JP6338203B2 - Gas filling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas filling device that fills a vehicle tank such as a CNG vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, and a hydrogen vehicle using CNG, hydrogen gas, or the like as fuel.

  As vehicles that respond to environmental problems in recent years, CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), CNG vehicles using gas fuel such as hydrogen, fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, and the like are being actively developed. In order to promote the widespread use of vehicles that run using such gas fuel, an apparatus that stably and efficiently fills the on-board tank mounted on the vehicle is required. In view of this, the present applicant has proposed a gas filling device in Patent Document 1 for efficiently filling a gas tank in a vehicle-mounted tank mounted on a vehicle.

JP 2014-109350 A

  Hydrogen gas, which is a flammable gas, has an extremely wide explosion limit. If a spark is generated due to static electricity, etc., the possibility of an explosion is very high. Therefore, in a display unit used in an environment filled with flammable gas, The electric equipment employs a pressure-proof explosion-proof structure so that even if a spark or the like occurs inside, the flammable gas can be prevented from igniting.

  This explosion-proof construction is designed to withstand the pressure of flammable gas even if it explodes inside, and to prevent the possibility of igniting external flammable gas. It is effective in preventing explosion accidents. However, since each electrical component is housed in a flameproof case, the display unit may be large and the degree of design freedom may be impaired.

  Furthermore, recently, for the spread of hydrogen stations, the use of self-filling gas filling devices has been studied by amending ministerial ordinances and safety regulations, and the development of safe and compact gas filling devices has been desired.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems in the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a gas filling device that is safe and compact and has a high degree of freedom in design of a display unit.

To achieve the above object, the present onset Ming, as well as regulated by flow regulating valve the flow of gas from the source of gas, with a filling mechanism for transporting the gas while measuring the flow rate of the gas after the flow rate adjustment A hose unit having a filling unit, a filling hose connected to the gas outlet pipe of the filling mechanism, a filling nozzle provided at the tip of the filling hose, and a display unit for displaying filling data measured by the filling mechanism And the display unit has an internal pressure explosion-proof structure, and a gas transport pipe for supplying non-combustible gas to the display unit is a gas transport pipe used for driving the flow rate adjusting valve. It is characterized by branching .

  According to the present invention, since the internal pressure explosion-proof structure is adopted as the explosion-proof structure of the display unit, the safety can be ensured and the size can be reduced as compared with the case of the pressure-proof explosion-proof structure. be able to.

  The gas filling device includes a monitoring device that monitors the internal pressure of the display unit, and the monitoring device can shut off the power supply of the gas filling device when the internal pressure of the display unit changes. Thereby, the inflow of the combustible gas into the display unit can be quickly detected to prevent an explosion accident.

  In addition, the gas filling device is disposed to face the display in the display unit and can be opened and closed, a printer cover that is disposed to face the printer and can be opened and closed, the display panel, and the printer A sensor for detecting opening and closing of the cover, and when the sensor detects that the display panel and / or the printer cover is opened, a filling control device for stopping filling from the filling mechanism can be provided. Thereby, maintenance management of a display and a printer can be easily performed while ensuring safety.

  The display unit can be equipped with a storage device that stores the number of gas fillings and the amount of filling by the filling mechanism, and exchanges before the expiration date of consumables such as hoses and nozzles, etc. according to the stored filling information, etc. It can be used for maintenance management of gas filling equipment.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gas filling device that is safe and compact and has a high degree of freedom in design of a display unit.

It is the schematic of the gas filling system to which the gas filling apparatus which concerns on this invention is applied. It is a whole lineblock diagram showing one embodiment of a gas filling device concerning the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the gas filling system of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating in detail a part of operation | movement of the gas filling system shown in FIG.

  Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a case where the gas filling device according to the present invention is a hydrogen gas filling device and a hydrogen gas vehicle is filled with hydrogen gas will be described as an example.

  First, a gas filling system to which a gas filling apparatus according to the present invention is applied will be schematically described with reference to FIG. This gas filling system 1 includes a gas filling device 2 (2A, 2B), a POS terminal (sales management device, hereinafter abbreviated as “POS”) 4 that communicates with the gas filling device 2 via a relay unit 3, and a remote. The monitoring server 5, the management PC 6 and the portable terminal 7 connected to the remote monitoring server 5, the rear equipment 8 that communicates directly with the gas filling device 2, and the relay unit 3 or directly communicates with the gas filling device 2. It consists of a settlement center 9.

  The relay unit 3 is connected to each gas filling device 2A, 2B by wire (SSLAN). This relay unit 3 may be provided in each of the gas filling devices 2, or one in the gas filling system 1, and one relay unit 3 and each of the gas filling devices 2A and 2B may be connected by wire.

