JP4632119B2 - Fuel supply device - Google Patents

Fuel supply device Download PDF

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JP4632119B2
JP4632119B2 JP2004299296A JP2004299296A JP4632119B2 JP 4632119 B2 JP4632119 B2 JP 4632119B2 JP 2004299296 A JP2004299296 A JP 2004299296A JP 2004299296 A JP2004299296 A JP 2004299296A JP 4632119 B2 JP4632119 B2 JP 4632119B2
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fuel
pressure
tank
hydrogen
remaining amount
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JP2006112492A (en
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修 弓田
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Toyota Motor Corp
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    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/32—Hydrogen storage
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Description

本発明は、燃料供給装置に関し、特に、燃料充填後の正確な残量表示に有効な技術に関する。   The present invention relates to a fuel supply device, and more particularly to a technique effective for accurately displaying the remaining amount after fuel filling.

近年、燃料ガスと空気中の酸素との電気化学反応により発電を行う燃料電池を動力源とする燃料電池搭載車両の開発が行われており、この種車両に搭載される燃料電池システムの燃料供給装置として、複数の燃料タンクを備え、燃料電池駆動中は１つの燃料タンクを使用し、順次燃料タンクを切り換えるものが知られている（例えば、特許文献１，２参照）。また、この特許文献１には、燃料の残量を表示して燃料充填の注意を運転者に喚起する技術も開示されている。
特開２００１−２９５９９６号公報 特開２００４−０８４８０８号公報 In recent years, fuel cell-equipped vehicles using a fuel cell that generates power by an electrochemical reaction between fuel gas and oxygen in the air as a power source have been developed. Fuel supply for a fuel cell system mounted on this type of vehicle As a device, there is known a device that includes a plurality of fuel tanks, uses one fuel tank while the fuel cell is driven, and sequentially switches the fuel tanks (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Patent Document 1 also discloses a technique for displaying the remaining amount of fuel and alerting the driver to fuel filling.
JP 2001-295996 A JP 2004-084808 A

しかしながら、これら特許文献には、燃料電池駆動中の燃料残量表示については開示されているものの、燃料充填後起動時の残量表示についての開示はない。特に、起動時に１つの燃料タンクから燃料を放出するもの（特許文献２）にあっては、充填後の正確な残量表示が困難である。   However, these patent documents disclose a fuel remaining amount display during driving of the fuel cell, but do not disclose a remaining amount display at the time of starting after fuel filling. In particular, it is difficult to accurately display the remaining amount after filling in a device that discharges fuel from one fuel tank at startup (Patent Document 2).

そこで、本発明は、燃料充填後の正確な残量表示が可能な燃料供給装置の提供を目的とする。   Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply device that can accurately display the remaining amount after fuel filling.

本発明は、燃料タンクからの燃料の放出を制御する制御手段を備え、複数の燃料タンクのうち一部の燃料タンクから燃料放出を行う燃料供給装置であって、燃料タンクから放出される燃料の状態に基づいて燃料残量を検出する検出手段を備え、前記制御手段は燃料タンクへの燃料充填が確認された場合に、全部の燃料タンクから燃料を放出するものである。かかる燃料充填確認は起動時に行うのが好ましい。   The present invention is a fuel supply device that includes a control unit that controls the release of fuel from a fuel tank, and that discharges fuel from some of the plurality of fuel tanks. Detection means for detecting the remaining amount of fuel based on the state is provided, and the control means releases fuel from all the fuel tanks when it is confirmed that the fuel tanks are filled with fuel. Such fuel filling confirmation is preferably performed at the time of startup.

この構成では、燃料充填のあったことが確認されると、全部の燃料タンクから燃料が放出され、この放出された燃料の状態に基づいて燃料残量が検出されるので、燃料充填後の正確な残量表示が可能となる。かかる正確な残量表示は、少なくとも起動時に一部の燃料タンクから燃料放出を行う燃料供給装置において特に有効である。   In this configuration, when it is confirmed that the fuel has been filled, the fuel is released from all the fuel tanks, and the remaining amount of fuel is detected based on the state of the released fuel. Can be displayed. Such an accurate remaining amount display is particularly effective in a fuel supply apparatus that discharges fuel from some fuel tanks at least during startup.

