JP2956015B2 - Fuel cell electric vehicle - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a fuel cell electric vehicle that runs using electricity generated by a fuel cell as a drive source.

(Prior Art) In a fuel cell power generator, electricity and water are generated by the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell body.
Since the reaction condition temperature is about 200 ° C, high temperature air heated by the reformer that generates hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell body at the start-up of the device, and discharged from the reformer during continuous operation. High-temperature air and air in the atmosphere are mixed and supplied to the fuel cell body.

Therefore, during continuous operation of the apparatus, the exhaust gas from the reformer (heated air that is not supplied to the fuel cell main body and discharged to the atmosphere as it is) and the exhaust gas from the fuel cell main body (mainly unreacted excess air) ) Is discharged.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, the exhaust gas from the fuel cell body has a peculiar smell, and the amount thereof is larger than that of the exhaust gas from the reformer. For this reason, in a fuel cell electric vehicle, unless the direction of exhaust gas exhaust from the fuel cell main body and the layout of the exhaust pipe are taken into account, the odor of the exhaust gas may cause discomfort to the passengers, and the size of the power generation device may increase. Alternatively, there arises a problem that the flow resistance of the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust pipe increases, the blower becomes larger, the power consumption increases, and the running cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object thereof is to provide a passenger with unpleasant odor,
An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell electric vehicle capable of reducing the size and power consumption of a fuel cell power generator.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a fuel cell and a reforming device are arranged substantially at the center in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body, and a first fuel cell and a reformer extending from a cell body of the fuel cell are provided. An exhaust pipe and a second exhaust pipe extending from the reformer via a four-way valve to generate electricity by reacting hydrogen and air supplied to the fuel cell main body; In a fuel cell electric vehicle in which exhaust gas discharged from the vehicle is discharged into the atmosphere via the first and second exhaust pipes, the first exhaust pipe has a larger diameter than the second exhaust pipe. The rear end of the first exhaust pipe is formed into a T-shape by connecting a pipe that opens in the left-right direction of the vehicle body to the rear end of the first exhaust pipe at a right angle. Forming and placing said second exhaust pipe along the first exhaust pipe, The end is opened close to the rear end of the first exhaust pipe.

(Operation) The exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell through the first exhaust pipe has a unique smell, and the amount thereof is larger than that of the exhaust gas discharged from the other second exhaust pipe.

According to the present invention, since the first exhaust pipe has a larger diameter than the second exhaust pipe and extends linearly toward the rear of the vehicle body, a unique smell flowing through the first exhaust pipe is provided. Is exhausted toward the rear of the vehicle body, and the odor of the exhaust gas does not cause discomfort to the occupant.

If the thick first exhaust pipe extends linearly toward the rear of the vehicle body, the fuel cell power generator including the exhaust pipe can be made compact, and the flow of exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust pipe can be reduced. The power consumption of the blower can be reduced by reducing the resistance.

Further, a pipe that opens in the left-right direction of the vehicle body is connected to the rear end of the first exhaust pipe at right angles to form a T-shaped rear end of the first exhaust pipe. At the rear end of the exhaust pipe toward the left and right of the vehicle body, and the discharge is not hindered by wind from the rear or side.

Further, a second exhaust pipe is arranged along the first exhaust pipe,
Since the rear end is opened close to the rear end of the first exhaust pipe, the smell of the exhaust gas discharged from the first exhaust pipe is diluted by the exhaust gas discharged from the second exhaust pipe. .

Further, since the first exhaust pipe is raised toward the rear of the vehicle body and extends linearly, the flow of the exhaust gas in the first exhaust pipe becomes an upflow, and the high-temperature exhaust gas flows in the first exhaust pipe. Flows smoothly without resistance, and the power consumption of a blower or the like can be further reduced.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fuel cell electric vehicle according to the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric vehicle, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of the fuel cell power generator, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the fuel cell power generator.

First, the basic configuration and operation of the fuel cell power generator will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a reformer for generating hydrogen, 2 a fuel cell main body for generating power by reacting hydrogen with air (oxygen), 3 a storage battery provided in the fuel cell main body 2 so as to be rechargeable, Reference numeral 4 denotes a load connected to the fuel cell main body 2 and the storage battery 3.

The reforming apparatus 1 has an evaporator 5 for vaporizing a liquid raw material, and a reaction tank 6 for reacting the vaporized raw material gas. Below these, two types of burners 7m and 7h for heating are provided. .
Note that one burner 7m uses methanol as fuel, and the other burner 7h uses excess hydrogen as fuel.

