JPH039298B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is a system for monitoring and controlling the functions of a running system, monitoring abnormalities, and taking measures in a vehicle equipped with a gas engine and having a fuel tank that uses metal hydride to store hydrogen. It is related to the device. [Prior Art] For automobiles equipped with gasoline engines, diesel engines, etc., driving control systems using electronic control devices have already been developed and installed in the automobiles. On the other hand, the present inventors are developing an automobile that uses hydrogen gas stored in metal hydride as fuel, but even if they try to use the above-mentioned driving control system in this type of automobile, the actual control items and Because the standards are significantly different, simple conversion is difficult, and in particular, because a special fuel, hydrogen gas from metal hydride, is used, special monitoring and control is required. That is, in automobiles that use hydrogen gas stored in metal hydride as fuel, the system functions through cooperative control between the engine and the fuel tank. Moreover,
Each type has its own special characteristics, such as countermeasures against abnormal fuel in the engine by using hydrogen gas as fuel, and controlling the amount of hydrogen gas generated in the tank. Furthermore, it is necessary to understand the safety measures for each of these individual elements as well as the functions of the system as a whole, and to implement safety measures accordingly. Measures against abnormalities have not been fully established. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention grasps and recognizes the special characteristics of automobiles equipped with engines that use hydrogen gas from metal hydrides as fuel, and provides monitoring that takes safety measures into consideration for each element. It is intended to provide a control device. [Means for Solving the Problems] A monitoring and control device of the present invention for achieving the above object has a fuel tank that uses metal hydride as a hydrogen storage source and hydrogen generation source, and hydrogen is supplied from this tank. Equipped with a gas engine that uses hydrogen as fuel,
The above-mentioned vehicle is equipped with a heat exchanger in the exhaust gas path of the engine to generate hot water, and the hot water is used to heat the metal hydride. A control unit is provided, and a means for measuring the engine rotational speed, engine cooling water temperature, hydrogen gas pressure in the tank, temperature inside the tank, water temperature at the outlet of the tank, and vehicle speed of the vehicle is provided. The measurement data obtained by the means is used as a monitoring item, and the measured data is compared with abnormality judgment criteria for each monitoring item stored in memory in advance, and if an abnormality is found, a control command is issued to the required part according to the degree of abnormality. It is configured by providing an output function. [Function] In the monitoring and control device having the above configuration, data representative of each element constituting the engine system is collected, i.e., the rotational speed and cooling water temperature of the engine, the tank internal pressure, temperature, and tank outlet water temperature of the fuel tank. Detects the intake air temperature of the unit, compares this data with the judgment standard values set in the control unit that indicate abnormality or danger in each part, determines whether it is normal or abnormal, and if abnormal, identifies the abnormal location. In addition, depending on the severity, automatic processing or manual processing by the driver can be taken depending on the severity of the problem, such as emergency stop measures, activation of abnormality countermeasure control, and alarms. This makes it possible to implement safety measures for individual elements and the entire system in consideration of the special characteristics of automobiles equipped with engines that use hydrogen gas from metal hydrides as fuel. [Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows the configuration of a metal hydride engine system in a car that uses metal hydride as a storage and generation source of hydrogen gas, and the supervisory control that diagnoses the functions of each system while driving, monitors abnormalities, and takes measures. This shows the configuration of the device. The engine system shown in the figure includes engine 1,
Fuel tank filled with metal hydride 3 (hereinafter referred to as
(referred to as MH tank). 2, and a non-thermal heat exchanger 4 that produces hot water to heat the MH tank 2. First, an overview of the system configuration and operation will be explained. The hydrogen gas stored in the MH tank 2 is pressure-regulated (3 Kgf/cm ² G) by a pressure reducing valve 7 via a filter 5 and an emergency treatment valve 6. The hydrogen is then sent to the engine 1 through a hydrogen control device that switches between the direct injection system 8 and the premixing system 9 as needed. Here, the hydrogen gas is combusted and the engine generates power. The exhaust gas is sent to the exhaust heat exchanger 4, where hot water is produced. This hot water is sent to the MH tank 2 by the water pump 10 and becomes a heat source for heating the metal hydride 3. With this hot water, new hydrogen gas is released from the metal hydride 3 and is sent to the engine 1. This cycle will continue while the engine is running. The negative pressure tank 14 of the vacuum pump 13 driven by the engine 1 is connected via diaphragm valves 17 and 18 to cutoff valves 15 and 16 provided in parallel in the exhaust gas flow path, respectively, to cut off the Although it operates the valves 15 and 16, it can also be used to operate other necessary equipment provided in each part of the engine system. The cutoff valves 15 and 16 control the exhaust gas sent to the waste heat exchanger 4, thereby controlling the temperature of hot water in the MH tank 2. Further, in the hot water circulation system, a valve 21 for restricting the hot water path and a radiator 22 equipped with a fan 23 are connected in parallel, and by controlling the opening and closing of the valve 21, the hot water sent to the MH tank 2 is cooled. Temperature control is performed by On the other hand, the above-mentioned engine system is equipped with a control unit (abbreviated as CU) 25 for diagnosing the functions of the system while the vehicle is running, monitoring abnormalities, and taking measures, and the control unit (abbreviated as CU) 25 is used to check the measurement data of each part from the driver's seat. Liquid crystal display section 2 for monitoring
6 is connected to it. This CU 25 is equipped with a self-diagnosis function, and is configured so that the system operates safely in the event of a failure of itself or the power supply. The cutoff valve 6 is connected to the same power circuit as the CU 25, and in the event of a power failure, its operation stops the supply of hydrogen gas. Further, in order to enable the driver to make an emergency stop at his/her own discretion, the emergency shutoff valve 6 is provided with an operator 28 that is manually operated from the driver's seat. The features of the above engine system are MH tank 2
The release of hydrogen gas occurs first, and then the heat required to release hydrogen from the metal hydride 3 is
There is a problem in that the hydrogen is supplied from the exhaust heat exchanger 4 to the MH tank 2, and there is also a problem in how to make the release of hydrogen follow changes in the engine load. That is, in any case, there is a delay in the release of hydrogen from the metal hydride 3 in response to changes in the engine load, and therefore, the question is how to supply the required amount of hydrogen to the engine 1 from the MH tank 2. important for the functioning of the system,
For this reason, heating control of the metal hydride 3 is important. In addition to the controls for such systems to function, we also ensure that the controls function without failure;
It is also necessary to operate safely even in the event of a failure. Therefore, in order to monitor and control the engine system, it is necessary to monitor and control the engine rotation speed N and engine cooling water temperature.
