JP4782435B2 - Gas supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas supply device, and more particularly to a gas supply device that supplies gas stored in a pressure accumulator to a tank to be filled.

  In recent years, development of fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen as fuel has been promoted. Along with this, a gas supply device that supplies hydrogen compressed to a high pressure to a fuel tank of an automobile has been put into practical use.

  In this type of gas supply device, the compressed hydrogen is stored in a gas pressure accumulator, the connection coupling of the gas filling hose is connected to the connection coupling on the automobile side, and communicated with the tip of the gas filling hose. The fuel tank (filled tank) of the automobile is filled with hydrogen stored in the gas accumulator by switching the three-way valve.

  In this type of gas supply device, the gas supply from the gas accumulator to the fuel tank is performed by opening a control valve for controlling the flow rate and pressure by the pressure difference between the gas accumulator pressure and the fuel tank filling pressure. As a result, the instantaneous flow rate of the supplied gas decreases as the pressure difference decreases (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the above gas supply device, a variable pressure gas accumulator and a high pressure gas accumulator are provided as a gas supply source. Initially, the gas is supplied from the variable pressure gas accumulator to the fuel tank, and the gas flow rate is increased. Is switched to supply from the high-pressure gas accumulator to the fuel tank when the pressure drops below the predetermined flow rate, and the gas supply is stopped when the fuel tank pressure reaches the target pressure.
JP-A-8-291897

  In the above conventional gas supply device, while supplying gas from the gas pressure accumulator to the fuel tank, the valve opening of the control valve is opened as large as possible so that the instantaneous flow rate can be as large as possible. The control valve is controlled to close when the flow rate decreases below a predetermined value.

  Therefore, conventionally, since the valve opening of the control valve is greatly opened even when the instantaneous flow rate before the end of the gas supply is reduced, the instantaneous flow rate of the gas is reduced in this state. Even if the valve opening of the control valve is reduced as much as possible, there is a problem that it takes time to reach a valve opening for reducing the instantaneous flow rate, and as a result, the adjustment of the instantaneous flow rate is delayed.

  In the conventional gas supply device, the flow rate when the gas is supplied from the variable pressure gas accumulator to the fuel tank is monitored, and when the flow rate falls below a predetermined value, the gas flow to the fuel tank is monitored. The supply source is switched from the variable pressure gas accumulator to the high pressure gas accumulator.

  As described above, even when the pressure accumulator is switched, the instantaneous flow rate of the gas is adjusted by the control valve. However, immediately before the gas supply source is switched from the variable pressure gas accumulator to the high pressure gas accumulator, the above-described operation is performed. As in the state immediately before the end of gas supply, the valve opening of the control valve is wide open.In this state, the valve opening of the control valve is reduced to reduce the instantaneous gas flow rate. Even if this is the case, it takes time to reach a valve opening that reduces the instantaneous flow rate. As a result, the adjustment of the instantaneous flow rate is delayed.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the gas supply apparatus which solved the said subject.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following means.

The present invention includes a gas accumulator for storing compressed gas,
A connector for supplying the gas stored in the gas accumulator to the tank to be filled;
A gas supply path communicating the connector and the gas accumulator;
A control valve provided in the middle of the gas supply path;
In the gas supply apparatus and a that control means control the operation of the control valve as the integrated flow rate and filling pressure becomes the target value of a predetermined end-of-fill,
Pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure downstream of the control valve in the gas supply path;
The difference between the pressure increase rate obtained from the pressure value detected in time series by the pressure detecting means when the gas is supplied to the filling tank and the pressure increase rate obtained thereafter is a predetermined regulation. When the valve opening of the control valve is not reduced, the valve opening of the control valve is reduced by a predetermined amount when the difference in the pressure increase rate is larger than the predetermined specified value. Control means;
It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, when the gas is supplied to the tank to be filled, the difference between the pressure increase rate obtained from the pressure value detected in time series by the pressure detecting means and the pressure increase rate obtained thereafter. Is less than the predetermined specified value, the valve opening of the control valve is not reduced, and when the difference in the pressure increase rate is larger than the predetermined specified value, the valve opening of the control valve is reduced by a predetermined amount. The valve opening of the control valve can be throttled to be proportional to the decrease in the flow rate with the passage of time to supply the gas to the tank to be filled, and the control valve when reducing the instantaneous flow rate to the target instantaneous flow rate. It is possible to shorten the time for adjusting the valve opening, for example, it is possible to reduce the valve closing time for fully closing the control valve, and to reduce the time required for switching the accumulator. It can be shortened.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a gas supply apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the gas supply device 10 is installed, for example, in a gas supply station that supplies compressed gas (for example, hydrogen gas) to a fuel tank (filled tank) 12 of an automobile. The supplied gas is not limited to hydrogen and includes other gases that are compressed to high pressure.