A blower 11 for supplying air into the reformer 1 is connected to a lower portion of the reformer 1.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 8 denotes a fuel tank storing combustion fuel (methanol). The fuel is supplied from the fuel tank 8 to the burner 7m by a supply pump 9 through a valve 10. The fuel is combusted by the air supplied from the blower 11, and the heating gas generated by the combustion heats the evaporator 5 and the reaction tank 6 of the reformer 1.

On the other hand, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 12 denotes a raw material tank storing a liquid raw material for reaction (a mixed liquid of methanol and water), and the liquid raw material is supplied by a supply pump 13 through a valve 14 to the reformer 1
After being supplied to the evaporator 5 and vaporized by the evaporator 5, it is reacted in the reaction tank 6 to be converted into a reformed gas mainly composed of hydrogen. Then, the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell main body 2 through the storage tank 16 and the valve 17 by the supply pipes 15 and 33.

Thus, the reformed gas is temporarily stored in the storage tank 16, a predetermined amount of the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell main body 2, and excess reformed gas is supplied to the burner via the relief valve 18 and / or the bypass valve 19. Refluxed for 7h and provided for combustion. In addition, burner
At 7h, surplus hydrogen gas discharged to the pipe 34 without being reacted in the fuel cell main body 2 is also supplied through the reclaimer 20 having a steam recovery function and the valve 21.

On the other hand, in the fuel cell main body 2, air to be reacted with hydrogen is supplied from a blower 22 via a valve 23, and a four-way valve 24 is connected to the upstream side of the blower 22. Either air or high-temperature air of the reformer 1 is appropriately selected and introduced into the fuel cell main body 2.
Excess air not used for the reaction in the fuel cell body 2 is discharged to the atmosphere via the valve 25.

The fuel cell body 2 is connected so as to supply the generated power to the external load 4. The storage battery 3 is connected in parallel as an auxiliary power supply to the fuel cell body 2, and the storage battery 3 is charged by the fuel cell body 2. It is supposed to be.
An auxiliary device 26 for the system is connected to the fuel cell body 2 and the storage battery 3. In addition, the auxiliary equipment 26 is a blower
2. Collective term for valves 10, 14, 17, etc.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 30 denotes a manual load switch for turning on and off the current to the load 4, and reference numeral 31 denotes a protection switch that is turned off when an abnormality occurs in the fuel cell main body 2 and / or the storage battery 3. . Then, the electric circuit shown, a current sensor 28 for detecting the output current I _C of the fuel cell main body 2, a voltage sensor 27 for detecting the terminal voltage V _B of the battery 3 and the like are connected.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 32 denotes a control unit comprising a microcomputer having a storage unit, an operation unit and the like.
32 outputs a rotation speed control signal to the pumps 9 and 13 and the blowers 11 and 22 as well as valves 10, 14, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24 and 25,
A control signal is output to the protection switch 31 and the like. Then, the control unit 32, the voltage sensor 27, the terminal voltage of the battery 3 from the current sensor 28 V _B, and the detection signal of the output current I _C of the fuel cell main body 2, a temperature sensor 41, 42, 43, 44 , A detection signal such as a reaction tank temperature, a burner temperature, a fuel cell reaction temperature, and an ambient temperature is input.

By the way, the reaction condition temperature in the fuel cell body 2 is about 200
° C, the blower 11
Is supplied to the reformer 1, and the high-temperature air heated by the burners 7 m and 7 h is supplied to the fuel cell body 2 via the four-way valve 24, the blower 22 and the valve 23.

On the other hand, since the reaction in the fuel cell main body 2 is an exothermic reaction, during continuous operation, the switching operation of the four-way valve 24 by the control unit 32 causes the high-temperature air discharged from the reformer 1 and the air in the atmosphere to change. Is supplied to the fuel cell main body 2.

The fuel cell electric vehicle 50 equipped with the fuel cell power generation device described above is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the electric vehicle 50, the fuel cells F / F C, three storage batteries 3... Are arranged, and the control unit 32 (see FIG. 4) is arranged behind the fuel cell F / C.

By the way, in the fuel cell F / C, the fuel cell main body 2 is arranged behind the reformer 1 (in FIG. 3, the left side is the front of the vehicle body) as shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust pipe 35 (see FIG. 4) extends linearly toward the rear of the vehicle body, and at the rear end of the exhaust pipe 35, a pipe 37 that opens in the left-right direction of the vehicle body is connected at a right angle. The exhaust pipe 35 has a T-shaped rear end.

The exhaust pipe 36 (see FIG. 4) derived from the four-way valve 24 is drawn out toward the vehicle body side as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and then bent substantially at a right angle toward the rear. And extends linearly rearward of the vehicle body along the exhaust pipe 35, and its rear end is opened close to the rear end of the exhaust pipe 35. As shown in FIG. 5, the exhaust pipe 36 is connected to the exhaust pipe 35.
The exhaust pipe 36 may be opened to the pipe 37 so that the exhaust pipe 36 is opened to the pipe 37.