T ₄ , MH tank hydrogen gas pressure P ₁ , MH tank internal temperature T ₁ , MH tank outlet water temperature T ₂ , vehicle speed v and intake air temperature T ₃ are measured by installing measuring means at necessary locations. The configuration is such that data is sent to the CU 25 as monitoring items for monitoring the functions of each part. These measurement data sent to the CU 25 become normal/abnormal judgment data as described below. That is, the CU 25 stores in advance in its memory a numerical value that serves as a criterion for abnormality, and compares this data with the measured data, and if an abnormality is detected, it issues a control command according to the degree of the abnormality to the required part. output to the drive device installed in the Further, necessary measurement data, warning contents, etc. are displayed on the liquid crystal display section 26 connected to the CU 25. Table 1 shows the main items for basic abnormality judgment, specific abnormality judgment criteria, and their aims. Further, the portions controlled by the output from the CU 25 are indicated by arrows extending from the Γ mark in the figure. As can be seen from Table 1, when an actual abnormality occurs, depending on the degree of the abnormality, the following:
The control instructions from CU 25 are different.

【table】

[Table] (1) The first stage, which involves the least abnormality, simply identifies the location of the error, such as engine water temperature, and issues a warning. (2) If there is an abnormality in the water temperature at the outlet of the MH tank in the second stage, an alarm will be issued and the valve 21 will be closed to limit the hot water system to the radiator path, thereby cooling the hot water and preventing overpressure and overheating of the MH tank. Prevention control. In addition, even after the engine has stopped, the MH
If the tank outlet water temperature _T2 is high, valve 2
1 is closed, the water pump 10 and the fan 23 are operated until the water temperature drops. Up to this second stage, the phenomenon that occurs is slow in time, so the driver can judge whether to run or stop the vehicle based on the abnormality. (3) In the third stage, it is necessary to stop the system urgently, and for example, a failure of the CU 25 may occur unexpectedly during driving. This includes ensuring that the system operates safely using the self-diagnosis function within the CU25, and
In the case of a power failure such as 25, an emergency shutoff valve 6 in the same power circuit as the CU is activated to stop the supply of hydrogen gas. Furthermore, if the driver wishes to make an emergency stop due to some other abnormality, the driver manually operates the emergency shutoff valve 6. [Effects of the Invention] According to the monitoring and control device of the present invention described in detail above, the following effects can be expected. (1) The functions of various parts specific to engine systems using metal hydrides can be monitored while the car is running. (2) The driver can understand abnormalities specific to engine systems that use metal hydrides and their extent, and can obtain guidelines for making decisions such as whether to continue driving or evacuate in an emergency. (3) Control functions are automatically activated at each stage to prevent sudden system failures during driving, improving driver safety.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 1...Engine, 2...Fuel tank, 3...Metal hydride, 25...Control unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. It has a fuel tank that uses metal hydride as a hydrogen storage source and hydrogen generation source, and is equipped with a gas engine that uses hydrogen supplied from this tank as fuel, and is equipped with a gas engine that uses the hydrogen supplied from this tank as fuel, and In an automobile whose temperature can be adjusted for hot water to be replaced and which heats a metal hydride, a control unit is attached to diagnose the functions of each part while driving, monitor abnormalities, and take measures, Means for measuring engine rotational speed, engine cooling water temperature, hydrogen gas pressure in the tank, temperature inside the tank, water temperature at the outlet of the tank, and vehicle speed of the vehicle is provided, and the control unit transmits the data measured by the measuring means to the monitoring items. It has a function to compare the measured data with the abnormality judgment criteria for each monitoring item stored in the memory in advance, and to output a control command according to the degree of abnormality to the required part if there is an abnormality. A monitoring and control device for an automobile that uses metal hydride as fuel, characterized by: