JP7441198B2 - Power supply unit and its control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a power supply unit that is removably installed in cargo handling equipment and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a power supply unit that can safely supply fuel in a relatively short time and a control method thereof.

Various configurations of gantry cranes, which are cargo handling equipment, have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses the configuration of a gantry crane including a power supply unit configured with a diesel generator.

In recent years, there has been a need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at container terminals where gantry cranes are used. In order to suppress carbon dioxide emissions, it is conceivable to configure the power supply unit with a fuel cell.

When supplying hydrogen fuel to a fuel tank connected to a fuel cell, a replacement operation is required to replace oxygen in a pipe connected to the fuel tank with hydrogen or nitrogen in order to ensure safety. Compared to supplying light oil to a diesel generator, supplying hydrogen fuel to a fuel tank installed on a portal crane requires a significant amount of time. When supplying hydrogen fuel, the gantry cranes were inactive, resulting in a problem that reduced cargo handling efficiency at container terminals.

Furthermore, since it is necessary to supply hydrogen fuel to the fuel tank near the portal crane, measures against leakage of hydrogen fuel are required. In the work of supplying hydrogen fuel, it has been difficult to ensure the same level of safety as in the work of supplying conventional light oil.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-189354

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a power supply unit that can safely supply fuel in a relatively short period of time, and a control method thereof.

A power supply unit for achieving the above purpose is connected to a cargo handling equipment and supplies electricity to the cargo handling equipment, and the power supply unit is connected to a fuel tank storing hydrogen fuel and the fuel tank via a pipe. a fuel cell, a pressure reducing valve disposed in the middle of the pipe, an outer shell structure in which the fuel tank and the fuel cell are disposed, and the outer shell connected to the fuel cell via a cable. and a terminal disposed outside the structure.

A method of controlling a power supply unit to achieve the above object is a method of controlling a power supply unit that is connected to cargo handling equipment and supplies electricity to the cargo handling equipment, wherein the power supply unit includes a fuel tank storing hydrogen fuel; a fuel cell connected to the fuel tank via a pipe; a pressure reducing valve disposed in the middle of the pipe; an outer shell structure in which the fuel tank and the fuel cell are disposed; and a terminal connected via a cable and arranged on the outside of the outer shell structure, and after the power supply unit is removed from the target cargo handling equipment, another power supply unit is connected to the target cargo handling equipment. It is characterized in that it is installed in the cargo handling equipment.

According to the present invention, the fuel tank and the fuel cell are arranged inside the outer shell structure and are integrally configured. In cargo handling equipment, by replacing the power supply unit, hydrogen fuel can be substantially supplied to the fuel tank. It is advantageous to supply hydrogen fuel in a relatively short time and safely.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a power supply unit is installed in cargo handling equipment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a power supply unit. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state immediately before the power supply unit is installed in the cargo handling equipment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a power supply unit is installed in cargo handling equipment.

Hereinafter, a power supply unit and its control method will be described based on the embodiment shown in the drawings. In the figure, the traveling direction of the cargo handling equipment is indicated by an arrow y, the traverse direction perpendicular to this traveling direction is indicated by an arrow x, and the vertical direction is indicated by an arrow z.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a power supply unit 1 is installed, for example, in a gantry crane that constitutes cargo handling equipment 2. The cargo handling equipment 2 is not limited to a portal crane, but includes equipment that performs cargo handling work. Specifically, the cargo handling equipment 2 may be constituted by port cargo handling equipment for transporting containers, such as a quay crane, a top lifter, a forklift, a straddle carrier, or a chassis. Further, the cargo handling equipment 2 may be constituted by a crane or chassis for transporting products such as bulk cargo such as iron ore, steel plates, coils, and the like. The cargo handling equipment 2 may include a vehicle, a construction machine, or the like used at a construction site.

The power supply unit 1 is configured to be detachable from the cargo handling equipment 2. The cargo handling equipment 2 can perform operations such as cargo handling work using electric power supplied from the connected power supply unit 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the power supply unit 1 includes a fuel tank 3 that stores hydrogen fuel, a fuel cell 4 that is connected to the fuel tank 3 via a pipe p1, and a fuel tank 3 and a fuel cell 4 that are arranged inside the fuel tank 3. The fuel cell 5 includes an outer shell structure 5 arranged therein, and a terminal 6 connected to the fuel cell 4 via a cable c1 and arranged outside the outer shell structure 5. In FIG. 1, the outer shell structure 5 is shown in cross section for explanation, and the fuel tank 3 and the like arranged inside the outer shell structure 5 are shown in a state that can be seen through.

