JP2020144983A - Fuel cell system - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow for specification in which first on-off valve closing abnormality exists, by executing closing abnormality determination for each of multiple first on-off valves.SOLUTION: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell and a secondary cell includes multiple tanks for storing fuel gas, a supply passage connecting each of the multiple tanks with the fuel cell, multiple on-off valves for changing over fuel gas supply, and a control section for controlling the multiple on-off valves. The control section do a processing for performing valve opening instruction for one on-off valve from fully closed state, where the multiple on-off valves are closed entirely, in a state where the fuel cell system is not receiving an operation instruction, and then instructing the fuel cell to generate electricity, and sequentially executes on-off abnormality determination for determining presence of abnormality of one on-off valve, by comparing a first pressure value in fully closed state with a second pressure value in a period until a constant duration elapses after open-valve instruction, for each of the multiple on-off valves.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel cell system.

Some fuel cell systems include a plurality of tanks for storing fuel gas used to generate electricity in the fuel cell. Patent Document 1 discloses an example in which an on-off valve for switching the opening and closing of the flow path of each tank is provided in the flow path connecting each of the plurality of tanks to the fuel cell (see Patent Document 1). ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-85835

In the fuel cell system of Patent Document 1, one of the on-off valves of each tank is opened and closed based on the difference between the hydrogen consumption calculated from the amount of power generation and the hydrogen consumption calculated from the amount of decrease in hydrogen pressure. It is detecting whether or not there is an abnormality. However, in such a fuel cell system, it has not been possible to identify which of the on-off valves of each tank has an opening abnormality. In order to solve such a problem, in a fuel cell system for determining whether or not an on-off valve has an on-off abnormality, a technique for identifying which of the on-off valves of each tank has an on-off abnormality is desired.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized as the following forms.

(1) According to one embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell system is provided. This fuel cell system is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell and a secondary cell, and includes a plurality of tanks for storing fuel gas used for power generation of the fuel cell, each of the plurality of tanks, and the fuel cell. A supply flow path connecting between the two, a pressure measuring unit provided in the supply flow path for measuring the pressure in the supply flow path, and a supply flow path provided for each of the plurality of tanks of the plurality of tanks. A plurality of on-off valves for switching between the supply of the fuel gas and the stop of the supply from each, and a control unit for controlling the plurality of on-off valves are provided, and the fuel cell system gives an operation instruction to the control unit. In the unreceived state, the fuel cell is instructed to open one of the plurality of on-off valves for a certain duration from the fully closed state in which all of the plurality of on-off valves are closed. A process of instructing power generation to generate power and lowering the pressure in the supply flow path is performed, and the first pressure value measured by the pressure measuring unit in the fully closed state and the constant after giving the valve opening instruction. By comparing the second pressure value measured by the pressure measuring unit with the second pressure value measured by the pressure measuring unit until the duration elapses, the presence or absence of an abnormality in the one on-off valve is determined and stored. Each of them is executed in order, and at least a part of the power generated by the fuel cell in the opening / closing abnormality determination is charged to the secondary battery. With such a form, since the opening / closing abnormality determination is executed for each of the plurality of first on-off valves, it is possible to identify which first on-off valve has an opening / closing abnormality. Further, the electric power generated by the fuel cell in the opening / closing abnormality determination is charged to the secondary battery, so that it is effectively utilized.

The present invention is not limited to the fuel cell system, and can be applied to various forms such as a fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle and a ship powered by electric power, the vehicle itself, and the ship itself. is there. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the fuel cell system in 1st Embodiment. This is a flow showing a temporary opening / closing abnormality determination process executed by the control unit. This is a flow showing an opening / closing abnormality determination process executed by the control unit. It is a timing chart exemplifying the time series change from the execution of the opening / closing abnormality determination process to the end. It is a timing chart exemplifying the time series change from the execution of the opening / closing abnormality determination process to the end.

A. First Embodiment:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the fuel cell system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The fuel cell system 10 is mounted on the vehicle as a power source for the vehicle driven by the motor. Examples of vehicles include passenger cars and buses. The fuel cell system 10 includes a fuel cell 50, a receptacle 100, a filling flow path 110, tanks TK1 to TK10, a supply flow path 200, and a control unit 300. The fuel cell system 10 includes a total of 10 tanks from tank TK1 to tank TK10. In FIG. 1, the tank TK1, the tank TK2, and the tank TK10 are shown, and the tanks TK3 to TK9 are not shown. In the following description, the reference numeral "TK" is used when collectively referring to 10 tanks.