Thus, during continuous operation of the fuel cell power generator,
Exhaust gas mainly containing surplus air that has not been subjected to the reaction in the fuel cell main body 2 is exhausted from one exhaust pipe 35, and exhaust gas from the reformer 1 (fuel cell main body) is exhausted from the other exhaust pipe 36. 2, the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust pipe 35 has a unique smell, and the amount thereof is also discharged from the other exhaust pipe 36. More than that of exhaust gas.

Therefore, the diameter of the exhaust pipe 35 is larger than that of the exhaust pipe 36, and in this embodiment, the thick exhaust pipe 35 extends linearly toward the rear of the vehicle body, so that the exhaust pipe 35 has a unique smell flowing through the exhaust pipe 35. The gas is exhausted toward the rear of the vehicle body, and the smell of the exhaust gas does not cause discomfort to the occupant. Particularly, in this embodiment, since the pipe 37 is connected to the rear end of the exhaust pipe 35, the exhaust gas flows from the pipe 37 to the left and right of the vehicle body at the rear end of the exhaust pipe 35 as shown by an arrow in FIG. And is not impeded by wind from the rear or side.

Further, since the exhaust pipe 36 is arranged along the exhaust pipe 35 and its rear end is opened close to the rear end of the exhaust pipe 35, the smell of the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust pipe 35 is reduced from the exhaust pipe 36. The exhaust gas is diluted by the exhaust gas.

Further, in the present embodiment, the fuel cell main body 2 is disposed behind the vehicle body of the reformer 1, and the thick exhaust pipe 35 derived from the fuel cell main body 2 extends linearly rearward. It is possible to make the fuel cell power generator including the fuel cell 35 compact, and to reduce the flow resistance of the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust pipe 35 to reduce the power consumption of the blower 22. In particular, since the exhaust pipe 35 is raised rearward to make the flow of the exhaust gas in the exhaust pipe 35 an upflow, the high-temperature exhaust gas flows more smoothly in the exhaust pipe 35 without resistance, and 22 power consumption can be further reduced.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the fuel cell and the reforming device are arranged at substantially the center in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and the first fuel cell and the reforming device extending from the cell body of the fuel cell. An exhaust pipe and a second exhaust pipe extending from the reformer via a four-way valve to generate electricity by reacting hydrogen and air supplied to the fuel cell main body; A fuel cell electric vehicle configured to discharge exhaust gas discharged from the air into the atmosphere via the first and second exhaust pipes, respectively.
The first exhaust pipe is made larger in diameter than the second exhaust pipe and rises toward the rear of the vehicle body so as to extend linearly. At the rear end, a pipe opening in the left-right direction of the vehicle body is connected at a right angle. Then, the rear end of the first exhaust pipe is formed in a T-shape,
Since the second exhaust pipe is arranged along the first exhaust pipe and the rear end is opened close to the rear end of the first exhaust pipe, the passenger does not feel uncomfortable with the smell, The effect that the fuel cell power generation device can be made compact and power saving can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a plan view of a fuel cell electric vehicle according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric vehicle, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of the fuel cell power generation device, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of a fuel cell power generator showing another embodiment of the arrangement of the exhaust pipe. 1 ... reformer, 2 ... fuel cell body, 24 ... four-way valve,
35 ... exhaust pipe (first exhaust pipe), 36 ... second exhaust pipe,
37 ... tube, 50 ... fuel cell electric vehicle, F / C ... fuel cell.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-51-4716 (JP, A) JP-A-3-109127 (JP, A) Real-life 1983-128170 (JP, U) (58) Survey Field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B60L 11/00-11/18 H01M 8/00-8/24

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fuel cell and a reformer are disposed substantially at the center in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body, and a first cell extending from a cell body of the fuel cell.
And a second exhaust pipe extending from the reformer through a four-way valve from the reformer, and reacting hydrogen and air supplied to the fuel cell main body to generate power, the fuel cell and the improvement device A fuel cell electric vehicle in which exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell is discharged into the atmosphere via the first and second exhaust pipes, wherein the first exhaust pipe has a larger diameter than the second exhaust pipe. The rear end of the first exhaust pipe is formed into a T-shape by connecting a pipe that opens in the left-right direction of the vehicle body to the rear end of the first exhaust pipe at a right angle. Forming
A fuel cell electric vehicle, wherein the second exhaust pipe is arranged along the first exhaust pipe, and a rear end thereof is opened close to a rear end of the first exhaust pipe.