  The gas supply device 10 generally includes a gas storage unit 14 for storing a gas compressed at a high pressure, a dispenser unit 15 for supplying the gas from the gas storage unit 14 to the fuel tank 12, and each of the dispenser units 15. It consists of the control apparatus 16 which controls an apparatus.

  The gas storage unit 14 includes a variable gas accumulator (first pressure source) 62 and a high-pressure gas accumulator (second pressure source) 64 as pressure sources. The variable gas accumulator 62 and the high-pressure gas accumulator 64 store high-pressure gas supplied from a compressor 70 described later. The variable gas pressure accumulator 62 and the high pressure gas pressure accumulator 64 are supplied with gas from the compressor 70 until a gas having a pressure higher than the target filling pressure of the fuel tank 12 is accumulated.

  At the beginning of filling, the main valve 66 of the variable gas pressure accumulator 62 is opened to fill the fuel tank 12 with gas (first step). Then, immediately before the filling pressure of the fuel tank 12 reaches the target pressure, the main valve 68 of the high pressure gas accumulator 64 is opened to fill the filling pressure of the fuel tank 12 to the target pressure (second step).

  In this way, by switching the gas supply source to the fuel tank 12 from the variable gas pressure accumulator 62 whose gas pressure has decreased with the gas supply so far to the high pressure gas pressure accumulator 64, the variable gas pressure accumulation The filling time can be shortened as compared with the method of filling the gas until the target pressure is reached using only the gas of the vessel 62.

  As described above, when the fuel tank 12 is filled with gas, first, the gas in the variable gas accumulator 62 is supplied to the fuel tank 12, and the pressure of the gas in the fuel tank 12 becomes high to some extent. At this point, the gas supply source to the fuel tank 12 is switched from the variable gas pressure accumulator 62 to the high pressure gas pressure accumulator 64. For this reason, when the fuel tank 12 is frequently filled with gas, the gas pressure in the variable gas pressure accumulator 62 decreases, and as a result, the gas pressure in the variable gas pressure accumulator 62 becomes the target of the fuel tank 12. It will be lower than the filling pressure.

  The gas supply path 67 of the variable gas accumulator 62 is provided with a check valve 69 that prevents a back flow from the main valve 66.

  The dispenser unit 15 is provided with a gas supply path 18 that communicates with the gas storage unit 14. The gas supply path 18 includes a primary pressure gauge 20, a flow meter 22, a gas supply opening / closing valve 24, and a control valve 26. A temperature sensor 28, a pressure sensor (pressure detecting means) 30, a secondary pressure gauge 32, and a safety valve 34 are provided. The pressure sensor 30 detects the pressure supplied from the control valve 26 and outputs the pressure detection signal to the control device 16.

  Furthermore, a filling hose 44 is connected downstream of the gas supply path 18 via an emergency disconnection coupling 42. A filling nozzle (connector) 46 connected to the filling port 12 a of the fuel tank 12 is provided at the tip of the filling hose 44. A check valve 13 is provided between the fuel tank 12 and the filling port 12a to prevent backflow.

