JP4540626B2 - Watering wheel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a watering vehicle, and more particularly, to a watering vehicle that uses natural gas hydrate (NGH) as fuel.

In recent years, natural gas hydrate (NGH) has attracted attention as a fuel in consideration of the global environment (see Non-Patent Document 1). NGH is an clathrate hydrate in which natural gas molecules (guests) mainly composed of methane, ethane, propane, etc. are incorporated into a cluster of water molecules, and is about 170 under an atmospheric pressure environment of minus 20 ° C. Double the gas can be stored. As gas energy, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is well known, but since LNG is manufactured and stored at an extremely low temperature of minus 162 ° C, NGH is used in the entire system of manufacturing, transportation, storage and gasification. There are many advantages over LNG. NGH is attracting attention as clean energy because it emits less carbon dioxide and air pollutants than gasoline.
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., “Natural Gas Hydrate (NGH)-Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding”, [online], [Search on March 14, 2006], Internet <URL: http://www.mes.co.jp/mes_technology /ngh.html>

  An automobile using NGH as a fuel (referred to as an NGH automobile) uses methane gas or the like obtained by the decomposition of NGH as a fuel, but when NGH is decomposed, a large amount of water is produced as a secondary. Since the generation rate of water is about 80% by volume ratio with respect to NGH, a considerably large amount of water is generated. However, since there is no way to use this water in the conventional NGH automobile, it has to be drained as it is.

  By the way, a road cleaning vehicle that cleans the road surface at night collects dirt on the road surface with a brush, and dust is generated at that time. For this reason, usually, a watering vehicle travels in front of a road surface cleaning car, and the road surface is wetted with water. Such a water truck has a problem that it is necessary to provide both a fuel tank and a water storage tank, and a sufficient amount of water cannot be sprayed. In addition, it was necessary to replenish fuel and water separately.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a watering vehicle utilizing water obtained by decomposition of NGH.

  The object of the present invention is to provide an NGH tank in which NGH is stored, an NGH decomposition apparatus that decomposes NGH supplied from the NGH tank to generate fuel gas and water, an engine driven by the fuel gas, It is achieved by a watering vehicle comprising a watering mechanism for watering the water on or around the road.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the watering mechanism includes at least one watering nozzle for watering the water on or around the road.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the watering mechanism sprays the water using an NGH decomposition pressure by the NGH decomposition apparatus. According to this, water can be sprinkled without using a pump or the like.

  In the present invention, the water sprinkling mechanism further includes a water storage tank for storing the water generated by the NGH decomposition apparatus, and a pump for pumping out water in the water storage tank, and the water pumped out by the pump It is preferable to spray water. According to this, the water produced | generated by the NGH decomposition | disassembly apparatus can be stored temporarily, and the stored water can be sprinkled suitably. The watering mechanism may further include a water storage tank that stores the water generated by the NGH decomposition apparatus, and water in the water storage tank may be sprinkled using gravity. In this case, a pump is not necessary.

  In the present invention, the watering mechanism further includes a water storage tank for storing the water generated by the NGH decomposition apparatus, and a pump for pumping out water in the water storage tank, and the watering nozzle is disposed in front of the vehicle. And a second watering nozzle provided at the rear of the vehicle, wherein the first watering nozzle sprays water pumped from the water storage tank by the pump. More preferably, the second watering nozzle sprays water in the water storage tank using gravity.

  In the present invention, the storage tank further includes a storage volume measuring device for measuring the storage volume in the storage tank, and the water obtained from the NGH decomposing device when the storage volume is equal to or less than a predetermined volume is stored in the storage tank. It is preferable to store in.

  In the present invention, the water storage tank preferably includes a water supply port for replenishing water from the outside. According to this, sufficient water can be replenished in the water storage tank at any time.

  According to the present invention, an NGH decomposition device is mounted on a watering vehicle, fuel gas obtained from NGH is used as fuel for the watering vehicle, and water obtained from NGH is used as water for watering. It becomes possible to store more water (water contained in NGH) compared to a water truck equipped with a fuel tank. Moreover, since both fuel and water are replenished only by replenishing NGH, the trouble of replenishing water for watering can be saved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a water truck 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the watering vehicle 10 stores a vehicle body 11, an NGH tank 12 in which NGH is stored, an NGH decomposing device 13 for decomposing NGH supplied from the NGH tank 12, and water for watering. In addition, a water storage tank 14 for storing water decomposed by the NGH decomposition device 13 and watering nozzles 15 a and 15 b provided respectively in front and rear of the vehicle main body 11 are provided. And the water truck 10 of this embodiment has the function to sprinkle the water in the water storage tank 14 from the water spray nozzles 15a and 15b. The water generated by the NGH decomposition device 13 is stored in a water storage tank 14, and the water in the water storage tank 14 is pumped out by a pump and sprinkled from watering nozzles 15a and 15b. In addition, the watering vehicle 10 includes various components for functioning as a normal vehicle, but since it is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, illustration and description thereof are omitted here. .