前記制御手段は、停止時に一部の燃料タンクの圧力を記憶しておき、該圧力と起動時の燃料タンクの圧力とを比較して燃料充填を確認してもよい。   The control means may store the pressure of a part of the fuel tank at the time of stopping, and compare the pressure with the pressure of the fuel tank at the time of startup to confirm the fuel filling.

つまり、停止時に検出し記憶しておいた燃料タンクの圧力Ｐ１＿oldよりも、起動時に検出した燃料タンクの圧力Ｐ１の方が大きければ、燃料充填があったことに他ならないので、両者を比較すれば、燃料充填の有無を確認することができる。ただし、圧力センサの検出能や検出誤差等を考慮して、「Ｐ１−Ｐ１＿old ＞ 所定値Ｐ＿refuel」の条件を満たすときに、燃料充填があったと判断するのが誤検知防止の観点からは好ましい。   In other words, if the fuel tank pressure P1 detected at startup is greater than the fuel tank pressure P1_old detected and stored at the time of stoppage, there is no other reason that the fuel has been filled. The presence or absence of fuel filling can be confirmed. However, from the viewpoint of preventing erroneous detection, it is preferable to determine that the fuel has been filled when the condition of “P1−P1_old> predetermined value P_refuel” is satisfied in consideration of the detection capability and detection error of the pressure sensor.

本発明において、残量表示後は１つの燃料タンクにて燃料電池を駆動してもよい。また、本発明は、停止時に燃料供給系の漏れ検知を行ってもよい。さらに、本発明は、燃料タンクから燃料消費装置へと連なる配管に、燃料タンク側から順に遮断弁と調圧弁を備えていてもよい。   In the present invention, the fuel cell may be driven by one fuel tank after the remaining amount is displayed. Further, according to the present invention, leakage detection of the fuel supply system may be performed at the time of stop. Further, according to the present invention, a shut-off valve and a pressure regulating valve may be provided in order from the fuel tank side to a pipe connected from the fuel tank to the fuel consuming device.

以上の構成によれば、漏れ検知を圧力降下法にて行う際に、減圧対象となる高圧部の容積が必要最小限となる。よって、漏れ検知のより確実な実施、漏れ検知精度の向上、及び漏れ検知時間の短縮化を図ることができる。   According to the above configuration, when leak detection is performed by the pressure drop method, the volume of the high-pressure part that is the target of pressure reduction is minimized. Therefore, it is possible to perform leak detection more reliably, improve leak detection accuracy, and shorten the leak detection time.

本発明によれば、燃料充填のあったことが確認されると、全部の燃料タンクから燃料が放出され、この放出された燃料の状態に基づいて燃料残量が検出されるので、燃料充填後の正確な残量表示が可能となる。また、正確な残量表示を可能にしつつ、停止時に行う燃料供給系の漏れ検知をより確実に精度良く短時間で行うことが可能となる。   According to the present invention, when it is confirmed that the fuel has been filled, the fuel is released from all the fuel tanks, and the remaining amount of fuel is detected based on the state of the released fuel. It is possible to accurately display the remaining amount. Further, it is possible to accurately and accurately display the remaining amount, and to detect the leakage of the fuel supply system performed at the time of stopping more reliably and accurately in a short time.

次に本発明を実施するための好適な実施形態を、図面を参照しながら説明する。以下に説明する実施形態は、電気自動車等の移動体に搭載する燃料供給装置を備えた燃料電池システムであるが、本発明の一形態に過ぎず、その他据え置き型等の燃料電池システムにも適用可能である。   Next, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is a fuel cell system provided with a fuel supply device mounted on a moving body such as an electric vehicle, but it is only one aspect of the present invention, and is also applied to other stationary fuel cell systems. Is possible.

（第１の実施形態）
図１に第１の実施形態に係る燃料供給装置を備えた燃料電池システムのシステム構成図を示す。この図に示すように、当該燃料電池システムは、燃料電池スタック（燃料消費装置）１０に燃料である水素ガスを供給するための系統（以下、燃料供給系１）、空気を供給するための系統２、及び燃料電池スタック１０を冷却するための系統（不図示）を備えて構成されている。 (First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a fuel cell system including a fuel supply device according to the first embodiment. As shown in this figure, the fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack (fuel consuming device) 10 for supplying hydrogen gas as fuel (hereinafter referred to as fuel supply system 1), and a system for supplying air. 2 and a system (not shown) for cooling the fuel cell stack 10.