  Further, the dispenser unit 15 is provided with a filling start switch 50 that is operated by connecting the filling nozzle 46 to the filling port 12a of the fuel tank 12, and a filling stop switch 52 that stops filling.

  The variable gas pressure accumulator 62 and the high pressure gas pressure accumulator 64 are containers for accumulating the gas compressed by the compressor 70, and the gas compressed via the gas supply paths 71 and 75 communicated with the discharge port of the compressor 70. Supplied. The gas supply passages 71 and 75 are provided with on-off valves 72 and 76 made of electromagnetic valves, respectively, and check valves 74 and 78 for preventing backflow. The compressor 70 is a multi-stage compression type compressor, and a suction port communicates with an intermediate pressure pipe 80 of city gas via a suction path 79.

  The gas compressed by the compressor 70 is supplied to either the variable gas pressure accumulator 62 or the high-pressure gas pressure accumulator 64 via the open path of the on-off valves 72 and 76.

  The memory 48 of the control device 16 performs control so that the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is reduced according to the magnitude of the decrease in the pressure increase rate obtained from the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 30 as the pressure detecting means. A control program (valve opening control means) is stored.

  The control device 16 performs gas filling control to the fuel tank 12 according to each control program stored in the memory 48.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing each device connected to the control device 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 16 includes a flow meter 22, a gas supply on / off valve 24, a control valve 26, a temperature sensor 28, a pressure sensor 30, a memory 48, a filling start switch 50, a filling stop switch 52, and an on / off valve. 72 and 76 and main valves 66 and 68 are connected.

  The flow meter 22 is a Coriolis mass flow meter, and outputs a signal corresponding to the flow rate of the supplied gas to the control device 16.

  The gas supply opening / closing valve 24 is composed of an electromagnetic valve, and is opened or closed by turning on / off a valve opening signal from the control device 16.

  The control valve 26 is adjusted to an arbitrary valve opening degree according to a command from the control device 16 and operates to control the gas pressure or flow rate based on a preset control law.

  Here, the gas filling control process executed by the control device 16 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the vehicle that receives gas filling arrives, the worker connects the filling nozzle 46 to the filling port 12a of the fuel tank 12, and then turns on the filling start switch 50.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 16 checks whether or not the filling start switch 50 is turned on in S11. In S11, when the charging start switch 50 is turned on, the process proceeds to S12, where the main valve 66, the gas supply opening / closing valve 24, and the control valve 26 of the variable gas accumulator 62 are opened, and the predetermined flow rate is determined in advance. Based on the control law (constant flow rate filling control), the valve opening of the control valve 26 is controlled to start the gas supply.

  In next S13, the filling start pressure and the initial integrated flow rate preset in the memory 48 are read. Subsequently, in S14, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the filling start switch 50 was turned on. In S14, when the predetermined time has not elapsed, the filling amount of the gas filled in the fuel tank 12 is not yet sufficient, so the process returns to S12 and constant flow rate filling control is performed.

  In S14, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S15, and the fuel tank is determined from the capacity of the fuel tank 12 as a tank to be filled (volume in an empty state) based on the relationship between the integrated flow rate and the filling pressure. The remaining capacity obtained by subtracting the filling amount of the gas filled in 12 is calculated. Note that the calculation method for calculating the capacity (volume) of the fuel tank 12 is required when the fuel tank 12 is filled with gas and reaches a predetermined pressure increase value, and for reaching the pressure increase value. Then, the value obtained by dividing the gas filling amount by the pressure increase value is multiplied by a coefficient using the gas filling amount in the fuel tank 12.

  In next S16, it is checked whether or not the remaining capacity of the fuel tank 12 is less than a predetermined amount set in advance. In S16, when the remaining capacity of the fuel tank 12 is less than a predetermined amount set in advance, the process proceeds to S17, and the control valve 26 is controlled based on a control rule with a predetermined flow rate (constant flow rate filling control). Gas supply is performed by controlling the valve opening.

