JP4930271B2 - Fuel fluid joint - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel fluid joint used in a fuel fluid supply system to a fuel cell such as a so-called hydrogen delivery system.

  A fuel cell is a device that generates an electromotive force in a power generator by supplying hydrogen and oxygen (air), which are fuel gases, and usually has a structure in which an electrolyte membrane (proton conductor membrane) is sandwiched between gas electrodes. Thus, a desired electromotive force is obtained. Such fuel cells are expected to be applied to electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, and are being developed for practical use. In addition to these uses, it is easy to reduce weight and size. Taking advantage of this, application to new uses that are completely different from this is also being studied. For example, in a portable electric device, it is used as a new power source to replace the current dry battery or rechargeable battery.

  By the way, in any of the above applications, it is necessary to easily and stably supply hydrogen, which is a fuel gas, to the fuel cell as necessary, and the construction of a so-called hydrogen delivery system is indispensable.

  When constructing such a hydrogen delivery system, it is important to secure an interface between the fuel fluid server (hydrogen server) and the fuel cell. For example, in a system that supplies fuel from a hydrogen server to a power generator of a fuel cell via a fuel fluid storage unit made into a cartridge and used as a fuel cartridge, the required filling amount, optimum gas flow rate, and fuel cartridge are used. Information such as the type of the occlusion body is indispensable, and it is necessary to appropriately control the server and the like according to the information.

  Further, for example, temperature management of the fuel cartridge is necessary. When using occlusion / release of fuel gas (hydrogen gas) by the occlusion body, the occlusion body usually generates heat during occlusion of the fuel fluid and conversely absorbs heat when released, but the temperature can be controlled accordingly. preferable.

  The present invention has been proposed for the purpose of meeting these various requirements. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel fuel gas joint having a function of storing, displaying, and transmitting various types of information. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fuel fluid joint capable of temperature control.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a fuel fluid joint according to the present invention has a fuel fluid inlet and a fuel fluid outlet, and is a fuel fluid joint interposed between a fuel fluid supply server and a power generator. A fuel fluid storage section that stores a storage body that stores fuel fluid, and has at least one of the functions of storing information, displaying information, and transmitting information. It has a flowmeter on the side and a temperature control mechanism that controls the internal temperature by adjusting the interval or angle of the heat sink .

  In the fuel fluid joint of the present invention having the above-described configuration, various kinds of information such as necessary filling amount information, filling number information, fuel fluid flow rate information, fuel fluid remaining amount information, and occlusion body type information are stored, displayed, and transmitted. It is possible to properly control the fuel fluid supply server and the like based on these information.

  In addition to the above-described structure, the fuel fluid joint of the present invention has a temperature control mechanism. By having the temperature control mechanism, it is possible to control the temperature. For example, when the occlusion body of the fuel fluid storage section generates heat, it is possible to promptly release heat.

  According to the fuel fluid joint of the present invention, various types of information can be stored, displayed, and transmitted, and the fuel fluid supply server and the like can be appropriately controlled based on the information. In addition, the fuel fluid joint according to the present invention can control the temperature. For example, when the occlusion body of the fuel fluid storage section generates heat, it is possible to promptly release heat.

  Hereinafter, a fuel fluid joint to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a hydrogen delivery system that supplies hydrogen gas as an example of a fuel fluid from a hydrogen server to a power generation cell of a fuel cell. In this hydrogen delivery system, hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen server 1 is supplied to a power generation cell 3 of a fuel cell via a hydrogen delivery 2 corresponding to a fuel fluid joint.

  The hydrogen delivery 2 includes a hydrogen cartridge 21 that contains a hydrogen storage body that stores and releases hydrogen gas. The hydrogen delivery 2 is connected to the connecting portion 11 of the hydrogen server 1 at a connecting portion 22 to exchange hydrogen gas. Similarly, in the connection part 23, it connects with the connection part 31 of the electric power generation cell 3, and transfer of hydrogen gas is performed. Accordingly, the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen server 1 is once stored in the hydrogen cartridge 21 of the hydrogen delivery 2 and supplied to the power generation cell 3 while adjusting the flow rate.

  What is characteristic here is that the hydrogen delivery 2 has a function of storing, displaying, or transmitting various information. For example, the hydrogen delivery 2 of this example can store information such as necessary filling amount information, filling number information, fuel fluid flow rate information, fuel fluid remaining amount information, occlusion body type information, and the like. Furthermore, it has a function of transmitting to the hydrogen server 1 side or the power generation cell 3 side of the fuel cell.

