JP3206195B2 - Hydrogen storage measuring device and hydrogen storage device equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage amount measuring device and a hydrogen storage device equipped with the same, and more particularly to a hydrogen storage amount measuring device suitable for improving the accuracy of hydrogen storage amount measurement and a device equipped with the same. To a hydrogen storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of storing hydrogen, there is a method of storing hydrogen by storing a hydrogen storage alloy in a hydrogen storage alloy storage tank and causing the hydrogen storage alloy to store hydrogen. By the way, when measuring the amount of hydrogen occluded in the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank, in other words, when measuring the amount of hydrogen storage in the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank, the amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage alloy is determined. It is a common practice to measure the amount of hydrogen stored using the characteristic (see FIG. 5) between the hydrogen storage amount and the hydrogen equilibrium pressure (tank pressure).

[0003]

However, in the conventional hydrogen storage amount measuring apparatus, the hydrogen storage amount is measured by using the characteristics shown in FIG. 5, but the hydrogen storage amount and the hydrogen equilibrium in the hydrogen storage alloy are measured. Since the pressure is not proportional to the pressure, the hydrogen storage amount cannot be measured with high accuracy from the hydrogen equilibrium pressure, and thus there is a problem that the measured value of the hydrogen storage amount is not reliable.

[0004]

An object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of the measured value of the hydrogen storage amount by improving the disadvantages of the prior art described above, and in particular, by improving the measurement accuracy of the hydrogen storage amount in the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydrogen storage amount measuring device and a hydrogen storage device equipped with the same.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a hydrogen storage device having a tank main body storing a hydrogen storage alloy, wherein the hydrogen storage device is provided with a hydrogen storage alloy. In the hydrogen storage amount measuring device for measuring the hydrogen storage amount, for measuring the same composition as the hydrogen storage alloy embedded in the tank body through a filter having a physical property that does not change its shape with respect to changes in environmental factors and the like A storage unit that stores the hydrogen storage alloy, an optical fiber unit disposed in contact with the measurement hydrogen storage alloy in the storage unit via an elastic member, and a light source unit that causes light to enter the optical fiber unit. A photoelectric conversion unit that detects light that is refracted and emitted within the optical fiber unit with the incidence of light from the light source unit into the optical fiber unit and outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of detected light. Have We are trying to be. This aims to achieve the above object.

[0006]

According to the present invention, when measuring the amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage device, light is incident on the optical fiber from the light source. At this time, the elastic member is deformed in accordance with the volume change according to the hydrogen storage amount of the hydrogen storage alloy for measurement stored in the storage portion, but the filter has physical properties such that the shape does not change in response to changes in environmental factors and the like. It does not deform. As a result, the deformation of the elastic member is transmitted to the optical fiber portion, and the refractive index of the optical fiber changes. As a result, the light incident on the optical fiber portion is refracted and emitted according to the change in the refractive index of the optical fiber. It is detected by the photoelectric conversion unit. Accordingly, the photoelectric conversion unit outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of the detection light. That is, since the volume change of the hydrogen storage alloy particles for measurement can be detected as a change in the output voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit, the amount of crushed optical fiber is calculated from the change in output voltage, and the calculated result is proportional to the amount of crushed optical fiber. It is possible to sequentially calculate a certain volume expansion coefficient and a hydrogen storage amount proportional to the volume expansion rate from the calculation result. Therefore, if the volume ratio between the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage device and the hydrogen storage alloy for measurement is known, the hydrogen storage amount in the hydrogen storage device can be measured with high accuracy, and as a result, the hydrogen storage amount Can improve the reliability of the measured values.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a hydrogen storage amount measuring apparatus of the present invention and a hydrogen storage apparatus equipped with the same will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a structural view of a main part of a hydrogen storage alloy storage tank equipped with a hydrogen storage amount measuring device according to the present embodiment. The hydrogen storage alloy particles 2 are stored. At the opening of the outer wall 3 of the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1, a mounting member 5 having a hole 4 at the center is provided with bolts 6,
The space between the outer wall 3 and the mounting member 5 is sealed by O-rings 8 and 9 for preventing leakage of hydrogen gas. A quartz glass 10 is disposed on the lower surface of the mounting member 5, and the space between the mounting member 5 and the quartz glass 10 is sealed by O-rings 11 and 12 for preventing hydrogen gas from leaking.

Further, a support member 13 for supporting the quartz glass 10 is disposed on the lower surface of the mounting member 5, and a gap between the quartz glass 10 and the support member 13 for preventing hydrogen gas leakage is provided. Sealed by rings 14,15. A sintered filter 16 is provided on the lower surface of the support member 13, and the sintered filter 16 is fixed to the support member 13 by a filter pressing member 17 and screws 18 and 19. In this case, the sintered filter 16 has good thermal conductivity mainly composed of, for example, copper so that the temperature environment of the hydrogen storage alloy particles 2 for fuel and the hydrogen storage alloy particles 23 for measurement are substantially the same. It is composed of materials.

