JP2021187187A - Storage vessel system and control method of storage vessel system - Google Patents

Abstract

To measure the pressure of fluid in each storage vessel at a charge and a discharge while suppressing complication and a high cost.SOLUTION: A charge path 16 and a discharge path 18 of a storage vessel system 10 are separately arranged. The discharge path 18 is connected to the charge path 16 by a branch path 48. A branch valve 50 arranged at the branch path 48 permits the circulation of fluid progressing toward the discharge path 18 from the charge path 16 at a charge via the branch path 48, and regulates the circulation of the fluid progressing toward the branch path 48 from the discharge path 18 at a discharge. The pressure of the storage vessel 14 is obtained by a pressure sensor 34 for measuring the pressure of the fluid of the discharge path 18 via the discharge path 18, the branch path 48 and the charge path 16 at the charge, and the pressure of the storage vessel 14 is obtained via the discharge path 18 at the discharge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention comprises a storage container system comprising a storage container capable of storing a fluid to be filled through a filling channel and discharging the fluid through a discharge channel provided separately from the filling path. Regarding the control method of the storage container system.

For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a storage container system in which a filling path for filling a storage container with a fluid and a discharge path for discharging the fluid from the storage container are separately provided is known. That is, a filling system for filling the storage container with the fluid and a discharge system for discharging the fluid from the storage container are provided independently of each other.

Japanese Patent No. 5131612

In this type of storage container system, in order to measure the pressure of the fluid in the storage container at the time of filling and the pressure of the fluid in the storage container at the time of release, pressure is applied to each of the filling path and the discharging path. It is necessary to provide a sensor. In this case, the storage container system needs to be equipped with at least two pressure sensors.

In particular, since there are fewer opportunities to measure the pressure of the storage container at the time of filling than at the time of discharging, it becomes necessary to provide a pressure sensor in the filling path even though the frequency of movement of the pressure sensor provided in the filling path is low. Further, as the number of pressure sensors increases, the resources (CPU, memory, input / output device, etc.) on the control unit side that process the measurement results of the pressure sensors also increase. From these, there is a concern that the storage container system will become complicated and costly.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is a storage container system capable of measuring the pressure of a fluid in each storage container at the time of filling and discharging while suppressing complication and cost increase. A method of controlling a storage container system is provided.

One aspect of the present invention is a storage container capable of storing a fluid to be filled through a filling path and discharging the fluid through a discharge path provided separately from the filling path. A storage container system including a branch path connecting the discharge path and the filling path, and a branch path provided in the branch path, and when the storage container is filled with the fluid, the filling path is provided via the branch path. A branch valve that allows the flow of the fluid toward the discharge path and regulates the flow of the fluid from the discharge path to the branch path when the fluid is discharged from the storage container, and the discharge path. By measuring the pressure of the fluid, the pressure of the storage container is obtained through the discharge passage, the branch passage and the filling passage at the time of filling, and the pressure of the storage container is obtained through the discharging passage at the time of discharging. It is equipped with a fluid sensor to obtain.

Another aspect of the present invention is the storage of the fluid to be filled through the filling path and the storage capable of discharging the fluid through a discharge channel provided separately from the filling path. A method for controlling a storage container system including a container, wherein the storage container system includes a branch path connecting the discharge path and the filling path, a branch path valve provided in the branch path, and the discharge path. A pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the fluid is provided, and when the storage container is filled with the fluid, the branch path valve allows the flow of the fluid from the filling path to the discharge path through the branch path. In this state, the pressure sensor obtains the pressure of the storage container through the discharge path, the branch path, and the filling path, and when the fluid is discharged from the storage container, the branch path valve causes the discharge path. The pressure sensor obtains the pressure of the storage container through the discharge path in a state of restricting the flow of the fluid from the to the branch path.

In this storage container system, when the storage container is filled with the fluid, the fluid is allowed to flow from the filling path to the discharge path through the branch path. In this case, the pressure of the fluid in the filling path and the discharging path communicating through the branch path becomes the same. Therefore, the pressure of the storage container at the time of filling can be obtained by measuring the pressure of the discharge path with the pressure sensor.

On the other hand, in the storage container system, when the fluid is discharged from the storage container, the flow of the fluid from the discharge path to the branch path is restricted. Therefore, even if a branch passage connecting the discharge passage and the filling passage is provided, the fluid in the storage container is satisfactorily discharged to the discharge passage by avoiding the inflow of the fluid from the discharge passage into the filling passage at the time of discharge. be able to. At this time, the pressure of the storage container at the time of discharge can be obtained by measuring the pressure in the discharge path with the pressure sensor.

