JP2024084241A - Hydrogen refueling system for vehicle and method for refueling vehicle with hydrogen - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle that enables a driver to reliably check the vehicle's condition when refueling with hydrogen gas, thereby enabling the driver to refuel with hydrogen gas safely. [Solution] The system comprises a hydrogen gas filling section 4 formed in a body 5 of a vehicle 1 that uses hydrogen gas as fuel, an internal hydrogen gas filling port 43 that is connected to a hydrogen gas filling nozzle 101, and a lid 42 that covers the vehicle 1 from the outside, an integrated control section 6 that acquires the state of the vehicle 1 including any abnormal conditions of the vehicle 1, and display sections 26, 27 that are provided within the hydrogen gas filling section 4 and display information on whether the vehicle 1 can be refueled with hydrogen based on the state of the vehicle 1 acquired by the integrated control section 6. [Selected Figure] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle and a method for refueling a vehicle with hydrogen.

Fuel cell vehicles that use hydrogen gas as fuel are equipped with a hydrogen tank that stores hydrogen gas, and when the hydrogen gas in the hydrogen tank runs short, the hydrogen gas is replenished (filled) from a hydrogen supply source at a hydrogen gas station into the hydrogen tank. This hydrogen gas replenishment is performed by connecting a filling nozzle that supplies hydrogen gas from the hydrogen supply source at the hydrogen gas station to a filling port for filling hydrogen gas provided on the fuel cell vehicle. For example, Patent Document 1 is disclosed as a conventional technology for such fuel cell vehicles.

JP 2009-208534 A

However, even when a fuel cell vehicle is stopped and the vehicle's power switch is turned off, electrical communications related to the fuel cell system may continue to operate for a while. If an abnormality occurs in the fuel cell system or various components, a warning light or message will be displayed on the display monitor in the driver's seat inside the cab to notify the driver of the abnormal condition.

However, if the driver (user) immediately gets out of the vehicle when refueling with hydrogen gas, there is a risk that the driver may overlook the warning lights or messages notifying them of an abnormal condition in the vehicle.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to enable the driver to reliably check the vehicle's condition when refueling with hydrogen gas, thereby enabling hydrogen gas refueling to be carried out safely.

The present invention has been made to solve at least some of the problems described above, and can be realized in the following aspects or application examples.

(1) The hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to this application example includes:
The vehicle comprises a hydrogen gas filling unit formed in the body of a hydrogen gas-fueled vehicle and having a hydrogen gas filling port provided therein which is connected to a hydrogen gas supply source; an integrated control unit which acquires the state of the vehicle including any abnormal conditions of the vehicle; and a display unit which is provided within the hydrogen gas filling unit and displays information as to whether or not the vehicle is capable of being filled with hydrogen, based on the state of the vehicle acquired by the integrated control unit.

The vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to the above application example has a display unit provided in the hydrogen gas filling section, allowing the user to check the vehicle's status without returning to the driver's seat and determine whether hydrogen gas refueling is possible.

(2) In the vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to the application example of (1) above, the hydrogen gas filling unit may have a lid that covers its interior from the outside, and the integrated control unit may acquire the state of the vehicle when the lid is open. This can contribute to power saving by turning off or putting into a sleep state sensors and the like that are used only when refueling with hydrogen gas.

(3) In the vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to the application example of (1) or (2) above, the display unit may include a first display unit that turns on an indicator lamp based on the state of the vehicle acquired by the integrated control unit. In this way, the indicator lamp of the first display unit provided in the hydrogen gas filling unit turns on depending on the state of the vehicle, allowing the user to check the state of the vehicle and determine whether hydrogen gas refueling is possible without returning to the driver's seat.

(4) In the hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to any of the application examples of (1) to (3) above, the display unit may include a second display unit that displays a message on a display as to whether or not the vehicle can be refueled with hydrogen based on the state of the vehicle acquired by the integrated control unit. As a result, a message according to the state of the vehicle is displayed on the second display unit provided in the hydrogen gas filling unit, allowing the user to check the specific state of the vehicle and determine whether or not hydrogen gas refueling is possible without returning to the driver's seat.

(5) In the hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to any one of the application examples of (1) to (4) above, the integrated control unit may include a determination unit that determines whether or not hydrogen gas can be refueled based on the acquired state of the vehicle, and the first display unit and the second display unit may change the display mode based on the determination result of the determination unit. This makes it easier for the user to understand the state of the vehicle and whether or not hydrogen gas can be refueled.

