JPWO2012127860A1 - Needle valve control system and fuel cell system - Google Patents

Abstract

  The needle valve control system (500) includes a needle valve (5) including a driver, a needle to which a driving force of the driver is applied, an orifice having a hole into which a tip of the needle is inserted, and a needle valve ( An information storage medium (8) for storing the opening degree of 5) and the fluid flow rate in association with each other, and a controller (6) for controlling the opening degree of the needle valve (5), the information storage medium (8) Stores the corresponding relationship between the fluid flow rate and the opening of the needle valve (5) when the fluid flow rates are different, and the controller (6) derives the fluid flow rate and the needle derived from the plurality of corresponding relationships. The opening degree of the needle valve (5) is controlled according to a correlation function with the opening degree of the valve (5).

Description

  The present invention relates to a needle valve control system and a fuel cell system.

  A needle valve may be used to accurately adjust the flow rate of a fluid (for example, air). The characteristics of such needle valves depend on individual differences among needle valves.

  In view of this, there has already been proposed a technique intended to store information indicating the characteristics of individual devices in an information storage medium so as to reduce variations in individual characteristics of devices caused by individual differences in needle valves (for example, patents). Reference 1).

JP 2000-220508 A

  However, Patent Document 1 does not describe controlling the opening degree of the needle valve.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, and it aims at providing the needle valve control system which can control the opening degree of a needle valve with high precision compared with the past. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell system in which the fluid flow rate is adjusted by such a needle valve.

In order to solve the above problems, a needle valve control system of the present invention includes a driver,
A needle valve comprising a needle to which a driving force of the driver is applied, and an orifice in which a hole for inserting a tip of the needle is formed;
An information storage medium for storing the opening degree of the needle valve and the fluid flow rate in association with each other;
A controller for controlling the opening of the needle,
The information storage medium stores a correspondence relationship between the fluid flow rate and the opening degree of the needle valve when the fluid flow rate is different, respectively.
The controller controls the opening degree of the needle valve according to a correlation function between the fluid flow rate and the opening degree of the needle, which is derived from the plurality of correspondence relationships.

  With this configuration, the needle valve control system according to the present invention can control the opening degree of the needle valve with higher accuracy than in the past.

  The needle valve control system of the present invention can control the opening degree of the needle valve with higher accuracy than in the prior art.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a needle valve. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a needle valve inspection system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the needle valve inspection. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a correlation function between the air flow rate and the needle valve correction amount, which is derived from the correspondence between the air flow rate and the needle valve correction amount. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power generation device including the needle valve control system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of needle valve opening control by the needle valve control system. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a fuel cell system including the needle valve control system according to the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following first and second embodiments.
(Embodiment 1)
[Knowledge that became the basis of this embodiment]
Before describing the specific configuration and operation of the first embodiment, the matters that the inventors of the present invention have in mind regarding the mechanical individual differences of the needle valve 5 will be described.

  First, a configuration example of the needle valve 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a needle valve.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the needle valve 5 includes a rod-shaped needle 51 to which a driving force of a driver 56 such as a stepping motor is applied, and an orifice 53 that forms a pair with the needle 51. The orifice 53 has a hole 52 into which the tip of the needle 51 is inserted. The needle 51 is screwed to the block 54 via an O-ring 55.

  As the needle 51 rotates along the thread of the block 54 using the driving force of the driver 56, the needle 51 moves up and down. On the other hand, the tip of the needle 51 is tapered and is inserted into the hole 52 based on the driving force of the driver 56. At this time, the operation amount (for example, opening degree) of the needle valve 5 is adjusted according to the rotation of the needle 51. The opening degree of the needle valve 5 corresponds to, for example, the fluid passage area ratio (%) in the hole 52 when the hole 52 is viewed in plan, and the needle valve 5 is fully closed (the fluid passage area ratio is zero). %) To the fully open state of the needle valve 5 (the fluid passage area ratio is 100%), the opening degree of the needle valve 5 can be controlled continuously.

  As described above, the needle valve 5 can finely adjust the flow rate of the fluid entering from the inflow side, and can send out an appropriate amount of fluid from the outflow side.

  Here, as one factor of the individual difference of the needle valve 5, the present inventors pay attention to the processing accuracy of the needle 51 as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the needle valve 5, the tip of the needle 51 has a conical shape that is pointed like a needle, so that a minute amount of fluid flow can be adjusted. However, since the processing accuracy of the needle 51 has a certain limit, the tip of the needle 51 may not always be processed into a desired shape. For example, as shown by the two-dot chain line 102 in FIG. Further, the tip point 100 of the needle 51 and the rotation center 101 of the needle 51 may not match.

