JP2005273871A - Gas charging method and equipment therefor - Google Patents

Gas charging method and equipment therefor Download PDF

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JP2005273871A
JP2005273871A JP2004092267A JP2004092267A JP2005273871A JP 2005273871 A JP2005273871 A JP 2005273871A JP 2004092267 A JP2004092267 A JP 2004092267A JP 2004092267 A JP2004092267 A JP 2004092267A JP 2005273871 A JP2005273871 A JP 2005273871A
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gas
pressure
container
hydrogen gas
filling
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Hiroki Yamato
宏樹 大和
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Toyota Motor Corp
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Toyota Motor Corp
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<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the gas charging method and the equipment which enable a fill-up with the gas of aimed pressure in a short time by controlling the heat generation and without over charging when charging the gas. <P>SOLUTION: Connecting the water pressure inlet/outlet system and the hydrogen gas filling system with the hydrogen gas tank 2 installed on a fuel-cell car and filling up the pressurized water W in advance before gas charging into the hydrogen gas tank 2, and it presses previously so that the internal pressure becomes the preload P2. Filling up the hydrogen gas G which keeps the preload condition and boosts its pressure to the aimed pressure P3 into the hydrogen gas tank 2, the water W is discharged from the hydrogen gas tank 2 by the pressure of hydrogen gas G. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

本発明は、タンクやボンベ等の容器へガスを充填する方法、及びその装置に関する。   The present invention relates to a method for filling gas into a container such as a tank or a cylinder, and an apparatus therefor.

燃料電池自動車や天然ガス自動車には、燃料ガスとしての水素ガスや天然ガスが高圧充填されるタンクが搭載される。燃料ガスをタンクに加圧充填する際には、通常、燃料ガスの断熱圧縮によって温度が上昇し、それに伴ってタンクの内圧が変化してしまう。こうなると熱膨張によって規定量の燃料ガスを充填することが困難となるので、これを克服すべく種々のガス充填方法が提案されている。   Fuel cell vehicles and natural gas vehicles are equipped with tanks filled with hydrogen gas or natural gas as fuel gas under high pressure. When the fuel gas is pressurized and filled into the tank, the temperature usually rises due to adiabatic compression of the fuel gas, and the internal pressure of the tank changes accordingly. In this case, it becomes difficult to fill a specified amount of fuel gas due to thermal expansion, and various gas filling methods have been proposed to overcome this.

例えば、特許文献1には、ガス充填時の気温を考慮しつつ目標圧力よりも高い圧力となるまで天然ガスをボンベに過充填する方法が記載されている。また、特許文献2には、ボンベが設置される設置部に、冷媒が流れる冷却流路が設けられたボンベ冷却機能付充填装置が記載されている。
特開平9−250696号公報 特開2001−248791号公報
For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method in which natural gas is overfilled in a cylinder until a pressure higher than a target pressure is taken into consideration while considering the temperature at the time of gas filling. Patent Document 2 describes a filling device with a cylinder cooling function in which a cooling channel through which a refrigerant flows is provided in an installation part where a cylinder is installed.
JP-A-9-250696 JP 2001-248791 A

しかし、上記従来のガスを過充填する方法では、規定値を超える圧力が容器に印加されてしまい、容器の健全性の観点から好ましくない。或いは、その規定値以上の圧力に基づいて耐圧設計を行う必要があり、経済性の観点からも好ましくない。また、上記従来のボンベを冷却しながらガス充填を行う方法では、冷媒流路や熱交換器等の大掛かりな冷却設備が必要となってしまう。さらに、燃料電池自動車や天然ガス自動車の燃料ガスタンクに用いる場合、ガス充填を行うたびにボンベを車両から取り外し、ガス充填を終えた後、再び車両へ取り付ける必要があり、作業時間及び作業工数ひいてはコストの増大を招いてしまう。   However, in the conventional method of overfilling with gas, a pressure exceeding a specified value is applied to the container, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of the soundness of the container. Or it is necessary to perform pressure | voltage resistance design based on the pressure more than the regulation value, and it is not preferable also from an economical viewpoint. Further, in the conventional method of filling the gas while cooling the cylinder, a large-scale cooling facility such as a refrigerant flow path and a heat exchanger is required. Furthermore, when used in a fuel gas tank of a fuel cell vehicle or a natural gas vehicle, it is necessary to remove the cylinder from the vehicle every time gas filling is performed, and after refilling the gas, it is necessary to attach it to the vehicle again. Will increase.

またさらに、断熱圧縮を緩和して温度上昇を抑えるべく、長時間かけてガス充填を行う方法も考えられる。しかし、燃料電池自動車や天然ガス自動車では、ガスステーション等のガス充填設備において、将来的には現在のガソリン燃料の給油時間並みのガス充填時間を実現することが望まれるところ、そのような長時間のガス充填は非現実的である。   Furthermore, in order to reduce adiabatic compression and suppress the temperature rise, a method of performing gas filling over a long time can be considered. However, in fuel cell vehicles and natural gas vehicles, in gas filling facilities such as gas stations, it is hoped that in the future it will be possible to achieve a gas filling time equivalent to the current fueling time of gasoline fuel. Gas filling is unrealistic.