  When these functions are specifically described, first, the hydrogen delivery 2 has a flow meter and an inflow amount memory on the hydrogen gas inflow side connected to the hydrogen server 1 and the hydrogen gas outflow side connected to the power generation cell 3, respectively. The flow rate measuring units 24a and 24b composed of (or outflow amount memory) are mounted. Here, the flow rate of the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen server 1 is measured by the flow meter of the flow rate measuring unit 24a and stored in the inflow amount memory. Similarly, the flow rate of the hydrogen gas supplied to the power generation cell 3 is measured by the flow meter of the flow rate measuring unit 24b and stored in the outflow amount memory. Then, the remaining amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen cartridge 21 is calculated from the inflow amount memory and the outflow amount memory and displayed on the remaining amount display unit 25.

  If the remaining amount is calculated, the required filling amount to the hydrogen cartridge 21 can be calculated. The hydrogen delivery 2 includes an information transmission unit 26a for transmitting information to the hydrogen server 1 and an information transmission unit 26b for transmitting information to the power generation cell 3. The necessary filling amount information is stored in the information transmission unit 26a. To the hydrogen server 1 and the amount of hydrogen charged in the hydrogen cartridge 21 is controlled.

  In addition to the necessary filling amount information, the hydrogen delivery 2 can display and transmit the number of filling times of hydrogen gas. This filling number information can be counted by the number of times the hydrogen delivery 2 is connected to the hydrogen server 1 or the number of operations of the flow meter. For example, when the hydrogen delivery 2 is connected to the hydrogen server 1, the connection number of contacts is counted electrically or mechanically and stored in the filling number memory 27. The stored number-of-fills information is displayed on the number-of-fills display unit 28, and when hydrogen gas is supplied from the hydrogen server 1 to the hydrogen delivery 2 and stored, the hydrogen server 1 is passed through the information transmission unit 26a. Communicated. The hydrogen server 1 adjusts the supply pressure and the like to an appropriate value based on the transmitted number-of-fills information. In general, the occlusion body accommodated in the hydrogen cartridge 21 deteriorates to some extent in the hydrogen occlusion capacity while repeating occlusion / release. In such a case, it is desirable to set the optimum supply pressure in accordance with the degree of deterioration, and adjustment of the supply pressure based on the filling number information is effective.

  When the hydrogen cartridge 21 is replaced, the filling number information is reset and newly counted. The filling number information may be reset when the hydrogen cartridge 21 is removed from the hydrogen delivery 2, for example, and the filling number stored in the filling number memory 27 may be reset.

  In addition to the above, the hydrogen delivery 2 also has a function of storing and displaying the type of the occlusion body accommodated in the hydrogen cartridge 21 and transmitting it to the hydrogen server 1 and the like. When the type of the hydrogen storage body accommodated in the hydrogen cartridge 21 is different, the optimum supply pressure, the chargeable capacity, and the like are often different. Therefore, the supply pressure of the hydrogen server 1 is appropriately set according to the type of the storage body. It is desirable to do. Therefore, the type of the occlusion body accommodated in the hydrogen cartridge 21 is stored in the memory and displayed on the occlusion body type display unit 29. Further, when the hydrogen delivery 2 is connected to the hydrogen server 1, the occlusion body type information is transmitted to the hydrogen server 1 side through the information transmission unit 26a, and the supply pressure, the filling capacity, etc. of the hydrogen server 1 are correspondingly transmitted. Adjust. At this time, the type of the occlusion body may be input to the memory when the occlusion body is put in the hydrogen cartridge 21.

  The above mainly relates to storage, display, and transmission of information on the hydrogen delivery 2 side. For example, information on the power generation cell 3 side of the fuel cell is transmitted to the hydrogen delivery 2 side, and the hydrogen delivery 2 is determined based on this information. It is also possible to control. Specifically, the supply gas flow rate from the hydrogen delivery 2 is adjusted based on the necessary flow rate information from the power generation cell 3.

