JP2023137984A - gas container - Google Patents

Abstract

To fix and hold a storage member while sufficiently securing the amount of gas stored in an internal space of a container body.SOLUTION: A gas container comprises: a cylindrical container body comprising an internal space for storing gas; a mouthpiece attached to an axial end part of the container body, and comprising a communication passage for causing the internal space to communicate with the outside of the container body; and a storage member arranged in the internal space, and for occluding and releasing the gas. The storage member comprises one of a concave part and a convex part provided in a radially outer surface, and engaged with each other. The container body comprises the other of the convex part and the concave part provided in a radially inner surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a gas container capable of storing and releasing gas.

BACKGROUND ART A gas container (for example, Patent Document 1) is known that is mounted on a vehicle or the like to store and release gas such as hydrogen gas or natural gas. The gas container described in Patent Document 1 includes a storage member such as a hydrogen storage alloy. The storage member is housed in the interior space of the container body. The storage member physically or chemically stores and releases the gas to be stored. According to this storage member, the amount of gas that can be stored in the internal space of the container body can be increased.

By the way, as a structure for accommodating a storage member in the internal space of a gas container, a accommodating member disposed in the internal space may be used as described in Patent Document 1. This housing member is, for example, formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction, and is formed in a shape in which a plurality of housing spaces partitioned by partition walls are regularly arranged. The accommodating member is fixed to the axial end of the container body via a connecting portion or the like at the axial end. The storage member extends in the axial direction following the shape of each accommodation space of the accommodation member, and is accommodated in each accommodation space. According to this structure, the storage member can be accommodated and held in each accommodation space of the accommodation member arranged in the internal space of the container body.

JP2009-222200A

However, in the gas container described in Patent Document 1, in order to accommodate the storage member in the internal space of the container body, it is necessary to accommodate a housing member for holding the storage member in the internal space. For this reason, the structure inside the gas container becomes complicated, and the volume of the storage member decreases by the volume of the storage member in the internal space, resulting in a decrease in the amount of gas that can be stored in the internal space.

On the other hand, if the storage member is housed directly in the internal space of the container body, the volume of the storage member will increase, so the amount of gas that can be stored in the internal space can be increased. Assuming that it can move freely relative to the container body in space in the axial direction or in the direction of rotation around the axial center, for example, in a storage member formed by solidifying powder, the distance between the storage member and the inner surface of the container body is There is a risk that damage may occur due to rubbing against each other, and powdering may be accelerated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a gas container that can secure a sufficient amount of gas to be stored in the internal space of the container body and realize fixed retention of a storage member. The purpose is to

One aspect of the present invention includes a cylindrical container body having an internal space for storing gas, and a communication path attached to an axial end of the container body and communicating the internal space with the outside of the container body. The storage member includes a cap and a storage member disposed in the internal space that stores and releases gas, and the storage member has one of a recess and a projection that engage with each other provided on a radially outer surface. The container body is a gas container having the other of the recessed portion and the protrusion provided on the radially inner surface.

According to this configuration, the storage member can be fixedly held while ensuring a sufficient amount of gas stored in the internal space of the container body.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas container according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional view of a gas container of an embodiment. It is a figure showing the structure of the engagement part of the container main body and the storage member of the gas container of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outer surface of the storage member included in the gas container of the embodiment, viewed from the outside. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inner surface of a container body included in the gas container of the embodiment, viewed from inside.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the gas container according to the present invention will be described using FIGS. 1 to 5.

The gas container 1 according to one embodiment is a container that stores gas and releases the stored gas. The gas container 1 is mounted on a vehicle or the like that uses stored gas as fuel. The gas stored in the gas container 1 may be any type of gas, but is preferably a fuel gas such as hydrogen gas or natural gas. Further, the pressure of the gas that can be stored in the gas container 1 may be any pressure, and may be high pressure (for example, 100 MPa). That is, the gas container 1 may be a pressure container or a pressure container.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gas container 1 includes a container body 10, caps 20 and 30, a reinforcing member 40, and a storage member 60.

The container body 10 is a liner for storing gas. The container body 10 has an internal space 11. Internal space 11 has a capacity that can store a predetermined amount of gas. The container body 10 is made of a material having gas barrier properties that does not allow or hardly permeate the gas stored in the internal space 11 . The material for the container body 10 may be selected depending on the environment in which the gas container 1 is used.

For example, when the gas is hydrogen, the material of the container body 10 is polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, or the like. Note that the inside of the container body 10 may be coated with a material having excellent gas barrier properties such as ethylene vinyl alcohol high polymer (EVOH). Further, when the mass of the gas container 1 may be large, such as when the gas container 1 is used for residential purposes, the material of the container body 10 may be a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel. However, the container body 10 may be formed of a material that is more easily deformed than the storage member 60 due to changes in the temperature or internal pressure of the internal space.

The container body 10 is formed into a cylindrical shape so as to enclose an internal space 11 therein. The container body 10 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape or a regular polygonal tube shape so that gas pressure is evenly distributed within the internal space 11. The container body 10 and thus the interior space 11 extend in the axial direction. Further, the container main body 10 is formed so that the diameter decreases from the axial center side to the axial end side at both axial ends. Further, the container body 10 is formed so as to be bent from both ends in the axial direction toward the inner space 11 in the axial direction, thereby creating a recess. The internal space 11 is formed into a columnar shape along the inner surface of the container body 10.

The container body 10 has a straight portion 14 and dome portions 15 and 16. The straight portion 14 is a portion formed in a cylindrical shape (eg, cylindrical shape) and extending in the axial direction at the axial center of the container body 10 . The dome portions 15 and 16 are portions formed in a dome shape (for example, a hemispherical shell shape) at both ends of the container body 10 in the axial direction. The container body 10 is arranged in the order of dome part 15 → straight part 14 → dome part 16 from one end in the axial direction to the other end in the axial direction.

The container body 10 has openings 12 and 13. The opening 12 is a portion that opens at one end of the container body 10 in the axial direction. The opening 13 is a portion that opens at the other end of the container body 10 in the axial direction. The openings 12 and 13 are provided in the dome parts 15 and 16 of the container body 10. A cap 20 is inserted into the opening 12. Further, a cap 30 is inserted into the opening 13.

The caps 20 and 30 are members that allow gas to enter and exit between the interior space 11 of the container body 10 and the outside. That is, the caps 20 and 30 are used for introducing gas from the outside of the container body 10 into the internal space 11 and discharging gas from the internal space 11 to the outside of the container body 10. The caps 20 and 30 are attached to the axial ends of the container body 10. A sealing member such as an O-ring is interposed between the caps 20 and 30 and the container body 10 to prevent gas from leaking from the internal space 11 of the container body 10 to the outside. The caps 20 and 30 are made of metal, such as aluminum or stainless steel, to ensure rigidity.

The caps 20 and 30 have communication passages 21 and 31. The communication passages 21 and 31 are passages that communicate the internal space of the container body 10 with the outside. The communication paths 21 and 31 are connected to a gas pipe and a valve (not shown).

Note that the gas container 1 may be configured to allow gas to enter and exit through both of the communicating passages 21 and 31 of the caps 20 and 30, or as shown in FIG. ) may be used to let gas in and out, and a stopper may be attached to the other side (specifically, the communication path 21). Further, the gas container 1 may have a cap 20 or a cap 30 attached to one of the axial ends of the container body 10 to allow gas to enter and exit. Further, the caps 20 and 30 may function as a heat exchanger in which a heat exchange medium circulates in order to adjust the temperature of the gas container 1.

Moreover, the container main body 10 is formed separately from the caps 20, 30, and is integrated with the caps 20, 30 by inserting the caps 20, 30 after they are formed. Note that the container body 10 may be integrally molded with the caps 20 and 30, for example, by insert molding.

