JP4384773B2 - Hydrogen supply system for equipment using hydrogen as fuel - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hydrogen supply system for hydrogen fueled devices, and more particularly to a hydrogen supply system that generates hydrogen from raw materials such as alcohol and gasoline in order to supply hydrogen to hydrogen fueled devices.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of hydrogen supply system is equipped with a reformer for hydrogen production.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the current reformer has a long time to start, and therefore, there is a problem that an electric vehicle using a fuel cell as a power source as the device cannot start immediately even if a start switch is turned on. .
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides the hydrogen supply system provided with a hydrogen storage device, so that only hydrogen released from the hydrogen supply device is supplied to the equipment so that the problems of the reformer do not affect the hydrogen supply to the equipment. The purpose is to provide.
[0005]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a reformer that generates hydrogen from a raw material such as alcohol and gasoline, and the hydrogen generated by the reformer are occluded through a first supply line , and then the hydrogen releasing occluded hydrogen as well as organic and capable hydrogen reservoir be supplied through the second supply line to the appliance to be fuel, its hydrogen reservoir is the first, second supply pipe It is provided with a plurality of tanks intercalated in parallel with each other and each containing a hydrogen storage material . The plurality of tanks promote the release of the stored hydrogen by heating the hydrogen storage material in each tank. A gas heating device and an electric heating circuit are provided, and the electric heating circuit includes a plurality of heaters capable of individually heating the hydrogen storage material in each tank, and a power supply unit capable of energizing each heater. The gas heating device comprises the first A plurality of pipes that are connected to the supply pipes so as to be bypassed, and that allow the reformed gas generated in the reformer to circulate and heat the hydrogen storage material in each tank individually by the heat of the reformed gas. The apparatus is started with the hydrogen released from at least one of the tanks, and when the apparatus is continuously operated, when at least one of the tanks is in a hydrogen releasing state, Hydrogen is fueled so that at least one of the tanks is in a hydrogen storage state and at least one of the other tanks is in a hydrogen release state before at least one of the tanks exits the hydrogen release state A system for supplying hydrogen to equipment, wherein at the start of operation of the equipment, at least one tank having a full hydrogen storage capacity is heated by the corresponding heater, and the at least one tank is heated. The hydrogen is released, the reformer is started, and then the heating by the heater is stopped when the reformed gas from the reformer reaches a predetermined temperature, and the at least one The tank is heated by the corresponding heating line of the gas-type heating device, and when the operation of the equipment is continued, the hydrogen discharge end preparation start point of at least one of the tanks in the hydrogen release state is A hydrogen supply system for hydrogen fueled equipment is provided, characterized in that at least one of the tanks in a hydrogen releasing state is at the end of hydrogen storage .
[0006]
For example, the reformer is operated while the equipment is out of service, and the hydrogen produced by the reformer is stored in one or more tanks of the hydrogen storage. At the start of operation of the device, for example, hydrogen is released from one tank and supplied to the device. The supply of the released hydrogen is performed after the reformer started simultaneously with the start of the operation of the equipment reaches a steady state, for example, until there is no hydrogen in the hydrogen-released tank . Its to the tank in the hydrogen release condition, before exiting the state and the separate tank is hydrogen release state, without interruption of hydrogen is supplied to the apparatus, this operation of the device is continued by . Therefore, according to the hydrogen supply system can be a problem of the response delay in the reformer to avoid affecting the hydrogen supply to the equipment.
[0007]
In addition, when the hydrogen release completion preparation start point of the tank in the hydrogen release state, for example, the heating end point is set as the hydrogen storage end point of the tank in the next hydrogen release state, and hence the heating start point, the tank in the hydrogen release state is Then, the release of hydrogen is continued by the endothermic reaction of the hydrogen storage material using the residual heat, which reduces the time lag when restarting the next hydrogen storage mode by generating a temperature drop in the tank. Bring. On the other hand, since the heating of the tank in the hydrogen releasing state can be started with a sufficient margin, it is possible to reliably overlap the hydrogen releasing states of both tanks.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A hydrogen supply system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on an electric vehicle using a fuel cell 2 as a power source as a power source.
