increases. Here, as for the rate of increase of the temperatures Tma to Tmc immediately after the filling of the hydrogen gas in each of the tanks Ta to Tc is started, the temperature Tma is the highest and the temperature Tmc is the lowest. This is because the internal pressure of the tanks Ta to Tc increases and the temperatures Tma to Tmc rise as the filling amount of the hydrogen gas in each of the tanks Ta to Tc increases. The rate of temperature increase is the largest in the tank Ta and the smallest in the tank Tc. For this reason, the tank Ta having a large capacity is filled with more hydrogen gas, the rate of increase of the temperature Tma of the tank Ta is the highest, and the rate of increase of the temperature Tmc of the tank Tc is the smallest. Thus, the difference in temperature increase rate is due to the difference in capacity. Another reason is that the internal pressure of the tank Ta is lower than the tank Tc at the time t3.

  Further, as described above, the temperature Tmg of the hydrogen gas takes a predetermined time and decreases to a desired temperature. This is because, as described above, a predetermined time is required until the hydrogen gas at the desired temperature is filled from the hydrogen gas on the downstream side of the cooler 5. For this reason, the temperature Tmg of the hydrogen gas is lower at the time t2 when the hydrogen gas is filled into the tank Tb than the time t1 when the hydrogen gas is filled into the tank Tc, and the hydrogen gas is filled into the tank Ta than the time t2. The time t3 at which the process starts is lower.

  Accordingly, the tank Tc that is unlikely to become high temperature is filled with a relatively high temperature hydrogen gas, and the tank Ta that tends to become high temperature is filled with a relatively low temperature hydrogen gas. Further, the tank Tb, which is likely to be high in temperature, is filled with hydrogen gas having a relatively medium temperature. Thereby, the internal temperature difference between tanks Ta-Tc is suppressed, and the internal pressure difference between tanks Ta-Tc is also suppressed in connection with this.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the filling of hydrogen gas has been completed (step S13). Specifically, the determination is made based on whether or not the detection value of the pressure sensor 42 has reached a predetermined value. If the determination in step S13 is negative, the process in step S13 is executed again. As shown in FIG. 3, at time t4, the temperature Tma to Tmc rises gradually, the filling rate of hydrogen gas into the tanks Ta to Tc decreases, the pressure in the filling passage 23 increases, and at time t5. It is determined that the filling is completed when the predetermined value of the detection value of the pressure sensor 42 is reached.

  Further, the temperature Tma ′ shown in FIG. 3 indicates the temperature in the tank Ta when the shutoff valve Va is kept fully open. When the shutoff valve Va is fully opened at time t1 when charging is started, the tank Ta is filled with hydrogen gas that has not reached a sufficiently low temperature while the cooling capacity of the cooler 5 is low. For this reason, since the relatively high temperature hydrogen gas is filled in the tank Ta having a high temperature increase rate, the temperature Tma ′ becomes higher than the temperature Tma. Therefore, the difference between the temperatures Tma ′ and Tmb and the difference between the temperatures Tma ′ and Tmc are increased. For this reason, filling is completed while the internal pressure difference between the tanks Ta and Tb and the internal pressure difference between the tanks Ta and Tc are increased. Thereafter, for example, when the main stop valves Db and Dc are closed and the main stop valve Da is opened and hydrogen gas is supplied from the tank Ta to the fuel cell 21 via the supply passage 24, the main stop valve Db includes the tank Tb. A pressure higher than the internal pressure is applied from the tank Ta side, and a pressure higher than the internal pressure of the tank Tc is applied to the main stop valve Dc from the tank Ta side. For this reason, durability of the main stop valves Db and Dc may fall. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the shutoff valve Vb is fully opened at time t1, and filling of hydrogen gas in the tank Tb is started, and filling is performed while the difference in internal pressure between the tanks Tb and Tc is increased at the end of filling. A similar problem may occur when the process is terminated. That is, when the main stop valves Da and Dc are closed and the main stop valve Db is opened after the filling is completed and hydrogen gas is supplied from the tank Tb to the fuel cell 21 through the supply passage 24, the main stop valve Dc has A pressure higher than the internal pressure of the tank Tc is applied from the tank Tb side, and the durability of the main stop valve Dc may be reduced.

  Further, when the internal pressure of the tank Tb is higher than the internal pressure of the tank Ta at the end of filling, the main stop valves Da and Dc are closed, the main stop valve Db is opened, and hydrogen gas is supplied from the tank Tb through the supply passage 24 to the fuel cell 21. When the pressure is supplied to the main stop valve Da, a pressure higher than the internal pressure of the tank Ta is applied to the main stop valve Da from the tank Tb side, which may reduce the durability of the main stop valve Da.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, in consideration of the cooling capacity of the cooler 5 that is gradually exhibited as time elapses from the start of filling, the filling is started in order from the tank with the smallest capacity and temperature increase rate. The temperature difference and the internal pressure difference between the tanks Ta to Tc are suppressed. For this reason, the tanks Ta to Tc are filled with hydrogen gas while suppressing an increase in the internal pressure difference between the tanks Ta to Tc. Therefore, the influence on the durability of the main stop valves Da to Dc described above is suppressed.