  FIG. 2 shows a gas flow rate adjusting mechanism between the hydrogen delivery 2 and the power generation cell 3. The supply of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen delivery 2 to the power generation cell 3 of the fuel cell is performed by connecting a connection portion 23 provided in the hydrogen delivery 2 and a connection portion 31 of the power generation cell 3. The connecting portion 23 of the hydrogen delivery 2 is inserted into the connecting portion 31 of the power generation cell 3 so that the flow path is communicated, and the sealed state is maintained by the O-ring 33. A gas flow rate information pin 34 is provided at the center of the connecting portion 31 of the power generation cell 3, and its tip is inserted into the opening 23 a of the connecting portion 23 of the hydrogen delivery 2. Therefore, the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen delivery 2 passes through the opening 23a of the hydrogen delivery 2, passes through the gap between the opening 23a and the gas flow rate information pin 34, and is provided in the connecting portion 31 on the power generation cell 3 side. It is supplied to the power generation cell 3 from the introduction hole 35.

  At this time, the tip shape of the gas flow rate information pin 34 is tapered, and the throttle amount of the needle (opening 23a) on the hydrogen delivery 2 side is determined by the length of the gas flow rate information pin 34 on the power generation cell 3 side. The structure is determined. For example, if the length of the gas flow rate information pin 34 on the power generation cell 3 side is increased, the distance from the opening 23a on the hydrogen delivery 2 side is reduced, and the flow rate of hydrogen gas is reduced. Conversely, if the length of the gas flow rate information pin 34 on the power generation cell 3 side is shortened, the distance from the opening 23a on the hydrogen delivery 2 side is increased, and the flow rate of hydrogen gas is increased. Therefore, if the length of the gas flow rate information pin 34 is determined in accordance with the appropriate flow rate of the power generation cell 3, the optimal flow rate is automatically set when the hydrogen delivery 2 and the power generation cell 3 are connected. Become.

  The hydrogen delivery 2 of this example is provided with a temperature control mechanism for detecting and controlling the internal temperature in addition to the above-described information storage, information display, and information transmission functions. Hereinafter, this temperature control mechanism will be described.

  The temperature control mechanism detects, for example, the temperature inside the hydrogen delivery 2 and uses a bimetal, a shape memory alloy, or the like to control the temperature by adjusting the angle and interval of the heat sink. FIG. 3 shows an example of a temperature control mechanism using a shape memory alloy coil. In this example, a number of cooling fins are provided for each turn on a coil spring 41 made of a shape memory alloy that is stretched (intervals open) when the temperature rises and contracts (intervals narrows) when cooled. A (heat radiating plate) 42 is attached and a structure for controlling the temperature is adopted.

  In this temperature control mechanism, when the temperature is low, as shown in FIG. 3A, the coil spring 41 is kept in a contracted state, and the cooling fins 42 are in close contact with each other, that is, in a closed state. In this state, the heat dissipation efficiency is poor and the heat dissipation effect is small. On the other hand, when the temperature of the hydrogen delivery 2 rises, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), the coil spring 41 made of shape memory alloy is opened, and the spacing between the cooling fins 42 attached every turn of the coil spring 41 is increased. Opens and the substantial heat radiation area increases. This increases the heat dissipation effect and functions to lower the temperature of the hydrogen delivery 2.

  In addition, when said structure is employ | adopted, temperature control when the temperature of the hydrogen delivery 2 is too low is difficult. Therefore, in such a case, the temperature control may be performed using the heat generated by the power generation cell 3, and the temperature control in a wide temperature range is possible by combining with the heat dissipation mechanism.

  Further, the configuration of the temperature control mechanism is not limited to this, and for example, temperature control can be performed by passing a current through the Peltier element. FIG. 4 shows an example of a temperature control mechanism using a Peltier element. That is, in this temperature control mechanism, a Peltier module 43 incorporating a Peltier element is attached to the surface of the hydrogen delivery 2, and a current control unit 44 that controls the current flowing through the Peltier element is connected. In addition, a temperature sensor 45 is attached to the surface of the hydrogen delivery 2 together. And according to the temperature information from the temperature sensor 45, the electric current of a predetermined direction is sent through a Peltier device, and it cools or heats. In the Peltier element, cooling and heating are switched depending on the direction of the flowing current. Therefore, when the temperature of the hydrogen delivery 2 is high, an electric current is passed in a predetermined direction so as to cool it. When the temperature of the hydrogen delivery 2 is low, an electric current is passed in the reverse direction to heat the hydrogen delivery 2.

  Next, a sequence example in the case of filling hydrogen gas from the fuel filler (hydrogen server 1) to the cartridge (hydrogen delivery 2) will be described. In this example, hydrogen is filled from a fuel filling device (hydrogen server 1) having a high-pressure hydrogen tank into a portable hydrogen cartridge (hydrogen delivery 2) containing a hydrogen storage body.