[0009]
In the hydrogen supply system 1, the reformer 3 generates reformed gas mainly composed of hydrogen from raw materials such as alcohol and gasoline, and the supply side is connected to the supply line 4 </ b> A on the inlet side of the hydrogen storage HS. Also, the outlet side of the hydrogen storage HS is connected to the hydrogen inlet side of the fuel cell 2 via the supply line 4B. The hydrogen storage HS can store the hydrogen generated by the reformer 3, and then discharge the stored hydrogen and supply it to the fuel cell 2. In the air supply line 5, an air cleaner 6, a supercharger 8 having a motor 7 and an intercooler 9 are installed on the introduction side, and the outlet side is connected to the air inlet side of the fuel cell 2. A first two-way valve V1 is installed in the vicinity of the fuel cell 2 in the air supply conduit 5. A pair of connection terminals of the fuel cell 2 are connected to the vehicle drive motor 11 via a pair of conductors 10, and a pair of connection terminals of a motor driving auxiliary battery 12 are connected to the conductors 10 via a pair of conductors 13. The
[0010]
The hydrogen outlet side and the air outlet side of the fuel cell 2 are connected to the evaporator combustor 16 via the discharge lines 14 and 15, respectively, and the second two-way valve V2 is located near the combustor 16 of the air discharge line 15. Is installed. One outlet side of the methanol tank 18 is connected to one inlet side of the evaporator 17 via a supply line 19, and a pump 20 is installed in the supply line 19. Further, the outlet side of the water tank 21 is connected to the other inlet side of the evaporator 17 through a supply line 22, and a pump 23 is connected to the supply line 22. The outlet side of the evaporator 17 is connected to the introduction side of the reformer 3 through a mixed steam supply pipe 24 made of methanol and moisture. The other outlet side of the methanol tank 18 is connected to a reformer starting combustor 26 via another supply line 25, and the pump 27 and the third second line are sequentially connected to the supply line 25 from the methanol tank 18 side. A direction valve V3 is provided. Further, in the supply line 25, the pump 27 and the third two-way valve V3 are connected to the electric heater catalyzer 29 of the evaporator combustor 16 via another supply line 28, and the electric heater in the supply line 28 is connected. A fourth two-way valve V4 is installed in the vicinity of the catalyzer 29. The reformer starting combustor 26 includes a heating circuit 31 having a glow plug 30 and a power source 32 having a battery, a switch, and the like.
[0011]
A fifth two-way valve V5, a gas purifier 34, a sixth two-way valve V6, a heat exchanger 35 and a flow meter 36 are sequentially installed on the supply line 4A on the reformer side from the reformer 3 side. The In the air supply line 5, a supply line 37 branched from the upstream side of the first two-way valve V 1 in the vicinity of the fuel cell 2 is further branched into two to be connected to the reformer start combustor 26 and the reformer 3. The seventh and eighth two-way valves V7 and V8 are connected to the supply line 37 near the combustor 26 and the reformer 3, respectively. Air is used for combustion and temperature control in the combustor 26, and is used for temperature control in the reformer 3. The gas purifier 34 and the sixth two-way valve V6 are connected to the reformed gas discharge conduit 14 of the fuel cell 2 via a bypass conduit 38. A flow rate control valve 39 is provided in the bypass line 38.
[0012]
In the hydrogen storage HS, three first to third pipelines 40, 41, 42 are connected in parallel to both supply pipelines 4A, 4B. A first two-way valve V9, a first tank 43, a tenth two-way valve V10, and a flow meter 44 are sequentially installed in the first line 40 from the supply line 4A side. Further, an eleventh two-way valve V11, a second tank 45, a twelfth two-way valve V12, and a flow meter 46 are sequentially installed in the second pipe 41 from the supply pipe 4A side. Further, a thirteenth two-way valve V13, a third tank 47, a fourteenth two-way valve V14, and a flow meter 48 are sequentially installed in the third pipe line 42 from the supply pipe line 4A side. The first to third tanks 43 , 45 , 47 are filled with a hydrogen storage alloy MH as a hydrogen storage material. As the hydrogen storage alloy MH, a LaNi-Co-Al alloy is used.