  In next S18, it is checked whether or not the filling amount and the filling pressure of the fuel tank 12 reach the target filling amount and the target filling pressure, and the remaining capacity of the fuel tank 12 becomes zero. In S18, when the remaining capacity of the fuel tank 12 is zero, the process proceeds to S19, and the main valve 66, the gas supply opening / closing valve 24, and the control valve 26 are closed, and the filling end control is performed.

  In S16, when the remaining capacity of the fuel tank 12 is not less than a predetermined amount set in advance, the process proceeds to S20 (shown in FIG. 4), and based on a control law (constant pressure increase filling control) with a predetermined increase rate set in advance. Then, the valve opening of the control valve 26 is controlled to supply gas. In the next S21, it is checked whether or not the valve opening of the control valve 26 is constant or changed to the valve opening side.

  In S21, when the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is not constant or is not changed to the valve opening side, the constant pressure increase charging control is not performed, so the process returns to S15 and the processes of S15, S16, S20, and S21 are repeated. In S21, when the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is constant or on the valve opening side, the constant pressure increase charging control is performed, so the process proceeds to S22, and the pressure detection value P1a (the first detection value) is set. Store in memory 48.

  In the next S23, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. In S23, when the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to S22, and the pressure detection value P1b (second detection value) detected by the pressure sensor 30 is read and stored in the memory 48. As a result, the memory 48 stores the first detection value P1a and the second detection value P1b. Further, the process of S22 is repeated until it is determined in S23 that the predetermined time has elapsed. As a result, when it is determined in S23 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the pressure detection values for n times are stored in the memory. 48 is stored.

  Next, in S23, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S24, and the n detection values P1a to P1n stored in the memory 48 are read, and within the predetermined time from these n detection values P1a to P1n. The average pressure increase rate α1 is calculated and stored in the memory 48.

  In next S 25, the pressure detection value P 2 a (first detection value) detected by the pressure sensor 30 is read and stored in the memory 48. In next S26, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has passed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed in S26, the process returns to S25, and the pressure detection value P2b (first detection value) detected by the pressure sensor 30 is read and stored in the memory 48.

  As a result, the memory 48 stores the first detection value P2a and the second detection value P2b. Furthermore, the process of S25 is repeated until it is determined in S26 that the predetermined time has elapsed. As a result, when it is determined in S26 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the pressure value for n times is stored in the memory 48. Will be remembered.

  Next, in S26, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S27, in which the n detection values P2a to P2n stored in the memory 48 are read, and within the predetermined time from these n detection values P2a to P2n. The average pressure increase rate α2 is calculated and stored in the memory 48.

  Subsequently, in S28, it is checked whether or not the average pressure increase rate α1 is sufficiently larger than the average pressure increase rate α2. In S28, when the average pressure increase rate α1 is not sufficiently larger than the average pressure increase rate α2, the difference between the average pressure increase rate α1 and the average pressure increase rate α2 is smaller than a predetermined specified value (threshold value). Since the valve opening of 26 is in a state corresponding to the flow rate, the process returns to S15 described above, and the processes after S15 are executed again. In S28, when the average pressure increase rate α1 is sufficiently larger than the average pressure increase rate α2, the difference between the average pressure increase rate α1 and the average pressure increase rate α2 is controlled to be larger than a predetermined specified value (threshold value). Since the valve opening degree of the valve 26 is in an open state more than the flow rate, the process proceeds to S29, and the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is reduced by one stage, for example, the valve opening degree 100% is changed to the valve opening degree 95%. (Valve opening control means).