The reinforcing member 40 is a member that covers the radially outer surface of the container body 10 to reinforce the container body 10. The reinforcing member 40 is preferably used particularly when the gas container 1 is a pressure container. The reinforcing member 40 is made of, for example, high-strength fiber impregnated with resin (ie, FRP). Note that this high-strength fiber is carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, or the like. Further, the resin impregnated into this high-strength fiber is a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, or a vinyl ester resin.

For example, the reinforcing member 40 may be formed as a helical layer or a hoop layer by winding high-strength fibers impregnated with resin around the outer surface of the container body 10, or may be formed into a sheet shape using resin and high-strength fibers. The helical layer or hoop layer formed in the container body 10 may be attached to the outer surface of the container body 10. Further, the reinforcing member 40 may be made of a resin that is heat-cured after forming the helical layer or the hoop layer.

The storage member 60 is a member that stores and releases gas. The storage member 60 is accommodated in the internal space 11 of the container body 10 and is held by the container body 10. The storage member 60 is formed into a columnar shape following the shape of the internal space 11. Storage member 60 extends in the axial direction. A cross section of the storage member 60 taken along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction corresponds to a cross section of the internal space 11 . The storage member 60 is made of a material depending on the type of gas to be stored. The material of the storage member 60 is, for example, a porous carbon material such as a carbon nanotube, a porous metal complex (ie, MOF), a zeolite, a hydrogen storage alloy, a metal hydride, or the like.

The storage member 60 may be formed in the form of a solidified powder such as primary particles or secondary particles, that is, in the form of a pellet. According to the pellet-shaped storage member 60, it is possible to ensure a large contact area of the storage member 60 with respect to gas, so that gas occlusion and release performance can be improved. Note that the volume of the storage member 60 is preferably close to 100% of the volume of the internal space 11 in order to ensure the amount of gas stored, but it may be 90% or more. The storage member 60 is formed by crosslinking the powder of the storage member material with a crosslinking agent or binding it with a binder. The crosslinking agent and binder are made of, for example, silicone-based, epoxy-based, or amine-based materials.

Note that the storage member 60 may have performance that changes depending on the axial position. For example, the storage member 60 may be configured such that the axial end portions have higher breakage resistance than the axial center portion. This breakage resistance may be an index indicating how difficult it is to turn the storage member 60 solidified with powder into powder. This breakage resistance can be translated into strength, rigidity, abrasion resistance, viscosity, elasticity, etc.

Note that when the amount of crosslinking agent, etc. that crosslinks the material powder of the storage member 60 increases, the amount of the storage member 60 that can be accommodated in the storage space 52 decreases by that amount, and the amount that the storage member 60 can store gas decreases. As a result, the storage and release performance of the storage member 60 deteriorates. Therefore, in the storage member 60, the fact that the axial end portions have higher breakage resistance than the axial center portion is synonymous with the fact that the axial end portions have lower storage and release performance than the axial center portion. be.

The storage member 60 is formed along the inner surfaces of the straight portion 14 and dome portions 15 and 16 of the container body 10. The storage member 60 is assembled and integrated into the container body 10 by insert molding. The storage member 60 has a straight corresponding part 61 corresponding to the straight part 14 and dome corresponding parts 62 and 63 corresponding to the dome parts 15 and 16.

The straight corresponding portion 61 is a portion formed in the axially central portion of the storage member 60 in the shape of a column (for example, cylindrical) extending in the axial direction. The radially outer surface of the straight corresponding portion 61 faces the radially inner surface of the straight portion 14 of the container body 10 in the radial direction. Note that the straight corresponding portion 61 may be provided with a hollow portion 61a for inserting a shaft member in the center of the shaft, as shown in FIG. This shaft member is a member for rotating the container main body 10 during formation of the reinforcing member 40 (for example, molding by filament winding method). Further, the hollow portion 61a may have the same diameter as the communicating passages 21, 31 of the caps 20, 30. Further, the axial end surface of the straight corresponding portion 61 may be in contact with the axial inner surface of the caps 20, 30 when the caps 20, 30 are attached to the container body 10.