[0013]
The first to third tanks 40 to 42 are provided with a gas heating device 49 and an electric heating circuit 50.
[0014]
The gas heating device 49 is connected to the supply line 4A between the reformer 3 and the fifth two-way valve V5, and has an introduction line 51 having a fifteenth two-way valve V15, and a fifth two-way valve V5. And the lead-out conduit 52 connected to the supply conduit 4A between the gas purifiers 34 and the hydrogen storage alloy in the tanks 43, 45, 47 connected in parallel between the lead-in conduit 51 and the lead-out conduit 52. The first to third heating pipes 53, 54, and 55 including the heating path for use. In the first heating pipe line 53, the sixteenth and seventeenth two-way valves V16 and V17 are respectively installed at portions on the inlet side and the outlet side with respect to the first tank 43. Further, in the second heating pipe 54, the 18th and 19th two-way valves V18 and V19 are respectively installed on the inlet side and the outlet side of the second tank 45. Further, in the third heating pipe 55, the twentieth and twenty-first two-way valves V20 and V21, respectively, corresponding to the inlet side and the outlet side of the third tank 47 are installed.
[0015]
The electric heating circuit 50 includes three heaters 56, 57, and 58 that heat the hydrogen storage alloy MH in each of the tanks 43, 45, and 47, and a power source 59 that includes a battery, a switch, and the like.
[0016]
The power source 32 of the heating circuit 31 having the fuel cell 2, the vehicle drive motor 11, the glow plug 30, the pumps 20, 23 and 27, the power source 59 of the heating circuit 50 having the heaters 56 to 58, etc. The operation is controlled via the ECU 61 by turning it on, while it becomes inoperative when the start switch 60 is turned off.
[0017]
Next, the start mode and the tank switching mode will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0018]
A. Start Mode Before this mode is started, it is assumed that the hydrogen storage amount in the first tank 43 of the hydrogen storage HS is full, and the other tanks 45 and 47 are empty. The first to twenty-first two-way valves V1 to V21 and the flow rate control valve 39 are in the “closed” state.
[0019]
1 and 2, when the start switch 60 is turned on, the supercharger 8 is activated, the air passes through the air cleaner 6, the supercharger 8, and the intercooler 9, and the first two-way valve V1 is "open". The battery 2 is supplied, and the seventh and eighth two-way valves V7 and V8 are “open” and supplied to the combustor 26 and the reformer 3 of the reformer 3, respectively. The air discharged from the fuel cell 2 is introduced into the evaporator combustor 16 when the second two-way valve V2 is “open”.
[0020]
When the electric heater catalyzer 29 of the evaporator combustor 16 is energized and its temperature rises, the pump 27 operates and the fourth two-way valve V4 is “open”, and methanol is injected into the electric heater catalyzer 29. Is combusted in the combustor 16 to heat the evaporator 17.
[0021]
The heater 56 of the first tank 43 is energized, and the first tank 43 is heated by the heater 56. When the pressure at the outlet portion of the first tank 43 is detected and the pressure reaches a predetermined pressure, the stored hydrogen in the first tank 43 is released and the tenth two-way valve V10 is “open”. The released hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell 2, which starts operation. The amount of hydrogen supplied from the first tank 43 is detected by a flow meter 44. Surplus hydrogen in the fuel cell 2 is introduced into the evaporator combustor 16 where it is burned and used to heat the evaporator 17.
[0022]
The glow plug 30 of the reformer start combustor 26 is energized. When the third two-way valve V3 is “open”, methanol is injected into the combustor 26, and the reformer 3 is heated by the combustion of the methanol. When the gas temperature at the supply port portion of the reformer 3 is detected and reaches a predetermined value, the energization of the glow plug 30 is stopped when the heating of the reformer 3 is completed.
[0023]
Methanol and water are injected into the evaporator 17 to generate a mixed steam composed of methanol and moisture, and the mixed steam is supplied to the reformer 3 for reforming.