A rubber-coated fiber portion 22 composed of an optical fiber 20 and a rubber 21 for coating the outer peripheral portion of the optical fiber is provided at the center of the inside of the sintered filter 16. A small amount of hydrogen storage alloy particles 23 for measurement serving as a sample when measuring the amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1 is stored in the storage section 1B partitioned by the outer periphery of the rubber-coated optical fiber section 22. Have been. The hydrogen storage alloy particles for measurement 23 have the same physical properties (for example, titanium iron-based), hydrogen storage / release characteristics, and volume expansion characteristics as those of the hydrogen storage alloy particles for fuel 2.

In this case, since the volume expansion coefficient of the hydrogen-absorbing alloy particles for measurement 23 is extremely large at a maximum of about 30 to 40%, the hydrogen-absorbing alloy particles for measurement 23 are elastically deformed by the rubber 21 of the rubber-coated optical fiber portion 22. It has come to support. When the hydrogen-absorbing alloy particles 23 for measurement release hydrogen, the hydrogen-absorbing alloy particles 23 for measurement contract themselves, but the rubber 21 of the rubber-coated optical fiber portion 22 has a sufficient elasticity. Returns to its original shape.

On the other hand, outside the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1, a light source 24 using, for example, a semiconductor laser or the like, reflects the output light of the light source 24 and transmits the refracted light from the rubber-coated optical fiber section 22. A half mirror 25 and a photoelectric conversion element 26 that outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of light transmitted through the half mirror 25 to a hydrogen storage amount measuring unit (not shown) are provided.

That is, the rubber coated optical fiber section 2 described above
2, light source 24, half mirror 25, photoelectric conversion element 26,
The hydrogen storage amount measurement unit and the like constitute a hydrogen storage amount measurement device.

Next, the operation of the embodiment constructed as described above will be described.

The amount of hydrogen occlusion of a large amount of the hydrogen storage alloy particles 2 for fuel stored in the tank main body 1A of the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1, that is, the total hydrogen storage amount in the tank main body 1A is measured. Therefore, when light is output from the light source 24,
The output light is reflected by the half mirror 25, passes through the hole 4 of the mounting member 5 of the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1, passes through the quartz glass 10, and enters the optical fiber 20 of the rubber coated optical fiber 22. Light.

On the other hand, the hydrogen storage alloy particles 23 for measurement stored in the storage section 1B between the sintered filter 16 and the rubber-coated optical fiber section 22 of the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1 are:
The volume is expanded in accordance with the hydrogen storage amount, and the volume expansion is transmitted to the rubber 21 of the rubber-coated optical fiber portion 22.
Thereby, the optical fiber 2 of the rubber coated optical fiber section 22 is
0 indicates that the refractive index changes according to the deformation of the rubber 21.
The “crush amount” changes.

Therefore, the light entering the optical fiber 20 of the rubber-coated optical fiber section 22 is refracted according to the “crush amount” of the optical fiber 20, passes through the original path, and passes through the half mirror 25. Thereafter, light enters the photoelectric conversion element 26.
As a result, the photoelectric conversion element 26 outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of transmitted light to the above-described hydrogen storage amount measurement unit.

Thereafter, the hydrogen storage amount measuring unit calculates the output voltage of the photoelectric conversion element and the amount of crushed optical fiber shown in FIG.
The “optical fiber crush amount” corresponding to the output voltage of the photoelectric conversion element 26 is calculated. Further, based on the optical fiber crushing amount-volume expansion coefficient characteristic of FIG. 3, the "volume expansion coefficient" of the hydrogen storage alloy particles 23 for measurement corresponding to the "optical fiber crushing amount".
Is calculated. Further, the “hydrogen storage amount” corresponding to the “volume expansion coefficient” of the hydrogen storage alloy particles for measurement 23 is calculated based on the volume expansion coefficient-hydrogen storage amount characteristic of FIG. Then, based on the ratio of the amount of the hydrogen storage alloy particles for fuel 2 in the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1 to the amount of the hydrogen storage alloy particles for measurement 23, the hydrogen occlusion stored in the hydrogen storage alloy particles for fuel 2 is performed. Quantity, in other words, hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1
Calculate the amount of hydrogen storage remaining in

As described above, according to this embodiment, the volume expansion of the hydrogen storage alloy particles 23 for measurement is measured by the photoelectric conversion element 26.
, The amount of optical fiber collapse is calculated from the output voltage change, the volume expansion rate of the measuring hydrogen storage alloy particles 23 in a proportional relationship is calculated from the amount of optical fiber collapse, and the volume expansion rate is calculated. Calculates the hydrogen storage amount of the hydrogen storage alloy particles for measurement 23 in a proportional relationship from the above, so that the hydrogen storage amount in the hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1 can be measured with high accuracy, and therefore, the measurement of the hydrogen storage amount The reliability of the value can be improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the sintered filter 1
6 has a structure in which the inner peripheral side of the hydrogen storage alloy particles for fuel 2 stored inside is elastically supported by the rubber-coated optical fiber portion 22, so that a special support mechanism for the hydrogen storage alloy particles for fuel 2 becomes unnecessary. Cost can be reduced.