From the above, it is possible to measure the pressure of both the storage container at the time of filling and at the time of discharge by the pressure sensor that measures the pressure of the discharge path. Therefore, for example, it is not necessary to provide a pressure sensor that measures only the pressure at the time of filling in the filling path even though the movable frequency is low, and it is possible to avoid an increase in resources of the control unit. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to measure the pressure of the fluid in each storage container at the time of filling and discharging while suppressing the complexity and cost increase of the storage container system.

It is a schematic block diagram of the storage container system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the storage container system which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the storage container system which concerns on another modification of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the storage container system which concerns on another modification of this invention.

A preferred embodiment of the storage container system and the control method of the storage container system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following figures, components having the same or similar functions and effects may be designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description may be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the storage container system 10 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a storage container 14 (not shown) mounted on a mounting body (not shown) which is a fuel cell vehicle and accommodating hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell 12. It can be suitably used as a device provided with a high-pressure tank). Therefore, in the present embodiment, an example in which the mounted body is a fuel cell vehicle and the storage container 14 accommodates hydrogen gas as a fluid will be described, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. The storage container system 10 may be mounted on a mounting body other than the fuel cell vehicle, or a fluid other than hydrogen gas may be stored in the storage container 14.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the storage container system 10 includes one storage container 14. The storage container 14 can be filled with hydrogen gas via the filling path 16. Further, the hydrogen gas released from the storage container 14 can be supplied to the fuel cell 12 via the discharge path 18. The storage container system 10 is controlled by a control unit 20 configured as a computer equipped with a CPU, a memory, or the like (not shown).

Although not shown, the storage container 14 has a resin liner made of a hollow body capable of storing hydrogen gas inside, and a fiber reinforced plastic reinforcing layer covering the outer surface of the liner. That is, the pressure of the storage container 14 indicates the pressure of the hydrogen gas contained in the liner. The storage container 14 is provided with a temperature sensor 22 for measuring the temperature inside the liner.

Further, the storage container 14 is provided with a base 24 at an opening that communicates the inside and the outside of the liner. A valve assembly 26 is fixed to the base 24. The inflow of hydrogen gas and the release of hydrogen gas into the storage container 14 are controlled through the valve assembly 26. Note that FIG. 1 illustrates the valve assembly 26 inside the storage container 14 for convenience of explanation.

The valve assembly 26 is formed with a part on the downstream side of the filling path 16 and a part on the upstream side of the discharge path 18, respectively. Further, the valve assembly 26 includes a first check valve 28 that controls the flow of hydrogen gas in the filling path 16, a second check valve 30 that controls the flow of hydrogen gas in the discharge path 18, and a main check valve 32. Is built-in.

The first check valve 28 allows hydrogen gas to flow in the filling path 16 in the direction of inflow into the storage container 14, and regulates the flow of hydrogen gas in the filling path 16 in the direction of flowing out of the storage container 14. do. The second check valve 30 allows hydrogen gas to flow in the discharge path 18 in the direction of outflow from the storage container 14, and regulates the flow of hydrogen gas in the discharge path 18 in the direction of inflow into the storage container 14. do. Each of the first check valve 28 and the second check valve 30 may be composed of a mechanical type, an electric type, or an electromagnetic type.

The main check valve 32 is a solenoid valve or an electric valve that is always closed and is opened by energization. By opening the main check valve 32, hydrogen gas can be discharged from the storage container 14 toward the fuel cell 12 side. By closing the main check valve 32, the discharge of hydrogen gas from the storage container 14 is stopped.

A pressure sensor 34, a discharge path valve 36, a relief valve 38, and an injector 40 are provided on the downstream side of the main stop valve 32 of the discharge path 18. The pressure sensor 34 measures the pressure of the hydrogen gas on the upstream side of the discharge path valve 36 of the discharge path 18. Hereinafter, the time when the storage container 14 is filled with hydrogen gas is also referred to simply as “the time of filling”, and the time when the hydrogen gas is released from the storage container 14 is also simply referred to as “the time of release”.

In the discharge path valve 36, the flow rate of the hydrogen gas flowing downstream of the discharge path valve 36 of the discharge path 18 and being supplied to the fuel cell 12 is, for example, the flow rate of the hydrogen gas supplied to the storage container 14 at the time of filling. Regulate to be less than. In the present embodiment, the discharge path valve 36 functions as a pressure reducing valve for reducing the pressure on the downstream side of the discharge path valve 36 of the discharge path 18 to or less than the pressure on the upstream side of the discharge path valve 36 of the discharge path 18.