The dome-corresponding parts 62 and 63 are parts formed in a dome shape (for example, hemispherical shape) at both ends of the storage member 60 in the axial direction. The curved outer surfaces of the dome corresponding parts 62 and 63 face the curved inner surfaces of the dome parts 15 and 16 of the container body 10. Note that the dome-corresponding parts 62 and 63 may be formed in a hoop shape similar to a hemisphere except for the insertion portions of the caps 20 and 30. The dome corresponding parts 62 and 63 protrude outward in the axial direction from the axial end surface of the straight corresponding part 61.

The storage member 60 has a recess 64, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The recessed portion 64 is a portion provided on the outer surface of the storage member 60 (specifically, the radially outer surface of the straight corresponding portion 61) and recessed inwardly (specifically, radially inwardly). Note that the recessed portion 64 may be provided on the outer surface of the dome corresponding portions 62 and 63.

The container body 10 has a convex portion 17, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5. The convex portion 17 is a portion provided on the inner surface of the container body 10 (specifically, the radially inner surface of the straight portion 14) and protrudes outward (specifically, radially outward). Note that the convex portion 17 may be provided on the outer surface of the dome portions 15 and 16.

The recess 64 of the storage member 60 and the protrusion 17 of the container body 10 engage with each other. The engagement between the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 17 is performed such that the storage member 60 is restricted from moving in the axial direction with respect to the container body 10 in the internal space 11 and is restricted from rotating around the axial center. be exposed. The recess 64 has an axial end face facing in the axial direction and a rotational end face facing in the rotation direction around the axial center. The convex portion 17 has an axial end face facing in the axial direction and a rotational end face facing in the rotation direction around the axial center. The axial end faces of the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 17 face each other without being inclined with respect to the axial direction, and the rotational direction end faces of the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 17 face each other without being inclined with respect to the rotation direction. We are facing each other.

Note that the recess 64 may be provided at one location on the outer surface of the storage member 60, or may be provided at multiple locations so as to be scattered. Further, the convex portion 17 may be provided at one location on the inner surface of the container body 10, or may be provided at multiple locations so as to be scattered. In a structure in which the recesses 64 and the protrusions 17 are provided at a plurality of locations, the plurality of recesses 64 and the protrusions 17 are arranged at intervals in the axial direction, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. It is good also as a thing which leaves an interval in a direction of rotation, and is lined up.

Further, the recess 64 and the protrusion 17 are arranged so that when the container body 10 and the storage member 60 are respectively deformed due to an increase in temperature or internal pressure in the internal space 11, the recess 64 and the protrusion 17 continue to be engaged with each other. is formed. The formation of the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 17 is set in particular in consideration of the difference in the amount of deformation between the container body 10 and the storage member 60 when the expected maximum temperature or maximum internal pressure occurs in the internal space 11. be done.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the length H of the convex portion 17 from the general surface of the radial inner surface of the container body 10 to the tip of the convex portion 17 is such that the maximum temperature and maximum internal pressure expected in the internal space 11 occur. The radial distance Smax between the general surface of the radially inner surface of the container body 10 and the general surface of the radially outer surface of the storage member 60 when

An example of a method for manufacturing the gas container 1 will be described below.
First, a pellet-shaped storage member 60 in which a straight corresponding portion 61 and dome corresponding portions 62 and 63 are formed is prepared. Then, the container body 10 is insert-molded by inserting the storage member 60 into a mold for molding the container body 10 and pouring liner resin therein.

Next, the caps 20 and 30 are attached to the insert-molded container body 10 together with the sealing member, and a shaft member for rotating the container body 10 is inserted into the cavity 61a through the communicating path 31 of the cap 30. Then, the reinforcing member 40 is coated on the outer surface of the container body 10 using a filament winding (FW) method. Finally, the shaft member is removed from the cavity 61a to manufacture the gas container 1.