  As shown in the figure, the NGH tank 12, the NGH decomposition device 13, and the water storage tank 14 are provided in the cargo loading area behind the vehicle. The watering nozzles 15a and 15b are provided at both the front and rear of the vehicle so that water can spread over the entire road surface even during traveling, and the number of watering nozzles, the direction of the watering nozzles, the watering method, and the like are determined. The water storage tank 14 is provided with a water supply port 14a, and water can be replenished from the outside in addition to the water generated by the NGH decomposition apparatus 13.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the NGH decomposition apparatus 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the NGH decomposition apparatus 13 includes an NGH decomposition tank 21 for decomposing NGH supplied from the NGH tank 12, an electric heater 22 for heating the NGH decomposition tank 21, and an electric heater 22. And a controller 23 for controlling. The fuel gas generated in the NGH decomposition tank 21 is discharged from the gas discharge port 21a of the NGH decomposition tank 21, and the water generated in the NGH decomposition tank 21 is discharged from the drain port 21b. The water obtained at this time is cold water, and the water temperature is lower than room temperature. In addition, you may provide the water temperature regulator which adjusts the temperature of the water obtained with the NGH decomposition | disassembly tank 21. FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the fuel system of the water truck 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fuel system of the water truck 10 includes an NGH tank 12 and an NGH decomposition device 13, an engine 32 connected to the NGH decomposition device 13 via a fuel pipe 31, and an NGH decomposition for the engine 32. A gas container 33 connected in parallel with the device 12, and a gas filling valve 34, a check valve 35, a main stop valve 36, a fuel cutoff valve 37, and a pressure reducing valve (regulator) 38 inserted in the fuel pipe 31. I have.

  The gas filling valve 34 is opened when the fuel gas is supplied from the NGH decomposition apparatus 13, and is closed when the fuel gas is not supplied. The check valve 35 is provided to prevent the fuel gas in the gas container 33 from flowing back to the damaged portion when the fuel pipe near the gas discharge port of the NGH decomposition apparatus 13 is damaged. Gas release is prevented. The main stop valve 36 is provided to automatically shut off the fuel supply to the engine 32 in an emergency. The fuel cutoff valve 37 is used when stopping the engine, and shuts off the supply of fuel gas to the engine 32. The regulator 38 is used for adjusting the pressure of the fuel gas.

  In the present embodiment, the fuel gas generated by the NGH decomposition apparatus 13 is compressed and stored in the gas container 33. Normally, the fuel gas is supplied from the NGH decomposition device 13 via the gas filling valve 34, but it can also be supplied from the gas container 33. When fuel gas is supplied from the gas container 33, the gas filling valve 34 may be closed and the main stop valve 36 and the fuel cutoff valve 37 may be opened. On the other hand, when the fuel gas is compressed and stored in the gas container 33, the gas filling valve 34 is opened, the main stop valve 36 and the fuel shut-off valve 37 are closed, and then the fuel gas is sent from the NGH decomposition device 13. . In this way, the fuel gas from the NGH decomposition device 13 or the gas container 33 is sent to the regulator 38 through the fuel pipe 31, and is decompressed from, for example, 2.0 MPa to 0.4 MPa by the regulator 38 and then supplied to the engine 32. .

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the water distribution system of the water truck 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the water distribution system of the water truck 10 includes an NGH tank 12, an NGH decomposition device 13, a water storage tank 14, a liquid level gauge 41 that measures the amount of water stored in the water storage tank 14, and first and second Water spray nozzles 15a and 15b, water distribution pipes 42a and 42b for connecting the water storage tank 14 and water spray nozzles 15a and 15b, pump 43 and water spray valve 44a inserted in the middle of the water distribution pipe 42a, and water distribution pipe 42b. And a watering valve 44b inserted in the middle. The water in the water storage tank 14 is pumped out by the pump 43 as necessary, and is sprayed from the water spray nozzle 15a onto the road or around it through the water distribution pipe 42a. On the other hand, the water in the water storage tank 14 is also sprinkled from the sprinkling nozzle 15b through the water distribution pipe 42b. In this case, the water in the water storage tank 14 is sprinkled using gravity. The watering amount can be adjusted by the opening / closing amounts of the watering valves 44a and 44b, and the direction of the watering nozzles 15a and 15b can also be adjusted vertically and horizontally.