  The remote monitoring server 5 is wirelessly connected to the relay unit 3, and fills data such as a filling amount and a filling amount of hydrogen gas (hereinafter referred to as “gas”) by the gas filling device 2 from the gas filling device 2 to the relay unit 3. And is provided for storing information related to maintenance management input by an operator of the gas filling system 1. For example, the filling data can be grasped by the management PC 6 connected to the remote monitoring server 5, and the maintenance management information can be transmitted to the portable terminal 7 connected to the remote monitoring server 5.

  The rear facility 8 is provided to control these while monitoring the equipment status of the entire gas filling system 1 such as the gas filling device 2. Further, the settlement center 9 is provided to cope with credit payment of a user (hereinafter simply referred to as “user”) of the gas filling system 1.

  FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a gas filling device according to the present invention. The gas filling device 2 includes a main unit 10 and a hose unit 30.

  The main unit 10 includes a charging mechanism that transports gas while measuring the flow rate of gas from a pressure accumulator (not shown) as a gas supply source, and a cooling device 11 that cools the gas supplied via the gas transport pipe 41. And a display unit 10b that is mounted on the ceiling of the filling unit 10a and displays the amount of gas filling.

  The filling unit 10a includes a main valve 12 provided on the gas transfer pipe 41, a flow rate adjusting valve 13 provided on the gas transfer pipe 42, for adjusting the flow rate of the gas flowing from the cooling device 11 to the filling hose 32, and the gas A flow meter 14 for measuring the flow rate is provided.

  The cooling device 11 cools the gas supplied from the pressure accumulator with a refrigerant such as liquid nitrogen, chlorofluorocarbon, or carbon dioxide staying inside.

  The display unit 10b includes a telephone line antenna 15 that functions as a part of the relay unit 3, and a flow rate of gas flowing from the gas transfer pipe 42 to the filling hose 32 (a gas supply amount from a filling nozzle to be described later to a fuel tank of an automobile). ) And the like, a touch display 17, start / end switches (hereinafter, "switch" is abbreviated as "SW") 18 and 19 to be pressed when filling is started / finished, and the vehicle Vehicle detector 20 that detects the approach of the printer, printer 21 that prints a receipt, etc., printer cover closing SW22, pressure control device 23, display panel closing SW24, IC tag reader 25, card reader 26, and keyboard 27, a filling control device 28 for controlling the filling mechanism, and a setting control device 29 for performing control related to filling setting. The remote monitoring server 5 receives the filling data from the gas filling device 2 through the telephone line antenna 15.

  The display unit 10b employs an internal pressure explosion-proof structure, and is filled with a nonflammable gas supplied from a compressor (not shown) through the gas transport pipe 43, the three-way valve 46, and the gas transport pipe 44. This incombustible gas is the same as that used for driving the flow rate adjustment valve 12 via the gas transport pipe 45, and a clean atmosphere can be used.

  Further, the display unit 10b includes an openable / closable panel (the entire front surface of the display unit 10b excluding the printer 21) for maintenance management and the like, and the display panel close SW 24 outputs an ON signal when the panel of the display unit 10b is closed. Output.

  The vehicle detector 20 detects a vehicle approaching the gas filling device 2 and transmits a detection signal to the setting control device 29.

  An openable / closable cover (not shown) is provided on the front surface of the printer 21 for replenishing roll paper, and the printer cover close SW 22 outputs an ON signal when the cover of the printer 21 is closed.

  The pressure control device 23 functions as a monitoring device that monitors the internal pressure of the display unit 10b and outputs a control signal for forcibly terminating gas filling to the filling control device 28 when the internal pressure of the display unit 10b changes. As will be described later, the changed internal pressure of the display unit 10b is controlled to the set pressure.

  The IC tag reader 25 reads an IC tag provided in the vehicle, and outputs the filling setting registered in the IC tag to the setting control device 29. The card reader 26 is provided to read the user's credit card, and exchanges information with the settlement center 9 for settlement.

  The filling control device 28 includes an on / off signal from a nozzle switch (not shown) provided on a nozzle hook (not shown) of the filling nozzle, a signal from a pulse transmitter of a flow meter (not shown), and various measurements. Each signal from the container is input, and a control signal is output to the main valve 12, the flow rate adjusting valve 13, and the like.

  The setting control device 29 is supplied with filling setting signals from the touch display 17, the IC tag reader 25 and the keyboard 27, and outputs control signals to the filling control device 28 and the printer 21.

  The hose unit 30 is provided at a vehicle tag reader 31 for reading a vehicle tag, a filling hose 32 connected to a gas transport pipe 42 (gas outlet pipe of a filling mechanism) in the filling unit 10a, and a tip of the filling hose 32. The filling nozzle, pressure gauges 34 and 35 for detecting the pressure inside each of the gas transport pipes 41 and 42, a gas detector 36 for detecting gas leakage, and the like are provided.