  With such mechanical individual differences of the needle valve 5, an amount used for correcting the individual difference of the needle valve 5 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “correction amount of the needle valve 5”) is a preset reference operation. Depending on the opening degree of the needle valve 5, there is a possibility that the reference operation amount may be shifted to the plus side or the minus side depending on the opening degree of the needle valve 5.

  Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention conducted the following inspections to obtain a plurality of correspondences between the opening degree of the needle valve 5 and the fluid flow rate in order to appropriately set the correction amount of the needle valve 5, and the plurality of these It was determined that it was necessary to know the correlation function between the opening degree of the needle valve 5 and the fluid flow rate, which was derived from the correspondence relationship.

[Needle valve inspection method]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a needle valve inspection system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the needle valve inspection.

  In this example, the inspection of the needle valve 5 in the case of performing a minute adjustment of the air flow rate using the needle valve 5 is illustrated, but the type of fluid is not limited to air.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the inspection system includes a mass flow controller 200 that controls the flow rate of air to a predetermined flow rate, and a differential pressure (needle) between the upstream side and the downstream side of the needle valve 5 when air is flowing. And a pressure gauge 201 for measuring the pressure loss of the valve 5.

  FIG. 2B shows a reference operation amount (opening: α%) of the needle valve 5 specified by the flow rate of air flowing through the needle valve 5 and the reference pressure (differential pressure) of the needle valve 5. ing. The reference operation amount of the needle valve 5 is stored in a computer (not shown) of the control system of the inspection system. Then, using this reference operation amount, the correction amount of each needle valve 5 is measured in the manufacturing process of the needle valve 5 before shipment, and stored in an appropriate information storage medium (for example, EEPROM).

  Here, as the inspection points of the inspection system, the air flow rates of q1 [NLM], q2 [NLM], q3 [NLM] are exemplified, and the reference operation amounts (open) corresponding to the air flow rates q1, q2, q3, respectively. The degrees α1, α2, α3) and the reference pressures (differential pressures) P1, P2, P3 at that time are tabulated as shown in FIG. Note that the number of inspection points is not limited to this, and a plurality of inspection points may be used. For example, the inspection point may be 3 or more.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation amount of the needle valve 5 is set to the reference operation amount of the needle valve 5 corresponding to a predetermined air flow rate (step S401). In the following description, the case of the reference operation amount (opening angle α1) of the needle valve 5 corresponding to the air flow rate q1 will be described as an example.

  The mass flow controller 200 is adjusted so that air at the air flow rate q1 flows through the needle valve 5 (step S402).

  In this state, the pressure loss of the needle valve 5 is measured using the pressure gauge 201, and the measured value of the pressure gauge 201 is compared with the reference pressure P1 corresponding to the opening degree α1 of the needle valve 5. Then, it is determined whether or not the difference between the two is within a predetermined range (for example, within ± 5%) (step S403).

  In step S403, when the difference between the measured value of the pressure gauge 201 and the reference pressure P1 is outside the predetermined range, the process proceeds to the next determination step, and the magnitude relationship between the measured value of the pressure gauge 201 and the reference pressure P1 is determined. (Step S404).

  In step 404, if the measured value of the pressure gauge 201 is larger than the reference pressure P1, the needle valve 5 is opened by increasing the operation amount of the needle valve 5 by a predetermined amount β (for example, opening degree 1%). The degree is reset (step S405). And the operation | movement after step S403 is performed again.

  Conversely, if the measured value of the pressure gauge 201 is smaller than the reference pressure P1 in step 404, the operation amount of the needle valve 5 is decreased by a predetermined amount β (for example, opening degree 1%), and the needle valve The opening degree of 5 is reset (step S406). And the operation | movement after step S403 is performed again.

  In step S403, when the difference between the measured value of the pressure gauge 201 and the reference pressure P1 is within a predetermined range, the correction amount of the needle valve 5 at this time is stored in the information storage medium (step S407). As the correction amount of the needle valve 5, for example, the final opening degree of the needle valve 5 specified in step S403 to step S406 may be stored in the information storage medium, or specified in step S403 to step S406. Further, the amount of deviation from the opening degree α1 of the needle valve 5 may be stored.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the needle valve 5 has been inspected at all the inspection points (in this example, the air flow rates q1, q2, and q3) (step S408).