The relief valve 38 is always closed, and when the pressure of the hydrogen gas between the discharge path valve 36 and the injector 40 exceeds a predetermined pressure, the hydrogen gas can be discharged to the outside of the discharge path 18. The injector 40 is composed of, for example, a solenoid valve or an electric valve, and adjusts the supply pressure, supply flow rate, and the like of hydrogen gas to the fuel cell 12 based on the control of the control unit 20.

A hydrogen gas filling port 42 (receptacle) provided in the fuel cell vehicle is provided on the upstream side of the filling path 16. The filling port 42 is provided with a filling check valve 44. The filling check valve 44 allows the flow of hydrogen gas in the direction of flowing into the filling path 16 through the filling port 42, and regulates the flow of hydrogen gas in the direction of flowing out from the filling path 16 through the filling port 42. ..

In the filling path 16, hydrogen gas is supplied from a hydrogen gas supply source (not shown) provided outside the fuel cell vehicle via the filling port 42, and the hydrogen gas is stored in the storage container 14 via the first check valve 28. Lead to the inside of. One end side of the branch path 48 is connected between the filling port 42 of the filling path 16 and the storage container 14 via a connecting portion 46.

The other end side of the branch path 48 is connected to the upstream side of the discharge path valve 36 of the discharge path 18 via the branch path valve 50. The branch path 48 may be provided with an orifice (not shown) between the connection portion 46 and the branch path valve 50. In this case, it is preferable to reduce the inner diameter of the orifice to such an extent that the influence of the steep pressure fluctuation of the filling path 16 can be sufficiently suppressed from being affected by the discharge path 18 via the branch path 48. Further, the inner diameter of the orifice may be increased so that the speed at which the pressure of the discharge passage 18 rises through the branch passage 48 can sufficiently follow the speed at which the pressure of the filling passage 16 and the storage container 14 rises during filling. preferable.

The branch path valve 50 allows the flow of hydrogen gas from the filling path 16 to the discharge path 18 via the branch path 48 at the time of filling. On the other hand, the branch path valve 50 regulates the flow of hydrogen gas from the release path 18 to the branch path 48 at the time of discharge. In the present embodiment, the branch road valve 50 is a check valve that controls the flow of hydrogen gas in the branch road 48 as described above. However, the branch path valve 50 is not particularly limited to this, and may be, for example, an on-off valve that is opened at the time of filling and closed at the time of discharge.

It is preferable that the pressure sensor 34, the discharge path valve 36, the relief valve 38, and the branch path valve 50 are integrated with the assembly 52. The assembly 52 may be further integrated with the connection portion 46.

Hereinafter, the control method of the storage container system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the storage container system 10, when the storage container 14 is filled with hydrogen gas, the control unit 20 stops the energization of the main check valve 32 to close the main check valve 32. When the branch road valve 50 is composed of an on-off valve instead of the check valve, the branch road valve 50 is opened.

In this state, hydrogen gas is supplied from the hydrogen gas supply source to the filling path 16 via the filling port 42. The hydrogen gas supplied to the filling path 16 passes through the first check valve 28 of the valve assembly 26 and is filled in the storage container 14. Further, a part of the hydrogen gas supplied to the filling path 16 flows into the branch path 48 at the connecting portion 46. The hydrogen gas that has flowed from the filling path 16 into the branch path 48 passes through the branch path valve 50 and flows into the upstream side of the discharge path valve 36 of the discharge path 18. That is, the filling passage 16 and the upstream side of the discharge passage 18 on the upstream side of the discharge passage valve 36 have the same pressure via the branch passage 48. Further, the filling path 16 and the storage container 14 have the same pressure as each other. In addition to the fact that the pressures of each other are the same, the same pressure may include that the pressures of each other correspond to each other, in other words, that the pressure of one is obtained from the pressure of the other.

Therefore, when the pressure of the discharge passage 18 is measured by the pressure sensor 34 at the time of filling, the pressure at the time of filling of the storage container 14 can be obtained through the discharge passage 18, the branch passage 48 and the filling passage 16. Based on the pressure of the storage container 14 thus obtained, for example, the filling amount of hydrogen gas in the storage container 14 can be obtained.