燃料電池スタック１０は、水素ガス、空気、冷却水の流路を有するセパレータと、一対のセパレータで挟み込まれたＭＥＡ（Membrane Electrode Assembly）とから構成されるセルとを複数積層したスタック構造を備えている。   The fuel cell stack 10 includes a stack structure in which a plurality of cells including a separator having a flow path of hydrogen gas, air, and cooling water and a MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) sandwiched between a pair of separators are stacked. Yes.

燃料電池スタック１０に水素ガスを供給するための燃料供給系（燃料供給装置）１は、水素ガスの供給源から順に、並設された複数（４本）の水素タンク（燃料タンク）１１、水素タンク１１と燃料電池スタック１０とを連通する配管１ａ、主止弁（制御手段、遮断弁）ＳＶ１〜４、主止弁ＳＶ１〜４−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１〜４間の管路圧力（燃料タンクから放出される燃料の状態）を検出する圧力センサ（検出手段）Ｐ１〜４、調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１〜４、調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１〜４−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ５間の管路圧力を検出する圧力センサＰ５、調圧弁Ｒｅｇ５、調圧弁Ｒｅｇ５−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ６間の管路圧力を検出する圧力センサＰ６、調圧弁Ｒｅｇ６、調圧弁Ｒｅｇ６−燃料電池スタック１０間の管路圧力を検出する圧力センサＰ７、制御部（制御手段）２０、及び残量表示部２１等を備えている。   A fuel supply system (fuel supply device) 1 for supplying hydrogen gas to the fuel cell stack 10 includes a plurality of (four) hydrogen tanks (fuel tanks) 11 arranged in order from the hydrogen gas supply source, hydrogen Pipe 1a that communicates between the tank 11 and the fuel cell stack 10, main stop valves (control means, shut-off valves) SV1 to 4, and main stop valves SV1 to pipe pressures 4 to 4 (regulating valves Reg1 to 4) (released from the fuel tank) Pressure sensors (detection means) P1 to P4, pressure regulators Reg1 to 4, pressure regulators Reg1 to pressure regulators P4 to detect the pressure in the pipeline between the pressure regulators Reg5, Pressure sensor P6 that detects a line pressure between the pressure regulating valve Reg5 and the pressure regulating valve Reg6, a pressure sensor P7 that detects a line pressure between the pressure regulating valve Reg6, the pressure regulating valve Reg6 and the fuel cell stack 10, and a control unit (control means) And a 0, and the remaining amount display unit 21 and the like.

水素タンク１１は、高圧水素タンクであるが、高圧水素タンクに代えて、水素吸蔵合金を用いた水素タンク、改質ガスによる水素供給機構、液体水素タンクから水素を供給するタンク、液化ガス燃料を貯蔵するタンク等を適用可能である。   The hydrogen tank 11 is a high-pressure hydrogen tank. Instead of the high-pressure hydrogen tank, a hydrogen tank using a hydrogen storage alloy, a hydrogen supply mechanism using a reformed gas, a tank for supplying hydrogen from a liquid hydrogen tank, a liquefied gas fuel A storage tank or the like is applicable.

主止弁ＳＶ１〜４は、各水素タンク１１からの水素ガス供給の有無を制御する。
調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１〜４はタンク内圧力を所定の高圧（例えば、３Ｍｐａ）に減圧し、調圧弁Ｒｅｇ５はこの高圧に減圧された水素ガスを中圧（例えば、１Ｍｐａ）に減圧し、調圧弁Ｒｅｇ６はこの中圧に減圧された水素ガスを低圧（例えば、０．２ＭＰａ）に減圧する。 The main stop valves SV1 to SV4 control whether or not hydrogen gas is supplied from each hydrogen tank 11.
The pressure regulating valves Reg1 to 4 reduce the tank internal pressure to a predetermined high pressure (for example, 3 Mpa), the pressure regulating valve Reg5 reduces the hydrogen gas reduced to the high pressure to a medium pressure (for example, 1 Mpa), and the pressure regulating valve Reg6 The hydrogen gas reduced to the intermediate pressure is reduced to a low pressure (for example, 0.2 MPa).