  In next S30, the flow rate measurement value measured by the flow meter 22 is read, and it is checked whether or not the flow rate of the gas supplied to the fuel tank 12 is equal to or lower than a predetermined flow rate. In S30, when the flow rate of the gas supplied to the fuel tank 12 is equal to or less than a predetermined flow rate set in advance, the process proceeds to S31, and the filling pressure of the fuel tank 12 and the variable gas pressure accumulator 62 are increased by filling the fuel tank 12 with gas. The gas accumulator is switched on the assumption that the pressure difference from the supply pressure is reduced and the supply flow rate is reduced. That is, in the gas accumulator switching step, the control valve 26 is closed (fully closed), then the main valve 66 of the variable gas accumulator 62 is closed, and the main valve 68 of the high pressure gas accumulator 64 is opened. Thereafter, the control valve 26 is opened (fully opened).

  Thereafter, the processes of S17 to S19 described above are performed, and the gas stored in the high pressure gas accumulator 64 is supplied to the fuel tank 12.

  In S30, when the flow rate of the gas supplied to the fuel tank 12 is not less than a predetermined flow rate set in advance, the pressure difference between the filling pressure of the fuel tank 12 and the supply pressure of the variable gas accumulator 62 is sufficiently large. Since it is large, it is estimated that the supply flow rate is equal to or higher than the predetermined flow rate, and the process proceeds to S32 (shown in FIG. 5).

  In S32, the remaining capacity obtained by subtracting the filling amount of the gas filled in the fuel tank 12 from the capacity (volume in the empty state) of the fuel tank 12 as the tank to be filled based on the relationship between the integrated flow rate and the filling pressure. Is calculated. In next S33, it is checked whether or not the remaining capacity of the fuel tank 12 is less than a predetermined amount set in advance. In S33, when the remaining capacity of the fuel tank 12 is less than a predetermined amount set in advance, the process proceeds to S34 to check whether the valve opening of the control valve 26 has been changed to a constant value or the valve opening side.

  In S34, when the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is not constant or is not changed to the valve opening side, the constant pressure increase filling control is not performed, so the process returns to S32 and the processes after S32 are repeated. In S34, when the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is constant or on the valve opening side, the constant pressure increase filling control is performed, so the process proceeds to S35, and the pressure detection value P1a (the first detection value) is set. Store in memory 48.

  In next S36, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed in S <b> 36, the process returns to S <b> 35, and the pressure detection value P <b> 1 b (second detection value) detected by the pressure sensor 30 is read and stored in the memory 48. As a result, the memory 48 stores the first detection value P1a and the second detection value P1b. Further, the process of S35 is repeated until it is determined in S36 that the predetermined time has elapsed. As a result, when it is determined in S36 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the pressure detection values for n times are stored in the memory. 48 is stored.

  Next, in S36, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S37, in which the n detection values P1a to P1n stored in the memory 48 are read, and within the predetermined time from these n detection values P1a to P1n. The average pressure increase rate α1 is calculated and stored in the memory 48.

  In next S 38, the pressure detection value P 2 a (first detection value) detected by the pressure sensor 30 is read and stored in the memory 48. In next S39, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has passed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed in S39, the process returns to S38, and the pressure detection value P2b (first detection value) detected by the pressure sensor 30 is read and stored in the memory 48.

  As a result, the memory 48 stores the first detection value P2a and the second detection value P2b. Further, the process of S38 is repeated until it is determined in S39 that the predetermined time has elapsed. As a result, when it is determined in S39 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the pressure value for n times is stored in the memory 48. Will be remembered.

  Next, in S39, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S40, in which the n detection values P2a to P2n stored in the memory 48 are read, and within the predetermined time from these n detection values P2a to P2n. The average pressure increase rate α2 is calculated and stored in the memory 48.