On the other hand, when the hydrogen gas filled in the storage container 14 is supplied to the fuel cell 12, the control unit 20 energizes the main check valve 32 to open the fuel cell 12. When the branch road valve 50 is composed of an on-off valve instead of the check valve, the branch road valve 50 is closed. As a result, the hydrogen gas passes through the second check valve 30 and the main check valve 32 of the discharge path 18, is discharged from the storage container 14, is depressurized to a predetermined pressure by the release path valve 36, and then is reduced to a predetermined pressure by the injector 40. It is supplied to the fuel cell 12 at an adjusted pressure and flow rate.

At this time, the branch path valve 50 regulates the flow of hydrogen gas from the discharge path 18 to the branch path 48. That is, even if the branch passage 48 connecting the discharge passage 18 and the filling passage 16 is provided, it is possible to prevent the fluid from flowing from the discharge passage 18 into the filling passage 16 at the time of discharge. Therefore, the hydrogen gas in the storage container 14 can be satisfactorily supplied to the fuel cell 12. At this time, by measuring the pressure of the discharge passage 18 with the pressure sensor 34, the pressure at the time of discharge of the storage container 14 can be obtained through the discharge passage 18. Based on the pressure of the storage container 14 thus obtained, for example, the remaining amount of hydrogen gas in the storage container 14 can be obtained.

From the above, in the storage container system 10 and the control method thereof according to the present embodiment, the pressure of both the storage container 14 at the time of filling and the pressure of the storage container 14 at the time of filling can be measured by the pressure sensor 34 for measuring the pressure of the discharge path 18. can. Therefore, for example, it is not necessary to provide the pressure sensor 34 that measures only the pressure at the time of filling in the filling path 16 even though the movement frequency is low, and it is possible to avoid an increase in resources of the control unit 20. Therefore, it is possible to measure the pressure of hydrogen gas in each of the storage containers 14 at the time of filling and discharging while suppressing the complexity and cost increase of the storage container system 10.

In the control method of the storage container system 10 and the storage container system 10 according to the above embodiment, the discharge passage valve 36 is provided on the downstream side of the pressure sensor 34 of the discharge passage 18, and the discharge passage valve 36 is the discharge passage 18. It is preferable that the pressure on the downstream side of the discharge passage valve 36 is equal to or lower than the pressure on the upstream side of the discharge passage valve 36 of the discharge passage 18. In this case, for example, even if the storage container 14 is filled with hydrogen gas having a high pressure of 70 MPa or more, the hydrogen gas can be depressurized to a predetermined pressure in the discharge path valve 36. Therefore, the pressure of the hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell 12 can be easily adjusted to a predetermined magnitude.

In the storage container system 10 according to the above embodiment, the discharge path valve 36, the pressure sensor 34, and the branch path valve 50 are integrated into an assembly 52. In this case, when manufacturing the storage container system 10, it is possible to eliminate the work of separately assembling the discharge path valve 36, the pressure sensor 34, and the branch path valve 50. This makes it possible to simplify the manufacturing process of the storage container system 10.

Although not shown, the assembly 52 of the storage container system 10 according to the above embodiment may further integrate the connection portion 46 between the filling path 16 and the branch path 48. In this case, the manufacturing process of the storage container system 10 can be further simplified because the work of separately assembling the connecting portion 46 can be eliminated.

In the storage container system 10 according to the above embodiment, the discharge passage 18 is provided with a main check valve 32 that is always closed and is opened by energization, and the main check valve 32 is opened at the time of discharge and at the time of filling. It was decided to be closed. Further, in the control method of the storage container system 10 according to the above embodiment, the discharge passage 18 is provided with a main check valve 32 that is always closed and is opened by energization, and is connected to the main check valve 32 at the time of filling. It was decided to stop the energization to close the state, and to energize the main check valve 32 to open the main valve 32 at the time of release.

By the way, for example, in a storage container system (not shown) in which the filling path 16 and the discharging path 18 are separately provided and the branch path 48 is not provided, it is assumed that the main check valve 32 is maintained in an open state at the time of filling. In this case, it becomes possible to maintain the same pressure between the filling path 16 and the upstream side of the discharge path valve 36 of the discharge path 18 via the inside of the storage container 14. That is, the pressure sensor 34 provided on the upstream side of the discharge path valve 36 of the discharge path 18 makes it possible to measure the pressure of the storage container 14 at the time of filling. However, in this case, since it is necessary to continue to energize the main stop valve 32 at the time of filling, the power consumption in the storage container system 10 increases.