そこで、本発明はかかる事情に鑑みてなされたものであり、ガス充填時の発熱を抑制して過充填することなく目標量(目標圧力)のガスを短時間で充填できると共に、コストの増大を防止できるガス充填方法及び装置を提供することを目的とする。   Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can suppress the heat generation during gas filling and can fill a target amount (target pressure) of gas in a short time without overfilling, and increase the cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas filling method and apparatus capable of preventing the gas filling.

上記課題を解決するために、本発明によるガス充填方法は、常圧よりも高い目標圧力のガスを容器へ充填する方法であって、そのガスに比して圧縮率が小さい媒体を容器内へ加圧充填し、その容器の内圧を常圧よりも高く且つ目標圧力よりも低い予備圧力まで上昇させる予圧工程と、その予圧工程を実施した後に、内圧が予備圧力とされた容器内にガスを目標圧力まで加圧充填するガス充填工程とを備える。   In order to solve the above-described problems, a gas filling method according to the present invention is a method of filling a container with a gas having a target pressure higher than normal pressure, and a medium having a smaller compressibility than that gas into the container. Pressurizing and filling the container to increase the internal pressure of the container to a pre-pressure higher than the normal pressure and lower than the target pressure, and after performing the pre-pressure process, gas is introduced into the container whose internal pressure is the pre-pressure. A gas filling step of pressurizing and filling to a target pressure.

なお、本発明において「圧縮率」とは、下記式(1);
R=|ΔV/V| …(1)、
で表される値を示す。式中、Rは圧縮率を示し、ΔVは物体が静圧(静止しているものに印加される一様な圧力)を受けたときに減少する体積を示し、Vはその物体の変形前の体積を示す。
In the present invention, the “compression ratio” means the following formula (1);
R = | ΔV / V | (1),
Indicates the value represented by. Where R is the compression ratio, ΔV is the volume that decreases when the object is subjected to static pressure (a uniform pressure applied to a stationary object), and V is the volume before deformation of the object. Indicates volume.

このように構成されたガス充填方法では、ガス充填工程に先立って予圧工程を実施し、ガスに比して圧縮率が小さい媒体を容器内に加圧充填することにより、容器内を目標圧力よりも低い予備圧力まで昇圧する。その後、ガス充填工程を実施し、媒体によって予圧された容器内にガスを加圧供給する。   In the gas filling method configured as described above, a pre-pressurization step is performed prior to the gas filling step, and a medium having a smaller compressibility than that of the gas is pressurized and filled into the container, so that the inside of the container exceeds the target pressure. The pressure is increased to a low preliminary pressure. Thereafter, a gas filling step is performed, and the gas is pressurized and supplied into a container preloaded by the medium.

ガス充填時の断熱圧縮による発熱量は、ガス充填前の容器内圧力と目標圧力との比に依存するので、容器内を予備圧力まで昇圧した状態からガス充填を行うことにより、発熱量が低減されて容器の温度上昇が抑制される。また、ガスの断熱圧縮によって発生した熱量が媒体へ移行し、その媒体の排出によってその熱量が容器外へ除去される。よって、ガス及び容器の温度上昇が一層抑えられる。   The amount of heat generated by adiabatic compression at the time of gas filling depends on the ratio between the pressure inside the container before filling the gas and the target pressure. Therefore, the amount of heat generated is reduced by filling the gas from the state where the pressure inside the container is increased to the preliminary pressure. Thus, the temperature rise of the container is suppressed. Further, the amount of heat generated by the adiabatic compression of the gas is transferred to the medium, and the amount of heat is removed out of the container by discharging the medium. Therefore, the temperature rise of gas and a container is further suppressed.

さらに、容器内を予圧するための媒体として、充填するガスよりも圧縮率が小さい(すなわち、より圧縮され難い)媒体を用いるので、容器内への圧力印加による体積変化が少なく、よって、予備圧力までの昇圧を迅速に行うことができる。このような媒体としては、特に制限されないが、水等の液体を用いるとガスとの混合を防止し易いので好ましい。   Furthermore, since a medium having a smaller compression rate than the gas to be filled (that is, harder to compress) is used as a medium for preloading the inside of the container, the volume change due to the pressure application in the container is small, so that the pre-pressure Boosting up to can be performed quickly. Such a medium is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a liquid such as water because it is easy to prevent mixing with gas.

また、容器内の媒体を連続的又は断続的に容器外へ排出しながらガス充填工程を実行すれば、常圧からガス充填をするよりも小さい圧力差を維持しながらガス充填を実施できる。よって、ガス充填工程の全体を通して発熱が少ない状態を維持できる。   Further, if the gas filling step is executed while continuously or intermittently discharging the medium in the container to the outside of the container, the gas filling can be performed while maintaining a smaller pressure difference than when the gas is filled from the normal pressure. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a state of less heat generation throughout the gas filling process.

より具体的には、ガス充填工程において、容器内へ供給するガス圧によって容器内の媒体を容器外へ排出させるようにすると更に好ましい。   More specifically, in the gas filling step, it is further preferable that the medium in the container is discharged out of the container by the gas pressure supplied into the container.

さらに、本発明によるガス充填方法は、燃料電池自動車や天然ガス自動車等の自動車用途に極めて適したものである。すなわち、容器が自動車に搭載されるものであり、ガスとして燃料ガスが充填されると一層有用である。   Furthermore, the gas filling method according to the present invention is extremely suitable for automobile applications such as fuel cell vehicles and natural gas vehicles. That is, it is more useful when the container is mounted on an automobile and filled with fuel gas as gas.

例えば、燃料電池自動車では、燃料ガスである水素ガスの充填量に関し、政府関係省庁で検討が進められている高圧ガス保安法に基づく水素ガス供給ステーション及び高圧水素容器に関する規制の枠組みにおいて、35MPa、70MPaといった水素ガス充填量が議論されている。車両に搭載される程度の大きさの容器に略常圧から開始して短時間でその高い圧力まで充填すると、かなりの発熱を生じてしまう。よって、本発明は、これらの燃料ガスを用いる自動車用のガス充填方式として有望である。   For example, in a fuel cell vehicle, the amount of hydrogen gas that is a fuel gas is 35 MPa, in the framework of a regulation on a hydrogen gas supply station and a high-pressure hydrogen container based on the High-Pressure Gas Safety Law, which is being studied by government agencies. A hydrogen gas filling amount of 70 MPa is discussed. If a container large enough to be mounted on a vehicle is started from approximately normal pressure and filled to a high pressure in a short time, a considerable amount of heat is generated. Therefore, the present invention is promising as a gas filling system for automobiles using these fuel gases.

また、本発明によるガス充填装置は、本発明のガス充填方法を有効に実施するためのものであり、常圧よりも高い目標圧力のガスを容器へ充填する装置であって、容器に接続され、ガスに比して圧縮率が小さい媒体を有しており、容器の内圧が常圧よりも高く且つ目標圧力よりも低い予備圧力となるように媒体を容器内へ供給する媒体供給部と、容器に接続され、ガスを有しており、容器の内圧が目標圧力となるようにガスを容器内へ供給するガス供給部と、容器に接続され、媒体を容器外へ排出する媒体排出部とを備える。   The gas filling device according to the present invention is for effectively carrying out the gas filling method of the present invention, and is a device for filling a container with a gas having a target pressure higher than normal pressure, and is connected to the container. A medium supply unit that has a medium with a compression ratio smaller than that of gas, and supplies the medium into the container so that the internal pressure of the container is higher than normal pressure and lower than the target pressure; A gas supply unit that is connected to the container and has a gas and supplies gas into the container so that the internal pressure of the container becomes a target pressure; and a medium discharge unit that is connected to the container and discharges the medium out of the container Is provided.

さらに、媒体排出部は、容器内へ供給されるガス圧によってその容器内の媒体が容器外へ排出されるように設けられたものであると好ましい。   Furthermore, the medium discharge section is preferably provided so that the medium in the container is discharged out of the container by the gas pressure supplied into the container.

またさらに、容器が自動車に搭載されたものであり、ガス供給部がガスとして燃料ガスを有するものであると一層有用である。   Furthermore, it is more useful that the container is mounted on an automobile and the gas supply unit has fuel gas as gas.

本発明のガス充填方法及び装置によれば、ガスが充填される容器内を所定の媒体で予圧してから目標圧力のガスを充填するので、ガス充填時の発熱を抑制でき、これにより、過充填することなく短時間で規定量のガスを充填できる。また、容器を冷却するための装置や設備が不要であり、しかも容器が自動車等に搭載されたものであってもガス充填のたびに容器を移設する必要がないので、経済性の悪化を防止することができる。   According to the gas filling method and apparatus of the present invention, since the inside of the container filled with gas is pre-pressurized with a predetermined medium and then filled with the gas at the target pressure, heat generation during gas filling can be suppressed. A specified amount of gas can be filled in a short time without filling. In addition, there is no need for equipment or equipment to cool the container, and even if the container is mounted on an automobile, etc., it is not necessary to move the container every time it is filled with gas. can do.

以下、本発明の実施形態について詳細に説明する。なお、上下左右等の位置関係は、特に断らない限り、図面に示す位置関係に基づくものとする。また、図面の寸法比率は、図示の比率に限られるものではない。   Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The positional relationship such as up, down, left, and right is based on the positional relationship shown in the drawings unless otherwise specified. Further, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are not limited to the illustrated ratios.

図1は、本発明によるガス充填装置の好適な一実施形態の構成を示すブロック図である。水素ガス充填システム1(ガス充填装置)は、燃料電池自動車の車両Vに搭載された水素ガスタンク2(容器)にそれぞれ接続される水圧封入/放出系10(媒体供給部)及び水素ガス充填系20(ガス供給部)を備えるものである。水素ガスタンク2は、例えば、内部に空間が画成されるように中空状に形成された内容器(ライナー)の大部分が、繊維強化プラスチック(FRP)製の外容器(外被)で覆われるように構成されたものである。   FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a preferred embodiment of a gas filling apparatus according to the present invention. The hydrogen gas filling system 1 (gas filling device) includes a hydraulic sealing / release system 10 (medium supply unit) and a hydrogen gas filling system 20 connected to a hydrogen gas tank 2 (container) mounted on a vehicle V of a fuel cell vehicle. (Gas supply unit). In the hydrogen gas tank 2, for example, most of the inner container (liner) formed in a hollow shape so as to define a space therein is covered with an outer container (outer jacket) made of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). It is comprised as follows.