(6) In the hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to the application example of (5) above, the determination unit may determine, based on the acquired state of the vehicle, whether the vehicle is in a first state in which a serious abnormality has occurred, a second state in which a minor abnormality has occurred, or a third state in which the vehicle is in a normal state, and the first display unit and the second display unit may change the display mode based on each state determined by the determination unit. This allows the user to understand the state of the vehicle with respect to refueling with hydrogen gas and respond according to the state of the vehicle.

(7) In the vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to the application example of (6) above, the integrated control unit may display a message on the display unit prohibiting the filling of hydrogen gas when the first state is determined. This allows the user to understand that hydrogen gas refueling is not permitted on the spot without having to return to check the display monitor in the driver's seat.

(8) In the vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to the application example of (6) or (7) above, when the integrated control unit determines that the vehicle is in the second state, the integrated control unit may display a message on the display unit indicating that the refueling efficiency is reduced compared to the refueling efficiency in the third state. This allows the user to understand that although a minor abnormality has occurred in the vehicle, refueling is possible with reduced refueling efficiency, but that this will take time.

(9) In a hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to any of the application examples of (6) to (8) above, when the integrated control unit determines that the vehicle is in the third state, the integrated control unit may display a message on the display unit permitting the refilling of hydrogen gas. This allows the user to know that the vehicle can be refilled with hydrogen gas normally and safely.

(10) In the vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to any of the application examples of (6) to (9) above, the first state may be a state in which an abnormality that impedes the vehicle's driving has occurred. This allows the user to understand that there is an abnormality that impedes not only the refueling of hydrogen gas but also the driving of the vehicle, and to take measures to ensure safety.

(11) In the vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to any of the application examples of (6) to (10) above, the second state may be a state in which an abnormality occurs that does not impede the vehicle's running. This allows the user to understand the safety of refueling with hydrogen gas and running the vehicle.

(12) The hydrogen refueling method for a vehicle according to this application example is a hydrogen refueling method for a vehicle that is formed in the body of a hydrogen gas-fueled vehicle and has a hydrogen gas filling section formed therein with a hydrogen gas filling port connected to a hydrogen gas supply source, and a display section formed in the hydrogen gas filling section, and includes the steps of: acquiring the state of the vehicle, including an abnormal state of the vehicle; and displaying information on the display section as to whether or not the vehicle can be refueled with hydrogen, based on the acquired state of the vehicle.

1 is a schematic diagram of a main portion of a vehicle to which a hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen gas filling section. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle. 4 is a state table referred to by a determination unit of the vehicle hydrogen refueling system. 6 is a flowchart showing a display process during hydrogen refueling. 11 is a continuation of the flowchart showing the display process during hydrogen refueling.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a vehicle to which a hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Vehicle 1 is a fuel cell vehicle that runs on hydrogen gas as fuel. Vehicle 1 is a large vehicle such as a truck or bus. Vehicle 1 is equipped with a fuel cell module 2 that generates electricity using hydrogen, two hydrogen tanks 3A and 3B that store hydrogen gas, and a hydrogen gas filling unit 4 for refilling hydrogen gas from outside vehicle 1. Note that the number of hydrogen tanks shown in this embodiment is an example and is not limited to two.

The fuel cell module 2 is a module that combines a fuel cell stack made of stacked fuel cell cells that generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, a sub-module that handles the supply of hydrogen and intake air required to drive the fuel cell stack, a cooling circuit, and a current supply device.

Hydrogen tanks 3A and 3B are pressure vessels that store hydrogen gas. Hydrogen tank 3A is equipped with two on-tank valves 11A and 12A. Hydrogen tank 3B is equipped with two on-tank valves 11B and 12B. Each of these on-tank valves 11A, 12A, 11B, and 12B controls the inflow or outflow of hydrogen gas depending on whether it is open or closed. The structure and function of the two hydrogen tanks 3A and 3B, and the on-tank valves attached to them, are basically the same, and hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be collectively referred to as hydrogen tank 3, on-tank valve 11, and on-tank valve 12, respectively.

The hydrogen gas filling unit 4 is provided on the outer surface of the body 5 of the vehicle 1. The hydrogen gas filling unit 4 has a recess 41 that forms a recessed space S on the passenger compartment side in a portion of the outer surface of the body 5, and a lid 42 that covers the recess 41. The hydrogen gas filling unit 4 in this embodiment is provided in a position from which the driver's seat display unit 7, which will be described later, cannot be directly seen by the user.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the hydrogen gas filling unit 4. Specifically, the lid 42 of the hydrogen gas filling unit 4 is opened to show the inside of the hydrogen gas filling unit 4.

The hydrogen gas filling section 4 includes an internal space S, a hydrogen gas filling port 43, an opening/closing sensor 44, an infrared communication device 45, an indicator light 46 (first display section), and a display 47 (second display section).