  Further, the temperature Tma ′ is higher than the temperature Tma at time t5 at time t3. That is, if the filling of the tank Ta is started before the hydrogen gas is sufficiently cooled, the pressure and temperature of the tank Ta increase at an early stage. Here, as described above, the end of filling is determined when the detection value of the pressure sensor 14 or 42 reaches a predetermined value. The pressure sensor 14 or 42 detects the pressure in the filling passage 23, and the pressure in the filling passage 23 depends on the highest internal pressure among the internal pressures of the tanks Ta to Tc. This is because these tanks Ta to Tc and the filling passage 23 on the upstream side of the tanks Ta to Tc are communicated with each other through the shutoff valves Va and Vb and the check valves Ca to Cc. For this reason, when the highest internal pressure among the internal pressures of the tanks Ta to Tc increases, the pressure in the filling passage 23 located on the upstream side of the tank also increases. For this reason, when the internal pressure of the tank Ta is already high at the time t3 as indicated by the temperature Tma ′, the detection value of the pressure sensor 14 or 42 is obtained even though the filling rates of the tanks Tb and Tc are low. There is a possibility that the filling is terminated when the value reaches the predetermined value. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, there is a possibility that the filling may be terminated if the detection value of the pressure sensor 14 or 42 reaches a predetermined value between time t2 and time t3.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas is lowered to a certain extent, the shutoff valve Va is changed from fully closed to fully opened, and filling of the tank Ta is started. Thereby, time until the detection value of the pressure sensor 14 or 42 reaches | attains a predetermined value can be ensured, and the filling of hydrogen gas to the tanks Tb and Tc can be continued in the meantime. For this reason, each filling rate of tank Tb and Tc is securable. Accordingly, the total filling amount in the tanks Ta to Tc can be ensured.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. It can be changed.

  In the above embodiment, the shutoff valves Va and Vb are controlled from fully closed to fully opened after the filling is started, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the shutoff valve Vb is opened from the time t1 when filling is started or between the time t1 and the time t2 and maintained at a predetermined opening other than the fully open, and the opening of the shutoff valve Vb is further increased at the time t2. You may let them. Similarly, the shut-off valve Va is opened at the time t1 when filling is started or between time t1 and time t3 and maintained at a predetermined opening other than full open, and the opening of the shut-off valve Va is further increased at time t3. You may let them.

  In the above embodiment, the filling of the tank Ta was started before the temperature Tmg of the hydrogen gas decreased to the desired temperature. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the temperature Tmg of the hydrogen gas is set to the desired temperature by the cooler 5. Filling of the tank Ta may be started after the pressure has decreased.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which three tanks Ta to Tc having different capacities are mounted has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Two or more tanks having different capacities may be mounted. Further, only a plurality of tanks having the same capacity may be mounted. That is, it is only necessary that two or more tanks having different temperature rise rates during fuel gas filling are mounted. Specifically, it is only necessary that the rate of temperature increase in each tank differs when two or more tanks are being filled with fuel gas under the same conditions. This is because the difference in the temperature increase rate is caused by the difference in heat dissipation due to the difference in the material of the tank or the like and the difference in the pressure loss of the filling path to each tank. Note that when two or more tanks are being filled with fuel gas under the same conditions, the fuel gas is filled into two or more tanks at the same time with the shut-off valve or the like fully opened via the filling passage mounted on the tank mounting device. It is a case.

  In the above embodiment, the vehicle 20 on which the fuel cell 21 is mounted has been described as an example of the tank mounting device, but the tank mounting device to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to this. For example, it may be a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of burning with hydrogen gas or cooling fuel gas. In this case, the fuel gas filled in the tank includes, in addition to hydrogen gas, liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Cooler 10 Gas station 20 Vehicle 21 Fuel cell 23 Filling passage 23A Shared passage 23a-23c Branching passage 24 Supply passage 24A Combined passage 24a-24c Supply passage 28 Control unit (determination part, control part)
41a-41c Temperature sensor Ta-Tc Tank Da-Dc Main stop valve Va, Vb Shut-off valve

Claims (1)

A first tank;
A second tank having a temperature increase rate during fuel gas filling smaller than that of the first tank;
A shared path, a first branch path communicating from the shared path into the first tank, and a second branch path communicating from the shared path into the second tank, the first and second tanks including the first branch path A filling passage for filling the fuel gas;
A shut-off valve provided in the first branch path;
The first and second tanks filled with the first and second tanks, and the first and second tanks filled with the first and second supply paths. A supply passage for supplying fuel gas to a supply destination;
A first main stop valve for switching supply or stop of the fuel gas from the first tank to the first supply path;
A second main stop valve for switching supply or stop of the fuel gas from the second tank to the second supply path;
A determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the filling of the fuel gas into the filling passage was started;
A tank mounted with a control unit that, when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed since the start of charging of the fuel gas, the opening degree of the shut-off valve is increased as compared to before the predetermined time has elapsed apparatus.

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