First, the hydrogen server 1 side has the following control parameters and management items.
・ Filling pressure, filling capacity, maximum allowable temperature during filling, etc. for each type of occlusion material used in hydrogen delivery 2 ・ Maximum capacity of hydrogen delivery 2 and amount of filling gas ・ For efficient filling Relationship curve between filling amount and time

On the other hand, the hydrogen delivery 2 side has the following information regarding the hydrogen server 1.
・ The type of occlusion material used ・ Maximum capacity of the hydrogen cartridge 21 ・ Ambient temperature ・ The temperature inside the hydrogen cartridge 21

  When the hydrogen delivery 2 is connected to the hydrogen server 1 and hydrogen gas is charged, the hydrogen delivery 2 is connected to the hydrogen server 1 and filling is started. At this time, first, a connection confirmation signal is transmitted from the hydrogen server 1 to the hydrogen delivery 2 side. If no connection confirmation signal is returned from the hydrogen delivery 2 side, an alarm is issued and the filling of hydrogen gas is stopped. When a connection confirmation signal is received from the hydrogen delivery 2 side, the specifications of the hydrogen cartridge 21 of the hydrogen delivery 2 such as the type and capacity of the occlusion body are confirmed. The hydrogen delivery 2 side transmits information on the specifications to the hydrogen server 1. The hydrogen server 1 calculates the filling pressure, the allowable filling amount, etc. based on the information sent from the hydrogen delivery 2 and various parameters prepared in advance, and determines the control for filling.

  Next, the hydrogen server 1 transmits a filling start message to the hydrogen delivery 2 side, and the hydrogen delivery 2 transmits a filling start confirmation message to the hydrogen server 1. Thereby, the filling of hydrogen gas is started in accordance with the previously defined filling control method. During the hydrogen gas filling, the hydrogen server 1 inquires of the hydrogen delivery 2 about the temperature and pressure inside and outside the hydrogen cartridge 21 at an appropriate time interval. If an abnormal temperature rise or pressure change occurs during filling, the filling is immediately stopped.

  When all the sequences are completed, the hydrogen server 1 transmits a filling completion message to the hydrogen delivery 2 side. The hydrogen delivery 2 transmits a message for confirming the completion of filling to the hydrogen server 1 side. Thereby, the hydrogen server 1 closes a valve, a pressure regulating valve, and the like. Similarly, the hydrogen delivery 2 side is closed, and this is returned to the hydrogen server 1 side. After confirming that the entire hydrogen gas filling process has been completed, it is notified that the hydrogen cartridge can be removed. The above is an example of the filling sequence to the hydrogen delivery 2 (hydrogen cartridge 21).

  In addition, in the above, communication between the hydrogen server 1 and the hydrogen delivery 2 is performed by optical communication using, for example, a hydrogen gas flow path of the connecting portion. FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of a hydrogen server and a hydrogen delivery when information is exchanged by optical communication.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the hydrogen server 51 includes a hydrogen tank 52, a pressure adjusting mechanism 53 that adjusts the pressure of the hydrogen tank 52, and a valve 54, and these are controlled by an input / output circuit 55. have. Information from the pressure sensor 56 and the temperature sensor 57 is input to the input / output circuit 55, and a signal from the light receiving unit 58 that transmits and receives information to and from the hydrogen delivery is passed through the amplification circuit 59 and the demodulation circuit 60. To be entered. Conversely, a signal from the input / output circuit 55 is output to the light emitting unit 63 via the modulation circuit 62 and the amplification circuit 61.

  The hydrogen server 51 has, as fixed information, a tank capacity, an allowable maximum pressure, a type of occlusion body, the number of times of past use, and the like, and further, determination of presence / absence of connection, sensor reading, processing of fixed information, calculation of remaining amount And an arithmetic processing function such as calculation of filling conditions and calculation of filling time.

  On the other hand, the hydrogen delivery 71 also includes a light receiving part 72 and a light emitting part 73 for communication, and information can be transmitted by light through a fuel delivery pipe 74 that is a hydrogen gas flow path. Therefore, transmission of information in the filling sequence is performed by exchanging signals between the light receiving unit 58 and the light emitting unit 63 of the hydrogen server 51 and the light receiving unit 72 and the light emitting unit 73 of the hydrogen delivery 71.

