JP4196208B2 - Mobile hydrogen supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile hydrogen supply apparatus that loads and supplies hydrogen gas used as a fuel source for an automobile or the like on a vehicle.

In recent years, the use of hydrogen gas or the like as an alternative energy for automobile fuels such as gasoline and light oil has been studied due to the demand for environmental energy problems. Such fuel gas is filled into a fuel tank mounted on an automobile by a gas filling device as compressed high-pressure hydrogen gas. The present applicant has disclosed, for example, a hydrogen fuel supply system for a hydrogen automobile that travels using hydrogen gas as fuel (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-217016 (pages 3 to 4, FIG. 1)

  In a conventional fuel supply system, for example, a high-pressure fuel gas stored in a gas cylinder or the like as a gas supply source is supplied to an accumulator, and a fuel tank mounted on an automobile is filled from the accumulator through a gas filling device. Yes. In the future, in order for such vehicles using hydrogen gas as fuel to spread, it will be necessary to install a large number of gas fuel filling stations similar to conventional gasoline filling stations. In order to supply hydrogen gas to these gas filling stations, for example, hydrogen gas produced in a hydrogen production plant or the like is delivered by transportation means such as a vehicle, or a reformer is installed in the gas filling station and hydrogen gas is supplied. Gas can be produced. However, in the case of delivery by means of transportation such as the former vehicle, since a tank storing high-pressure hydrogen gas is delivered by vehicle, it is difficult to supply a large amount of hydrogen gas at a time and the efficiency is low. When hydrogen gas is produced at a gas filling station, there is a problem that the reformer is expensive and the cost of capital investment increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a mobile hydrogen supply apparatus that can efficiently and easily supply hydrogen gas to a gas fuel filling station.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel tank storing a liquid fuel for generating hydrogen gas, and reforming for generating hydrogen gas using the liquid fuel supplied from the fuel tank. A unit, a gas purification unit for increasing the purity of the hydrogen gas produced by the reforming unit , a compressor using the hydrogen gas purified by the gas purification unit as a high-pressure gas, and the hydrogen pressure increased by the compressor A flow meter for measuring gas is mounted on the vehicle, and a liquid level sensor for detecting a liquid level of the liquid fuel is provided in the fuel tank, and a vapor pressure detection sensor when the liquid fuel evaporates in the fuel tank. The hydrogen gas generation operation is displayed on a display device or notified to a notification device by the liquid level detection of the liquid level sensor, and the gas pressure of the hydrogen gas is supplied to the compressor. A pressure sensor is provided for detecting, by the gas pressure detection of the pressure sensor informed on the display or annunciator on the display operation of generating hydrogen gas, and characterized by supplying hydrogen gas produced is delivered to the gas filling stations To do. Since the vehicle is equipped with a fuel tank and equipment for generating hydrogen gas, hydrogen gas can be efficiently and easily supplied to the gas fuel filling station. In addition, the level of hydrogen gas can be detected by detecting the level of the liquid with a liquid level sensor and notifying with a display or an alarm, and the gas pressure can be detected with a pressure sensor and notifying with an indicator or an alarm. To know the hydrogen gas production status.

  In the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus of the present invention, a fuel tank that stores liquid fuel for generating hydrogen gas, a reforming unit that generates hydrogen gas from the liquid fuel supplied from the fuel tank, and a reforming unit that generates hydrogen gas. A gas purification unit that increases the purity of the generated hydrogen gas is mounted on the vehicle, and the hydrogen gas delivered to the gas filling station is supplied, so that the hydrogen gas can be efficiently and easily supplied to the gas fuel filling station. It becomes possible.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to an illustrated embodiment. 1-3 is a figure explaining the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus of embodiment of this invention, FIG. 1 is a figure explaining the state which supplies the hydrogen gas to a gas fuel filling station by a mobile hydrogen supply apparatus, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus.