When refilling with hydrogen gas, the hydrogen gas filling port 43 connects to the hydrogen gas filling nozzle 101 of the hydrogen gas station 100 (hydrogen gas supply source) shown in FIG. 1.

The indicator light 46 and display 47 are positioned so that they can be seen by the user when the lid 42 is open and the hydrogen gas filling nozzle 101 is connected to the hydrogen gas filling port 43.

The opening/closing sensor 44 detects the open/closed state of the lid 42 and outputs open or closed information. The opening/closing sensor 44 can be, for example, a limit switch.

The infrared communication device 45 transmits the temperature of the hydrogen tank 3 of the vehicle 1 and the pressure of the hydrogen gas to the hydrogen gas station 100 via infrared communication. The infrared communication device 45 is in a power saving state (sleep state) or is powered off when the lid 42 is closed, and starts up when the lid 42 is opened.

The hydrogen gas station 100 controls the hydrogen gas supply speed and transmits information regarding filling to the infrared communication device 45 based on the temperature of the hydrogen tank 3 and the pressure of the hydrogen gas received from the infrared communication device 45. When the hydrogen gas station 100 can normally communicate with the infrared communication device 45 and obtain the temperature of the hydrogen tank 3, it calculates the fastest filling speed that can maintain the temperature of the hydrogen tank 3 at a safe temperature level, and provides high-speed filling, which has a shorter filling time. On the other hand, even if it cannot normally communicate with the infrared communication device 45, if the vehicle 1 is physically able to refuel with hydrogen gas, the hydrogen gas station 100 provides low-speed filling, which has a relatively longer filling time than high-speed filling.

The indicator light 46 is an indicator lamp, and may be, for example, an LED lamp. The display 47 is a display means capable of displaying text information and images. The display modes of the indicator light 46 and the display 47 are controlled by the integrated control unit 6, which will be described later.

Returning to FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a filling line 10 consisting of a piping system shown by a thick solid line in FIG. 1, a supply line 20 consisting of a piping system shown by a normal solid line, and a relief line 30 consisting of a piping system shown by a dotted line, as hydrogen flow paths.

The filling line 10 is a piping system that sends hydrogen from the hydrogen gas filling port 43 of the hydrogen gas filling unit 4 to the hydrogen tank 3. The filling line 10 is equipped with a check valve 13 and a branch joint 14, in that order, from the hydrogen gas filling port 43 to the on-tank valves 11A and 11B of the hydrogen tank 3. The check valve 13 prevents backflow of hydrogen gas. The branch joint 14 branches one pipe from the hydrogen gas filling port 43 into two pipes. The branched pipes are connected to the hydrogen tanks 3A and 3B, respectively.

The supply line 20 is a piping system that supplies hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank 3 to the fuel cell module 2. The supply line 20 includes, in order from the on-tank valves 11A, 11B of the hydrogen tank 3 toward the fuel cell module 2, a branch joint 14, a filter 21, a first pressure reducing valve 22, a second pressure reducing valve 23, a branch joint 24, a filter 25, a branch joint 26, and a shutoff valve 27.

The relief line 30 is a piping system for discharging a portion of the hydrogen gas for the control of each valve and pressure adjustment by the safety valve. The relief line 30 includes a piping system that discharges to the atmosphere via an exhaust pipe (not shown) and a piping system that releases to the atmosphere via a purge pipe (not shown). The piping system that discharges to the atmosphere via an exhaust pipe includes a piping system that connects the on-tank valves 11A and 12A of the hydrogen tank 3A to the exhaust pipe via a branch joint 31A, a piping system that connects the on-tank valves 12B and 12B of the hydrogen tank 3B to the exhaust pipe via a branch joint 31B, and a piping system that connects the safety valve 32 connected to the branch joint 24 to the exhaust pipe via a branch joint 31A. The piping system that releases to the atmosphere via a purge pipe includes a piping system that connects the shutoff valve 33 connected to the branch joint 26 to the purge pipe.

Various sensors are provided in the hydrogen tank 3 and the hydrogen flow path, the filling line 10 and the supply line 20, to monitor the state of hydrogen gas. Temperature sensors 53A and 53B are provided on the tank surface of the hydrogen tanks 3A and 3B, respectively. The temperature sensors 53A and 53B detect the tank temperature as the temperature of the surface of the hydrogen tanks 3A and 3B, respectively. A hydrogen detection sensor 52 is provided near the hydrogen tanks 3A and 3B. The hydrogen detection sensor 52 is used to detect hydrogen gas leaks and control the fuel cell module 2, and detects the amount (concentration) of hydrogen gas. For example, the hydrogen detection sensor 52 can be of a catalytic combustion type, a gas heat conduction type, a semiconductor type, etc. A high-pressure pressure sensor 51 is provided in the branch joint 14 common to the filling line 10 and the supply line 20. The high-pressure pressure sensor 51 detects the pressure of hydrogen gas in the filling line 10. A low-pressure pressure sensor 54 is provided in the branch joint 24 of the supply line 20. The low pressure sensor 54 detects the pressure of hydrogen gas in the supply line 20.