燃料電池スタック１０に空気を供給する系統２は、図１では図示を省略しているが、外気を浄化して燃料電池システムに取り入れるエアクリーナ、取り入れられた空気を制御部２０の制御に従って圧縮し供給する空気量や空気圧を変更するコンプレッサ、圧縮された空気に対し、空気オフガスと水分の交換を行って適度な湿度を加える加湿器等を備えており、燃料電池スタック１０の冷却系は、ラジエタ、ファン、及び冷却ポンプを備えている。   The system 2 for supplying air to the fuel cell stack 10 is not shown in FIG. 1, but is an air cleaner that purifies the outside air and takes it into the fuel cell system, and compresses and supplies the taken-in air according to the control of the control unit 20. A compressor that changes the amount of air and air pressure, a humidifier that adds air to the compressed air by exchanging air off-gas and moisture, and the cooling system of the fuel cell stack 10 includes a radiator, A fan and a cooling pump are provided.

制御部２０は、ＥＣＵ等の公知のコンピュータシステムであり、コンプレッサ等各種補機類の駆動量を決定する制御信号を出力したり、燃料供給系１の各所に配設された圧力センサＰ１〜Ｐ７からの検出信号に基づき、各主止弁ＳＶ１〜４及び調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１〜６の開閉を制御する制御信号を出力する他、後に説明する手順（図２）によって、システム起動時に水素タンク１１への水素充填の有無を確認し、水素充填があったことを確認した場合は、全主止弁ＳＶ１〜４を開弁して残量検出を行い、かかる検出結果に基づき残量表示部（残量計）２１を制御して水素タンク１１の残量表示を更新する。   The control unit 20 is a known computer system such as an ECU, and outputs a control signal for determining the driving amount of various auxiliary devices such as a compressor, or pressure sensors P1 to P7 disposed at various locations in the fuel supply system 1. In addition to outputting control signals for controlling the opening and closing of the main stop valves SV1 to SV4 and the pressure regulating valves Reg1 to 6 based on the detection signals from the system, the procedure to be described later (FIG. 2) allows the hydrogen tank 11 to be When the presence or absence of hydrogen filling is confirmed, and it is confirmed that there is hydrogen filling, all the main stop valves SV1 to SV4 are opened and the remaining amount is detected, and the remaining amount display section (remaining amount) based on the detection result Total) 21 is controlled to update the remaining amount display of the hydrogen tank 11.

以上のとおり、本実施形態における燃料供給装置は、少なくとも、水素タンク１１、配管１ａ、主止弁ＳＶ１〜４、圧力センサＰ１〜Ｐ４、停止時に検出された主止弁ＳＶ１〜４−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１〜４間の圧力Ｐ１〜Ｐ４を圧力Ｐ１＿old〜Ｐ４＿oldとして記憶しておくメモリ等の記憶手段、制御部２０、及び残量表示部２１を備えて構成されている。   As described above, the fuel supply device in the present embodiment includes at least the hydrogen tank 11, the pipe 1a, the main stop valves SV1 to SV4, the pressure sensors P1 to P4, and the main stop valves SV1 to 4 detected at the time of stop. Storage means such as a memory for storing the pressures P1 to P4 between ˜4 as the pressures P1_old to P4_old, a control unit 20, and a remaining amount display unit 21.

次に、図２のフローチャートを参照しながら、この燃料電池システムで実施されるシステム起動時における水素タンク１１の残量表示処理の一例について説明する。   Next, an example of the remaining amount display process of the hydrogen tank 11 at the time of system startup performed in this fuel cell system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

まず、運転者がイグニッションキーをＯＮにすると、制御部２０は、システム停止時に圧力センサＰ１で検出し記憶手段に記憶しておいた主止弁ＳＶ１−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１間の圧力Ｐ１＿oldを記憶手段から読み込む（ステップＳ１）。つまり、この燃料電池システムでは、システム停止時に圧力センサＰ１によって主止弁ＳＶ１−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１間の圧力Ｐ１が検出され、この圧力Ｐ１がＰ１＿oldとして記憶手段に記憶されている。   First, when the driver turns on the ignition key, the controller 20 detects the pressure P1_old between the main stop valve SV1 and the pressure regulating valve Reg1 detected by the pressure sensor P1 and stored in the storage means when the system is stopped from the storage means. Read (step S1). That is, in this fuel cell system, the pressure P1 between the main stop valve SV1 and the pressure regulating valve Reg1 is detected by the pressure sensor P1 when the system is stopped, and this pressure P1 is stored in the storage means as P1_old.