[0024]
The reformed gas contains a considerable amount of CO, and the fifth two-way valve V5 is “open” and is introduced into the gas purifier 34. Then, the flow control valve 39 is “open” and the bypass line 38 is opened. Then, it is introduced into the combustor 16 where combustible components such as hydrogen are combusted.
[0025]
The CO concentration of the reformed gas is detected, or the CO concentration is checked from the relationship between the reformed gas temperature and time, and when the CO concentration becomes a predetermined value or less, the sixth and thirteenth two-way valves V6 and V13 Is "open", the clean reformed gas from the gas purifier 34 is supplied to the third tank 47 after the temperature is lowered by the heat exchanger 35, and the occlusion of hydrogen is started.
[0026]
In order to give priority to the supply of the clean reformed gas to the third tank 47, the supply amount of the clean reformed gas to the combustor 16 is adjusted by the flow rate control valve 39.
[0027]
When the temperature of the reformed gas at the supply port of the reformer 3 reaches, for example, about 200 ° C., it is determined that the reformer 3 has reached the steady mode, and the heater 56 of the first tank 43 is supplied to the heater 56. Energization is stopped. At the same time, the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth two-way valves V15, V16, and V17 of the heating device 49 are “open”, and the fifth two-way valve V5 is “closed”. Since the first tank 43 is heated by the introduction pipe 51, the first heating pipe 53, and the outlet pipe 52, and the release of hydrogen from the first tank 43 is continued, the operation of the fuel cell 2 is continued. . The clean reformed gas discharged from the heating device 49 is supplied to the combustor 16 and the third tank 47.
[0028]
After that, it shifts to the independent operation mode.
[0029]
B. Tank switching mode (steady running)
At the start of this mode, it is assumed that the first tank 43 is in a hydrogen releasing state, the second tank 45 is in an empty state, and the third tank 47 is in a hydrogen storage state.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 3, the hydrogen release order is the first tank 43 → the third tank 47 → the second tank 45 → the first tank 43, and the hydrogen storage order is the third tank 47 → the second tank 45 → First tank 43 → third tank 47.
[0031]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the generated reformed gas amount of the reformer 3 is determined by the operation management flow with the start of the tank switching mode.
[0032]
The amount of reformed gas supplied to the third tank 47 is detected by the flow meter 36 on the reformer 3 side.
[0033]
It is determined whether or not the third tank 47 is full. If not, the detection is continued again.
[0034]
When the third tank 47 is full, the thirteenth two-way valve V13 is closed.
[0035]
In the heating device 49, the sixteenth and seventeenth two-way valves V16 and V17 of the first heating pipe 53 are “closed”, and the twentieth and twenty-first two-way valves V20 and V21 of the third heating pipe 55 are “open”. ”, The heating of the first tank 43 is finished, while the heating of the third tank 47 is started. Hydrogen release from the first tank 43 is continued by an endothermic reaction of the hydrogen storage alloy MH using the remaining heat.
[0036]
When the eleventh two-way valve V11 is “open”, occlusion of hydrogen in the second tank 45 is started.
[0037]
When the pressure at the outlet portion of the third tank 47 is detected and the pressure reaches a predetermined pressure, the stored hydrogen in the third tank 43 is released, the fourteenth two-way valve V14 is “open”, and the released hydrogen is The fuel cell 2 is supplied. At this time, hydrogen release from the first tank 43 is continuing.
[0038]
The amount of hydrogen released from the first tank 43 is detected by the flow meter 44 on the outlet side of the first tank 43.
[0039]
It is determined whether or not the first tank 43 is empty. If it is not empty, detection continues again.
[0040]
When the first tank 43 is empty, the tenth two-way valve V10 is closed to prepare for the next hydrogen storage.
[0041]
Subsequent steps are performed by the same sequence control as described above, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. FIG. 4 briefly shows the subsequent steps.