The fuel cell module 2 is electrically connected to the motor 8 for driving the vehicle via an electrical circuit (shown by a thin solid line in FIG. 1) and a high-voltage contactor 55, and supplies the power generated by the fuel cell module 2 to the motor 8. The high-voltage contactor 55 is an electromagnetic contactor that connects and disconnects the electrical circuit that electrically connects the fuel cell module 2 and the motor 8, and by connecting and disconnecting this switch, it is possible to control the supply and cut-off of power from the fuel cell module 2 to the motor 8. The high-voltage contactor 55 is finally opened during the shutdown process of the fuel cell module 2 by turning off the power of the vehicle power switch 57, which will be described later.

The vehicle 1 also includes an integrated control unit 6, a driver's seat display unit 7, a low-voltage battery 56, and a vehicle power switch 57.

The integrated control unit 6 is a control unit composed of an electronic computing device, such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), and is capable of communicating with each component and each sensor of the vehicle 1 via a communication network such as a CAN (Controller Area Network), direct wiring, or wirelessly. In this embodiment, the integrated control unit 6 mainly operates according to a predetermined program that has been installed in advance, and has the function of executing a display process during hydrogen refueling, which will be described later.

The driver's seat display unit 7 is a display means provided, for example, on the instrument panel of the driver's seat. The driver's seat display unit 7 has a monitor screen such as an LCD panel and a speaker, and displays warning information according to instructions from the integrated control unit 6 and outputs sound as necessary.

The low-voltage battery 56 is a low-voltage, small-capacity secondary battery that supplies power to the system power supply, ECU (computer), various electrical equipment in the vehicle, etc.

The vehicle power switch 57 is, for example, a push button provided near the driver's seat. When pressed by the user, the vehicle power switch 57 can start or stop the drive system including the fuel cell module 2 and the motor 8, and can turn the power of the electrical equipment of the vehicle 1 on or off. Note that an accessory-on operation that turns on only the power of the electrical equipment of the vehicle 1 while stopping the drive system may also be included. To simplify the explanation in this embodiment, a state in which at least the power of the electrical equipment of the vehicle 1 is on is referred to as vehicle power on, and a state in which the power of the electrical equipment is off is referred to as vehicle power off. The vehicle power switch 57 may also be operated by rotating it, like an ignition key.

The vehicle 1 configured as described above is equipped with a vehicle hydrogen refueling system 9 (hereinafter simply referred to as hydrogen refueling system 9) that notifies the user whether or not the vehicle 1 is in a state where hydrogen gas can be refueled when hydrogen gas is to be refueled.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the vehicle's hydrogen refueling system 9. The configuration and functions of the hydrogen refueling system 9 are described below with reference to this diagram.

The hydrogen refueling system 9 includes an integrated control unit 6 and fuel cell-related system components communicatively connected to the integrated control unit 6. The fuel cell-related system components (hereinafter simply referred to as system components) are the above-mentioned fuel cell module 2, high pressure sensor 51, low pressure sensor 54, hydrogen detection sensor 52, on-tank valve 11, temperature sensor 53, high voltage contactor 55, low voltage battery 56, vehicle power switch 57, open/close sensor 44, infrared communication device 45, indicator light 46 (first display unit), display 47 (second display unit), and driver's seat display unit 7. The integrated control unit 6 includes an information acquisition unit 61, a hydrogen management unit 62, a determination unit 63, and a display control unit 64.

The information acquisition unit 61 acquires information about the current state of the vehicle.