  Subsequently, in S41, it is checked whether or not the average pressure increase rate α1 is sufficiently larger than the average pressure increase rate α2. In S41, when the average pressure increase rate α1 is not sufficiently larger than the average pressure increase rate α2, the difference between the average pressure increase rate α1 and the average pressure increase rate α2 is smaller than a predetermined specified value (threshold value). Since the valve opening degree of 26 is in a state corresponding to the flow rate, the process returns to S32 described above, and the processes after S32 are executed again. In S41, when the average pressure increase rate α1 is sufficiently larger than the average pressure increase rate α2, the difference between the average pressure increase rate α1 and the average pressure increase rate α2 is controlled to be larger than a predetermined specified value (threshold value). Since the valve opening degree of the valve 26 is in an open state more than the flow rate, the process returns to S29 described above, and the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is reduced by one stage (for example, the valve opening degree 100% is changed to the valve opening degree 95%). To change). Thereafter, the processing after S29 is performed.

  Therefore, when the average pressure increase rate α1 is sufficiently larger than the average pressure increase rate α2 before switching the gas accumulator in S31, the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is set by the processing of S29, S30, S32 to S41. By controlling to throttle in steps, the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 can be changed to the valve closing side so as to follow the decrease in the instantaneous flow rate of the gas supplied to the fuel tank 12. . Therefore, for example, when performing the valve closing operation during the gas accumulator switching process, the valve opening of the control valve 26 is throttled in accordance with the change in the pressure increase rate, so that the control valve 26 is fully opened to fully closed. It is possible to fully close in a shorter time than this, and accordingly, the switching time, and hence the time required from the start of gas supply to the end of gas supply can be shortened.

  FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 and the change in the instantaneous flow rate. FIG. 7 is a graph showing a control pattern of the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 according to the present invention.

  As shown in the graph I of FIG. 6, the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 when gas is supplied from the variable gas accumulator 62 to the fuel tank 12 is fully opened at time T1 from the start of gas supply (valve opening degree 100%). ) In the conventional control method, the valve opening of the control valve 26 is fully opened until the gas accumulator is switched. According to this control method, the flow rate measurement value of the instantaneous flow rate by the flow meter 22 becomes the maximum flow rate Q1 at time T1, but the difference between the pressure of the variable gas pressure accumulator 62 and the pressure of the fuel tank 12 gradually increases with time. Therefore, when the time T1 to Ta is reached, the instantaneous flow rate decreases to Q1 to Qa.

  Assuming that the instantaneous flow rate Qa is a specified flow rate (switching condition) for switching the gas pressure accumulator, when the time Ta is reached, the gas pressure accumulator switching process of S31 is executed. However, since the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is set to 100% in spite of the instantaneous flow rate being gradually reduced, in the conventional system, the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is 100% to Va%. The range was a dead zone where flow control could not be performed. That is, in the conventional system, the dead zone exists in the process of fully closing the control valve 26 from the fully open state, and therefore the flow rate does not decrease even when the control valve 26 is throttled, and the gas pressure accumulator switching process accordingly. Wasted time.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, when the average pressure increase rate α1 is sufficiently larger than the average pressure increase rate α2 before the gas accumulator is switched as described above, the processing of S29, S30, S32 to S41 is performed. In order to control the valve opening of the control valve 26 in a stepwise manner, as shown in the graph II of FIG. 7, the valve opening of the control valve 26 is proportional to the change in the instantaneous flow rate (decrease in the flow rate). The valve opening of the control valve 26 is adjusted to a valve opening with almost no dead zone.

  For this reason, when the instantaneous flow rate decreases to a prescribed flow rate (switching condition) for switching the gas accumulator, the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is reduced to the valve opening degree corresponding to the instantaneous flow rate Qa. When the gas accumulator is switched, the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 is changed from the previously-opened valve opening degree Va to the fully closed state. It is possible to fully close the control valve 26 in a shorter time (Ta to Tb) than closing.

  Further, as shown in graph III of FIG. 7, after the control valve 26 is closed (fully closed) at time Tb in S31 described above, the main valve 66 of the variable gas pressure accumulator 62 is closed and the high-pressure gas is closed. The main valve 68 of the pressure accumulator 64 is opened, and thereafter the control valve 26 is opened (fully opened) at time Tc to Td. Thereafter, when the pressure in the fuel tank 12 reaches the target filling pressure, the control valve 26 is closed (fully closed) at times Te to Tf.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the valve opening of the control valve 26 is throttled before the gas supply source is switched from the variable gas accumulator 62 to the high pressure gas accumulator 64 is described as an example. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to the case where gas is supplied from one gas accumulator to the tank to be filled.