内容器は、略円筒状を成す胴壁部の両端が絞り状に形成された曲壁部で閉塞されるように形成されており、例えば軸方向の両端部に、水W(媒体)が供給・排出される給排水口2a及び水素ガスG(ガス、燃料ガス)が供給・排出されるガス給排口2bが突設されている。なお、水素ガスタンク2は車両V内に搭載されたままの状態で水素ガスGの充填が行われるが、図示においては、説明の便宜のため、水素ガスタンク2を車両Vから離隔して且つ拡大して示す。   The inner container is formed such that both ends of a substantially cylindrical body wall portion are closed by a curved wall portion formed in a throttle shape. For example, water W (medium) is supplied to both end portions in the axial direction. A gas supply / drain port 2a and a gas supply / discharge port 2b through which hydrogen gas G (gas, fuel gas) is supplied and discharged are provided. Although the hydrogen gas tank 2 is filled with the hydrogen gas G while being mounted in the vehicle V, in the drawing, the hydrogen gas tank 2 is separated from the vehicle V and enlarged for convenience of explanation. Show.

水圧封入/放出系10は、水Wが貯留されているプール11と、例えば油圧駆動式の水圧ポンプ12、圧力計13及び開閉バルブ14が設けられており且つ一方端がプール11に接続され他方端がジョイントJ1に接続された配管P11を有している。また、水圧封入/放出系10は、一方端がジョイントJ1に接続された水給排ホースH1を介して水素ガスタンク2の給排水口2aに接続されるようになっている。   The water pressure sealing / releasing system 10 is provided with a pool 11 in which water W is stored, a hydraulically driven water pressure pump 12, a pressure gauge 13, and an opening / closing valve 14, and one end connected to the pool 11 and the other. The pipe P11 has an end connected to the joint J1. Further, the hydraulic pressure sealing / release system 10 is connected to the water supply / drain port 2a of the hydrogen gas tank 2 via a water supply / discharge hose H1 having one end connected to the joint J1.

水素ガス充填系20は、水素ガス源21に配管P21を介して蓄圧機22が接続され、その配管P21に、圧縮機23と接続された配管P22が接続されたものである。また、蓄圧機22には、圧力計24、減圧弁25、絞り弁26、圧力計27、流量計28、及び逆止弁29がその順に連設された配管P23の一方端が接続されており、その配管P23の他方端はジョイントJ2に接続されている。また、水素ガス充填系20は、一方端がジョイントJ2に接続された水素ガス供給ホースH2を介して水素ガスタンク2のガス給排口2bに接続されるようになっている。   In the hydrogen gas filling system 20, a pressure accumulator 22 is connected to a hydrogen gas source 21 via a pipe P 21, and a pipe P 22 connected to the compressor 23 is connected to the pipe P 21. The pressure accumulator 22 is connected to one end of a pipe P23 in which a pressure gauge 24, a pressure reducing valve 25, a throttle valve 26, a pressure gauge 27, a flow meter 28, and a check valve 29 are connected in that order. The other end of the pipe P23 is connected to the joint J2. The hydrogen gas filling system 20 is connected to the gas supply / exhaust port 2b of the hydrogen gas tank 2 via a hydrogen gas supply hose H2 having one end connected to the joint J2.

このように構成された水素ガス充填システム1を用いた水素ガスの充填方法について以下に説明する。図2は、本発明によるガス充填方法の好適な一実施形態の手順を示すフロー図である。まず、水素ガス充填システム1が設けられた水素ガスステーションの所定区域に車両Vを停車させる。次に、水給排ホースH1及び水素ガス供給ホースH2を、それぞれ水素ガスタンク2の給排水口2a及びガス給排口2bに接続する(ステップS1)。このとき、給排水口2a及びガス給排口2bにそれぞれ設けられた封止バルブ(図示せず)を閉止しておく。   A hydrogen gas filling method using the hydrogen gas filling system 1 configured as described above will be described below. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a preferred embodiment of the gas filling method according to the present invention. First, the vehicle V is stopped in a predetermined area of the hydrogen gas station where the hydrogen gas filling system 1 is provided. Next, the water supply / discharge hose H1 and the hydrogen gas supply hose H2 are connected to the supply / drain port 2a and the gas supply / discharge port 2b of the hydrogen gas tank 2, respectively (step S1). At this time, the sealing valve (not shown) provided in each of the water supply / drain port 2a and the gas supply / discharge port 2b is closed.

