JP5387236B2 - High-pressure gas filling system and vehicle equipped with fuel cell - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a high-pressure gas filling system and a fuel cell-equipped vehicle that receives fuel gas filling from the system.

  In recent years, environmental awareness has increased, and fuel cells using hydrogen gas as a fuel gas and vehicles equipped with the same have been put into practical use. Since the stable supply of hydrogen gas to such vehicles is indispensable for promoting the spread of vehicles equipped with fuel cells, various systems have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-69327 A

  In the gas filling system proposed in the above-mentioned patent document, the tank standard between the receptacle and the nozzle, etc., is used to perform gas filling through fitting and mounting of the receptacle on the vehicle side and the nozzle on the hydrogen supply station side that is the gas supply source. Information is transmitted. However, when hydrogen gas is actually charged and supplied by fitting the receptacle and nozzle, the situation is such that the hydrogen gas accumulated at high pressure from the hydrogen supply station side is filled into the tank of the vehicle. Was insufficient. When filling the tank of the vehicle with the hydrogen gas accumulated at a high pressure, adiabatic expansion occurs, so that the temperature of the hydrogen gas passing through the receptacle nozzle fitted and fitted decreases. Further, since the pressure accumulation tank of the hydrogen supply station may be precooled in preparation for accumulating at a high pressure, hydrogen gas may pass through the fitted receptacle nozzle at a low temperature. For this reason, the fitted receptacle nozzle is cooled and the water around it freezes, which may interfere with the removal of the receptacle nozzle. It has been pointed out that this may lead to functional degradation. Such a problem is not unique to a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, but can also occur when a hydrogen gas storage tank in a stationary fuel cell system is filled with hydrogen gas.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to propose a countermeasure for cooling the receptacle and the nozzle accompanying the high-pressure gas filling.

  In order to achieve at least a part of the above object, the present invention adopts the following configuration.

[Application 1: High-pressure gas filling system]
A high-pressure gas filling system,
A receptacle installed at the tip of a pipe line extending from a high-pressure gas filling object;
A nozzle installed at the tip of a pipe line extending from a source of high-pressure gas, and capable of communicating with and blocking the pipe line of the receptacle by fitting and removing from the receptacle;
Temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of at least one of the receptacle or the nozzle fitted and mounted;
The high pressure gas supply is performed in a situation where the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means exceeds a predetermined temperature while the high pressure gas is supplied from the filling source of the high pressure gas in a situation where the receptacle and the nozzle are fitted and mounted. And a gas supply means for continuing the operation.

  In the high-pressure gas filling system having the above-described configuration, when the high-pressure gas is supplied from the filling source of the high-pressure gas under the condition where the receptacle and the nozzle are fitted, the temperature of the receptacle and the nozzle decreases as the high-pressure gas passes. However, the high-pressure gas supply is continued under the situation where the detected temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature. For this reason, if the temperature of the receptacle and the nozzle is lowered to a predetermined temperature or less as the high-pressure gas passes, the continuation of the gas supply that has been performed can be changed from before, and various countermeasures associated with the decrease in the detection temperature can be achieved. It can also be done.

  For example, when the detected temperature is lowered, if the high-pressure gas supply is restricted according to the state of the temperature drop, the supply amount can be reduced or the supply itself can be restricted as the gas supply restriction. The temperature drop of the receptacle and the nozzle can be suppressed.

  As one aspect of the gas supply restriction, if the high-pressure gas supply is stopped when the detected temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the temperature drop of the receptacle and the nozzle accompanying the passage of the high-pressure gas can be suppressed more reliably. In this case, the supply of the high-pressure gas can be stopped when the detected temperature is lowered to a temperature at which the fitted receptacle and the nozzle are assumed to adhere to each other due to freezing of adhering moisture. In this way, since the adhesion between the receptacle and the nozzle due to the freezing of the adhering moisture can be suppressed, there is no problem in removing the receptacle and the nozzle.