The information acquisition unit 61 acquires various information such as the operating state, measurement values, and error information of each component from the system components as information regarding the state of the vehicle. Specifically, the information acquisition unit 61 acquires on or off information indicating the operating state and error information from the fuel cell module 2. The information acquisition unit 61 acquires hydrogen gas pressure information and error information from the high pressure sensor 51 and the low pressure sensor 54, respectively. The information acquisition unit 61 acquires the hydrogen detection amount and error information from the hydrogen detection sensor 52. The information acquisition unit 61 acquires open or closed information indicating the open or closed state of the valves and error information from the on-tank valves 11A and 11B, respectively. The information acquisition unit 61 acquires the tank temperatures of the hydrogen tanks 3A and 3B, respectively, and error information from the temperature sensors 53A and 53B, respectively. The information acquisition unit 61 acquires open or closed information indicating the open or closed state of the high voltage contactor 55 and error information from the high voltage contactor 55. The information acquisition unit 61 acquires, from the low-voltage battery 56, on information or off information indicating the usable or unusable state of the low-voltage battery 56, and error information. The information acquisition unit 61 acquires, from the vehicle power switch 57, vehicle power on information or vehicle power off information, and error information. The information acquisition unit 61 acquires, from the opening/closing sensor 44, open information or closed information indicating the open/closed state of the lid 42, and error information. The information acquisition unit 61 acquires, from the infrared communication device 45, normal communication information or abnormal communication information indicating whether the communication state with the hydrogen gas station 100 is normal or abnormal, and filling information and full amount information received from the hydrogen gas station 100 under normal communication conditions.

The hydrogen management unit 62 monitors the operating state, measurement values, and presence or absence of errors of each system component based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 61 from the system components, and generates and stores monitoring information. The monitoring information can include warning information related to the component when the measurement values meet a predetermined warning condition or when an error occurs. For example, the hydrogen management unit 62 generates warning information related to the following cases: when the acquired tank temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, when the acquired hydrogen pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure, when the acquired hydrogen detection amount exceeds a predetermined amount, or when communication abnormality information is received from the infrared communication device 45, and stores the generated information in the monitoring information. There are severe and mild warnings. Severe warnings include cases where the hydrogen tanks 3A and 3B are in a high temperature or high pressure state, when hydrogen gas is leaking, and when a major system error occurs in a major component. Other errors in system components that do not interfere with driving are classified as mild warnings.

The hydrogen management unit 62 controls each valve of the filling line 10, the supply line 20, and the relief line 30, and acquires the open/closed state and the operating state. Specifically, the hydrogen management unit 62 controls the open/closed state of the on-tank valves 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B, the shutoff valve 27, and the shutoff valve 33 when refilling hydrogen gas. That is, when the open state of the lid 42 is detected, the hydrogen management unit 62 confirms that the fuel cell module 2 is shut down and that the shutoff valve 27 and the shutoff valve 33 are closed, and then opens the on-tank valves 11A and 12A. In addition, when the hydrogen management unit 62 detects that the hydrogen tank 3 is full or receives full information from the hydrogen gas station 100, it closes the on-tank valves 11A and 12A. The hydrogen management unit 62 detects that the hydrogen tank 3 is full based on the pressure acquired from the high-pressure pressure sensor 51.

The determination unit 63 determines whether or not the vehicle 1 can refuel with hydrogen gas based on the state of the vehicle 1 acquired by the information acquisition unit 61. Specifically, the determination unit 63 determines whether or not the vehicle 1 can refuel with hydrogen gas based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 61 about the system components and the monitoring information generated by the hydrogen management unit 62.

Figure 4 shows a status table referenced by the judgment unit of the vehicle's hydrogen refueling system. The judgment unit 63 stores the status table shown in Figure 4. In the hydrogen refueling display process described below executed by the integrated control unit 6, the judgment unit 63 judges whether or not hydrogen gas refueling is possible based on the information about the vehicle status acquired by the information acquisition unit 61, the monitoring information generated by the hydrogen management unit 62, and the status table.

The state table will be explained with reference to Figure 4.

The status table in Figure 4 shows the "status identification code" that classifies the status of the vehicle 1 when refueling with hydrogen gas, and the contents of the "status," "indicator light," and "display text" that indicate the status of the vehicle 1. The "status identification code" is a code that is assigned according to the "status" that indicates the status of the vehicle 1, and is broadly classified into three stages: status 1, status 2, and status 3 (the status table in Figure 4 simply shows the numbers 1, 2, and 3).

The first state indicates a state in which a severe abnormality has occurred in vehicle 1 (severe abnormal state). The first state is a state in which an abnormality has occurred that impedes vehicle 1's driving. The second state indicates a state in which a mild abnormality has occurred in vehicle 1 (mild abnormal state). The second state is a state in which an abnormality has occurred that does not impede vehicle 1's driving. The third state indicates a state in which vehicle 1 is in a normal state (normal state).

The first, second and third states are further classified as 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B and 3C, respectively. The number of "state identification codes" can be set appropriately according to the state of the vehicle 1. Hereinafter, when the "state identification code" of a vehicle is, for example, 1A, it will be simply expressed as "state 1A". The "indicator light" item shows the display mode of the indicator light 46 for each determined state of the vehicle 1. The "display text" item shows the message that is displayed on the display 47 for each determined state of the vehicle 1. The "display text" messages are examples, and other expressions may be used as long as they have the same meaning.

The condition for determining state 1A is that the state of the vehicle 1 is one in which a warning has been issued regarding the tank temperature of the hydrogen tank 3. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the tank temperature acquired from the temperature sensor 53 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 1A. In state 1A, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is continuously lit in red, and the display mode of the display 47 is "Warning: Tank high temperature."

The condition for determining state 1B is that the state of the vehicle 1 is one in which a warning has been issued regarding the pressure of the hydrogen tank 3. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the pressure of the hydrogen tank 3 acquired from the high-pressure pressure sensor 51 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 1B. In state 1B, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is continuously lit in red, and the display mode of the display 47 is "Warning: Tank high pressure."

The condition for determining state 1C is that the state of the vehicle 1 is one in which a warning has been issued about a hydrogen gas leak. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the amount of hydrogen detected by the hydrogen detection sensor 52 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 1C. In state 1C, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is a continuous red light, and the display mode of the display 47 is "Warning: Hydrogen gas leak."

The condition for determining state 1D is that the state of the vehicle 1 is one in which a warning has been issued about another serious system error. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the monitoring information contains serious warning information, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 1D. In the case of state 1D, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is a continuous red light, and the display mode of the display 47 is "Warning: Serious system error."

The conditions for determining state 2A are that the state of the vehicle 1 corresponds to at least one of the following: the fuel cell module 2 is operating, the high voltage contactor 55 is closed, and the vehicle power switch 57 is on. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the integrated control unit 6 receives at least one of on information from the fuel cell module 2, closed information from the high voltage contactor 55, and power on information from the vehicle power switch 57, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 2A. In state 2A, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is fast flashing yellow, and the display mode of the display 47 is "Please turn off the power before refilling."

The condition for determining state 2B is that the state of the vehicle 1 corresponds to at least one of an error in the infrared communication device 45, an error in the high pressure sensor 51 or the low pressure sensor 54, and an error in the temperature sensor 53. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the integrated control unit 6 receives at least one of error information of the infrared communication device 45, error information of the high pressure sensor 51 or the low pressure sensor 54, and error information of the temperature sensor 53, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 2B. In state 2B, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is a slow yellow flashing light, and the display mode of the display 47 is "High-speed filling is not available." The message "High-speed filling is not available" indicates to the user that the filling of hydrogen gas in the second state is a filling with less filling efficiency, such as the filling speed, than the filling in the third state.

The condition for determining state 2C is that the state of the vehicle 1 corresponds to other minor errors. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the monitoring information contains minor warning information, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 2C. In state 2C, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is continuously lit in yellow, and the display mode of the display 47 is "minor system error."

The conditions for determining state 3A are that the vehicle 1 is in a state in which the fuel cell module 2 is off, the high-voltage contactor 55 is open, and all system components are operating normally. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the integrated control unit 6 receives off information from the fuel cell module 2 and open information from the high-voltage contactor 55, and the monitoring information does not include warning information, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 3A. In state 3A, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is a slow flashing green light, and the display mode of the display 47 is "Filling possible." The message "Filling possible" indicates to the user that hydrogen gas filling is permitted.

The condition for determining state 3B is that the state of the vehicle 1 corresponds to a state in which hydrogen gas refilling is in progress. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the infrared communication device 45 receives a refilling signal from the hydrogen gas station 100, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 3B. In state 3B, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is a fast flashing green light, and the display mode of the display 47 is "refilling."

The condition for determining state 3C is that the state of the vehicle 1 corresponds to the hydrogen tank 3 being full. In the hydrogen refueling display process, if the infrared communication device 45 receives a full signal from the hydrogen gas station 100, the determination unit 63 determines that the vehicle 1 is in state 3C. In state 3C, the display mode of the indicator light 46 is a continuous green light, and the display mode of the display 47 is "Tank full."

The display control unit 64 shown in FIG. 3 controls the display of the indicator lights 46, the display 47, and the driver's seat display unit 7 based on the determination result of the determination unit 63. Specifically, the display control unit 64 refers to the contents of the "indicator lights" and "display text" in the status table corresponding to the state of the vehicle 1 determined by the determination unit 63, and changes the display modes of the indicator lights 46 and the display 47, respectively. In addition, the display control unit 64 displays information related to the determination result of the determination unit 63 on the driver's seat display unit 7.

Figures 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the display process when hydrogen is refueled. Below, the hydrogen refueling display process executed by the integrated control unit 6 will be explained with reference to these flowcharts. This routine starts with the lid 42 closed.