次いで、水圧封入/放出系10の水圧ポンプ12を運転し、圧力計13で計測される圧力が、常圧より高く且つ後述する目標圧力P3よりも低い所定の予備圧力P2となるようにプール11から送給される水Wを昇圧する(ステップS2)。これと並行して、水素ガス充填系20において水素ガスGを昇圧する。具体的には、圧縮機23を運転して水素ガス源21から供給される水素ガスを圧縮しながら蓄圧機22へ送り、減圧弁25手前の圧力計24で計測される圧力が、一旦、後述する目標圧力P3よりも高い圧力となるように昇圧する。それから、その水素ガスGを減圧弁25及び絞り弁26に通すことにより、圧力計27で計測される圧力が目標圧力P3となるように減圧する。これにより、結果として水素ガスGを目標圧力P3まで昇圧させる(ステップS3)。   Next, the water pressure pump 12 of the water pressure sealing / release system 10 is operated, and the pool 11 is set so that the pressure measured by the pressure gauge 13 becomes a predetermined preliminary pressure P2 that is higher than the normal pressure and lower than the target pressure P3 described later. The pressure of the water W fed from is increased (step S2). In parallel with this, the hydrogen gas G is boosted in the hydrogen gas filling system 20. Specifically, the compressor 23 is operated and the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas source 21 is compressed and sent to the accumulator 22, and the pressure measured by the pressure gauge 24 before the pressure reducing valve 25 is once described later. The pressure is increased so as to be higher than the target pressure P3. Then, the hydrogen gas G is passed through the pressure reducing valve 25 and the throttle valve 26 so that the pressure measured by the pressure gauge 27 is reduced to the target pressure P3. As a result, the hydrogen gas G is increased to the target pressure P3 (step S3).

次に、水圧封入/放出系10の開閉バルブ14を開放し、さらに水素ガスタンク2の給排水口2aの封止バルブを開放して予備圧力P2へ昇圧された水Wを水素ガスタンク2内に充填し、水素ガスタンク2の内圧が予備圧力P2となるように予圧する(ステップS4;予圧工程)。このとき、水素ガスタンク2内に水素ガスが残っていても、水の圧縮率が水素ガスの圧縮率よりも格段に大きいので、水Wが加圧充填されると水素ガスタンク2内で残存水素ガスが占める体積は無視できるほど小さくなる。   Next, the open / close valve 14 of the water pressure sealing / release system 10 is opened, and the sealing valve of the water supply / drain port 2a of the hydrogen gas tank 2 is opened to fill the hydrogen gas tank 2 with water W that has been pressurized to the preliminary pressure P2. Then, pre-pressurization is performed so that the internal pressure of the hydrogen gas tank 2 becomes the pre-pressure P2 (step S4; pre-pressure process). At this time, even if hydrogen gas remains in the hydrogen gas tank 2, the compressibility of water is much larger than the compressibility of hydrogen gas. The volume occupied by becomes so small that it can be ignored.

次いで、水素ガスタンク2の内圧を予備圧力P2以上に維持できるように水圧ポンプ12の負荷を制御しながら運転を続行し、ガス給排口2bの封止バルブを開放する。これにより、目標圧力P3に昇圧された水素ガスGを、ガス給排口2bから水素ガスタンク2内へ流入させる。水素ガスGは、水Wが充填された水素ガスタンク2内の内圧(予備圧力P2)と水素ガスGの圧力(目標圧力P3)との差圧に応じて水素ガスタンク2内へ徐々に充填される。それと同時に、水素ガスタンク2からは水Wが水圧封入/放出系10へ排出される。このように、水圧封入/放出系10及び水素ガス充填系20によって媒体排出部が構成されている。   Next, the operation is continued while controlling the load of the water pressure pump 12 so that the internal pressure of the hydrogen gas tank 2 can be maintained at or above the preliminary pressure P2, and the sealing valve of the gas supply / exhaust port 2b is opened. Thereby, the hydrogen gas G boosted to the target pressure P3 is caused to flow into the hydrogen gas tank 2 from the gas supply / discharge port 2b. The hydrogen gas G is gradually filled into the hydrogen gas tank 2 according to the differential pressure between the internal pressure (preliminary pressure P2) in the hydrogen gas tank 2 filled with water W and the pressure of the hydrogen gas G (target pressure P3). . At the same time, the water W is discharged from the hydrogen gas tank 2 to the hydraulic enclosure / release system 10. In this way, the medium discharge unit is configured by the hydraulic sealing / release system 10 and the hydrogen gas filling system 20.

水素ガスタンク2の内圧は水素ガスGの充填につれて徐々に高められ、このとき、水圧ポンプ12の圧力負荷が水素ガスタンク2の内圧と同等程度となるように制御することにより、水素ガスGの充填速度を調節できる。こうして、水Wが水素ガスGで置換されて全て排出されるまで水素ガスGを水素ガスタンク2内に加圧充填する(ステップS5;ガス充填工程)。そして、水素ガスタンク2の給排水口2a及びガス給排口2bのそれぞれの封止バルブを閉止して水素ガス充填を終了する。   The internal pressure of the hydrogen gas tank 2 is gradually increased as the hydrogen gas G is filled. At this time, the filling speed of the hydrogen gas G is controlled by controlling the pressure load of the water pressure pump 12 to be equal to the internal pressure of the hydrogen gas tank 2. Can be adjusted. Thus, the hydrogen gas G is pressurized and filled in the hydrogen gas tank 2 until the water W is replaced with the hydrogen gas G and all the water W is discharged (step S5; gas filling step). Then, the respective sealing valves of the water supply / drain port 2a and the gas supply / discharge port 2b of the hydrogen gas tank 2 are closed to complete the hydrogen gas filling.