  In addition, when the detected temperature is lowered to a temperature at which a malfunction of a transmission / reception device incorporated in the receptacle and the nozzle is assumed so as to transmit / receive a signal between the fitted receptacle and the nozzle. The high-pressure gas supply can be stopped. In this way, malfunction of the transmission / reception device can be avoided.

  In addition, it is possible to provide a heating means attached to at least one of the receptacle or the nozzle, and to control the heating means so that the detected temperature does not fall below the predetermined temperature. In this way, the temperature of the receptacle and nozzle associated with the passage of high-pressure gas can be raised and the cooling of the receptacle and nozzle can be suppressed. It is possible to avoid failure. In addition, the high-pressure gas can be continuously charged while avoiding such sticking and malfunction.

  In the above-described high-pressure gas filling system, the temperature detecting means can be attached to the receptacle to detect the temperature on the receptacle side, which has the following advantages. The receptacle side includes an object to be filled with high-pressure gas, the nozzle side includes a high-pressure gas filling source, and the scale of the apparatus configuration is larger on the nozzle side including the filling source. Therefore, in the receptacle, the cooling due to the passage of the high-pressure gas becomes significant. For this reason, if the temperature detection means is attached to the receptacle, the temperature drop can be detected quickly, so that the supply of high pressure gas to the receptacle and the nozzle is stopped, the receptacle and the nozzle are prevented from sticking, and the malfunction of the transmitter / receiver is avoided. It can be executed quickly and the temperature of the receptacle and the nozzle can be raised quickly so as not to be below a predetermined temperature.

  In addition, the high-pressure gas filling system described above can be configured as a fuel gas supply station for a fuel cell-equipped vehicle equipped with a fuel cell and a tank that stores a fuel gas used for an electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell. In this case, a filling source tank that stores fuel gas at a high pressure is provided as a high pressure gas filling source, and a tank (vehicle tank) mounted on a fuel cell vehicle is used as a gas filling target. In this way, the fuel cell vehicle is equipped with a receptacle at the end of the pipe line extending from the tank (vehicle tank), and the tank (vehicle tank) of the fuel cell vehicle has a high pressure as a fuel gas supply station. Fuel gas can be charged and supplied from the gas filling system.

  And when filling and supplying fuel gas to the tank (vehicle tank) of a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, the high pressure gas supply is stopped due to the cooling of the receptacle and the nozzle, the receptacle and the nozzle are prevented from sticking, and the malfunction of the transmission / reception device is avoided. it can.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the high-pressure hydrogen gas filling system 10 as one Example of this invention with the principal part expansion part. 4 is a flowchart showing a gas filling process for a hydrogen gas tank 110 of a vehicle 20 equipped with a fuel cell. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the receptacle 150A of another Example. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the temperature rising process in the case of gas filling. FIG. 3 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing a gas filling treatment process in a hydrogen gas tank 110 in another embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an outline of a high-pressure hydrogen gas filling system 10 as one embodiment of the present invention together with an enlarged portion thereof.

  As shown in the drawing, the high-pressure hydrogen gas filling system 10 is configured to charge and supply high-pressure hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas filling unit 300 to the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20. The fuel cell vehicle 20 includes a fuel cell 100, a hydrogen gas supply system 120 including a hydrogen gas tank 110, an air supply system 140 including a motor-driven compressor 130, a cooling system (not shown), and a control device 200. The fuel cell 100 is configured by laminating a power generation module having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (not shown) in which both electrodes of an anode and a cathode are joined to both sides of an electrolyte membrane, and includes a front wheel FW and a rear wheel RW. Is located under the vehicle floor. The fuel cell 100 generates electricity by causing an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen in hydrogen gas supplied from a hydrogen gas supply system 120 and an air supply system 140, which will be described later, and oxygen in the air. A load such as a driving motor (not shown) for the front and rear wheels is driven.