The fuel cell 50 has a stack structure in which a plurality of single cells are stacked. Each single cell is configured by sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly having an anode and a cathode bonded to both sides of an electrolyte membrane having proton conductivity by a separator. The fuel cell 50 receives the supply of hydrogen gas and air, and generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

The receptacle 100 is a filling port for hydrogen gas, which is a fuel gas. The receptacle 100 is equipped with a nozzle of a hydrogen station when the fuel gas is filled. The receptacle 100 has a check valve 105. The check valve 105 prevents the backflow of the filled fuel gas.

The filling flow path 110 sends the fuel gas filled from the receptacle 100 toward the tanks TK1 to TK10. The filling flow path 110 branches from the receptacle 100 toward the tank TK and is connected to the tank TK. A check valve CV1 is provided in a flow path portion of the filling flow path 110 that branches toward the tank TK1. The check valve CV1 prevents the fuel gas filled in the tank TK1 from flowing back toward the receptacle 100. The check valves CV2 to CV10 are check valves having the same configuration as the check valve CV1 and are provided in the flow path portions of the filling flow path 110 branched toward the tanks TK2 to TK2 to 10.

Further, the filling flow path 110 is provided with a pressure sensor 115. The pressure sensor 115 measures the pressure in the filling flow path 110.

The tank TK1 stores hydrogen gas as a fuel gas used for power generation of the fuel cell 50. The tanks TK2 to TK10 are tanks having the same configuration as the tank TK1.

The supply flow path 200 connects between the tank TK and the fuel cell 50, and sends the fuel gas supplied from the tank TK to the fuel cell 50. The supply flow path 200 includes a first flow path Fa1 to Fa10 connected to each of the tanks TK1 to TK10, a second flow path Fb in which the first flow paths Fa1 to Fa10 merge and are connected to the fuel cell 50. Has.

The tank TK1 is provided with a first on-off valve SV1 that switches between supplying fuel gas from the tank TK1 and stopping the supply. The first on-off valve SV1 is a solenoid valve that can be opened according to the supplied electric power. Similar to the tank TK1, the tanks TK2 to TK10 are provided with the corresponding first on-off valves SV2 to SV10. The first on-off valves SV2 to SV10 are solenoid valves having the same configuration as the first on-off valve SV1. In the following description, the reference numeral "SV" is used when the ten first on-off valves are generically referred to.

The second flow path Fb is provided with a second on-off valve TV for switching the opening and closing of the second flow path Fb. Further, a pressure sensor 215 is provided on the tank TK side of the second flow path Fb from the second on-off valve TV. The pressure sensor 215 measures the pressure in the supply flow path 200.

The control unit 300 receives signals output from various sensors (not shown) provided in the fuel cell system 10 and controls the operation of each unit of the fuel cell system 10. The control unit 300 controls the first on-off valve SV and the second on-off valve TV. In the present embodiment, the electric power required for opening the first on-off valve SV and the second on-off valve TV is supplied from a secondary battery (not shown). The control unit 300 may be configured by an ECU (Electronic Control Unit).

The fuel cell system 10 is in a fully closed state in which all the first on-off valves SV are closed in a state where no operation instruction is received. The state in which the driving instruction is not received here means a state in which the ignition switch provided in the vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system 10 is not turned on. The state of receiving the operation instruction is the state in which the ignition switch is turned on. Further, in the fully closed state, the second on-off valve TV is also closed.

FIG. 2 is a flow showing a temporary opening / closing abnormality determination process executed by the control unit 300. The control unit 300 executes the temporary opening / closing abnormality determination process in a state where the fuel cell system 10 receives an operation instruction. The temporary opening / closing abnormality determination is a process performed to determine whether or not any of the first on / off valve SVs has an opening / closing abnormality. In the temporary opening / closing abnormality determination, it is not specified which of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 has an opening / closing abnormality.

When the temporary opening / closing abnormality determination process is started, the control unit 300 determines whether any of the first on / off valve SVs has an opening / closing abnormality (step S10). The control unit 300 is the first on-off valve based on the difference between the fuel gas consumption calculated from the amount of power generated by the fuel cell 50 and the fuel gas consumption calculated from the amount of decrease in the pressure of the fuel gas. It is determined whether there is an opening / closing abnormality in any of the SVs. As a specific example of the determination, step S265 of the drive determination control described with reference to FIG. 3 in JP-A-2016-585835 corresponds to.