[0042]
The present invention is applied to a hydrogen supply system that uses two or more tanks. Further, as an apparatus using hydrogen as a fuel, an internal combustion engine can be cited in addition to a fuel cell.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the operation of the equipment is started with the hydrogen released from at least one of these tanks, and when the equipment continues to operate, when at least one of the tanks is in a hydrogen releasing state, at least one other tank Is in a hydrogen occlusion state and at least one other tank is in a hydrogen release state before at least one tank finishes the hydrogen release state. It is possible to provide a hydrogen supply system in which the supply can be performed without interruption and the operation can be reliably continued, and the problem of the reformer does not affect the hydrogen supply.
[0044]
Further, since the hydrogen release completion preparation start point of at least one tank in the hydrogen release state is set as the hydrogen storage end point of at least one tank in the next hydrogen release state, the storage / release width of the hydrogen storage material is set within a narrow range. By using this, it is possible to reduce the expansion and contraction width of the hydrogen storage material, thereby delaying the progress of the miniaturization of the hydrogen storage material and improving the durability of the hydrogen storage material, and thus, for each tank. Life can be extended.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a hydrogen supply system.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a start mode.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of hydrogen storage / release timing of a tank.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a tank switching mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 …………… Hydrogen supply system 2 …………… Fuel cell (equipment)
3 ………… Reformer 43 ………… First tank 45 ………… Second tank 47 ………… Third tank
49 ………… Gas type heating device
50 ………… Electric heating circuit
56, 57, 58 …… Heater
53, 54, 55 ... Heating pipeline
59 ………… Power supply HS ………… Hydrogen storage MH ………… Hydrogen storage alloy (hydrogen storage material)

Claims (1)

A reformer (3) that generates hydrogen from raw materials such as alcohol and gasoline, and the hydrogen generated by the reformer (3) is stored through the first supply line (4A) , and then the stored hydrogen is stored. while organic and release to the second supply line to the device (2) using hydrogen as a fuel (4B) hydrogen reservoir capable of supplying through (HS), the hydrogen reservoir (HS) is, A plurality of tanks (43, 45, 47) each interposing in parallel between the first and second supply pipes (4A, 4B ) and each containing a hydrogen storage material (MH) ;
In the plurality of tanks (43, 45, 47), a gas heating device (49) for promoting the release of the stored hydrogen by heating the hydrogen storage material (MH) in each tank (43, 45, 47). ) And an electric heating circuit (50),
The electric heating circuit (50) includes a plurality of heaters (56, 57, 58) capable of individually heating the hydrogen storage material (MH) in each tank (43, 45, 47), and each heater (56, 57, 58) and a power supply unit (59) capable of energizing,
The gas-type heating device (49) is connected to the first supply pipe (4A) so as to bypass the middle thereof, and the reformed gas generated in the reformer (3) is circulated to the reformer. A plurality of heating pipes (53, 54, 55) capable of individually heating the hydrogen storage material (MH) in each tank (43, 45, 47) with the heat of the gas,
The operation of the device (2) is started with hydrogen released from at least one of the tanks (43, 45, 47), and at least one of the tanks (43, 45, 45) while the operation of the device (2) is continued. 47) is in a hydrogen releasing state, another at least one tank (43, 45, 47) is in a hydrogen storage state, and at least one of the tanks (43, 45, 47) is in a hydrogen releasing state. A hydrogen supply system for hydrogen fueled equipment in which at least one other said tank (43, 45, 47) is in a hydrogen release state before it is finished ,
At the start of operation of the device (2), the at least one tank (43, 45, 47) in which the hydrogen storage amount is full is heated by the corresponding heater (56, 57, 58), and the at least one tank (43, 45, 47) are brought into a hydrogen releasing state, the reformer (3) is started, and then the reformed gas from the reformer (3) reaches the predetermined temperature in accordance with Heating by the heaters (56, 57, 58) is stopped, and the at least one tank (43, 45, 47) is connected to the corresponding heating line (53, 54, 55) of the gas heating device (49). )
In addition, when the operation of the device (2) is continued, the hydrogen discharge end preparation start point of at least one of the tanks (43, 45, 47) in the hydrogen release state is set as the next hydrogen release state at least one of the tanks. (43, 45, 47) A hydrogen supply system for equipment using hydrogen as a fuel, characterized in that the hydrogen storage end time is reached .

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