  For example, when the needle valve 5 corresponding to the air flow rate q2 is not inspected, the air flow rate is changed from q1 to q2 (step S409), and then in step S401, the reference of the needle valve 5 corresponding to the air flow rate q2 An operation amount (opening α2) is set. And the operation | movement after step S402 is performed.

  On the other hand, when the needle valve 5 is inspected at all inspection points, the inspection flow of the needle valve 5 ends.

  In this way, in the manufacturing process, the characteristics of the needle valve 5 are individually measured, and a desired opening required for flowing a predetermined flow rate is stored in the information storage medium as a correction amount of the needle valve 5.

  Specifically, the information storage medium has a correspondence between the air flow rate and the correction amount of the needle valve 5 when the air flow rate is different (in this example, q = q1, q = q2, q = q3). Remember each relationship. Then, the opening degree of the needle valve 5 is controlled by driving the needle 51 in accordance with the correlation function between the air flow rate and the correction amount of the needle valve, which is derived from the correspondence relationship.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a correlation function between the air flow rate and the needle valve correction amount, which is derived from the correspondence between the air flow rate and the needle valve correction amount.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the correlation function can be easily obtained by linearly interpolating the correspondence between the air flow rate and the correction amount of the needle valve 5.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the data 300 representing the correspondence between zero fluid flow and the opening (zero) of the needle valve 5 and the correspondence between the fluid flow q1 and the opening α1 of the needle valve 5 are shown. The data 301 to be represented is linearly interpolated, and thereby the correlation function FA is derived. Then, according to the correlation function FA, the opening degree of the needle valve 5 can be set at an air flow rate between zero air flow rate and air flow rate q1.

  Further, the data 301 representing the correspondence between the fluid flow rate q1 and the opening α1 of the needle valve 5 and the data 302 representing the correspondence between the fluid flow q2 and the opening α2 of the needle valve 5 are linear. Interpolation, which leads to the correlation function FB. Then, according to this correlation function FB, the opening degree of the needle valve 5 can be set at the air flow rate between the air flow rate q1 and the air flow rate q2.

  Further, the data 302 representing the correspondence between the fluid flow rate q2 and the opening α2 of the needle valve 5 and the data 303 representing the correspondence between the fluid flow q3 and the opening α3 of the needle valve 5 are linear. Interpolation, and thereby a correlation function FC is derived. Then, according to this correlation function FC, the opening degree of the needle valve 5 can be set at the air flow rate between the air flow rate q2 and the air flow rate q3.

  As described above, in this embodiment, variation in characteristics of the needle valve 5 among individuals is suppressed. In particular, due to mechanical individual differences of the needle valve 5, the correction amount of the needle valve 5 is not a constant offset value with respect to a preset reference operation amount, but depends on the opening of the needle valve 5. Although there is a possibility of shifting from the reference operation amount to the plus side or to the minus side, even in such a situation, variation in characteristics among the individual needle valves 5 can be appropriately suppressed.

The present invention has been devised based on such knowledge,
An aspect of the aspect of the first invention is a needle valve control system,
A driver,
A needle valve comprising a needle to which a driving force of a driver is applied, and an orifice in which a hole for inserting the tip of the needle is formed;
An information storage medium for storing the opening of the needle valve and the fluid flow rate in association with each other;
A controller for controlling the opening of the needle valve,
The information storage medium stores the correspondence relationship between the fluid flow rate and the opening degree of the needle valve when the fluid flow rate is different,
The controller controls the opening degree of the needle valve according to a correlation function between the fluid flow rate and the opening degree of the needle valve, which is derived from a plurality of correspondence relationships.

  Thereby, the opening degree of the needle valve can be controlled with higher accuracy than in the past.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the needle valve control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the information storage medium stores a reference operation amount of the needle valve corresponding to a plurality of different fluid flow rates, and the controller includes: The opening degree of the needle valve may be derived based on a deviation amount from the reference operation amount.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in the needle valve control system according to the first aspect of the invention or the second aspect of the invention, the controller derives the correlation function by linearly interpolating a plurality of corresponding relationships. Also good.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the needle valve control system according to any one of the first to third aspects, one of the plurality of correspondence relationships may have a fluid flow rate of zero.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the needle valve control system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the number of the plurality of correspondence relationships may be at least three.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided the needle valve control system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention, wherein the information storage medium is a non-volatile memory, and the manufacturing number, manufacturing lot, and manufacturing of the needle valve At least one of the times may be further stored.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the needle valve control system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the correction information of the information storage medium may be made redundant.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the needle valve control system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, wherein the controller is inspected before the needle valve is shipped, at the time of power-on, at the time of trial operation, and at the time of power generation. A plurality of correspondence relationships may be read from the information storage medium at least at any one of the standby times.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell system including a hydrogen generator including a carbon monoxide remover that removes carbon monoxide in a hydrogen-containing gas using an oxidant gas, and a hydrogen content from the hydrogen generator. A fuel cell that generates electricity using gas, and the needle valve of the needle valve control system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects of the invention supplies the oxidant gas to the carbon monoxide remover. It is arranged on the flow path.
[Device configuration]
Hereinafter, a specific example of the needle valve control system for controlling the opening degree of the needle valve 5 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power generation device including the needle valve control system according to the first embodiment.