When it is determined that any of the first on-off valve SVs has an opening / closing abnormality (step S10: YES), the control unit 300 stores the fact that there is a temporary abnormality in the storage area of the control unit 300 (step S20). ). After that, the control unit 300 ends the temporary opening / closing abnormality determination process. If it is not determined that there is no opening / closing abnormality in any of the first on-off valve SVs (step S10: NO), the control unit 300 temporarily does not store the fact that there is a temporary abnormality in the storage area of the control unit 300. The opening / closing abnormality determination process is terminated.

FIG. 3 is a flow showing an opening / closing abnormality determination process executed by the control unit 300. The control unit 300 executes the open / close abnormality determination process in a state where the fuel cell system 10 has not received an operation instruction. The opening / closing abnormality determination process is a process performed to identify which of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 has an opening / closing abnormality. The opening / closing abnormality determination process is repeatedly executed for each of the first opening / closing valves SV1 to SV10. That is, the on-off abnormality determination process is executed as many times as the number of first on-off valves. In the present embodiment, after a preset time has elapsed since the ignition switch was turned off, the first open / close abnormality determination process is executed, and the second and subsequent open / close abnormality determination processes are the previous open / close abnormality determination processes. Is executed in sequence after the completion of.

When the open / close abnormality determination process is started, the control unit 300 determines whether or not the storage area of the control unit 300 is stored as having a temporary abnormality (step S110).

If it is not stored that there is a temporary abnormality (step S110: NO), the control unit 300 ends the opening / closing abnormality determination process. When it is stored that there is a temporary abnormality (step S110: YES), the control unit 300 instructs the first on-off valve of one of the first on-off valves SV to open for a certain duration (step S110: YES). Step S120). The constant duration referred to here means that the pressure in the supply flow path 200 is increased to the extent that the pressure sensor 215 can measure the pressure increase generated in the supply flow path 200 due to the opening of one first on-off valve. It is the time width that can be done. The constant duration is experimentally determined based on the time when the storage capacity of one tank is relatively small. Further, the fixed duration may be appropriately changed and operated according to the storage amount of the tank in which the first on-off valve is opened. One first on-off valve instructed to open is closed after a certain duration has elapsed. Further, after instructing one of the first on-off valve SVs to open for a certain duration (step S120), the control unit 300 determines the second on-off valve TV after a certain period of time has elapsed. Instruct to open the valve.

In the present embodiment, after the fuel cell system 10 has not received the operation instruction, the valve opening instruction is given in the nth (n is an arbitrary integer between 1 and 10) opening / closing abnormality determination process. The first on-off valve is the first on-off valve SVn. In another embodiment, the first on-off valve instructed to open is in any order as long as each of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 is instructed to open in the opening / closing abnormality determination process executed 10 times. May be selected with.

After instructing one of the first on-off valves SV to open the valve (step S120), the control unit 300 gives an instruction to generate electricity so that the fuel cell 50 generates electricity (step S130). The control unit 300 causes the fuel cell 50 to generate electricity by instructing the fuel cell 50 to supply air to an air supply system (not shown) that supplies air to the fuel cell 50. Since the fuel gas in the supply flow path 200 is consumed by the power generation of the fuel cell 50, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 is lowered. At this time, the electric power generated by the fuel cell 50 is charged to a secondary battery (not shown) included in the fuel cell system 10. When there is no free capacity for charging the secondary battery, it may be consumed in each device constituting the fuel cell system 10.

After causing the fuel cell 50 to generate power (step S130), the control unit 300 issues a valve opening instruction to the first pressure value P1 measured by the pressure sensor 215 in the fully closed state and one first on-off valve. Based on the difference between the second pressure value P2 measured by the pressure sensor 215 and the time until a certain duration elapses, it is determined whether or not there is an opening / closing abnormality of the first on-off valve instructed to open the valve (step). S140). More specifically, the control unit 300 determines whether or not the absolute value of the difference between the first pressure value P1 and the second pressure value P2 exceeds the threshold value Th. The second pressure value P2 is the maximum value in the pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 215 between the time when the valve opening instruction is given to one first on-off valve and the time when a certain duration elapses. Further, the threshold value Th is set as a value that exceeds the absolute value when the first on-off valve is open for a certain duration in response to the valve opening instruction.