  The mobile hydrogen supply apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a fuel tank 12 that stores a source fuel for generating hydrogen gas, a reforming unit 13 that generates hydrogen gas from the source fuel supplied from the fuel tank 12, A gas purification unit 14 that increases the purity of the hydrogen gas generated by the reforming unit 13 and a compressor 15 that uses the hydrogen gas purified by the gas purification unit 14 as a high-pressure gas include, for example, a truck such as a tank truck. It is mounted on the vehicle 11. The mobile hydrogen supply device 10 is delivered to a predetermined gas filling station 24, and the hydrogen gas generated there is supplied from the compressor 15 to a receiving tank 25 via a predetermined hose 23. ing.

The fuel tank 12 is a tank in which liquid fuel such as gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, desulfurized gasoline, and light oil, which is a hydrogen gas source fuel, is stored, and a liquid level sensor 17 for detecting the amount of liquid fuel. And a vapor pressure detection sensor 19 when the liquid fuel evaporates in the tank, and a supply port 16 that can be filled whenever the liquid fuel runs short. The vapor pressure detection sensor 19 is for detecting an abnormality in the vapor pressure in the fuel tank 12 while the vehicle 11 is moving. When gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, or the like is used as the liquid fuel, a desulfurization facility that removes impurities from the source fuel is usually required on the upstream side of the reforming unit 13, but when desulfurized gasoline, light oil, or the like is used, This eliminates the need for desulfurization equipment. The reforming unit 13 generates hydrogen gas by chemically reacting the source fuel. For example, when gasoline is used as a source fuel, a reaction for obtaining hydrogen and carbon dioxide by passing gasoline and water through a predetermined catalyst is used. The gas purification unit 14 is a part that performs a process of removing the impurity gas from the gas generated by the reforming unit 13 and increasing the purity of the hydrogen gas. The compressor 15 is a portion that converts the hydrogen gas purified by the gas purification unit 14 into a high-pressure gas of about 10 to 20 MPa (megapascals), for example. Further, the compressor 15 is provided with a pressure sensor 18 for detecting the gas pressure of the high-pressure hydrogen gas. In addition, a display 21 and an alarm 22 for notifying the generation status and abnormality of the hydrogen gas are provided at a place visible from the driver's seat of the vehicle 11 or a predetermined outside of the rear cargo bed. The display device 21 and the notification device 22 are controlled by the control device 20 receiving signals detected by the liquid level sensor 17 and the pressure sensor 18.

  The gas filling station 24 includes a receiving tank 25 that receives the hydrogen gas generated when the vehicle 11 of the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus 10 is stopped and is pressurized by the compressor 15, and a hydrogen gas supplied from the receiving tank 25. A compressor 26 for increasing pressure, a squeeze pressure device 27 for temporarily storing hydrogen gas increased by the compressor 26, and hydrogen gas supplied from the stagnation pressure device 27 via a control valve 28 are supplied to a fuel tank of an automobile. A gas filling device 29 for filling is installed. The receiving tank 25 is a tank having a capacity capable of storing a sufficient amount of, for example, a high-pressure hydrogen gas of about 20 MPa supplied from the compressor 15 via the hose 23. The compressor 26 increases the gas pressure of the hydrogen gas supplied from the receiving tank 25 to, for example, about 40 MPa. The hydrogen gas whose pressure has been increased by the compressor 26 is stored in the animal pressure machine 27 at a pressure of about 40 MPa. In order to efficiently supply hydrogen gas to the gas filling device 29, a plurality of animal pressure devices 27 whose pressures are set in stages may be provided. The gas filling device 29 is a device for measuring the flow rate of the hydrogen gas supplied from the animal pressure device 27 via the control valve 28 and filling the fuel tank of the automobile with a pressure of about 25 MPa, for example.

  Next, the display and notification operation in the hydrogen gas generation of the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be specifically described. First, when the generation of hydrogen gas is started and the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 18 falls below a predetermined value, or when the liquid fuel in the fuel tank 12 decreases and the liquid level sensor 17 detects a predetermined lower limit or less. (ST1) Under the control of the control device 20, a notification is given by the notification device 22 and hydrogen generation impossibility is displayed on the display device 21 (ST2). When the liquid fuel in the fuel tank 12 is small, the fuel shortage from the supply port 16 is filled. Subsequently, when the pressure sensor 18 is at a predetermined appropriate pressure generating hydrogen gas or when the liquid fuel in the fuel tank 12 detects an appropriate lower limit or more (ST3), the alarm 22 is normal. And the display 21 displays that hydrogen is being generated (ST4). Next, when the pressure sensor 18 detects an abnormal pressure in a state where the liquid fuel is not insufficient (ST5), the notification device 22 notifies that the pressure is abnormal and displays it on the display device 22. In the case of this abnormal pressure, hydrogen production is stopped.