In step S101 of FIG. 5, the information acquisition unit 61 acquires vehicle power on information from the vehicle power switch 57, and proceeds to step S102.

In step S102, the hydrogen management unit 62 confirms that it is monitoring the status of the system components and proceeds to step S103.

In step S103, the hydrogen management unit 62 determines whether the lid 42 is open or not based on the opening/closing information of the lid 42 from the opening/closing sensor 44. If the determination is true, i.e., the lid 42 is open, the process proceeds to step S104. If the determination is false, i.e., the lid 42 is closed, the process returns to step S102.

In step S104, the information acquisition unit 61 acquires information from the system components, the hydrogen management unit 62 generates monitoring information based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 61, and the judgment unit 63 refers to the status table and proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the determination unit 63 determines whether the vehicle 1 is in the first state, that is, in any one of state 1A, state 1B, state 1C, and state 1D, based on the state information of the system components acquired in step S104, the generated monitoring information, and the referenced state table. If the determination result is true, that is, the vehicle 1 is in the first state, the process proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, if the determination result is false, that is, the vehicle 1 is not in the first state, the process proceeds to step S109 in FIG. 6.

In step S106, i.e., when the vehicle 1 is in the first state, the display control unit 64 causes the indicator lamp 46 and the display 47 to display the display content corresponding to the corresponding state of the vehicle 1, and proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, the hydrogen management unit 62 stores the judgment result of the judgment unit 63 regarding the state of the vehicle 1 as an error.

In step S108, the hydrogen management unit 62 displays a warning on the driver's seat display unit 7 regarding the result of the judgment made by the judgment unit 63 regarding the state of the vehicle 1, and then returns to the routine.

In step S109 shown in FIG. 6, the determination unit 63 determines whether the vehicle 1 is in the second state, that is, at least one of state 2A, state 2B, and state 2C, based on the state information of the system components acquired in step S104, the generated monitoring information, and the state table. If the determination result is true, that is, the vehicle 1 is in the second state, the process proceeds to step S110. On the other hand, if the determination result is false, that is, the vehicle 1 is not in the second state, the process proceeds to step S112.

In step S110, the display control unit 64 causes the indicator lamp 46 and the display 47 to display the display content corresponding to the corresponding state of the vehicle 1, and proceeds to step S111. If multiple states 2A, 2B, and 2C apply, the indicator lamp 46 prioritizes the display modes of 2A, 2B, and 2C in that order. The display 47 may simultaneously display all of the display modes of 2A, 2B, and 2C, or may switch the display at predetermined time intervals.

In step S111, the hydrogen management unit 62 receives information on whether the lid 42 is open or closed from the opening/closing sensor 44, and determines whether the lid 42 is closed or not. If the determination is true, i.e., the lid 42 is closed, the process proceeds to step S107 in FIG. 5. If the determination is false, i.e., the lid 42 is not closed (open), the process returns to step S110.

In step S112 of FIG. 6, the determination unit 63 determines whether the vehicle 1 is in the third state, that is, state 3A, state 3B, or state 3C, based on the state information of the system components acquired in S104, the generated monitoring information, and the state table. If the determination result is true, that is, the vehicle 1 is in the third state, the process proceeds to step S113. On the other hand, if the determination result is false, that is, the vehicle 1 is not in the third state, the process returns to step S104.

In step S113, the display control unit 64 causes the indicator lamp 46 and the display 47 to display content corresponding to the state of the vehicle 1, and then returns to the routine.

If the integrated control unit 6 receives information that the lid 42 is closed during this routine, the integrated control unit 6 can forcefully terminate this routine. At this time, if an error has already been stored in step S107, a warning is displayed on the driver's seat display unit 7 in step S108.

As described above, the hydrogen refueling system 9 according to this embodiment judges whether the vehicle 1 is in a normal state (states 3A to 3C), a mildly abnormal state (states 2A to 2C), or a severely abnormal state (states 1A to 1D), and displays the result of the judgment on the indicator lamp 46 and the display 47 provided in the hydrogen gas filling unit 4. This allows the user to make a judgment on whether or not to refuel hydrogen gas at the time of refueling hydrogen gas or during refueling hydrogen gas, even if the user goes outside the vehicle to refuel hydrogen gas and cannot check the warning on the driver's seat display unit 7. In addition, if the vehicle 1 is in a severely abnormal state, a message prohibiting refueling is presented to the user, ensuring safety. In addition, if the vehicle 1 is in a mildly abnormal state, the user can know that slow refueling is available and the contents of the error without returning to the driver's seat away from the hydrogen gas filling unit 4 to check the driver's seat display unit 7. In addition, if the vehicle 1 is in a normal state, the progress of hydrogen gas refueling can be understood. In summary, when refueling with hydrogen gas, it is possible to reliably check whether the vehicle 1 is in a state where hydrogen gas can be refueled, and based on the confirmation results, hydrogen gas can be refueled safely.