When the absolute value of the difference between the first pressure value P1 and the second pressure value P2 exceeds the threshold value Th (step S140: YES), the control unit 300 has no opening / closing abnormality with respect to the first on-off valve instructed to open. (Step S150). The fact that there is no opening / closing abnormality means that the first on-off valve can be opened in response to the valve opening instruction. When the absolute value of the difference between the first pressure value P1 and the second pressure value P2 is equal to or less than the threshold value Th (step S140: NO), the control unit 300 has an opening / closing abnormality with respect to the first on-off valve instructed to open. It is determined that there is (step S160). The fact that there is an opening / closing abnormality means that the first on-off valve cannot be opened in response to the valve opening instruction. The determination result of the presence or absence of an opening / closing abnormality is stored in the control unit 300. After determining whether or not there is an opening / closing abnormality of the first on-off valve instructed to open the valve (step S150 or step S160), the control unit 300 ends the opening / closing abnormality determination process. After causing the fuel cell 50 to generate power (step S130), the second on-off valve TV is closed from the time when the fuel cell 50 is stopped to generate power until the opening / closing abnormality determination process is completed.

If the ignition switch is turned on or the secondary battery is fully charged while the open / close abnormality determination process is being repeatedly executed, the open / close abnormality determination process is stopped. Then, when the ignition switch is turned off next time, the open / close abnormality determination process is executed for the first on-off valve for which the open / close abnormality determination process was not executed when the ignition switch was turned off last time.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating a time-series change from the execution of the open / close abnormality determination process to the end after the ignition switch is turned off in the vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system 10. FIG. 4 shows time-series changes in the on / off state of the ignition switch, the pressure in the supply flow path 200, the state of opening / closing instructions of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10, and the output power of the fuel cell 50. ing. The on / off state of the ignition switch corresponds to the state in which the operation instruction is received and the state in which the operation instruction is not received. The state of the opening / closing instruction of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 indicates whether the instruction to the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 is a valve opening instruction or a valve closing instruction. In FIG. 4, the state of the opening / closing instruction of the first on-off valves SV5 to SV9 among the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 is not shown.

The ignition switch is kept on until the timing t1. At this time, the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 are all open, and the fuel cell 50 is in a state of generating electricity. Further, the second on-off valve TV at this time is in an open state (not shown).

At the timing t1, the ignition switch is turned off. Then, at the timing t2, all the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 are closed.

The pressure in the supply flow path 200 drops between the timing t3 and the timing t4. This is because the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 are all closed, so that the fuel gas in the supply flow path 200 is not newly supplied from the tank TK to the supply flow path 200 side. This is because it is consumed by the power generation of the fuel cell 50. At this time, the output power of the fuel cell 50 is consumed in the processing when each device constituting the fuel cell system 10 is stopped. At least a part of the output power may be charged to the secondary battery. From the timing t3 to the timing t4, the output power of the fuel cell 50 decreases as the pressure in the supply flow path 200 decreases. At the timing t4, the output power of the fuel cell 50 becomes 0 W, and the second on-off valve TV is closed.

Since the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 and the second on-off valve TV are closed between the timing t4 and the timing t5, the fuel cell system 10 is in a fully closed state. The first pressure value P1 measured by the pressure sensor 215 in the fully closed state described in FIG. 3 is the pressure value measured in this state.

The period from the timing t1 to the timing t5 corresponds to a preset length of time, which is the length of time from when the ignition switch is turned off until the first open / close abnormality determination process is executed.

At the timing t5, in the opening / closing abnormality determination processing described with reference to FIG. 4, the first opening / closing abnormality determination process is started. At the timing t5, step S120 of the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed, and the first on-off valve SV1 is instructed to open for a certain duration, so that the first on-off valve SV1 is opened. With the opening of the first on-off valve SV1, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 rises. At this time, the valve opening instruction is also given to the second on-off valve TV, and the second on-off valve TV is opened (not shown).

The period from the timing t5 to the timing t6 corresponds to the period from when the first on-off valve SV1 is instructed to open the valve until a certain duration elapses. The second pressure value P2 described in FIG. 3 is a pressure value measured during this period. After the second pressure value P2 is measured, step S140 of the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed to determine the presence / absence of the opening / closing abnormality of the first on-off valve SV1 instructed to open.