  The hydrogen gas supply system 120 includes a hydrogen supply pipe 121 extending from the hydrogen gas tank 110 to the fuel cell 100, a flow rate adjusting valve 122 for the pipe, and a gas filling filling pipe 123 branched from the hydrogen supply pipe 121. And an open / close valve 124 in front of the fuel cell 100, a discharge pipe 125 for discharging unconsumed hydrogen gas (anode off gas) to the atmosphere, and a discharge flow rate adjustment valve 126 for the pipe. This hydrogen gas supply system 120 adjusts the flow rate of the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas tank 110 by the flow rate adjustment valve 122 of the hydrogen supply pipeline 121 and supplies it to the anode of the fuel cell 100 while discharging the discharge pipeline 125. The cathode off-gas is released into the atmosphere from a discharge pipe 142 described later at a flow rate adjusted by the flow rate adjustment valve 126. In this embodiment, the flow rate adjustment valve 122 can adjust the gas flow rate from zero, and the hydrogen supply line 121 is blocked by setting the flow rate to zero.

  The hydrogen gas supply system 120 includes a receptacle 150 for filling high-pressure hydrogen gas. The receptacle 150 is installed at the tip of a filling pipe 123 extending from the hydrogen gas tank 110 to be filled with high-pressure hydrogen gas, and is located at a gas filling location on the side of the vehicle. This gas filling location corresponds to a fuel refueling location in an existing gasoline vehicle, and the installed receptacle 150 is covered with a vehicle outer plate side cover. The configuration of the receptacle 150 will be described later.

  The air supply system 140 includes an oxygen supply pipe 141 that reaches the fuel cell 100 via the compressor 130, a discharge pipe 142 that discharges unconsumed air (cathode offgas) to the atmosphere, and a discharge flow rate adjustment valve 143 for the pipe. With. The air supply system 140 adjusts the flow rate of air taken from the open end of the oxygen supply line 141 by the compressor 130 and then supplies the air to the cathode of the fuel cell 100, while discharging the flow rate adjustment valve 143 of the discharge line 142. The cathode off-gas is discharged to the atmosphere through the discharge pipe 142 at the flow rate adjusted in step (1).

  The control device 200 is constituted by a so-called microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like that execute a logical operation, and receives a sensor input such as an accelerator or a sensor input accompanying a gas filling operation, and includes a fuel cell 100 including a valve control. Manage various controls.

  The hydrogen gas filling unit 300 includes a gas filling source tank 310 that stores hydrogen gas under high pressure, an upstream pipe line 314 and a downstream pipe line 316 that are connected via an opening / closing valve 312, and a downstream pipe line 316. A nozzle 350 installed at the tip and a gas filling control device 380 are provided. The nozzle 350 is connected to and disconnected from the pipe line of the receptacle 150 (specifically, a pipe line of a check valve described later) by fitting and removing from the receptacle 150 on the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20 side. Both the downstream pipe line 316 and the upstream pipe line 314 are high-pressure-resistant flexible hoses for the convenience of gas filling using the nozzle 350, and are used for fitting and removing the nozzle 350 from the receptacle 150. Follow. The gas filling control device 380 is constituted by a so-called microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like for executing a logical operation. The gas filling control device 380 receives a sensor input accompanying the operation of the nozzle 350 for gas filling / stopping, and performs valve control. Controls the gas filling including.

  This hydrogen gas filling unit 300 is used for filling high-pressure hydrogen gas into the hydrogen gas tank 110 of the vehicle 20 equipped with the fuel cell, and thus corresponds to a gasoline refueling station for an existing gasoline vehicle. If the hydrogen gas tank 110 and the fuel cell 100 are in a stationary form installed in a residence, a store, a factory, or the like, the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 is installed in a vehicle such as a truck and is in a gas delivery form. It becomes.

  Next, the configurations and functions of the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 will be described. The receptacle 150 incorporates a check valve 151, and a casing on the check valve built-in side is used as a fitting attachment portion to the nozzle 350. Due to the valve function of the check valve 151, the receptacle 150 closes the pipe line when gas is not filled, and when fitted to the nozzle 350, the receptacle 150 is fitted with a recess (not shown) and a ball on the nozzle side. The backflow prevention by the check valve 151 is attempted while maintaining the above. At the time of gas filling, since the check valve 151 receives the gas pressure and operates toward the pipeline release side, the receptacle 150 is supplied with gas (high-pressure hydrogen gas) by this check valve operation.