  In the above embodiment, the case where hydrogen gas consumed in a fuel cell vehicle is supplied is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to supply gas such as butane and propane. It is.

  Moreover, in the above embodiment, the case where the compressed gas is filled in the fuel tank of the automobile is given as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to an apparatus for supplying the compressed gas to other containers, Of course, the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus configured to be installed in the middle of a pipeline for feeding compressed gas to another place.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the average pressure increase rate α1 is obtained using the pressure detection values P1a to P1n stored in the memory 48 repeatedly within a predetermined time during the decrease of the pressure increase rate during the gas filling. An average pressure increase rate α2 is obtained by using the pressure detection values P2a to P2n repeatedly stored in the memory 48 within a predetermined time, and a pressure increase rate is obtained from these two average pressure increase rates α1 and α2. When the pressure increase rate is lower than the predetermined pressure increase rate, the magnitude of the pressure increase decrease is detected. However, the detection of the magnitude of the decrease in the pressure increase may be other than this detection method. For example, the pressure is detected and stored during gas supply, and the pressure is detected and stored after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the pressure increase rate for the first time is obtained from these pressure differences alone, and the pressure is detected within the next predetermined time. The pressure is detected and stored after a lapse of a predetermined time, the second pressure increase rate is obtained from only the pressure difference, and the magnitude of the decrease in the pressure increase is compared by comparing these two pressure increase rates. May be detected.

  In the above embodiment, the pressure increase rate is obtained from the two average pressure increase rates α1 and α2, and when the pressure increase rate is lower than the predetermined pressure increase rate, the magnitude of the decrease in pressure increase is large. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pressure is detected and stored during the gas supply, and the pressure is detected and stored after a predetermined time has elapsed. The first pressure difference is obtained from the difference, the second pressure difference is obtained within the next predetermined time, and the magnitude of the decrease in pressure rise is detected by comparing the first pressure difference with the second pressure difference. You may make it do.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Example of the gas supply apparatus which becomes this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing each device connected to the control device 16. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a gas filling control process executed by a control device 16; It is a flowchart for demonstrating the gas filling control process which the control apparatus 16 performs following the process of FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a gas filling control process executed by the control device 16 following the process of FIG. 4. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the valve opening degree of the control valve 26, and the change of instantaneous flow rate. It is a graph which shows the control pattern of the valve opening degree of the control valve 26 by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Gas supply apparatus 12 Fuel tank 14 Gas storage part 15 Dispenser unit 16 Control apparatus 18 Gas supply path 22 Flowmeter 24 Gas supply on-off valve 26 Control valve 30 Pressure sensor 46 Filling nozzle 50 Fill start switch 62 Variable gas accumulator 64 High pressure gas Accumulator 66, 68 Main valve

Claims (1)

A gas pressure accumulator for storing compressed gas;
A connector for supplying the gas stored in the gas accumulator to the tank to be filled;
A gas supply path communicating the connector and the gas accumulator;
A control valve provided in the middle of the gas supply path;
In the gas supply apparatus and a that control means control the operation of the control valve as the integrated flow rate and filling pressure becomes the target value of a predetermined end-of-fill,
Pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure downstream of the control valve in the gas supply path;
The difference between the pressure increase rate obtained from the pressure value detected in time series by the pressure detecting means when the gas is supplied to the filling tank and the pressure increase rate obtained thereafter is a predetermined regulation. When the valve opening of the control valve is not reduced, the valve opening of the control valve is reduced by a predetermined amount when the difference in the pressure increase rate is larger than the predetermined specified value. Control means;
A gas supply device comprising:

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