On the other hand, in the storage container system 10 and the control method thereof according to the present embodiment provided with the branch path 48, even if the main stop valve 32 is stopped to be energized at the time of filling to be closed, the container is filled through the branch path 48. The passage 16 and the discharge passage 18 can be maintained at the same pressure. That is, it is not necessary to energize the main check valve 32 at the time of filling. Therefore, in addition to reducing the number of pressure sensors 34 to reduce the driving power of the pressure sensors 34, the storage container system 10 can eliminate the power required to open the main stop valve 32. It becomes possible to effectively reduce the power consumption.

By the way, for example, in a storage container system (not shown) in which the filling path 16 and the discharging path 18 are separately provided and the branch path 48 is not provided, it is assumed that the main stop valve 32 is closed and hydrogen gas is filled. In the storage container system 10, the storage container 14 is generally filled with hydrogen gas in a state where the pressure of the storage container 14 and the discharge path 18 is reduced. Therefore, in the above-mentioned storage container system (not shown), the storage container 14 after hydrogen gas filling (upstream side from the main check valve 32 of the discharge path 18) and the downstream side from the main stop valve 32 of the discharge path 18 There is a concern that a large pressure difference will occur between the two.

In such a state where a large pressure difference is generated between the upstream side and the downstream side of the main stop valve 32 of the discharge path 18, it becomes difficult to open the main stop valve 32. Therefore, for example, it is necessary to provide a configuration for supplying hydrogen gas to the downstream side of the main stop valve 32 of the discharge path 18, and to open the main stop valve 32 after performing the preparatory step for eliminating the above pressure difference. Occurs. However, in this case, the larger the volume on the downstream side of the main stop valve 32 of the discharge path 18, the longer the preparation step becomes, and the hydrogen gas filled in the storage container 14 is quickly directed toward the fuel cell 12. It becomes difficult to release.

On the other hand, in the storage container system 10 according to the present embodiment, even if the main stop valve 32 is closed and the hydrogen gas is filled, the main stop valve 32 and the discharge path of the discharge path 18 pass through the branch path 48. The space between the valves 36 can be maintained at the same pressure as the storage container 14. As a result, it is possible to avoid a pressure difference between the storage container 14 after being filled with hydrogen gas and the downstream side of the main stop valve 32 of the discharge path 18. As a result, since the above-mentioned preparation step can be eliminated, the hydrogen gas filled in the storage container 14 can be quickly discharged toward the fuel cell 12.

In the control method of the storage container system 10, the discharge passage valve 36 may regulate the flow of hydrogen gas flowing through the discharge passage 18 at the time of filling, and may release the regulation at the time of discharge. In this case, when the discharge of hydrogen gas is started after the storage container 14 is filled with hydrogen gas, it is preferable to release the regulation by the discharge path valve 36 after opening the main check valve 32. As a result, it is possible to more effectively suppress the generation of a differential pressure between the upstream side and the downstream side of the main stop valve 32 of the discharge path 18, so that the main stop valve 32 can be easily and quickly opened. It becomes possible to.

In the storage container system 10 according to the above embodiment, it is preferable that an orifice (not shown) is provided between the connection portion 46 of the branch path 48 and the branch path valve 50. The branch passage 48 may be provided so that the filling passage 16 and the discharge passage 18 can have the same pressure at the time of filling. That is, it is not necessary to flow a large flow rate of hydrogen gas from the filling path 16 to the discharge path 18 via the branch path 48. Therefore, by providing the orifice as described above, the filling path 16 and the discharging path 18 are suppressed while suppressing the inflow of a large flow rate of hydrogen gas from the filling path 16 to the discharge path 18 via the branch path 48. Can be maintained at the same pressure. As a result, the downstream side of the orifice of the branch path 48 and the branch path valve 50 do not need to be configured to withstand a large flow rate of hydrogen gas, so that the size can be simplified or miniaturized.

Although the storage container system 10 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 is provided with one storage container 14, a plurality of storage containers 14 may be provided. Hereinafter, an example of the storage container system 10 including the two storage containers 14 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. However, the storage container system 10 may include three or more storage containers 14.

In the storage container system 10 of FIG. 2, the pipe 54 forming the filling path 16 has a filling pipe 56, a filling diverse pipe 58, and two diversion pipes 60. The filling pipe 56 connects the filling port 42 and the first filling connection port 62 of the filling diverse pipe 58. The filling multi-purpose pipe 58 has two filling branch ports 64 and a second filling connection port 66 in addition to the above-mentioned first filling connection port 62. Each diversion pipe 60 connects the filling branch port 64 and the valve assembly 26 of the storage container 14, respectively. Specifically, each diversion pipe 60 is connected to the first check valve 28 of the valve assembly 26. One end side of the branch pipe 68 forming the branch path 48 is connected to the second filling connection port 66. The other end side of the branch pipe 68 is connected to the branch road valve 50. It should be noted that each of the diversion pipe 60 and the filling branch port 64 may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of storage containers 14.

The hydrogen gas supplied to the filling path 16 through the filling port 42 flows through the filling pipe 56 and flows into the filling multi-pipe pipe 58, and the flow dividing pipe 60 and the branch pipe 68 of the plurality of diversion pipes 60 and the branch pipe 68 pass through the filling multi-tube 58. It is distributed to each and can flow in. As shown in FIG. 3, the filling diverse pipe 58 may be integrated with the assembly 52.

The pipe 70 forming the discharge path 18 has two tributary pipes 72 and a merging pipe 74. The upstream side of each tributary pipe 72 is connected to the valve assembly 26 of the storage container 14. Specifically, the upstream side of each tributary pipe 72 is connected to the second check valve 30 of the valve assembly 26 via the main check valve 32. The downstream side of each tributary pipe 72 is connected to the merging pipe 74. The number of tributary pipes 72 may be provided corresponding to the number of storage containers 14. The merging pipe 74 is provided with the above-mentioned assembly 52 and an injector 40. That is, the hydrogen gas released from each storage container 14 flows through the tributary pipe 72, then merges at the merging pipe 74 and heads for the fuel cell 12.

The control method of the storage container system 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be carried out in the same manner as the control method of the storage container system 10 of FIG. That is, when each storage container 14 is filled with hydrogen gas, the control unit 20 closes each main check valve 32. In this state, hydrogen gas is supplied from the hydrogen gas supply source to the filling pipe 56 via the filling port 42. Of the hydrogen gas supplied to the filling pipe 56, the hydrogen gas flowing into each diversion pipe 60 through the filling diverse pipe 58 and the filling branch port 64 passes through the first check valve 28 and enters each storage container 14. Filled.

Further, among the hydrogen gas supplied to the filling pipe 56, the hydrogen gas flowing into the branch pipe 68 through the filling diverse pipe 58 and the second filling connection port 66 passes through the branch road valve 50 and is connected to the merging pipe 74. It flows into the upstream side of the discharge path valve 36. At this time, by measuring the pressure on the upstream side of the discharge path valve 36 of the discharge path 18 by the pressure sensor 34, the storage container 14 is passed through the merging pipe 74, the branch pipe 68, the filling diverse pipe 58, and each diversion pipe 60. Pressure can be obtained.

On the other hand, when the hydrogen gas filled in each storage container 14 is supplied to the fuel cell 12, each main check valve 32 is opened by the control unit 20. As a result, the hydrogen gas passes through the second check valve 30 and the main check valve 32, is discharged from each storage container 14 to the tributary pipe 72, and then merges at the merging pipe 74. Then, the hydrogen gas flowing through the merging pipe 74 is depressurized to a predetermined pressure by the discharge path valve 36, and then supplied to the fuel cell 12 at a pressure and a flow rate adjusted by the injector 40. At this time, by measuring the pressure on the upstream side of the discharge passage valve 36 of the discharge passage 18 by the pressure sensor 34, the pressure of each storage container 14 at the time of discharge is obtained through the confluence pipe 74 and each tributary pipe 72. Can be done.

From the above, also in the storage container system 10 and the control method thereof according to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, each storage container at the time of filling and at the time of release is suppressed while suppressing the complexity and cost increase of the storage container system 10. It becomes possible to measure the pressure of the hydrogen gas in 14.

Like the storage container system 10 according to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the pipe 70 forming the discharge passage 18 may further have a discharge diverse pipe 76 in addition to the tributary pipe 72 and the confluence pipe 74 described above. The discharge diversified pipe 76 is integrated with the filled diversified pipe 58 to form a pipeline assembly 78. A branch path valve 50 is integrated with the pipeline assembly 78. In this case, the pressure sensor 34 may be provided in the discharge multi-purpose pipe 76.

The discharge multi-purpose pipe 76 has two discharge branch ports 80, a first discharge connection port 82, and a second discharge connection port 84. The downstream side of the tributary pipe 72 is connected to each discharge branch port 80. The first discharge connection port 82 is connected to the branch pipe 68 via the branch path valve 50. The first discharge connection port 82 may be connected to the second filling connection port 66 of the filling diverse pipe 58 via the branch path valve 50. That is, the storage container system 10 of FIG. 4 does not have to include the branch pipe 68.

The upstream side of the confluence pipe 74 is connected to the second discharge connection port 84. At the time of filling, hydrogen gas can flow into the discharge multi-purpose pipe 76 from the first discharge connection port 82 via the branch path valve 50. At the time of discharge, the hydrogen gas released from the storage container 14 to each tributary pipe 72 flows into the discharge multi-purpose pipe 76 from the discharge branch port 80 and flows from the second discharge connection port 84 to the confluence pipe 74 in a state of being merged. do. At this time, the flow of hydrogen gas from the first discharge connection port 82 of the discharge multi-purpose pipe 76 to the branch path 48 is regulated by the branch path valve 50.

The control method of the storage container system 10 shown in FIG. 4 can be carried out in the same manner as the control method of the storage container system 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3. That is, when each storage container 14 is filled with hydrogen gas, the pressure of the discharge path 18 is measured by the pressure sensor 34 with each main check valve 32 closed. Thereby, the pressure of the storage container 14 can be obtained through the discharge multi-purpose pipe 76, the branch path 48, the filling multi-purpose pipe 58 and each diversion pipe 60.

On the other hand, when the hydrogen gas filled in each storage container 14 is supplied to the fuel cell 12, each main check valve 32 is opened. As a result, the hydrogen gas passes through the second check valve 30 and the main check valve 32, is discharged from each storage container 14 to the tributary pipe 72, and then merges with the discharge multi-purpose pipe 76 and flows into the merging pipe 74. do. At this time, by measuring the pressure of the discharge path 18 with the pressure sensor 34, the pressure of each storage container 14 at the time of discharge can be obtained through the discharge multi-purpose pipe 76 and each tributary pipe 72.

From the above, also in the storage container system 10 and the control method thereof according to the embodiment of FIG. 4, while suppressing the complexity and cost increase of the storage container system 10, the inside of each storage container 14 at the time of filling and at the time of release is suppressed. It becomes possible to measure the pressure of hydrogen gas.

Further, in the storage container system 10 of FIGS. 2 to 4, in each of the two storage containers 14, the filling path 16 and the discharge path 18 are separately provided, and the branch path valve 50 is provided in the branch path 48. Has been done. These prevent the tributary pipe 72 connected to one storage container 14 from communicating with the tributary pipe 60 connected to the other storage container 14.

In this case, for example, even if there is a difference in pressure between the two storage containers 14, hydrogen gas moves from the high-pressure side storage container 14 to the low-pressure side storage container 14 via the tributary pipe 72 and the tributary pipe 60. Is avoided. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the inflow of hydrogen gas into the storage container 14 and the release of hydrogen gas from the storage container 14 in a disorderly manner due to the pressure difference between the storage containers 14. In other words, it is possible to prevent the temperature change in the storage container 14 from occurring in a disorderly manner due to the pressure difference between the storage containers 14. Further, the pressures in the two storage containers 14 can be set individually.

In the storage container system 10 according to the embodiment of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the filling diverse pipe 58 is integrated with the assembly 52. In this case, since the work of separately assembling the filling multi-purpose pipe 58 can be eliminated, the manufacturing process of the storage container system 10 can be simplified.

In the storage container system 10 according to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the filling and discharging pipes 76 are integrated to form a pipeline assembly 78, and the branch valve 50 is integrated with the pipeline assembly 78. I decided to be there. In this case, since the work of separately assembling the filling and discharging diverse pipes 58 and 76 can be eliminated, the manufacturing process of the storage container system 10 can be further simplified. Further, the length of the branch path 48 connecting the filling and discharging diverse pipes 58 can be shortened as much as possible. That is, the length of the branch pipe 68 can be shortened as much as possible, or the branch pipe 68 can be eliminated. As a result, the pressure loss from the filling port 42 to the pressure sensor 34 can be reduced, so that the pressure of the storage container 14 at the time of filling can be obtained with higher accuracy.