  In addition, the receptacle 150 includes an infrared transmitter 152 on the casing collar and a temperature sensor 154 on the casing wall. The temperature sensor 154 outputs the temperature detected by the detection unit (the receptacle temperature Tr) to the control device 200. The infrared transmitter 152 faces the infrared receiver 352 of the nozzle 350 in a state in which the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 are completely fitted, and enables information transmission / reception between the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350. More specifically, the infrared transmitter 152 receives information (such as the gas filling pressure and the remaining gas capacity of the hydrogen gas tank 110) output from the control device 200 after the receptacle / nozzle is fitted and mounted. ) Is converted into an infrared signal and transmitted to the infrared receiver 352. The infrared receiver 352 converts the received information into an electrical signal, and transmits it to the gas filling control device 380 of the hydrogen gas filling unit 300. By doing so, the gas filling control device 380 of the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 and the control device 200 of the fuel cell vehicle 20 can share information necessary for gas filling. In this case, information may be transmitted from the infrared receiver 352 side of the nozzle 350 to the infrared transmitter 152 of the receptacle 150. When infrared communication between the infrared transmitter 152 and the infrared receiver 352 becomes possible, the control device 200 of the vehicle 20 equipped with the fuel cell and the gas filling control device 380 of the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 receive the receptacle to the nozzle 350. Recognize that 150 fitting has been completed.

  The nozzle 350 includes a bottomed fitting hole 354 into which the receptacle 150 is fitted. When the receptacle 150 is fitted into the fitting hole 354 from its tip, the nozzle 350 causes a steel ball (not shown) provided at an equal pitch on the peripheral wall of the hole to enter a recess (not shown) of the receptacle 150. To fit and fit. In this fitted mounting state, the tip of the receptacle 150 and the bottom surface of the fitting hole 354 in the nozzle 350 are joined in an airtight manner, and the gas inlet side pipe line of the receptacle 150 extends to the gas vent pipe line of the nozzle 350. It connects with the downstream pipe line 316 which leads to. When removing the receptacle 150, the nozzle 350 releases a steel ball locking mechanism (not shown) and retracts the steel ball from the inside of the fitting hole 354, so that the receptacle 150 can be easily removed from the fitting hole 354. In this case, the nozzle 350 closes the gas vent line in the nozzle when the gas is not filled with the receptacle 150 fitted, and the nozzle 350 is closed when the gas is filled with the receptacle 150 fitted. Configured to release.

  Next, a gas filling procedure associated with fitting and mounting of the receptacle 150 to the nozzle 350 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the gas filling process of the hydrogen gas tank 110 of the vehicle 20 equipped with the fuel cell. This flowchart is executed at the timing when the nozzle 350 of the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 is operated by the user for gas filling, and each process is performed by the gas filling control device 380 on the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 side. . In executing each process, first, the completion state of the receptacle fitting and mounting is determined (step S100). As described above, the completion determination of the fitting and mounting is made when the infrared receiver 352 of the nozzle 350 can communicate with the infrared transmitter 152 of the receptacle 150 in close proximity, and waits until this completion determination is made. . Then, the gas filling control device 380 performs the information communication between the infrared transmitter 152 and the infrared receiver 352 described above with the completion of the fitting of the receptacle. Data transmission of the introduction (gas filling pressure, remaining gas capacity, etc.) of the hydrogen gas tank 110 is received from the control device 200 side of the fuel cell vehicle 20.

  Normally, when the hydrogen gas tank 110 is filled with high-pressure hydrogen gas in the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20, the control device 200 of the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20 places the hydrogen supply line in FIG. The flow rate adjustment valve 122 of 121 is set to zero flow rate to close the pipe line, and the open / close valve 124 in front of the hydrogen gas tank 110 is opened. Therefore, in the fuel cell vehicle 20, the filling pipe line 123 from the hydrogen gas tank 110 to the receptacle 150 is opened in preparation for gas filling after fitting the receptacle 150 to the nozzle 350. The receptacle 150 prevents the backflow of the gas as described above with the check valve 151 until the gas is filled with the fitting of the receptacle 150 (when the gas is not filled).

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S100 (mounting completion determination), the gas filling control device 380 controls to open / close the opening / closing valve 312 in FIG. 1, and the gas filling source tank 310 to the hydrogen gas tank 110 of the fuel cell vehicle 20 The high-pressure hydrogen gas filling is started (step S110). As a result, the high-pressure hydrogen gas passes through the nozzle 350 on the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 side and the receptacle 150 on the side of the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20 that has been fitted and attached to the nozzle 350, and the hydrogen gas tank 110 of the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20. Filled. The gas filling control device 380 monitors a gas flow rate transition and a pressure transition from a gas flow meter (not shown) and a pressure gauge on the upstream side pipe 314, and grasps the gas filling state into the hydrogen gas tank 110 from the start of filling. Then, the gas filling control device 380 inputs the receptacle temperature Tr detected by the temperature sensor 154 of the receptacle 150 on the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20 side while grasping such a filling state (step S120). The input of the receptacle temperature Tr to the gas filling control device 380 is to transmit the receptacle temperature Tr of the temperature sensor 154 acquired by the control device 200 of the fuel cell vehicle 20 to the infrared receiver 352 via the infrared transmitter 152. Made in

  The gas filling control device 380 determines whether or not the input receptacle temperature Tr is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature α (step S130). If a negative determination is made here, the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 are cooled with the passage of the high-pressure hydrogen gas, but are not cooled below the predetermined temperature α, and the receptacle temperature Tr exceeds the predetermined temperature α. Will be. Therefore, following the negative determination in step S130, the gas filling control device 380 continues filling with the high-pressure hydrogen gas (step S140), and determines whether or not the gas filling is completed based on the above-described filling state grasp. Determination is made (step S150). If the gas filling is not completed, the process proceeds to step S120, and the filling is continued until the gas filling is completed. If the affirmative determination is made in step S150 that the filling is completed, this routine is finished. In this case, the gas filling control device 380 controls the closing of the open / close valve 312 upon completion of the gas filling, so that the gas pressure applied to the check valve 151 of the receptacle 150 decreases. Therefore, in the receptacle 150, the built-in check valve 151 closes the pipe line after the completion of gas filling to avoid backflow. Moreover, the receptacle 150 is removed from the nozzle 350 by the user (gas filling operator) when the gas filling is completed.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S130, the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 are cooled to a predetermined temperature α or less as the high-pressure hydrogen gas passes. Therefore, in this case, the gas filling control device 380 controls the closing of the open / close valve 312 to stop the gas filling (step S170), proceeds to step S120, and reads the receptacle temperature Tr (step S120). Comparison between the receptacle temperature Tr and the predetermined temperature α is performed (step S130). For this reason, when the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 are cooled to a predetermined temperature α or less as the high-pressure hydrogen gas passes, the gas is used until the receptacle temperature Tr is again determined to exceed the predetermined temperature α in step S130. Filling will be stopped.

  As described above, in the high-pressure hydrogen gas filling system 10 of the present embodiment, the predetermined temperature α, which is the comparison temperature in step S130 for determining the stop of gas filling as described above, is one of the two forms described below. did.

  The first mode is a mode in which priority is given to preventing the removal of the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 in the fitted and mounted state, and the predetermined temperature α is set to about −5 ° C. If moisture is attached to the fitted receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350, the attached moisture is frozen when the temperature of the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 (receptible temperature Tr) becomes -5 ° C. or lower. It is assumed that the receptacle / nozzle is fixed due to this adhering moisture freezing. Therefore, by setting the predetermined temperature α, which is the comparison temperature in step S130, to about −5 ° C., if the receptacle temperature Tr becomes equal to or lower than −5 ° C., filling of the high-pressure hydrogen gas is stopped from that point (step S170). ). If there is no high-pressure hydrogen gas passage, the receptacle temperature Tr of the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 rises due to the outside air temperature. This can also be avoided with high effectiveness. As a result, the receptacle 150 can be easily removed from the nozzle 350 without hindrance. In this case, as long as the receptacle temperature Tr exceeds −5 ° C. (predetermined temperature α), or after the temperature returns from −5 ° C. or lower to a temperature exceeding −5 ° C., the processing from step S140 is performed. The hydrogen gas tank 110 can be filled with high-pressure hydrogen gas.

  In the second form, priority is given to avoiding malfunction of the infrared transmitter 152 provided in the receptacle 150 and the infrared receiver 352 provided in the nozzle 350, and the predetermined temperature α is set to about −40 ° C. The infrared transmitter 152 and the infrared receiver 352 have a device configuration for achieving the function of performing infrared communication, but normal operation of the device in a low temperature environment is normally guaranteed up to about −40 ° C. Therefore, by setting the predetermined temperature α, which is the comparison temperature in step S130, to about −40 ° C., if the receptacle temperature Tr becomes equal to or lower than −40 ° C., the filling of the high-pressure hydrogen gas is stopped from that point (step S170). ). If there is no passage of high-pressure hydrogen gas, the receptacle temperature Tr of the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 rises due to the outside air temperature, so that the temperature drop of the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 due to passage of the high-pressure hydrogen gas can be suppressed. As a result, the infrared transmitter 152 provided in the receptacle 150 and the infrared receiver 352 provided in the nozzle 350 can be prevented from being placed in an environment of −40 ° C. or lower that causes the malfunction. Can be avoided with high effectiveness. In this case, as long as the receptacle temperature Tr exceeds −40 ° C. (predetermined temperature α), or after the temperature returns from −40 ° C. or lower to a temperature higher than −40 ° C., the processing after step S140 is performed. The hydrogen gas tank 110 can be filled with high-pressure hydrogen gas.

  In the first embodiment described above, since the temperature defining the filling stop is −5 ° C., naturally, the infrared transmitter 152 provided in the receptacle 150 and the infrared receiver 352 provided in the nozzle 350 are normally operated. Is secured. Further, in the second embodiment described above, since the gas filling in steps S140 to S160 is executed under the condition of a receptacle temperature Tr (> −40 ° C.) of −5 ° C. or lower, the receptacle nozzle due to freezing of the attached water This may cause troubles in removing the receptacle / nozzle. Therefore, in this case, if the receptacle temperature Tr is monitored by the gas filling control device 380 and the receptacle temperature Tr reaches a temperature (for example, −5 ° C. to 0 ° C.) that causes the receptacle / nozzle to be fixed, it is not illustrated. It is also possible to notify the gas filling operator that the receptacle / nozzle can be removed by a notification device (indicator lamp or sound alarm).

  In the high-pressure hydrogen gas filling system 10 of the present embodiment described above, since the temperature sensor 154 is provided in the receptacle 150, the following advantages are obtained. On the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20 side, the hydrogen gas tank 110, the gas path, and the valve device of the path are included as equipment involved in gas filling, and on the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 side, the gas filling source tank 310, the gas path, and Pathway valve equipment. When both are compared, the scale of the device configuration is larger on the side of the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 including the gas filling source tank 310, and the scale is much smaller on the side of the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20 side. Therefore, since the cooling accompanying the passage of the high-pressure hydrogen gas becomes significant in the receptacle 150 on the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20 side, the temperature drop of the receptacle temperature Tr can be detected quickly by providing the temperature sensor 154 in the receptacle 150. For this reason, it is possible to promptly avoid sticking to the receptacle / nozzle and avoid malfunction of the transmission / reception device through prompt execution of the high-pressure hydrogen gas filling stop (step S170) accompanying the cooling of the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350.

  In the above-described embodiment, the gas filling is stopped in step 170 following the affirmative determination in step S130. However, the filling gas amount can be reduced. In this way, the temperature drop of the receptacle nozzle is suppressed by the amount of the high-pressure hydrogen gas passing through the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350, and the temperature increase of the receptacle nozzle due to the outside air temperature can be expected.