  Here, an example is shown in which the flow rate of gas necessary for power generation by the power generation apparatus 1 is adjusted using the needle valve 5.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the power generation device 1 includes a generator 2 that generates DC power, an inverter 3 that converts DC power fed from the generator 2 into AC power, and a gas necessary for power generation by the generator 2. A gas supply unit 4 for supplying

  The needle valve 5 is disposed in a gas flow path 17 that communicates the gas supply unit 4 and the power generator 2.

  Therefore, the needle valve control system 500 includes a controller 6 that controls the opening degree of the needle valve 5 by driving the needle 51 by a driver 56 (see FIG. 1), and a cable 7 that connects the controller 6 and the needle valve 5. And an information storage substrate 11 (hereinafter abbreviated as “substrate 11”) on which an information storage medium 8 that stores the correction amount of each needle valve 5 is mounted.

  Thereby, the gas flow rate from the gas supply unit 4 is finely adjusted by the needle valve 5.

  The information storage medium 8 is exemplified by a nonvolatile memory such as EPROM or EEPROM.

  The information storage medium 8 stores a correspondence relationship between the fluid flow rate and the correction amount of the needle valve 5 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “correction information”) when the gas flow rates are different.

  Further, in addition to such correction information, the information storage medium 8 may store at least one of the manufacturing number, manufacturing lot, and manufacturing time of the needle valve 5. Thus, even when individual identification information is required due to a failure of the needle valve 5 or the like, the corresponding data can be read from the information storage medium 8 and the contents can be confirmed, so that the management of the needle valve 5 is facilitated. .

  Furthermore, the correction information of the information storage medium 8 is made redundant. For example, if the correction information data is 3 bytes redundant, even if 1 byte is garbled due to noise or the like, if the remaining 2 bytes can be transmitted normally, normal data is acquired by majority vote. be able to.

  Further, the controller 6 may be provided with a storage unit (not shown), and correction information from the information storage medium 8 may be stored in the storage unit so that the correction information is made redundant. At this time, when the opening degree control of the needle valve 5 is performed, the correction information of the information storage medium 8 and the correction information of the storage unit of the controller 6 are always collated, and if there is a difference between the two, Correction information stored in the storage unit of the controller 6 is used. Thereby, the controller 6 can control the opening degree of the needle valve 5 based on accurate correction information even when the correction information of the information storage medium 8 is destroyed due to some factor.

  As described above, the controller 6 stores an arithmetic processing unit (not shown) for adjusting the opening degree of the needle valve 5 based on the correction information in the information storage medium 8, various control programs, set values, and the like. A storage unit and a device (not shown) that exchanges control signals are provided. Examples of the arithmetic processing unit include an MPU and a CPU. An example of the storage unit is an internal memory such as an EEPROM. The controller 6 may be composed of a single controller or a plurality of controllers.

  Here, since the needle valve 5 and the information storage medium 8 correspond one-to-one, after the correction amount of the needle valve 5 is stored in the information storage medium 8 in the manufacturing process, information corresponding to each of the needle valves 5 is stored. The storage medium 8 is managed as a set with the needle valve 5.

  That is, the needle valve 5 and the information storage medium 8 are connected to the cable 7 at the connecting portion 9 and the connecting portion 10 for the needle valve 5, and the cable 7 is also connected to the controller 6 that controls the needle valve 5. At this time, as described above, since the needle valve 5 and the information storage medium 8 are managed as a set, the cable 7 cannot be easily removed from the connecting portion 9 or the configuration in which both are easily managed as a set. Better to do.

  The former structure is good to unify both using an adhesive etc. so that it is difficult to physically remove the cable 7 from the connection part 9, for example.