The function of the gas container 1 will be explained.
In the gas container 1, a storage member 60 that stores and releases gas is arranged in the internal space 11 of the container body 10. The storage member 60 has a recess 64 provided on its radially outer surface. The container body 10 has a convex portion 17 provided on the inner surface in the radial direction. The recess 64 of the storage member 60 and the protrusion 17 of the container body 10 engage with each other. This engagement is performed so that the storage member 60 is restricted from moving in the axial direction with respect to the container body 10 in the internal space 11 and is restricted from rotating around the axial center.

Therefore, according to the gas container 1, it is possible to restrict the movement of the storage member 60 in the axial direction with respect to the container body 10 in the internal space 11, and it is also possible to restrict rotation in the rotational direction. , the storage member 60 can be fixedly held in the internal space 11 (specifically, fixedly held in both the axial direction and the rotational direction).

Further, when storing the storage member 60 in the internal space 11 of the container body 10, it is not necessary to use a separate storage member for holding the storage member 60 in the internal space 11. That is, the storage member 60 is directly accommodated in the internal space 11 of the container body 10 and is fixedly held in the container body 10 by the engagement between the recess 64 and the projection 17. According to this structure, the volume occupied by the storage member 60 in the internal space 11 can be increased, so that the amount of gas stored in the internal space 11 can be increased. Further, since there is no member such as the above-mentioned housing member that inhibits heat conduction in the internal space 11, thermal uniformity can be achieved throughout the internal space 11, and the temperature of the storage member 60 can be made uniform. Therefore, the storage and release performance of the storage member 60 can be improved.

Therefore, according to the gas container 1, it is possible to secure a sufficient amount of gas to be stored in the internal space 11 of the container body 10 and to securely hold the storage member 60.

Further, in the gas container 1, the recess 64 of the storage member 60 and the projection 17 of the container body 10 engage with each other as described above. Then, when the container body 10 and the storage member 60 are respectively deformed due to an increase in temperature or internal pressure in the internal space 11, the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 17 continue to engage with each other. It is formed like this. Therefore, even if the container body 10 and the storage member 60 (in particular, the container body 10) are deformed to the maximum extent, the concave portion 64 and the convex portion 17 will not be released from the mutually engaged state, and the convex portion 17 will come off from the concave portion 64. Therefore, it is possible to securely hold the storage member 60 with respect to the container body 10 and reliably prevent the storage member 60 from moving or rotating relative to the container body 10 in the internal space 11. can.

Further, in the gas container 1, the container body 10 has a straight portion 14 formed in a cylindrical shape at the center in the axial direction, and dome portions 15 and 16 formed in a dome shape at both ends in the axial direction. There is. The storage member 60 is formed along the inner surfaces of the straight portion 14 and the dome portions 15 and 16, and includes a straight corresponding portion 61 and dome corresponding portions 62 and 63. That is, the storage member 60 has not only a straight corresponding portion 61 along the inner surface of the straight portion 14 of the container body 10 but also dome corresponding portions 62 and 63 along the inner surfaces of the dome portions 15 and 16 of the container body 10. There is.

In this structure, when the storage member 60 attempts to move in the radial direction with respect to the container body 10 in the internal space 11, the straight portion 14 and the straight corresponding portion 61 come into contact and the dome portions 15 and 16 contact the dome corresponding portion. Its movement is restricted by contact with 62 and 63. Further, when the storage member 60 attempts to move in the axial direction with respect to the container body 10 in the internal space 11, the movement is restricted by the contact between the dome parts 15 and 16 and the dome corresponding parts 62 and 63. Therefore, according to the gas container 1, it is possible to restrict the storage member 60 from moving not only in the radial direction but also in the axial direction with respect to the container body 10 in the internal space 11. The fixation holding function of 60 can be improved.

Furthermore, in the above structure, the storage member 60 is housed in the internal space 11 of the container body 10 with almost no gap between the storage member 60 and the container body 10 . Therefore, the amount of gas that can be stored in the internal space 11 using the storage member 60 can be maximized, so that the gas storage and release efficiency of the gas container 1 can be increased.