  The vehicle tag reader 31 is provided to confirm that this vehicle is a vehicle that uses the gas filling device 2 by reading a tag provided on the vehicle. From the vehicle detector 20 provided on the display unit 10b. The detection range is narrow. The vehicle tag reader 31 is arranged on the same line as the vehicle detector 20, and detects the approach of the vehicle by the vehicle detector 20, and the vehicle tag reader 31 keeps detecting the vehicle during filling. It recognizes that the vehicle is actually filled, and prevents misdetection of other vehicles.

  Next, operation | movement of the gas filling system 1 which has the said structure is demonstrated, referring FIG.1 and FIG.2 focusing on FIG. In the following description, a normal filling operation will be described in which filling is continued until the user presses the end SW 19 instead of preset filling for filling a predetermined amount.

  First, in step S1, the setting control device 29 waits until the vehicle detector 20 is turned on. When the vehicle detector 20 is turned on (step S1; Yes), the vehicle tag reader 31 is attached to the vehicle as step S2. Reading of the provided tag is started, and when the tag is read (step S2; Yes), a setting screen is displayed on the display 16 (step S3). On the other hand, when the vehicle tag reader 31 cannot read the tag in step S2 (step S2; No), the vehicle is guided to approach the gas filling device 2 via the notification means or the like (step S4). ), The process returns to step S2.

  In step S5, the user of the gas filling device 2 waits until the filling setting is completed via the touch display 17 or the like. When the filling setting is completed (step S5; Yes), a filling permission request signal is input in step S6. Wait until If the filling setting is registered in advance in the IC tag of the vehicle, when the vehicle tag is read in step S2, the filling setting is also read at the same time, and steps S3 and S5 are omitted.

  Next, in the filling control device 28, when the user removes the filling nozzle from the nozzle hook, the nozzle SW is turned on (step S11; Yes), and the removed filling nozzle is inserted into the filling port of the fuel tank mounted on the vehicle. Connecting. Here, a filling permission request signal is output to the rear facility 8 and the setting control device 29 (step S12), and the process waits until a filling permission signal is input in step S13.

  When a filling permission request signal is input in the rear facility 8 (step S31; Yes), in step S32, the safety of each device of the gas filling device 2 is confirmed, and when safety is confirmed (step S32). Yes), a filling permission signal is output to the filling control device 28 (step S33), and the process waits until a filling end signal is inputted in step S34.

  When a filling permission request signal is input to the setting control device 29 (step S6; Yes), a filling permission signal is output to the filling control device 28 (step S7), and a filling end signal is input in step S8. Wait until.

  In the filling control device 28, when a filling permission signal is input from both the rear equipment 8 and the setting control device 29 (step S13; Yes), in step S14, the user presses the start SW 18, that is, the start SW 18 is changed. It waits until it is turned on, and when the start SW 18 is turned on (step S14; Yes), the flow meter 14 is returned to zero and the main valve 12 and the flow rate adjustment valve 13 are opened (step S15).

  When the main valve 12 and the flow rate adjustment valve 13 are opened, a flow rate pulse is input to the flow meter 14 to fill the vehicle with gas (step S16), and the gas filling amount is counted and displayed on the display 16. It is displayed (step S17).

  While the gas is being filled, in steps S18 and S19, the internal pressure of the display unit 10b and the detection signal of the vehicle detector 20 are monitored, and a change occurs in the internal pressure of the display unit 10b (step S18; Yes). When the vehicle detector 20 outputs an off signal (step S19; Yes), the filling is immediately stopped.

  In step S20, the user presses the end SW (step S20; Yes) or the filling is stopped according to the above conditions (steps S18, S19; Yes), and the filling is completed. And the flow regulating valve 13 is closed. Thereafter, in step S22, the process waits until the nozzle SW is turned off. When the nozzle SW is turned off (step S22; Yes), the filling including the filling data for the setting control device 29, the rear facility 8, and the remote monitoring server 5 is performed. An end signal is output (step S23), and the operation of the filling control device 28 is ended.

  In the setting control device 29, when a filling end signal is input (step S8; Yes), settlement is performed based on the gas filling amount, and the result is printed on a receipt of the printer 21 and output (step S9). The operation of the setting control device 29 is finished.

  On the other hand, when the filling end signal is input in the rear facility 8 (step S34; Yes), the flag of the corresponding filling device 2 is deleted (step S35), and the operation of the rear facility 8 is terminated.

  Furthermore, in the remote monitoring server 5, when filling data is input together with a filling end signal (step S41; Yes), filling data such as a filling amount of gas and a filling amount is stored (step S42). Moreover, also when maintenance data are input by the operator of the gas filling system 1 in step S43 (step S43; Yes), this is preserve | saved (step S44) and operation | movement of the remote monitoring server 5 is complete | finished.