  In the latter configuration, for example, various tags may be arranged so as to visually alert the user. In this case, examples of the tag include direct printing and sealing on the needle valve 5, the connection portion 9, and the cable 7, attachment of a binding band to the needle valve 5, the connection portion 9, and the cable 7. In this configuration, the needle valve 5 and the cable 7 provided with the information storage medium 8 cannot be integrated, but there are advantages in terms of management of the manufacturing process because the handling and management are easier than the former adhesive.

  In addition, there is also a means for giving the controller 6 the function of the information storage medium 8 and writing the correction amount of the needle valve 5 therein. However, it is not easy to manage the needle valve 5, the cable 7, and the controller 6 as a set. Also. In the maintenance, it is not realistic in terms of cost to replace the controller 6 that has not failed at the same time because the correction information differs with the replacement of the needle valve 5.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the information storage medium 8 is mounted on the substrate 11. In this case, when the circuit component mounted on the substrate 11 including the information storage medium 8 is exposed, the driver, the sheet metal, and the like provided in the power generation device 1 are in contact with the circuit component, and the circuit component is caused by a dead short or the like. May be destroyed. Therefore, it is better to coat the surface of the substrate 11 using a substrate coating material such as urethane, thereby protecting the entire substrate 11 including circuit components. In addition to such a substrate coating, the substrate 11 itself may be covered with a glass tape or a heat-shrinkable tube, and insulated from the surroundings.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the correction information in the information storage medium 8 includes the correspondence between the gas flow rate and the correction amount of the needle valve 5 when the gas flow rate is different. Therefore, the controller 6 can accurately control the opening degree of the needle valve 5 based on the correction information of the information storage medium 8 as compared with the conventional case.
[Operation]
Next, an example of opening degree control of the needle valve 5 by the needle valve control system 500 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of needle valve opening control by the needle valve control system.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the controller 6 is powered on (in the case of “YES” in step S601), the controller 6 reads the correction information of the information storage medium 8 (step S602).

  Next, the controller 6 corrects the opening degree of the needle valve 5 by driving the needle 51 based on the correction information in step S602 (step S603), and is sent from the gas supply unit 4 to the gas. The flow rate of the gas flowing in the flow path 17 is adjusted to an appropriate amount.

In this example, the controller 6 reads the correction information from the information storage medium 8 when the controller 6 is turned on. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, at the time of inspection before shipment of the needle valve control system 500 (power generation device 1), at the time of trial operation of the needle valve control system 500 (power generation device 1), or at the time of power generation standby of the needle valve control system 500 (power generation device 1). In any case, the controller 6 may read the correction information of the information storage medium 8.
[Modification 1]
In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the flow rate of the fluid is maintained at a predetermined flow rate using the mass flow controller 200 and the needle valve 5 is inspected based on the measurement value of the pressure gauge 201 (pressure loss of the needle valve 5). Not limited to this.

  For example, the inspection system may include a regulator (not shown) that keeps the pressure of the fluid flowing through the fluid flow path constant, and a flow meter (not shown) that measures the flow rate of the air flowing through the needle valve 5. Good.

Thereby, the pressure of air is kept at a predetermined pressure using a regulator, and the needle valve 5 can be inspected based on the measured value of the flow meter (the fluid flow rate flowing through the needle valve 5).
[Modification 2]
In the present embodiment, the opening degree of the needle valve 5 corresponds to the fluid passage area ratio (%) in the hole 52. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the displacement amount of the needle 51 (the amount of pushing into the hole 52). It is good also as a thing corresponding to.
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a fuel cell system including the needle valve control system according to the first embodiment. Note that the configuration of the controller 6 of the needle valve control system 500, the substrate 11 on which the information storage medium 8 is mounted, and the needle valve 5 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the fuel cell system 501 includes a fuel cell 14 and a hydrogen generator 15.

  The hydrogen generator 15 generates a hydrogen-containing gas using the source gas. For example, in a reforming catalyst (not shown) in the hydrogen generator 15, the raw material gas undergoes a reforming reaction to generate a hydrogen-containing gas. Although not shown in FIG. 7, equipment required for each reforming reaction is provided as appropriate. For example, if the reforming reaction is a steam reforming reaction, a combustor that heats the reforming catalyst, an evaporator that generates steam, and a water supplier that supplies water to the evaporator are provided. The raw material gas is a gas containing an organic compound composed of at least carbon and hydrogen, such as city gas, natural gas, and LPG, which is mainly supplied with a pipe in a city and has methane as a main component.