このような水素ガス充填システム1及びそれを用いた水素ガス充填方法によれば、水素ガスタンク2内を予備圧力P2に予圧した状態から水素ガスGの充填を行うので、常圧から水素ガスGの充填を開始する場合に比して、水素ガスGを充填する前の水素ガスタンク2の内圧と目標圧力P3との差圧を小さくできる。よって、水素ガスGの断熱圧縮による発熱量を低減でき、水素ガスタンク2の温度上昇を抑制できる。その結果、水素ガスGの充填圧力を目標圧力P3よりも高くして過充填する従来方法を用いなくても、目標圧力P3の水素ガスGを水素ガスタンク2内に短時間で充填できる。   According to the hydrogen gas filling system 1 and the hydrogen gas filling method using the hydrogen gas filling system 1, the hydrogen gas G is filled from the state in which the inside of the hydrogen gas tank 2 is pre-pressurized to the pre-pressure P 2. Compared to when filling is started, the differential pressure between the internal pressure of the hydrogen gas tank 2 before filling the hydrogen gas G and the target pressure P3 can be reduced. Therefore, the amount of heat generated by adiabatic compression of the hydrogen gas G can be reduced, and the temperature rise of the hydrogen gas tank 2 can be suppressed. As a result, the hydrogen gas G at the target pressure P3 can be filled in the hydrogen gas tank 2 in a short time without using the conventional method of overfilling with the filling pressure of the hydrogen gas G higher than the target pressure P3.

また、水素ガスタンク2を冷却する必要がないので、大掛かりな冷却設備が不要である。さらに、このように冷却が不要であるから、水素ガスGの充填のたびに水素ガスタンク2を車両Vから取り外して効果的に冷却するといった特別な手間と労力が掛からない。よって、コストの増大を防止できる。   Moreover, since it is not necessary to cool the hydrogen gas tank 2, a large-scale cooling facility is unnecessary. Further, since cooling is not necessary in this way, there is no special effort and labor for removing the hydrogen gas tank 2 from the vehicle V and cooling it effectively each time the hydrogen gas G is filled. Therefore, an increase in cost can be prevented.

ここで、目標圧力P3が、例えば規格圧力である35MPaの場合、予備圧力P2としては、常圧よりも高く目標圧力P3よりも小さければ特に制限されないが、15〜25MPa程度が好ましく、15〜20MPa程度であるとより好ましい。この予備圧力P2が25MPaを超えると、目標圧力P3との差圧が過小となってしまい、水素ガスGの急速充填を行い難くなる。一方、予備圧力P2が15MPa未満となると、目標圧力P3との圧力差が過大となり、場合によっては水素ガスGの断熱圧縮による発熱量を十分に抑え難い傾向にある。   Here, when the target pressure P3 is, for example, 35 MPa, which is a standard pressure, the preliminary pressure P2 is not particularly limited as long as it is higher than normal pressure and lower than the target pressure P3, but is preferably about 15 to 25 MPa, and preferably 15 to 20 MPa. More preferable. If the preliminary pressure P2 exceeds 25 MPa, the differential pressure with respect to the target pressure P3 becomes excessively small, and it is difficult to rapidly fill the hydrogen gas G. On the other hand, when the preliminary pressure P2 is less than 15 MPa, the pressure difference from the target pressure P3 becomes excessive, and in some cases, it is difficult to sufficiently suppress the amount of heat generated by adiabatic compression of the hydrogen gas G.

また、目標圧力P3が他の規格圧力である70MPaの場合も、予備圧力P2としては、常圧よりも高く目標圧力P3よりも小さければ特に制限されないが、上述と同様に、30〜50MPaであると好ましく、30〜40MPaであるとより好ましい。   In addition, when the target pressure P3 is 70 MPa, which is another standard pressure, the preliminary pressure P2 is not particularly limited as long as it is higher than the normal pressure and lower than the target pressure P3, but it is 30 to 50 MPa as described above. And preferably 30 to 40 MPa.

またさらに、水素ガスGの断熱圧縮によって発生した熱量が水Wへ移行する。そして、その水Wが排出されることにより、その熱量が水素ガスタンク2外へ除去される。よって、水素ガスG及び水素ガスタンク2の温度上昇を一層抑制することができる。また、水Wの比熱が水素ガスGよりも格段に大きいので、そのような熱除去効果を更に高めることができる。   Furthermore, the amount of heat generated by adiabatic compression of the hydrogen gas G is transferred to the water W. Then, the amount of heat is removed outside the hydrogen gas tank 2 by discharging the water W. Therefore, the temperature rise of the hydrogen gas G and the hydrogen gas tank 2 can be further suppressed. Further, since the specific heat of the water W is much larger than that of the hydrogen gas G, such a heat removal effect can be further enhanced.

さらにまた、水素ガスタンク2内を予圧するための媒体として、水素ガスGよりも圧縮率が格段に小さく圧縮され難い水Wを用いるので、圧力印加時に水素ガスタンク2内での体積変化が極めて少ない。よって、水素ガスタンク2内の予圧を迅速に行うことができる。例えば、燃料電池自動車に搭載される規模の水素ガスタンク2の内部を、水Wを用いて上述した程度の予備圧力P2へ予圧するには、10〜20秒程度の時間しか要しない。加えて、水素ガスGに比して圧縮率が小さい水Wを用いるので、前述の如く、水素ガスタンク2内に水素ガスGが残存していても、その容積を実質的に無視することができ、予備圧力P2への昇圧を確実ならしめることができる。   Furthermore, as the medium for preloading the inside of the hydrogen gas tank 2, water W, which has a remarkably smaller compression rate than the hydrogen gas G and is difficult to be compressed, is used, so that the volume change in the hydrogen gas tank 2 is extremely small when pressure is applied. Therefore, the preload in the hydrogen gas tank 2 can be performed quickly. For example, it takes only about 10 to 20 seconds to preload the inside of the hydrogen gas tank 2 of a scale mounted on a fuel cell vehicle to the above-described preliminary pressure P2 using water W. In addition, since water W having a smaller compression ratio than that of the hydrogen gas G is used, even if the hydrogen gas G remains in the hydrogen gas tank 2 as described above, its volume can be substantially ignored. Thus, the pressure increase to the preliminary pressure P2 can be ensured.