This concludes the explanation of the embodiment of the hydrogen refueling system 9 for the vehicle 1 according to the present invention, but the aspects of the present invention are not limited to this embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, if the vehicle 1 is determined to be in a severely abnormal state, the hydrogen management unit 62 may control the on-tank valves 11A and 11B to remain closed even if the lid 42 is open. This makes it possible to prevent hydrogen gas from flowing into the hydrogen tank 3 even if the hydrogen gas filling nozzle 101 is physically connected to the hydrogen gas filling port 43.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the display 47 may be omitted. In that case, it is advisable to attach a seal (sticker) or the like showing a simplified version of the status table contents near the indicator light 46.

1: Vehicle 2: Fuel cell module 3A, 3B: Hydrogen tank 4: Hydrogen gas filling unit 5: Body 6: Integrated control unit 7: Driver's seat display unit 8: Motor 9: Hydrogen refueling system 10: Filling line 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B: On-tank valve 20: Supply line 30: Relief line 42: Lid 43: Hydrogen gas filling port 44: Opening/closing sensor 45: Infrared communication device 46: Indicator light (display unit)
47: Display (display unit)
51: High pressure sensor 52: Hydrogen detection sensors 53A, 53B: Temperature sensor 54: Low pressure sensor 55: High voltage contactor 56: Low voltage battery 57: Vehicle power switch 61: Information acquisition unit 62: Hydrogen management unit 63: Determination unit 64: Display control unit 100: Hydrogen gas station 101: Hydrogen gas filling nozzle

Claims (12)

a hydrogen gas filling section formed in a body of a vehicle fueled by hydrogen gas and having a hydrogen gas filling port therein that is connected to a hydrogen gas supply source;
an integrated control unit that acquires a state of the vehicle including an abnormal state of the vehicle;
a display unit provided within the hydrogen gas filling unit, the display unit displaying information regarding whether or not the vehicle can be filled with hydrogen based on the state of the vehicle acquired by the integrated control unit;
A hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle. The hydrogen gas filling section has a lid that covers the inside of the hydrogen gas filling section from the outside,
The integrated control unit acquires a state of the vehicle when the lid is open.
The vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to claim 1. The display unit includes a first display unit that turns on an indicator lamp based on the state of the vehicle acquired by the integrated control unit.
The vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to claim 1. The display unit is characterized in that it includes a second display unit that displays a message on a display as to whether or not the vehicle can be filled with hydrogen based on the state of the vehicle acquired by the integrated control unit.
The vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to claim 1. the integrated control unit includes a determination unit that determines whether or not hydrogen gas can be refueled based on the acquired state of the vehicle,
The display unit changes a display mode based on a determination result of the determination unit.
The vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to claim 1. the determination unit determines, based on the acquired state of the vehicle, whether the vehicle is in a first state in which a serious abnormality has occurred, a second state in which a minor abnormality has occurred, or a third state in which the vehicle is in a normal state;
The display unit changes a display mode based on each state determined by the determination unit.
The vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to claim 5. The integrated control unit includes:
When it is determined that the vehicle is in the first state, a message prohibiting the filling of hydrogen gas is displayed on the display unit.
The vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to claim 6. The integrated control unit includes:
When the second state is determined, a message indicating that the filling efficiency is reduced compared to the filling efficiency in the third state is displayed on the display unit.
The hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to claim 6. The integrated control unit includes:
When it is determined that the third state exists, a message permitting the filling of hydrogen gas is displayed on the display unit.
The hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to claim 6. The first state is a state in which an abnormality that hinders the vehicle from traveling occurs.
The vehicle hydrogen refueling system according to claim 6. The second state is a state in which an abnormality occurs that does not impede the vehicle from traveling.
The hydrogen refueling system for a vehicle according to claim 6. A method for refueling a vehicle with hydrogen, the method comprising: a hydrogen gas filling section formed in a body of the vehicle fueled by hydrogen gas and having a hydrogen gas filling port therein connected to a hydrogen gas supply source; and a display section provided in the hydrogen gas filling section, the method comprising:
acquiring a state of the vehicle including an abnormal state of the vehicle;
displaying on the display unit information regarding whether or not the vehicle is capable of being filled with hydrogen based on the acquired state of the vehicle;
A method for refueling a vehicle with hydrogen.

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