  In the mobile hydrogen supply device 10 configured as described above, a vehicle 11 stores a fuel tank 12 storing a source fuel for hydrogen gas generation, a reforming unit 13 that generates hydrogen gas using the source fuel, and a generated hydrogen gas. A gas purification unit 14 for increasing the purity and a compressor 15 using the purified hydrogen gas as a high-pressure gas are mounted, hydrogen gas is generated at a predetermined gas filling station 24, and the generated hydrogen gas is passed through a hose 23. Then, the fuel gas is supplied to the receiving tank 25, and hydrogen gas is filled from the receiving tank 25 into the fuel tank of the automobile through the compressor 26, the animal pressure device 27 and the gas filling device 29. Therefore, since hydrogen gas can be generated at the gas filling station 24 using liquid fuel, which is a source fuel for hydrogen generation stored in the fuel tank 12 mounted on the vehicle 11, a large amount of fuel gas is efficiently and easily supplied. In addition, it is not necessary to install an expensive reformer in each gas filling station 24, and the cost of capital investment is not increased.

The fuel tank 12 may be any tank that can store at least a liquid fuel serving as a hydrogen gas source fuel, and can have any capacity that can be mounted on the vehicle 11. Moreover, although the example which provided the indicator 21 and the alerting | reporting device 22 and displayed and alert | reported the production | generation operation | movement of hydrogen gas was demonstrated, only one side may be sufficient. Furthermore, the compressor 15 can be provided on the gas filling station 24 side without being mounted on the vehicle 11 as necessary. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, as another embodiment of the present invention, a flow meter 30 mounted on the vehicle 11 is provided after the compressor 15 , and the hydrogen gas increased in pressure by the flow meter 30 is measured. It may be possible to supply to the receiving tank 25.

  The present invention can be used in a mobile hydrogen supply device that supplies hydrogen gas used as a fuel source for automobiles and the like.

It is a figure explaining the state which is supplying the hydrogen gas to a gas fuel filling station by the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus of this invention embodiment. It is a figure explaining the structure of the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the state which is supplying the hydrogen gas to a gas fuel filling station with the mobile hydrogen supply apparatus of other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile hydrogen supply apparatus 11 Vehicle 12 Fuel tank 13 Reforming unit 14 Gas purification unit 15 Compressor 16 Supply port 17 Liquid level sensor 18 Pressure sensor 19 Vapor pressure detection sensor 20 Controller 21 Indicator 22 Indicator 23 Hose 24 Gas Filling station 25 Receiving tank 26 Compressor 27 Pressure generator 28 Control valve 29 Gas filling device 30 Flow meter

Claims (1)

A fuel tank storing liquid fuel for generating hydrogen gas, a reforming unit that generates hydrogen gas from the liquid fuel supplied from the fuel tank, and a gas purification that increases the purity of the hydrogen gas generated by the reforming unit A unit , a compressor that uses the hydrogen gas purified by the gas purification unit as a high-pressure gas, and a flow meter that measures the hydrogen gas increased in pressure by the compressor are mounted on a vehicle, and the fuel tank includes In addition, a liquid level sensor for detecting the liquid level of the liquid fuel and a vapor pressure detection sensor when the liquid fuel evaporates in the fuel tank are provided, and hydrogen gas generation operation is performed by detecting the liquid level of the liquid level sensor. The compressor is provided with a pressure sensor for detecting the gas pressure of hydrogen gas, and the pressure sensor detects the gas pressure of the pressure sensor. More informed on the display or annunciator on the display operation of generating hydrogen gas, mobile hydrogen supply device and supplying the hydrogen gas produced is delivered to the gas filling stations.

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