また、水素ガスGを水素ガスタンク2内へ加圧充填することにより、予圧に使用した水Wを連続的に水素ガスタンク2の外部へ押し出すように排出できるので、予備圧力P2と目標圧力P3との小さい圧力差を維持しながら、水素ガスタンク2内へ水素ガスGが充填し続けることができる。よって、水素ガスの充填工程の全体を通して断熱圧縮による発熱を抑えることができる。また、このように水素ガスGによって水Wを排出し水圧封入/放出系10へ戻入させるので、他の水排出機構が不要となって設備規模の増大を防止できる。   Also, by filling the hydrogen gas G into the hydrogen gas tank 2 under pressure, the water W used for the preload can be discharged so as to be continuously pushed out of the hydrogen gas tank 2, so that the preliminary pressure P2 and the target pressure P3 The hydrogen gas G can be continuously filled into the hydrogen gas tank 2 while maintaining a small pressure difference. Therefore, heat generation by adiabatic compression can be suppressed throughout the hydrogen gas filling process. Further, since the water W is discharged by the hydrogen gas G and returned to the hydraulic pressure sealing / release system 10 in this way, another water discharge mechanism is not required, and an increase in equipment scale can be prevented.

なお、本発明は上述した実施形態に限定されるものではなく、その要旨を変更しない限度において様々な変形が可能である。例えば、本発明は、水素ガスタンク2内への水素ガスGの充填が必要な燃料電池自動車のみならず、例えば天然ガス自動車、更には、燃料電池や天然ガスを用いた発電設備等のガス容器への高圧ガス充填が必要な機器、設備等に好適である。また、予圧のための媒体として、水W以外の他の液体を用いても構わない。さらに、水素ガスタンク2内の水Wを、他の手段(例えば、水排出ポンプ)等によって強制的に排出させてもよい。またさらに、水素ガスタンク2内に水素ガスGが残存する場合には、水Wの充填前にその残存ガスを水素ガスタンク2から排気しておいてもよい。   In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the limit which does not change the summary. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to fuel cell vehicles that need to be filled with hydrogen gas G in the hydrogen gas tank 2, but also to natural gas vehicles, and further to gas containers such as fuel cells and power generation facilities using natural gas. It is suitable for equipment and facilities that require high-pressure gas filling. Moreover, you may use liquids other than the water W as a medium for preload. Further, the water W in the hydrogen gas tank 2 may be forcibly discharged by other means (for example, a water discharge pump). Furthermore, when the hydrogen gas G remains in the hydrogen gas tank 2, the remaining gas may be exhausted from the hydrogen gas tank 2 before the water W is filled.

本発明によるガス充填方法及び装置は、ガス充填に先立って容器内を媒体で予圧し、その後ガス充填を行うことにより、ガスの断熱圧縮による発熱を抑制することができるので、過充填することなく目標量(目標圧力)のガスを短時間で容器に充填でき、また、コストの増大を防止できる。よって、上述の如く、容器へガスを高圧充填することが必要な機器や設備等に広く利用することができる。   The gas filling method and apparatus according to the present invention can suppress heat generation due to adiabatic compression of gas by pre-pressurizing the inside of the container with a medium prior to gas filling, and then performing gas filling without overfilling. The container can be filled with a target amount (target pressure) of gas in a short time, and an increase in cost can be prevented. Therefore, as described above, it can be widely used for equipment and facilities that require high-pressure filling of the container with gas.

本発明によるガス充填装置の好適な一実施形態の構成を示すブロック図で ある。It is a block diagram which shows the structure of suitable one Embodiment of the gas filling apparatus by this invention. 本発明によるガス充填方法の好適な一実施形態の手順を示すフロー図であ る。It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of suitable one Embodiment of the gas filling method by this invention.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