At the timing t6, the first on-off valve SV1 is closed after a certain duration has elapsed. Further, step S130 of the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed, power is generated by the fuel cell 50, and the output power of the fuel cell 50 increases.

Power is generated by the fuel cell 50 between the timing t6 and the timing t7. At this time, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 decreases. This is because the fuel gas in the supply flow path 200 is generated by the power generation of the fuel cell 50 in a state where the fuel gas is not newly supplied to the supply flow path 200 side because the first on-off valve SV1 is closed. Because it is consumed.

At the timing t7, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 returns to the state of the timing t5, which is the state before the first on-off valve SV1 is opened. Further, the output power of the fuel cell 50 becomes 0 W, and the second on-off valve TV is closed.

The period from the timing t7 to the timing t8 is an interval from the first opening / closing abnormality determination process to the second opening / closing abnormality determination process.

The time-series changes of the pressure in the supply flow path 200, the open / closed state of the first on-off valve SV2, and the output power of the fuel cell 50 between the timing t8 and the timing t10 are from the timing t5 to the timing t7 described above. It is the same as the time-series change of the pressure in the supply flow path 200, the open / closed state of the first on-off valve SV1, and the output power of the fuel cell 50.

The period from the timing t10 to the timing t11 is the interval from the second opening / closing abnormality determination process to the third opening / closing abnormality determination process.

The solid line CL1 shown between the timing t11 and the timing t13 indicates the pressure in the supply flow path 200 when the first on-off valve SV3 opens in response to the valve opening instruction. The broken line DL1 shown between the timing t11 and the timing t13 indicates the pressure in the supply flow path 200 when the first on-off valve SV3 cannot be opened in response to the valve opening instruction.

The solid line CL2 shown between the timing t12 and the timing t13 indicates the output power of the fuel cell 50 when the first on-off valve SV3 opens in response to the valve opening instruction. The broken line DL2 shown between the timing t12 and the timing t13 indicates the output power of the fuel cell 50 when the first on-off valve SV3 cannot be opened in response to the valve opening instruction.

At the timing t11, the third open / close abnormality determination process is started. At the timing t11, step S120 of the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed, and the first opening / closing valve SV3 is instructed to open for a certain duration. When the first on-off valve SV3 is actually opened, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 fluctuates as shown by the solid line CL1. On the other hand, when the first on-off valve SV3 cannot be opened in response to the valve opening instruction, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 is in the state of t10 when the second opening / closing abnormality determination process is completed, as shown by the broken line DL1. Does not fluctuate from.

The second pressure value P2 is a pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 215 from the time when the valve opening instruction is given to one first on-off valve until a certain duration elapses, that is, from timing t11 to timing t12. The pressure value measured in between. Therefore, when the first on-off valve SV3 cannot be opened in response to the valve opening instruction, the second pressure value P2 and the second open / close abnormality measured between the timing t5 and the timing t6 in the first open / close abnormality determination process. Compared with the second pressure value P2 measured between timing t8 and timing t9 in the determination process, the second pressure value P2 measured between timing t11 and timing t12 in the third open / close abnormality determination process is It becomes smaller. Therefore, when the first on-off valve SV3 cannot be opened in response to the valve opening instruction, step S140 is executed in the third opening / closing abnormality determination process to open / close the first on-off valve SV3 instructed to open. When the presence or absence of an abnormality is determined, there is an opening / closing abnormality in the first on-off valve SV3 instructed to open the valve because the absolute value of the difference between the first pressure value P1 and the second pressure value P2 does not exceed the threshold value Th. Is determined.

After the timing t13, the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed for each of the first on-off valves SV4 to SV9. The opening / closing abnormality determination process executed at this time is the same as the opening / closing abnormality determination process executed for the first on-off valve SV1 between the timing t5 and the timing t8.

At the timing t32, the tenth opening / closing abnormality determination process is started. The time-series changes of the pressure in the supply flow path 200, the state of the opening / closing instruction of the first on-off valve SV2, and the output power of the fuel cell 50 between the timing t32 and the timing t34 are from the above-mentioned timing t5. It is the same as the time-series change of the pressure in the supply flow path 200, the open / closed state of the first on-off valve SV1, and the output power of the fuel cell 50 up to the timing t7.

In the explanation using FIG. 4, it can be identified that the first on-off valve SV3 of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 has an opening / closing abnormality.

According to the first embodiment described above, since the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed for each of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10, it is specified which of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV1 has an opening / closing abnormality. can do. Further, since the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed when the fuel cell system 10 has not received the operation instruction, the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed while the fuel cell system 10 is operating in response to the operation instruction. As compared with the above, it is possible to avoid hindering the driving of the driver of the vehicle on which the fuel cell system 10 is mounted.

Further, power generation by the fuel cell 50 when the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed is performed in a state where the fuel cell system 10 has not received an operation instruction. Therefore, since the fuel cell 50 can generate electricity without an external request for the fuel cell system 10, it is easier to generate electricity with higher efficiency than a fuel cell that generates electricity in response to an external request. The efficiency referred to here is the ratio of the power consumption of the equipment operated for the fuel cell 50 to the power generated by the fuel cell 50 when the fuel cell 50 generates power. When the fuel cell generates electricity in response to an external request, it is necessary to generate electricity that satisfies the required electric power requested from the outside, rather than giving priority to efficiency. On the other hand, when the fuel cell generates power without a request from the outside, it is possible to perform power generation with priority given to efficiency.

Further, since the electric power generated by the fuel cell 50 in the opening / closing abnormality determination process is charged to the secondary battery, it is effectively utilized.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 5 illustrates the timing of the time-series change from the execution of the open / close abnormality determination process to the end after the ignition switch is turned off in the vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system 10a of the second embodiment. It is a chart. In the fuel cell system 10a of the second embodiment, the first of the 10 times of opening / closing abnormality determination processing for the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 is started from the first processing to the end of the tenth processing. It is executed so that the valve opening instruction is given to any one of the on-off valves SV1 to SV10.

The time-series change between the timing T1 and the timing T5 is the same as the time-series change between the timing t1 and the timing t5 described with reference to FIG.

At the timing T5, the first open / close abnormality determination process is started. At the timing T5, step S120 of the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed, and the first on-off valve SV1 is instructed to open for a certain duration, so that the first on-off valve SV1 is opened. With the opening of the first on-off valve SV1, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 rises. At this time, the valve opening instruction is also given to the second on-off valve TV, and the second on-off valve TV is opened. In the second embodiment, the second on-off valve TV opened in the first open / close abnormality determination process is not closed until the timing T16 when the output power of the fuel cell 50 becomes 0 W in the final open / close abnormality determination process.

At the timing T6, the first on-off valve SV1 is closed after a certain duration has elapsed. Further, step S130 of the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed, power is generated by the fuel cell 50, and the output power of the fuel cell 50 increases. Further, at the timing T6, step S120 of the second opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed, and the first on-off valve SV2 is instructed to open for a certain duration, so that the first on-off valve SV2 is opened. be opened.

From timing T6 to timing T7, power generation is performed by the fuel cell 50. At this time, between the timing t6 and the timing t7 in FIG. 4, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 was lowered by being consumed by the power generation of the fuel cell 50, but from the timing T6 to the timing T7 in FIG. In between, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 does not drop. This is because, between the timing T6 and the timing T7, the fuel gas consumed by the power generation of the fuel cell 50 is newly supplied from the tank TK2 in which the first on-off valve SV2 is opened.

The solid line CL3 shown between the timing T7 and the timing T8 indicates the pressure in the supply flow path 200 when the first on-off valve SV3 opens in response to the valve opening instruction. The broken line DL3 shown between the timing T7 and the timing T8 indicates the pressure in the supply flow path 200 when the first on-off valve SV3 cannot be opened in response to the valve opening instruction.

The solid line CL4 shown between the timing T8 and the timing T9 indicates the output power of the fuel cell 50 when the first on-off valve SV3 opens in response to the valve opening instruction. The broken line DL4 shown between the timing T8 and the timing T9 indicates the output power of the fuel cell 50 when the first on-off valve SV3 cannot be opened in response to the valve opening instruction.

Also at the timing T7, the first on-off valve SV2 is closed after a certain duration has elapsed, and the first on-off valve SV3 is instructed to open. At this time, when the first on-off valve SV3 opens in response to the valve opening instruction, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 does not fluctuate as shown by the solid line CL3. When the first on-off valve SV3 cannot be opened in response to the valve opening instruction, the pressure in the supply flow path 200 is reduced as shown by the broken line DL3.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the first opening / closing of the first opening / closing abnormality determination processing for the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 is performed from the start of the first processing to the end of the tenth processing. It is controlled so that the first on-off valve of any of the valves SV1 to SV10 is instructed to open.