  The amount of water in the water storage tank 14 is measured by a liquid level gauge 41, and when the amount of water storage becomes less than a predetermined amount, the NGH decomposing device 13 forcibly decomposes NGH regardless of the fuel gas requirement. The water tank 14 is replenished with water obtained by this decomposition. At this time, the fuel gas may be generated more than necessary, but there is no particular problem because the excessively generated fuel gas is compressed and stored in the gas container 33.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, not only the fuel gas obtained from the NGH decomposition device 13 is used as fuel for the water spray vehicle, but also the water obtained from the NGH decomposition device 13 is used as water for watering. Water that is a by-product of NGH can be used effectively. Moreover, since both fuel and water are replenished only by replenishing NGH, the trouble of replenishing water for watering can be saved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the water in the water storage tank is pumped out to the watering nozzle, but the pump for water discharge is not essential, and the high-pressure water obtained from the NGH decomposition apparatus should be used. For example, the pump can be omitted.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where cold water was discharged was demonstrated, it is also possible to sprinkle warm water. In that case, a heater for heating the cold water drawn from the water storage tank is required. When warm water is discharged, it is possible to melt freezing on the road and some snow.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the liquid level meter 41 was mentioned as an example as a means to measure the water storage amount in the water storage tank 14, this invention is not limited to this, What kind of other water storage amount A measuring device may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the electrothermal heater is used for the heating for decomposing | disassembling NGH, it is also possible to utilize the exhaust heat of an engine. It is also possible to use a combination of both the exhaust heat of the engine and the electric heater, such as using an electric heater until the engine is warmed up.

  As a use of the water truck to which the present invention is applied, in addition to road surface cleaning, it can also be applied to dust prevention, water supply to vegetation, snow melting, and the like. In the case of dust prevention, water supply to vegetation, etc., gravity watering from the rear is preferable.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a water truck 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the NGH decomposition apparatus 13. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the fuel system of the water truck 10. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the water distribution system of the water truck 10.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Water spray vehicle 11 Vehicle main body 12 NGH tank 13 NGH decomposition | disassembly apparatus 14 Water storage tank 14a Water supply port 15a 1st water spray nozzle 15b 2nd water spray nozzle 21 NGH decomposition tank 21a Gas discharge port 21b Drain port 22 Electric heater 23 Controller 31 Fuel piping 32 Engine 33 Gas container 34 Gas filling valve 35 Check valve 36 Main stop valve 37 Fuel shut-off valve 38 Pressure reducing valve (regulator)
41 Level gauge 42a Water distribution pipe 42b Water distribution pipe 43 Pump 44a Watering valve 44b Watering valve

Claims (5)

An NGH tank in which NGH is stored;
An NGH decomposition apparatus that decomposes NGH supplied from the NGH tank to generate fuel gas and water;
An engine driven by the fuel gas;
A watering mechanism for watering the water on or around the road ,
The watering mechanism sprays the water using the NGH decomposition pressure by the NGH decomposition apparatus .   The watering vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the watering mechanism includes at least one watering nozzle for watering the water on or around the road. An NGH tank in which NGH is stored;
An NGH decomposition apparatus that decomposes NGH supplied from the NGH tank to generate fuel gas and water;
An engine driven by the fuel gas;
A watering mechanism for watering the water on or around the road,
The water sprinkling mechanism includes at least one water sprinkling nozzle that sprinkles the water on or around the road, a water storage tank that stores the water generated by the NGH decomposition device, and a pump for pumping out water in the water storage tank. The watering nozzle further includes a first watering nozzle provided in front of the vehicle, and a second watering nozzle provided in the rear of the vehicle, and the first watering nozzle includes the water storage nozzle. The water spray vehicle according to claim 2, wherein water pumped out from the tank by the pump is sprinkled, and the second water spray nozzle sprinkles water in the water storage tank using gravity. A water storage measuring device for measuring the amount of water stored in the water storage tank, and storing the water obtained from the NGH decomposing device in the water storage tank when the water storage amount is below a predetermined amount; The watering vehicle according to claim 3 . A water truck that sprinkles water on or around the road while traveling on the road,
An NGH tank in which NGH is stored;
An NGH decomposition apparatus that decomposes NGH supplied from the NGH tank to generate fuel gas and water;
An engine driven by the fuel gas;
And a watering mechanism for sprinkling the water on the road or around,
The watering mechanism is provided with at least one watering nozzle for spraying the water on or around the road .

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