The present invention is not particularly limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

10 ... Storage container system 14 ... Storage container 16 ... Filling path 18 ... Discharge path 28 ... First check valve 30 ... Second check valve 32 ... Main stop valve 34 ... Pressure sensor 36 ... Discharge path valve 46 ... Connection part 48 ... Branch road 50 ... Branch valve 52 ... Assembly 54, 70 ... Piping 56 ... Filling pipe 58 ... Filling multi-purpose pipe 60 ... Divergence pipe 64 ... Filling branch port 68 ... Branch pipe 72 ... Tributary pipe 76 ... Discharge multi-purpose pipe 78 ... Pipe Road assembly 80 ... Discharge branch port

Claims (10)

A storage container system comprising a storage container capable of storing a fluid to be filled through a filling channel and discharging the fluid through a discharge channel provided separately from the filling path. ,
A branch path connecting the discharge path and the filling path,
Provided in the branch passage, when the storage container is filled with the fluid, the fluid is allowed to flow from the filling passage to the discharge passage through the branch passage, and the fluid is discharged from the storage container. Sometimes a branch valve that regulates the flow of the fluid from the discharge path to the branch path,
By measuring the pressure of the fluid in the discharge passage, the pressure of the storage container is obtained through the discharge passage, the branch passage and the filling passage at the time of the filling, and the pressure is obtained through the discharge passage at the time of the discharge. A pressure sensor that obtains the pressure of the storage container,
Storage container system. In the storage container system according to claim 1,
A discharge path valve is provided on the downstream side of the discharge path from the pressure sensor.
The discharge valve is a storage container system in which the pressure on the downstream side of the discharge path valve on the downstream side of the discharge path valve is set to be equal to or lower than the pressure on the upstream side of the discharge path valve. In the storage container system according to claim 2,
A storage container system in which the discharge valve, the pressure sensor, and the branch valve are an integrated assembly. In the storage container system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The discharge path is provided with a main check valve that is always closed and opens when energized.
A storage container system in which the main check valve is opened at the time of release and closed at the time of filling. In the storage container system according to claim 4,
Equipped with multiple said storage containers
The pipe forming the filling path includes a filling diverse pipe having a plurality of filling branch ports, and a plurality of diversion pipes connecting the plurality of the filling branch ports and the plurality of storage containers.
A storage container system in which the fluid supplied to the filling path flows into the plurality of diversion pipes through the filling diverse pipes. In the storage container system according to claim 5,
The pipe forming the discharge path has a multi-discharge pipe having a plurality of discharge branch ports, and a plurality of tributary pipes connecting each of the plurality of the discharge branch ports and the plurality of storage containers.
The fluid discharged from the storage container to the plurality of tributaries merges at the discharge multi-tube.
A storage container system in which the filling and discharging pipes are integrated to form a pipeline assembly, and the branch valve is integrated with the pipeline assembly. In the storage container system according to claim 6,
Each of the plurality of diversion pipes is connected to a first check valve that allows the flow of the fluid in the direction of inflow into the storage container and regulates the flow of the fluid in the direction of outflow from the storage container.
Each of the plurality of tributary pipes has the main check valve as a second check valve that allows the flow of the fluid in the direction of flowing out of the storage container and regulates the flow of the fluid in the direction of flowing into the storage container. A storage container system connected via. A method for controlling a storage container system including a storage container capable of storing a fluid to be filled through a filling path and discharging the fluid through a discharge path provided separately from the filling path. And,
The storage container system
A branch path connecting the discharge path and the filling path,
The branch road valve provided in the branch road and
A pressure sensor that measures the pressure of the fluid in the discharge path,
Equipped with
At the time of filling the storage container with the fluid, the pressure sensor allows the flow of the fluid from the filling path to the discharge path through the branch path by the branch path valve, and the discharge path, the said. Obtaining the pressure of the storage container through the branch path and the filling path,
When the fluid is discharged from the storage container, the pressure of the storage container is controlled by the pressure sensor through the discharge path so that the flow of the fluid from the discharge path to the branch path is restricted by the branch path valve. How to control the storage container system. In the control method of the storage container system according to claim 8,
A discharge path valve is provided on the downstream side of the discharge path from the pressure sensor.
The discharge valve is a method for controlling a storage container system in which the pressure on the downstream side of the discharge path valve on the downstream side of the discharge path valve is set to be equal to or lower than the pressure on the upstream side of the discharge path valve. In the control method of the storage container system according to claim 8 or 9.
The discharge path is provided with a main check valve that is always closed and opens when energized.
At the time of the filling, the energization to the main check valve is stopped to close the state.
A method for controlling a storage container system in which the main check valve is energized and opened at the time of release.

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