  The fuel cell 14 generates power using the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generator 15. As the fuel cell 14, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) or the like can be used.

  Here, when the raw material gas undergoes a reforming reaction to generate a hydrogen-containing gas, carbon monoxide is contained in the hydrogen-containing gas.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the hydrogen generator 15 includes a carbon monoxide remover 16 that removes carbon monoxide in the hydrogen-containing gas using an oxidant gas. The needle valve 5 is disposed on an oxidant gas flow path 517 that communicates the oxidant gas supply unit 504 and the carbon monoxide remover 16.

  Thus, since an appropriate amount of oxidant gas can be supplied to the carbon monoxide remover 16 using the needle valve 5, the carbon monoxide in the hydrogen-containing gas is removed to a predetermined concentration or less by the carbon monoxide remover 16. The As a result, the fuel cell 14 can appropriately generate power using such a hydrogen-containing gas.

  In other words, if the flow rate of the oxidant gas does not go as intended and carbon monoxide is not removed in the carbon monoxide remover 16 as expected, the carbon monoxide in the hydrogen-containing gas has an adverse effect on the fuel cell 14. There is a case. In this case, the DC voltage output from the fuel cell 14 may be reduced.

  Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the opening degree of the needle valve 5 with high accuracy. However, as described above, the characteristics of the needle valve 5 depend on individual differences of the needle valve 5 and the like, so the opening degree of the needle valve 5 is uniform. It is difficult to control. In particular, due to mechanical individual differences of the needle valve 5, the correction amount of the needle valve 5 is not a constant offset value with respect to a preset reference operation amount, but depends on the opening of the needle valve 5. The possibility of shifting from the reference operation amount to the plus side may also shift to the minus side.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the correction information in the information storage medium 8 includes the correspondence between the oxidant gas flow rate and the correction amount of the needle valve 5 when the oxidant gas flow rate is different. Therefore, the controller 6 can accurately control the opening degree of the needle valve 5 based on the correction information of the information storage medium 8 as compared with the conventional case.

  The needle valve control system of the present invention can control the opening degree of the needle valve with higher accuracy than in the prior art. Therefore, this invention can be utilized for the flow volume adjustment of the fluid required for the electric power generation of a power generator, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power generator 2 Power generator 3 Inverter 4 Gas supply part 5 Needle valve 6 Controller 7 Cable 8 Information storage medium 9 Connection part for needle valves 10 Connection part 11 Information storage board 14 Fuel cell 15 Hydrogen generator 16 Carbon monoxide removal 17 Gas flow path

Claims (9)

A driver,
A needle valve comprising a needle to which a driving force of the driver is applied, and an orifice in which a hole for inserting a tip of the needle is formed;
An information storage medium for storing the opening degree of the needle valve and the fluid flow rate in association with each other;
A controller for controlling the opening of the needle;
With
The information storage medium stores a correspondence relationship between the fluid flow rate and the opening degree of the needle valve when the fluid flow rate is different, respectively.
The controller is a needle valve control system that controls the opening degree of the needle valve in accordance with a correlation function between the fluid flow rate and the opening degree of the needle valve, which is derived from the plurality of correspondence relationships. The information storage medium stores a reference operation amount of the needle valve corresponding to the plurality of different fluid flow rates,
The needle valve control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller guides an opening degree of the needle valve based on a deviation amount from the reference operation amount.   The needle valve control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller derives the correlation function by linearly interpolating the plurality of correspondence relationships.   4. The needle valve control system according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of correspondence relationships has the fluid flow rate of zero.   The needle valve control system according to claim 1, wherein the number of the plurality of correspondence relationships is at least 3 or more.   The needle valve control according to claim 1, wherein the information storage medium is a nonvolatile memory, and at least one of a manufacturing number, a manufacturing lot, and a manufacturing time of the needle valve is further stored. system.   The needle valve control system according to claim 1, wherein correction information of the information storage medium is made redundant.   The controller reads the plurality of correspondence relationships from the information storage medium at least one of an inspection before shipment of the needle valve, a power-on, a test operation, and a power generation standby time. 8. The needle valve control system according to any one of 7 above. A hydrogen generator comprising a carbon monoxide remover that removes carbon monoxide in a hydrogen-containing gas using an oxidant gas;
A fuel cell that generates electricity using the hydrogen-containing gas from the hydrogen generator,
9. A fuel cell system, wherein the needle valve of the needle valve control system according to claim 1 is disposed on a flow path through which the oxidant gas is supplied to the carbon monoxide remover.

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