続くステップ３において、制御部２０からの制御信号によって主止弁ＳＶ１が開弁される。すると、水素タンク１１からの水素ガス放出によって、主止弁ＳＶ１−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１間の圧力Ｐ１が次第に上昇する。このとき、残りの主止弁ＳＶ２〜４は当初の閉弁状態がそのまま保持されている。所定時間の経過を待って、主止弁ＳＶ１−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１間の圧力Ｐ１を圧力センサＰ１で検出する（ステップＳ５）。所定時間の計時は、タイマ等で行う。   In the subsequent step 3, the main stop valve SV <b> 1 is opened by a control signal from the control unit 20. Then, due to the release of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank 11, the pressure P1 between the main stop valve SV1 and the pressure regulating valve Reg1 gradually increases. At this time, the remaining main stop valves SV2 to SV4 are kept in the initial closed state. After the elapse of a predetermined time, the pressure P1 between the main stop valve SV1 and the pressure regulating valve Reg1 is detected by the pressure sensor P1 (step S5). A predetermined time is measured with a timer or the like.

次いで、ステップ１で読み込んだ圧力Ｐ１＿oldと、ステップＳ５で検出した圧力Ｐ１と、予め設定しておいた所定の閾値Ｐ＿refとから、「Ｐ１ − Ｐ１＿old ＞ Ｐ＿ref」の条件を満たすかどうかを判断する（ステップＳ７）。所定の閾値Ｐ＿refは、圧力センサＰ１の検出能や検出誤差等に起因して水素充填の有無を誤判断しないような値、例えば３ＭＰａに設定される。ステップＳ７の判断結果が「ＮＯ」の場合、つまり、システム停止後に水素充填の無かったことが確認された場合は、以降のステップＳ９〜Ｓ１３をスキップして、本処理の呼び出し元ルーチンにリターンする。   Next, it is determined whether the condition of “P1−P1_old> P_ref” is satisfied from the pressure P1_old read in step 1, the pressure P1 detected in step S5, and a predetermined threshold value P_ref set in advance ( Step S7). The predetermined threshold value P_ref is set to a value that does not erroneously determine the presence or absence of hydrogen filling due to the detection capability or detection error of the pressure sensor P1, for example, 3 MPa. If the determination result in step S7 is “NO”, that is, if it is confirmed that no hydrogen has been charged after the system is stopped, the following steps S9 to S13 are skipped and the process returns to the calling routine of this process. .

一方、ステップＳ７の判断結果が「ＹＥＳ」の場合、つまり、システム停止時に検出した圧力Ｐ１＿oldよりもシステム起動時に検出した圧力Ｐ１の方が所定値以上大きい場合、制御部２０は、システム停止後に水素充填が有ったものと判断する。かかる場合には、ステップＳ９に進み、制御部２０からの制御信号によって残りの主止弁ＳＶ２〜４を全て開弁する。すると、水素タンク１１からの水素ガス放出によって、主止弁ＳＶ２〜４−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ２〜４間の圧力Ｐ２〜４が次第に上昇する。   On the other hand, if the determination result in step S7 is “YES”, that is, if the pressure P1 detected at the time of starting the system is greater than the pressure P1_old detected when the system is stopped, the control unit 20 Judge that there was a filling. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S9, and all the remaining main stop valves SV2 to SV4 are opened by a control signal from the control unit 20. Then, due to the hydrogen gas release from the hydrogen tank 11, the pressures P2 to P4 between the main stop valves SV2 to 4 to the pressure regulating valves Reg2 to 4 gradually increase.

制御部２０は、所定時間の経過を待って、圧力Ｐ１〜４、主止弁ＳＶ１〜４−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１〜４間の配管容積、圧縮係数等から全水素タンク１１の残量を演算し、この演算結果に基づく制御信号を残量表示部２１に出力し、残量表示を更新する（ステップＳ１１）。しかる後、制御部２０からの制御信号によって主止弁ＳＶ２〜４を全て閉弁し、１つの水素タンク１１のみを使用して燃料電池１０を駆動する。なお、使用中の水素タンク１１の残量が所定値以下になれば、主止弁ＳＶ１〜４が開閉制御されることにより、順次他の水素タンク１１への切り換えが行われる。   The control unit 20 waits for the elapse of a predetermined time, calculates the remaining amount of all the hydrogen tanks 11 from the pressure P1-4, the piping volume between the main stop valves SV1-4, the pressure regulating valves Reg1-4, the compression coefficient, etc. A control signal based on the calculation result is output to the remaining amount display unit 21, and the remaining amount display is updated (step S11). Thereafter, all the main stop valves SV2 to SV4 are closed by a control signal from the control unit 20, and the fuel cell 10 is driven using only one hydrogen tank 11. When the remaining amount of the hydrogen tank 11 in use is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the main stop valves SV1 to SV4 are controlled to be opened and closed, so that switching to another hydrogen tank 11 is performed sequentially.

以上説明したとおり、本実施形態の燃料供給装置は、１つの水素タンク１１のみを使用して燃料電池１０を駆動する構成であるにもかからず、その起動時には、システム停止時における主止弁ＳＶ１−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１間の圧力Ｐ１＿oldと、起動時における主止弁ＳＶ１−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１間の圧力Ｐ１とから、システム停止後における水素充填の有無を確認し、水素充填が有ったことを確認した場合には、改めて全水素タンク１１の残量を求めて残量表示を更新するようにしているので、水素充填後の正確な残量表示が可能となる。   As described above, the fuel supply device of the present embodiment is configured to drive the fuel cell 10 using only one hydrogen tank 11, and at the time of startup, the main stop valve when the system is stopped From the pressure P1_old between the SV1 and the pressure regulating valve Reg1 and the pressure P1 between the main stop valve SV1 and the pressure regulating valve Reg1 at the time of start-up, it is confirmed whether or not hydrogen has been charged after the system is stopped In such a case, since the remaining amount display of the total hydrogen tank 11 is obtained again and the remaining amount display is updated, an accurate remaining amount display after hydrogen filling can be performed.

ところで、燃料電池システムで圧力降下法による漏れ検知を実施する場合には、高圧部の燃料を漏れ検知レンジまで減圧することが必要になるが、例えば起動時に全燃料タンクを使用するシステムでは、減圧対象となる高圧部の容積が大きくなり、十分に水素消費ができなかったり、水素消費時間が長くなってしまう。   By the way, when performing leak detection by the pressure drop method in a fuel cell system, it is necessary to depressurize the fuel in the high-pressure part to the leak detection range. For example, in a system that uses all fuel tanks at startup, the pressure is reduced. The volume of the high-pressure part as a target becomes large, and hydrogen consumption cannot be sufficiently performed, or the hydrogen consumption time becomes long.

しかしながら、本実施の形態では、１つ（一部）の水素タンク１１のみを使用して燃料電池１０を駆動する燃料電池システムであるため、減圧対象となる高圧部が主止弁ＳＶｎ−調圧弁Ｒｅｇｎ（ｎ：１〜４のいずれか１つ）間の１箇所だけとなり、減圧対象区間の容積を必要最小限に抑えることが可能となる。   However, in the present embodiment, since the fuel cell system drives the fuel cell 10 using only one (partial) hydrogen tank 11, the high-pressure portion to be decompressed is the main stop valve SVn-pressure regulating valve. There is only one location between Regn (n: any one of 1 to 4), and the volume of the decompression target section can be minimized.

よって、漏れ検知のためにシステム停止後に水素消費を実施する場合でも、その消費量が少なくて済む結果、水素消費に伴い燃料電池１０で発電した電力を全てバッテリに充電させることができ、水素消費が制限されることはない。その結果、漏れ検知の確実な実施と、検知精度の向上を図ることができる。また、水素消費に必要な時間も短くて済むので、漏れ検知に要する時間の短縮化、ひいては、車両の停止処理時間の短縮化を図ることができる。   Therefore, even when hydrogen consumption is performed after the system is stopped for leak detection, the amount of consumption can be reduced. As a result, the battery can be charged with all of the power generated by the fuel cell 10 due to hydrogen consumption. Is not limited. As a result, it is possible to reliably perform leak detection and improve detection accuracy. In addition, since the time required for hydrogen consumption can be shortened, the time required for leak detection can be shortened, and hence the vehicle stop processing time can be shortened.