Furthermore, in the gas container 1, the storage member 60 is assembled into the container body 10 by insert molding. Therefore, the storage member 60 can be reliably accommodated in the internal space 11 of the container main body 10, and the storage member 60 can be accommodated with almost no gap between the outer surface of the storage member 60 and the inner surface of the container main body 10. This can be achieved without causing any problems.

In the gas container 1, when gas is supplied to the internal space 11 of the container body 10 via the cap 30, the gas first passes through the cavity 61a of the storage member 60 in the internal space 11 and reaches the cap 20 in the axial direction. flows to the side. The gas that has flowed into the internal space 11 is gradually stored in the storage member 60 located radially outward while passing through the cavity 61a. Therefore, according to the gas container 1, the gas can be distributed throughout the interior space 11, and the gas concentration can be made uniform. Thereby, the gas storage and release performance of the storage member 60 can be fully brought out and its storage and release performance can be improved.

Incidentally, in the above embodiment, the engagement between the concave portion 64 of the storage member 60 and the convex portion 17 of the container body 10 prevents the storage member 60 from moving in the axial direction with respect to the container body 10 in the internal space 11. Rotation around the axis is restricted and rotation is restricted. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, when the storage member 60 is allowed to rotate in the rotational direction relative to the container body 10 in the internal space 11, at least the recess 64 of the recess 64 and the protrusion 17 is arranged in the rotational direction to allow the rotation. It may be provided in a ring shape. Further, when the storage member 60 is allowed to move in the axial direction with respect to the container body 10 in the internal space 11, at least the recess 64 of the recess 64 and the projection 17 is configured such that it can move in the axial direction. It may be provided to extend linearly in the axial direction. Further, when the storage member 60 is allowed to move in the helical direction relative to the container body 10 in the internal space 11, at least the recess 64 of the recess 64 and the protrusion 17 is configured such that it can move in the helical direction. It may be provided so as to extend spirally in the axial direction.

Further, in the above embodiment, the container body 10 is insert-molded with the storage member 60 inserted therein, and the storage member 60 is assembled and integrated with the container body 10 by insert molding. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the container body 10 may be formed by integrating a cylindrical segment and a dome-shaped segment, each formed by injection molding or the like, by welding or the like. It's fine. In this modification, the storage member 60 is assembled to the cylindrical segment and the axially one dome-shaped segment, and then the other axially dome-shaped segment is welded to the cylindrical segment. , the storage member 60 may be integrated into the container body 10.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1: Gas container, 10: Container body, 11: Internal space, 14: Straight part, 15, 16: Dome part, 17: Convex part, 20, 30: Cap, 60: Storage member, 61: Straight corresponding part, 62 , 63: Dome corresponding portion, 64: Recessed portion.

Claims (5)

a cylindrical container body having an internal space for storing gas;
a cap that is attached to an axial end of the container body and has a communication passage that communicates the internal space with the outside of the container body;
a storage member disposed in the internal space that stores and releases gas;
Equipped with
The storage member has one of a concave portion and a convex portion that engage with each other provided on a radially outer surface,
The container body is a gas container, and the container body has the other of the recessed portion and the protrusion provided on the inner surface in the radial direction. The container body is more easily deformed than the storage member due to temperature changes or internal pressure changes in the internal space,
The recess and the protrusion are formed such that the recess and the protrusion continue to engage with each other when the container body and the storage member are deformed, respectively. gas container. The gas container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recessed portion and the convex portion are formed so that axial movement of the storage member with respect to the container body is restricted and rotation around an axial center is restricted. . The container body has a straight part formed in a cylindrical shape at the center in the axial direction, and dome parts formed in the shape of a dome at both ends in the axial direction,
The gas container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage member is formed along inner surfaces of the straight part and the dome part. The gas container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage member is assembled into the container body by insert molding.

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