  Finally, a basic configuration of the power generation cell 3 of the fuel cell and a mechanism for generating an electromotive force will be described. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a power generation cell of a fuel cell has a fuel electrode 81 in contact with hydrogen, which is a fuel gas, and an air electrode 82 in contact with air (oxygen) through an electrolyte 83. And is configured by sandwiching both sides thereof with a current collector 84. The current collector 84 is made of dense graphite or the like that has high current collecting performance and is stable even in an oxidative steam atmosphere. A horizontal groove 84 a to which hydrogen is supplied is provided on the surface facing the fuel electrode 81, and the air electrode 82. A vertical groove 84b through which air is supplied is formed on the surface facing the surface.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the fuel electrode 81 and the air electrode 82 are formed with an electrolyte 83 sandwiched therebetween, and are composed of gas diffusion electrodes 81a and 82a and catalyst layers 81b and 82b, respectively. Here, the gas diffusion electrodes 81a and 82a are made of a porous material, and the catalyst layers 81b and 82b are made of a mixture of carbon particles carrying an electrode catalyst such as platinum and an electrolyte.

  The fuel cell has the above-described basic unit (fuel cell), for example, a stack structure in which a plurality of the fuel cells are stacked, and a configuration in which a predetermined voltage is obtained by connecting the plurality of fuel cells in series. It has become.

In the fuel cell configured as described above, hydrogen gas is allowed to flow into the groove 84a formed in the current collector 84 so as to be in contact with the fuel electrode 81, and air (oxygen) is supplied to the groove 84b so as to be in contact with the air electrode 82. When flowing into the fuel electrode 81, the reaction formula H ₂ → 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻
And the reaction formula 1 / 2O ₂ + 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ → H ₂ O + reaction heat Q on the air electrode 82 side.
The reaction shown by this occurs, and as a whole, H ₂ + 1 / 2O ₂ → H ₂ O
The reaction indicated by will occur. That is, hydrogen emits electrons and protonates at the fuel electrode 81, moves to the air electrode 82 side through the electrolyte 83, and receives the supply of electrons at the air electrode 82 to react with oxygen. An electromotive force is obtained based on the electrochemical reaction.

  In the above embodiment, the fuel is not limited to hydrogen gas, but liquefied hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, methanol, and other fuels are used. It is possible.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the hydrogen delivery system using the joint (hydrogen delivery) for fuel fluid to which this invention is applied. It is a principal part schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of a gas flow volume adjustment mechanism. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the temperature control mechanism using a shape memory alloy, (A) shows the state which the coil spring contracted, (B) shows the state which the coil spring opened. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the temperature adjustment mechanism using a Peltier device. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the information transmission mechanism by light. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the basic structural example of a fuel cell. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the electrode of a fuel cell.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hydrogen server, 2 ... Hydrogen delivery, 3 ... Power generation cell, 21 ... Hydrogen cartridge, 22, 23 ... Connection part, 25 ... Remaining amount display part, 26a, 26b ... Information transmission part, 28 ... Filling frequency display part, 29 ... occlusion body type display unit, 41 ... coil spring, 42 ... cooling fin, 43 ... Peltier module, 44 ... current control unit, 45 ... temperature sensor

Claims (8)

In a fuel fluid joint having a fuel fluid inlet and a fuel fluid outlet and interposed between the fuel fluid supply server and the power generator,
A fuel fluid storage section in which a storage body for storing a fuel fluid is accommodated, and has at least one function of storing information, displaying information, and transmitting information;
Have flow meters on the fuel fluid inflow side and fuel fluid outflow side , and
It has a temperature control mechanism that controls the internal temperature by adjusting the spacing or angle of the heat sink
Fuel fluid fittings. It has a memory that stores the inflow and outflow measured by the flow meter, and calculates and displays the remaining amount from the inflow and outflow memories.
請 Motomeko first fuel fluid joint according. The required flow rate is adjusted by information from the power generator.
請 Motomeko first fuel fluid joint according. The required flow rate is adjusted by a gas flow rate information pin provided on the power generator.
請 Motomeko 3 fuel fluid joint according. The throttle amount of the outlet is adjusted by the length of the gas flow rate information pin.
請 Motomeko 4 fuel fluid joint according. Adjustment of the space | interval or angle of the said heat sink is performed with a bimetal or a shape memory alloy.
請 Motomeko first fuel fluid joint according. The temperature control mechanism has a structure in which a heat sink is attached to a coil spring made of a shape memory alloy.
Fuel fluid joint 請 Motomeko 6 wherein. The temperature control mechanism includes a temperature sensor and a Peltier element.
請 Motomeko 7 fuel fluid joint according.

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