  Next, details of the operation of step S18 of the filling control device 28 and the recovery operation of the filling unit 10a and the like with respect to the operation of step S18 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In step S51 (corresponding to step S18), the internal pressure of the display unit 10b is monitored by the pressure control device 23, and in parallel with this (step S51; No), in step S52, the printer cover closing SW22 and the display panel closing SW24. Monitor whether is off.

  Whether the pressure control device 23 detects a change in the internal pressure of the display unit 10b (step S51; Yes), or one of the closed SWs 22 and 24 is off, that is, either the printer cover or the display panel is open. If this is detected (step S52; Yes), the charging unit 10a and the POS 4 are turned off (step S53). Note that a relief valve can be provided in advance in the display unit 10b in order to cope with a case where the pressure in the display unit 10b is increased.

  After the power of the filling unit 10a and the POS 4 is turned off in step S53, monitoring is performed until both the printer cover closing SW22 and the display panel closing SW24 are turned on in step S54, and both the closing SWs 22 and 24 are turned on. That is, when it is detected that both the printer cover and the display panel are closed (step S54; Yes), in step S55, the pressure control device 23 compares the internal pressure of the display unit 10b with the set pressure.

  In step S55, when it is detected by the pressure control device 23 that the inside of the display unit 10b has reached the set pressure (step S55; Yes), the inside of the display unit 10b is scavenged (step S56).

  In step S57, the scavenging in step S56 is continued until the scavenging time T reaches the predetermined time t1, and when the scavenging time T reaches the predetermined time t1 (step S57; Yes), combustible gas exists in the display unit 10b. If not, the power supply of the filling unit 10a and POS4 is turned on (step S58), and the filling unit 10a and POS4 are restored.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the internal pressure explosion-proof structure is adopted as the explosion-proof structure of the display unit 10b, the size can be reduced as compared with the case of the pressure-proof explosion-proof structure, and the degree of freedom in design of the display unit Can also be increased. Moreover, when the internal pressure of the display unit 10b changes, the power supply of the filling unit 10a is shut off, so that the inflow of combustible gas to the display unit 10b can be detected quickly and an explosion accident can be prevented.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the vehicle 8 is filled with hydrogen gas has been described as an example. However, the gas filling apparatus 2 can be used also when filling other gases.

  Moreover, although the case where the telephone line antenna 15 that functions as a part of the relay unit 3 is provided in the display unit 10b has been described, a wired LAN provided in advance in the gas filling system 1 or wireless communication that does not use a telephone line. Thus, communication may be performed between the gas filling device 2 and the remote monitoring server 5.

1 Gas Filling System 2 (2A, 2B) Gas Filling Device 3 Relay Unit 4 POS
5 Remote monitoring server 6 Management PC
7 Mobile terminal 8 Rear equipment 9 Settlement center 10 Main unit 10a Filling unit 10b Display unit 11 Cooling device 12 Main valve 13 Flow control valve 14 Flow meter 15 Telephone line antenna 16 Display 17 Touch display 18 Start SW
19 End SW
20 Vehicle detector 21 Printer 22 Printer cover close SW
23 Pressure control device 24 Display panel close SW
25 IC tag reader 26 Card reader 27 Keyboard 28 Fill control device 29 Setting control device 30 Hose unit 31 Vehicle tag reader 32 Fill hose 34, 35 Pressure gauge 36 Gas detector 41-45 Gas transport pipe 46 Three-way valve

Claims (4)

Adjusting the flow rate of the gas from the gas supply source by a flow rate adjusting valve, and a filling unit having a filling mechanism for conveying the gas while measuring the flow rate of the gas after the flow rate adjustment, and a gas outlet pipe of the filling mechanism A hose unit having a filling hose to be connected; a filling nozzle provided at a tip of the filling hose; and a display unit for displaying filling data measured by the filling mechanism, wherein the display unit has an internal pressure explosion-proof structure. a Ruga be filled device Yusuke,
A gas filling apparatus, wherein a gas conveyance pipe for supplying a non-combustible gas to the display unit is branched from a gas conveyance pipe used for driving the flow rate adjusting valve . A monitoring device for monitoring the internal pressure of the display unit;
The gas filling device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device shuts off a power source of the gas filling device when an internal pressure of the display unit changes. A display panel disposed opposite to the display in the display unit and capable of being opened and closed;
A printer cover that is placed opposite the printer and can be opened and closed;
A sensor for detecting opening and closing of the display panel and the printer cover,
The gas filling according to claim 1, further comprising: a filling control device that stops filling from the filling mechanism when the sensor detects that the display panel and / or the printer cover is opened. apparatus.   4. The gas filling device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a storage device that stores the number of gas fillings and a filling amount by the filling mechanism.

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