  Further, the predetermined temperature α that regulates the stop of gas filling may be provided with hysteresis when the detected temperature is lowered and when the temperature is raised after the temperature is lowered.

  Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically showing a receptacle 150A of another embodiment. As shown in the figure, the receptacle 150A includes a heater 156 in its casing in addition to the infrared transmitter 152 and the temperature sensor 154 described above. This heater 156 is energized and controlled by the control device 200 of the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20 and generates heat when energized to raise the temperature of the receptacle 150 and, in turn, the nozzle 350.

  Next, gas filling in another embodiment using the receptacle 150A will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the temperature increasing process at the time of gas filling, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing the gas filling process in the hydrogen gas tank 110 in another embodiment. Also in these flowcharts, the nozzle 350 of the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 is executed at the timing when the user operates to fill the gas, and the temperature raising process of FIG. 4 is performed by the control device 200 of the fuel cell vehicle 20. 5 is performed by the gas filling control device 380 on the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 side.

  In the temperature raising process of FIG. 4, the completion state of the receptacle fitting is determined (step S200), and the process waits until there is a completion determination. Then, the control device 200 inputs the receptacle temperature Tr of the temperature sensor 154 of the receptacle 150 upon completion of the fitting of the receptacle (step S210), and compares the inputted receptacle temperature Tr with the above-described predetermined temperature α. This is performed (step S220). In this case, the predetermined temperature α is either −5 ° C. or −40 ° C. as described above. If a negative determination is made in step S220, this routine is terminated without performing any processing. If an affirmative determination is made, the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 are cooled to a predetermined temperature α or less as the high-pressure hydrogen gas passes. Therefore, the heater 156 is energized to increase the temperature of the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 (step S230), and this routine ends. The heater energization control at this time is performed based on the difference between the read receptacle temperature Tr and the predetermined temperature α, and the heat generation of the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 necessary to make this difference zero or more is obtained. To be made. As a result, the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 are maintained at a temperature exceeding the above-described predetermined temperature α in a state where they are fitted and mounted in preparation for gas filling.

  The gas filling procedure in FIG. 5 is not a substitute for the gas filling procedure described in FIG. 2, and the processing related to the temperature control of the receptacle nozzle performed in the temperature raising procedure in FIG. 4 is omitted. That is, in the gas filling procedure of FIG. 5, first, the completion state of the receptacle fitting and mounting is determined (step S100), and the process waits until this completion determination is made. Then, the gas filling control device 380 performs the information communication between the infrared transmitter 152 and the infrared receiver 352 described above with the completion of the fitting of the receptacle. Data transmission of the introduction (gas filling pressure, remaining gas capacity, etc.) of the hydrogen gas tank 110 is received from the control device 200 side of the fuel cell vehicle 20. The same applies to the valve control for gas filling in the fuel cell vehicle 20.

  When it is determined in step S100 that the installation is complete, the gas filling control device 380 performs opening control of the opening / closing valve 312 in FIG. 1 to fill the hydrogen gas tank 110 of the fuel cell vehicle 20 from the gas filling source tank 310 to the high pressure hydrogen gas. Is started (step S110). As a result, the high-pressure hydrogen gas passes through the nozzle 350 on the hydrogen gas filling unit 300 side and the receptacle 150 on the side of the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20 that has been fitted and attached to the nozzle 350, and the hydrogen gas tank 110 of the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20. Filled. When the filling of the high-pressure hydrogen gas is started, the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 are cooled by the high-pressure hydrogen gas that passes therethrough. However, since the temperature rise treatment of FIG. The filling control device 380 continues filling with the high-pressure hydrogen gas while grasping the gas filling state as described above, and determines whether or not the gas filling is completed based on the filling state grasping (step S150). If the gas filling is not completed, the process proceeds to step S110, and the filling is continued until the gas filling is completed. If the affirmative determination is made in step S150 that the filling is completed, this routine is finished.