According to the second embodiment described above, the power generation by the fuel cell 50 is continued. In the first embodiment, there is a time zone in which no valve opening instruction is issued to any of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 while the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed 10 times. Therefore, the output power of the fuel cell 50 may become 0 W. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the valve opening instruction is issued to any one of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 while the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed 10 times. Therefore, the power generation by the fuel cell 50 is likely to be continued. That is, since the power generation by the fuel cell 50 is not intermittent, the power generation state with high efficiency can be continued. The electric power generated with high efficiency is scavenged to prevent freezing in the pipes, the filling flow path 110, the supply flow path 200, and the like included in the air supply system (not shown) that supplies air to the fuel cell 50. It may be used for.

Further, since the valve opening instruction is issued to any one of the first on-off valves SV1 to SV10 while the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed 10 times, there is no fuel gas. It is possible to prevent the fuel cell 50 from generating electricity in this state. Therefore, deterioration and damage of the fuel cell 50 can be suppressed.

C. Other embodiments:
In the first embodiment described above, power generation by the fuel cell 50 (step S130) is performed every time the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the opening / closing abnormality determination process executed a plurality of times, the power generation by the fuel cell 50 (step S130) may be executed at a predetermined frequency. For example, every time the opening / closing abnormality determination process is executed three times, power generation by the fuel cell 50 (step S130) is executed in one of the opening / closing abnormality determination processes.

In the first embodiment described above, the second on-off valve TV is closed each time the opening / closing abnormality determination process is completed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the open / close abnormality determination process executed 10 times, from the opening of the second on-off valve TV in the first open / close abnormality determination process to the end of power generation of the fuel cell 50 in the final open / close abnormality determination process. Meanwhile, the second on-off valve TV does not have to be closed. In other words, the second on-off valve is not opened and closed each time the open / close abnormality determination process is executed, but the last open / close abnormality after the second on-off valve is opened in the first open / close abnormality determination process. It means that the second on-off valve may be continuously opened until the second on-off valve is closed in the determination process.

In the above-described embodiment, the presence or absence of an opening / closing abnormality is determined in the opening / closing abnormality determination process, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the opening / closing abnormality determination process, if the pressure in the supply flow path 200 does not rise immediately after the valve opening instruction is given to the first on-off valve, the valve opening instruction is continued for a longer time than usual and the pressure rises. By confirming whether or not, the degree of opening / closing abnormality may be determined. The degree of opening / closing abnormality referred to here is the difficulty of opening the valve due to the first on-off valve sticking in the closed state.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be realized by various configurations within a range not deviating from the gist thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the column of the outline of the invention may be used to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems, or one of the above-mentioned effects. It is possible to replace or combine as appropriate to achieve a part or all. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

10 ... Fuel cell system, 50 ... Fuel cell, 100 ... Receptacle, 105 ... Backflow prevention valve, 110 ... Filling flow path, 115 ... Pressure sensor, 200 ... Supply flow path, 215 ... Pressure sensor, 300 ... Control unit

Claims (1)

A fuel cell system with a fuel cell and a secondary battery.
A plurality of tanks for storing fuel gas used for power generation of the fuel cell, and
A supply flow path connecting each of the plurality of tanks and the fuel cell,
A pressure measuring unit provided in the supply flow path and measuring the pressure in the supply flow path,
A plurality of on-off valves provided for each of the plurality of tanks and switching between the supply of the fuel gas and the stop of the supply from each of the plurality of tanks.
A control unit that controls the plurality of on-off valves is provided.
The control unit
In a state where the fuel cell system has not received an operation instruction, a valve opening instruction is given to open one of the plurality of on-off valves for a certain duration from a fully closed state in which all of the plurality of on-off valves are closed. After that, a process of instructing the fuel cell to generate power and lowering the pressure in the supply flow path is performed, and the first pressure value measured by the pressure measuring unit in the fully closed state and the opening are performed. An opening / closing abnormality is determined and stored by comparing the second pressure value measured by the pressure measuring unit between the time when the valve is instructed and the time when the certain duration elapses, and whether or not the one on-off valve is abnormal. The determination is executed in order for each of the plurality of on-off valves,
A fuel cell system in which at least a part of the electric power generated by the fuel cell in the opening / closing abnormality determination is charged to the secondary battery.

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