（他の実施形態）
本発明は、上記実施形態（図１）のような、複数の水素タンク１１に対してそれと同数の調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１〜４を備えた燃料電池システムへの適用に限定されるわけではない。例えば、図３に示すように、複数（同図では２つ）の水素タンク１１に対して１つの調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１，Ｒｅｇ３を備えた燃料電池システムへの適用も可能であり、かかる構成においても、システム起動時に、停止時における主止弁ＳＶ１−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１間の圧力Ｐ１＿oldと、起動時における主止弁ＳＶ１−調圧弁Ｒｅｇ１間の圧力Ｐ１とから、システム停止後における水素充填の有無を確認することができる。 (Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to application to a fuel cell system provided with the same number of pressure regulating valves Reg1 to Regulating a plurality of hydrogen tanks 11 as in the above embodiment (FIG. 1). For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the present invention can be applied to a fuel cell system provided with a single pressure regulating valve Reg1, Reg3 for a plurality (two in the figure) of hydrogen tanks 11. In such a configuration, When the system is started, whether or not hydrogen is charged after the system is stopped is checked from the pressure P1_old between the main stop valve SV1 and the pressure regulating valve Reg1 at the time of stop and the pressure P1 between the main stop valve SV1 and the pressure control valve Reg1 at the time of start. be able to.

本発明の第１の実施形態に係る燃料供給装置を備えた燃料電池システムのシステム構成を示すブロック図である。It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the fuel cell system provided with the fuel supply apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 同実施形態のシステム起動時における残量表示処理を説明するフローチャートである。It is a flowchart explaining the remaining amount display process at the time of system startup of the embodiment. 本発明の他の実施形態に係る燃料供給装置を備えた燃料電池システムのシステム構成を示すブロック図である。It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the fuel cell system provided with the fuel supply apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１…燃料供給系（燃料供給装置） １ａ…配管 １０…燃料電池スタック（燃料消費装置） １１…水素タンク（燃料タンク） ２０…制御部（制御手段） Ｐ１〜Ｐ４…圧力センサ（検出手段） Ｒｅｇ１〜４…調圧弁 ＳＶ１〜ＳＶ４…主止弁（制御手段、遮断弁）   DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fuel supply system (fuel supply apparatus) 1a ... Piping 10 ... Fuel cell stack (fuel consumption apparatus) 11 ... Hydrogen tank (fuel tank) 20 ... Control part (control means) P1-P4 ... Pressure sensor (detection means) Reg1 -4 ... Pressure regulating valve SV1-SV4 ... Main stop valve (control means, shut-off valve)

Claims (3)

燃料タンクから燃料消費装置へと連なる配管に、燃料タンク側から順に遮断弁と調圧弁を備えるとともに、前記遮断弁の開閉を制御することで燃料タンクからの燃料の放出を制御する制御手段を備え、複数の燃料タンクのうち一部の燃料タンクから燃料放出を行う燃料供給装置であって、
前記遮断弁と調圧弁との間の燃料の圧力に基づいて燃料残量を検出する検出手段を備え、前記制御手段は、起動時に一部の燃料タンクの遮断弁を開弁し、起動時の前記圧力を停止時に記憶した前記圧力と比較することで前記一部の燃料タンクへの燃料充填の有無を判断し、燃料充填が確認された場合に、他の全ての燃料タンクの遮断弁を開弁して燃料を放出することを特徴とする燃料供給装置。 The piping connected from the fuel tank to the fuel consuming device is provided with a shutoff valve and a pressure regulating valve in order from the fuel tank side, and control means for controlling the release of fuel from the fuel tank by controlling the opening and closing of the shutoff valve. A fuel supply device for discharging fuel from some of the plurality of fuel tanks,
Detection means for detecting the remaining amount of fuel based on the pressure of the fuel between the shutoff valve and the pressure regulating valve is provided, and the control means opens the shutoff valves of some of the fuel tanks at the start, By comparing the pressure with the pressure stored at the time of stoppage, it is determined whether or not the fuel tanks are filled with fuel, and when the fuel filling is confirmed, the shutoff valves of all other fuel tanks are opened. A fuel supply device that discharges fuel by valve . 残量表示後は一部の燃料タンクにて燃料電池を駆動する請求項１に記載の燃料供給装置。 The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is driven by a part of the fuel tank after the remaining amount is displayed. 停止時に一部の燃料タンクの遮断弁と調圧弁との間の燃料を減圧して圧力降下法により漏れ検知を行う請求項１または２のいずれかに記載の燃料供給装置。 3. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein when stopping, the fuel between the shutoff valve and the pressure regulating valve of a part of the fuel tank is depressurized and leakage detection is performed by a pressure drop method .
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