  As described above, in the embodiment using the receptacle 150A, the energization control of the heater 156 prevents the receptacle 150 and the nozzle 350 from becoming below the predetermined temperature α, and then the high-pressure hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell-equipped vehicle 20. The hydrogen gas tank 110 is filled. Therefore, the above-described effects can be achieved also by the embodiment using the receptacle 150A.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the temperature sensor 154 may be provided on the nozzle 350 side, or may be configured to be incorporated in the infrared transmitter 152 or the infrared receiver 352. Further, the receptacle 150A provided with the heater 156 can also be used in the gas filling treatment shown in FIG. For example, when the receptacle temperature Tr becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature α (−5 ° C. or −40 ° C.) in step S130, the heater 156 may be energized while gas filling is stopped in step S170. it can. In this case, the temperature of the receptacle nozzle is increased by the heater 156, so that the receptacle temperature Tr quickly exceeds the predetermined temperature α (−5 ° C. or −40 ° C.), thereby shortening the gas filling stop period. be able to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... High-pressure hydrogen gas filling system 20 ... Vehicle equipped with fuel cell 100 ... Fuel cell 110 ... Hydrogen gas tank 120 ... Hydrogen gas supply system 121 ... Hydrogen supply line 122 ... Flow rate adjustment valve 123 ... Filling line 124 ... Open / close valve 125 ... Release Pipe 126 ... Discharge flow rate adjustment valve 130 ... Compressor 140 ... Air supply system 141 ... Oxygen supply line 142 ... Release pipe 143 ... Discharge flow rate adjustment valve 150 ... Receptacle 150A ... Receptacle 151 ... Check valve 152 ... Infrared transmitter 154 ... Temperature sensor 156 ... Heater 200 ... Control device 300 ... Hydrogen gas filling part 310 ... Gas filling source tank 312 ... Open / close valve 314 ... Upstream side pipe 316 ... Downstream side pipe 350 ... Nozzle 352 ... Infrared receiver 354 ... Mating Hole 380 ... Gas filling control device FW ... Front wheel RW Rear wheel

Claims (8)

A high-pressure gas filling system,
A receptacle installed at the tip of a pipe line extending from a high-pressure gas filling object;
A nozzle installed at the tip of a pipe line extending from a source of high-pressure gas, and capable of communicating with and blocking the pipe line of the receptacle by fitting and removing from the receptacle;
Temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of at least one of the receptacle or the nozzle fitted and mounted;
The high pressure gas supply is performed in a situation where the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means exceeds a predetermined temperature while the high pressure gas is supplied from the filling source of the high pressure gas in a situation where the receptacle and the nozzle are fitted and mounted. A high-pressure gas filling system comprising a gas supply means for continuing.   2. The high-pressure gas filling system according to claim 1, wherein the gas supply unit includes a supply control unit that restricts the high-pressure gas supply according to a state of temperature decrease when the detected temperature is decreased.   The high-pressure gas filling system according to claim 2, wherein the supply control unit stops the high-pressure gas supply when the detected temperature becomes a predetermined temperature or lower.   The said supply control part stops the said high voltage | pressure gas supply, if the said detection temperature falls to the temperature where it is assumed that the said receptacle and the said nozzle by which the fitting attachment were carried out will adhere by freezing of adhering water | moisture content. The high-pressure gas filling system described in 1.   The supply control unit detects the temperature up to a temperature at which a malfunction of a transmission / reception device incorporated in the receptacle and the nozzle is assumed so as to perform transmission / reception of a signal between the fitted receptacle and the nozzle. The high-pressure gas filling system according to claim 3, wherein when the temperature falls, the high-pressure gas supply is stopped. The high-pressure gas filling system according to claim 1,
Heating means mounted on at least one of the receptacle or the nozzle,
The gas supply unit includes a supply control unit that controls the heating unit so that the detected temperature does not fall below the predetermined temperature.   The high-pressure gas filling system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the temperature detection means is attached to the receptacle and detects a temperature on the receptacle side. A high-pressure gas filling system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The tank of a fuel cell-equipped vehicle equipped with a fuel cell and a tank for storing fuel gas to be subjected to an electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell is the filling target,
A high pressure gas filling system comprising a filling source tank for storing the fuel gas at a high pressure as the filling source.

Images