1…水素ガス充填システム(ガス充填装置)、2…水素ガスタンク(容器)、2a…給排水口、2b…ガス給排口、10…水圧封入/放出系(媒体供給部、媒体排出部)、11…プール、12…水圧ポンプ、13,24,27…圧力計、14…開閉バルブ、20…水素ガス充填系(ガス供給部、媒体排出部)、21…水素ガス源、22…蓄圧機、23…圧縮機、25…減圧弁、26…絞り弁、28…流量計、29…逆止弁、12…水圧ポンプ、G…水素ガス(ガス、燃料ガス)、H1…水給排ホース、H2…水素ガス供給ホース、J1,J2…ジョイント、P11,P21,P22,P23…配管、S1,S2,S3…ステップ、S4…ステップ(予圧工程)、S5…ステップ(ガス充填工程)、V…車両、W…水(媒体)。   DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hydrogen gas filling system (gas filling apparatus), 2 ... Hydrogen gas tank (container), 2a ... Supply / drain port, 2b ... Gas supply / discharge port, 10 ... Water pressure sealing / release system (medium supply part, medium discharge part), 11 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Pool, 12 ... Water pressure pump, 13, 24, 27 ... Pressure gauge, 14 ... Open / close valve, 20 ... Hydrogen gas filling system (gas supply part, medium discharge part), 21 ... Hydrogen gas source, 22 ... Pressure accumulator, 23 Compressor, 25 ... Pressure reducing valve, 26 ... Throttle valve, 28 ... Flow meter, 29 ... Check valve, 12 ... Water pressure pump, G ... Hydrogen gas (gas, fuel gas), H1 ... Water supply / discharge hose, H2 ... Hydrogen gas supply hose, J1, J2 ... joint, P11, P21, P22, P23 ... piping, S1, S2, S3 ... step, S4 ... step (preloading step), S5 ... step (gas filling step), V ... vehicle, W: Water (medium).

Claims (6)

常圧よりも高い目標圧力のガスを容器へ充填する方法であって、
前記ガスに比して圧縮率が小さい媒体を該容器内へ加圧充填し、前記容器の内圧を常圧よりも高く且つ前記目標圧力よりも低い予備圧力まで上昇させる予圧工程と、
前記予圧工程を実施した後に、内圧が前記予備圧力とされた容器内に前記ガスを前記目標圧力まで加圧充填するガス充填工程と、
を備えるガス充填方法。
A method of filling a container with a gas having a target pressure higher than normal pressure,
A preloading step of pressurizing and filling a medium having a compression ratio smaller than that of the gas into the container, and increasing the internal pressure of the container to a preliminary pressure higher than normal pressure and lower than the target pressure;
A gas filling step of pressurizing and filling the gas to the target pressure in a container whose internal pressure is set to the preliminary pressure after performing the preloading step;
A gas filling method comprising:
前記ガス充填工程においては、前記容器内へ供給するガス圧によって該容器内の前記媒体を該容器外へ排出させる、
請求項1記載のガス充填方法。
In the gas filling step, the medium in the container is discharged out of the container by the gas pressure supplied into the container.
The gas filling method according to claim 1.
前記容器が自動車に搭載されるものであり、且つ、前記ガスとして燃料ガスが充填される、
請求項1又は2に記載のガス充填方法。
The container is mounted on an automobile and is filled with fuel gas as the gas;
The gas filling method according to claim 1 or 2.
常圧よりも高い目標圧力のガスを容器へ充填するための装置であって、
前記容器に接続され、前記ガスに比して圧縮率が小さい媒体を有しており、該容器の内圧が常圧よりも高く且つ前記目標圧力よりも低い予備圧力となるように該媒体を該容器内へ供給する媒体供給部と、
前記容器に接続され、前記ガスを有しており、該容器の内圧が前記目標圧力となるように該ガスを該容器内へ供給するガス供給部と、
前記容器に接続され、前記媒体を該容器外へ排出する媒体排出部と、
を備えるガス充填装置。
An apparatus for filling a container with a gas having a target pressure higher than normal pressure,
The medium is connected to the container and has a compression rate smaller than that of the gas, and the medium is placed so that the internal pressure of the container is higher than normal pressure and lower than the target pressure. A medium supply unit for feeding into the container;
A gas supply unit connected to the container and having the gas, and supplying the gas into the container so that the internal pressure of the container becomes the target pressure;
A medium discharge unit connected to the container and discharging the medium out of the container;
A gas filling device comprising:
前記媒体排出部は、前記容器内へ供給されるガス圧によって該容器内の前記媒体が該容器外へ排出されるように設けられたものである、
請求項4記載のガス充填装置。
The medium discharge section is provided so that the medium in the container is discharged out of the container by the gas pressure supplied into the container.
The gas filling device according to claim 4.
前記容器が自動車に搭載されたものであり、
前記ガス供給部が、前記ガスとして燃料ガスを有するものである、
請求項4又は5に記載のガス充填装置。



The container is mounted on an automobile;
The gas supply unit has a fuel gas as the gas.
The gas filling device according to claim 4 or 5.



JP2004092267A 2004-03-26 2004-03-26 Gas charging method and equipment therefor Pending JP2005273871A (en)

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102803817A (en) * 2009-06-10 2012-11-28 提森有限公司 Method and filling installation for filling a hydrogen gas into a vessel
JP2016094149A (en) * 2014-11-17 2016-05-26 マツダ株式会社 Vehicular regeneration control method and regeneration control system

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102803817A (en) * 2009-06-10 2012-11-28 提森有限公司 Method and filling installation for filling a hydrogen gas into a vessel
US9074729B2 (en) 2009-06-10 2015-07-07 Teesing B.V. Method and filling installation for filling a hydrogen gas into a vessel
US9464759B2 (en) 2009-06-10 2016-10-11 Teesing B.V. Method and filling installation for filling a hydrogen gas into a vessel
JP2016094149A (en) * 2014-11-17 2016-05-26 マツダ株式会社 Vehicular regeneration control method and regeneration control system

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