According to this embodiment, the photoelectric conversion element 2
6, the hydrogen storage amount is measured based on the output voltage, that is, since there is no mechanical part at the measurement point,
The configuration can be simplified.

[0022]

As described above, according to the hydrogen storage amount measuring apparatus and the hydrogen storage apparatus equipped with the same according to the present invention,
The storage unit that stores the hydrogen-absorbing alloy for measurement embedded in the tank body through a filter that has physical properties that do not change in shape due to environmental factors, etc., and abuts on the hydrogen-absorbing alloy for measurement via an elastic member. An optical fiber unit disposed in a state, a light source unit for making light incident on the optical fiber unit, and a photoelectric conversion unit for outputting a voltage corresponding to the amount of light refracted and emitted in the optical fiber unit are provided. Configuration,
The change in volume of the hydrogen storage alloy particles for measurement can be detected as a change in the output voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit, whereby the amount of crushed optical fiber is calculated from the change in output voltage, and the calculated result is proportional to the amount of crushed optical fiber. Since a certain volume expansion coefficient can be sequentially calculated from the calculation result, the hydrogen storage amount proportional to the volume expansion coefficient, if the volume ratio between the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage device and the hydrogen storage alloy for measurement is known,
The hydrogen storage amount in the hydrogen storage device can be measured with high accuracy, and therefore, a remarkable effect that the reliability of the measured value of the hydrogen storage amount can be improved can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of a hydrogen storage alloy storage tank equipped with a hydrogen storage amount measuring device of the present embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a photoelectric conversion element output voltage and an optical fiber crushing amount.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an optical fiber crushing amount and a volume expansion coefficient.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a volume expansion coefficient and a hydrogen storage amount.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a hydrogen equilibrium pressure and a hydrogen storage amount.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hydrogen storage alloy storage tank 1A Tank main body 1B Storage part 2 Hydrogen storage alloy storage particles for fuel 16 Sintered filter as filter 20 Optical fiber 21 Rubber as elastic member 22 Rubber coated optical fiber as optical fiber 23 Measurement Storage particles for hydrogen storage alloy 24 Light source as light source unit 25 Half mirror 26 Photoelectric conversion element as photoelectric conversion unit

Continuation of front page (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 21/00-21/61 F02M 21/02 F17C 11/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hydrogen storage device which is attached to a hydrogen storage device having a tank main body storing a hydrogen storage alloy and measures a hydrogen storage amount in the tank main body based on a volume change according to a hydrogen storage amount of the hydrogen storage alloy. In the quantity measuring device, a storage unit containing a hydrogen storage alloy for measurement having the same composition as the hydrogen storage alloy embedded in the tank main body through a filter having physical properties that do not change in shape due to fluctuations in environmental factors and the like. An optical fiber portion disposed in contact with the hydrogen-absorbing alloy for measurement in the storage portion via an elastic member, and a light source portion for making light incident on the optical fiber portion; Hydrogen storage, comprising: a photoelectric conversion unit that detects light that is refracted and emitted within the optical fiber unit in response to light entering the fiber unit and outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of the detected light. Measuring device. 2. A hydrogen storage device having a hydrogen storage amount measuring function for storing a hydrogen storage alloy and measuring a hydrogen storage amount based on a volume change according to the hydrogen storage amount of the hydrogen storage alloy, comprising: A hydrogen storage alloy for measurement having the same composition as that of the hydrogen storage alloy for fuel, which is embedded through a tank main body storing the alloy and a filter having a physical property that does not change its shape with respect to fluctuations in environmental factors and the like in the tank main body. A light source unit that includes an optical fiber unit disposed in contact with the measurement hydrogen storage alloy in the storage unit via an elastic member, and that causes light to enter the optical fiber unit; A photoelectric conversion unit that detects light emitted from the light source unit after being refracted in the optical fiber unit as light enters the optical fiber unit from the light source unit and outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of the detected light. The photoelectric conversion The volume expansion coefficient of the hydrogen storage alloy for measurement is calculated based on the output voltage of the exchange unit, and the hydrogen storage amount of the hydrogen storage alloy for measurement is calculated based on the volume expansion coefficient. A hydrogen storage amount calculation unit for calculating the hydrogen storage amount of the fuel hydrogen storage alloy based on the volume ratio of the fuel hydrogen storage alloy and calculating the hydrogen storage amount in the tank body based on the hydrogen storage amount; A hydrogen storage device characterized by the above-mentioned.