The fuel tank 3 is configured of a tank that stores hydrogen gas pressurized to, for example, 90 MPa. The hydrogen fuel stored in the fuel tank 3 is not limited to hydrogen gas, but may be composed of liquid hydrogen. In this specification, liquid hydrogen also includes methylcyclohexane obtained by chemically reacting hydrogen and toluene. The fuel tank 3 may be composed of one tank, or may have a structure formed by connecting a plurality of tanks.

The fuel cell 4 is configured to receive hydrogen fuel from the fuel tank 3 via the pipe p1 and generate electricity. The fuel cell 4 may include a water tank that stores water generated during power generation.

The fuel tank 3 and the fuel cell 4 are integrally covered by an outer shell structure 5. The outer shell structure 5 is composed of, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped metal box. Further, the outer shell structure 5 may be configured as a box that is equivalent to or smaller than a 20ft container. The outer shell structure 5 may be made of a material other than metal.

The terminal 6 has a power terminal for outputting electricity generated by the fuel cell 4 to the outside of the power supply unit 1. This power terminal is connected to the fuel cell 4 via a cable c1. Further, the terminal 6 may have a signal terminal for transmitting a control signal between the power supply unit 1 and the cargo handling equipment 2. This signal terminal is connected to the fuel cell 4 via a signal line s1. The signal terminal can transmit a signal for controlling the fuel cell 4 from the cargo handling equipment 2 to the power supply unit 1. Further, the signal terminal can transmit data such as the state of the fuel cell 4 as a signal from the power supply unit 1 to the cargo handling equipment 2. In FIG. 2, for the sake of explanation, a cable c for supplying power is shown by a solid line, and a signal line s for sending a signal is shown by a chain line.

The terminal 6 only needs to have a configuration that allows it to be electrically connected to the cargo handling equipment 2. For example, the terminal 6 may be formed of a metal terminal exposed on the outer surface of the outer shell structure 5. Further, the terminal 6 may be configured to be connectable to a connector extending from the cargo handling equipment 2, and may be configured by a connector extending from the power supply unit 1.

A configuration may be adopted in which a pressure center or the like is installed in the fuel tank 3 and the value obtained from this pressure sensor is output to the cargo handling equipment 2 through the signal line s2 and the signal terminal. The cargo handling equipment 2 such as a gate type crane can know the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 3.

The power supply unit 1 may include the cooling mechanism 7. In this embodiment, the cooling mechanism 7 includes a radiator and a cooling fan. The cooling mechanism 7 is configured to receive electricity from the fuel cell 4 via a cable c2 to operate a pump and a cooling fan that circulate cooling water and the like. Furthermore, the cooling mechanism 7 has a configuration that circulates cooling water to the fuel cell 4 via a pipe p2. The cooling mechanism 7 makes it possible to maintain the temperature of the fuel cell 4 within an appropriate range. A pump that circulates cooling water or the like may be placed in the fuel cell 4. In this case, the cooling mechanism 7 is composed of a radiator and a cooling fan. Alternatively, the cooling mechanism 7 may be configured without a cooling fan.

The cooling mechanism 7 may have a configuration in which cooling water is circulated to the fuel tank 3 via the pipe p3. The cooling mechanism 7 may have a configuration in which cooling water is circulated through the outer shell structure 5 via the pipe p3. When the cooling mechanism 7 has a cooling fan, the cooling mechanism 7 may have a configuration in which the fuel tank 3 is cooled by air sent from the cooling fan. The cooling mechanism 7 has a configuration for cooling at least the fuel cell 4. In addition to the fuel cell 4, the cooling mechanism 7 may have a configuration that cools at least one of the fuel tank 3 or the outer shell structure 5.

The cooling mechanism 7 is not limited to a radiator, and may have any configuration that can cool the target device. The cooling mechanism 7 may be comprised of, for example, a water sprinkler that sprays water. The water sprinkler may be arranged, for example, on the outside of the outer shell structure 5 and may be configured to spray water onto the outer surface of the outer shell structure 5. In this case, it is desirable to have a configuration in which water discharged from the fuel cell 4 during power generation is sprayed with a water sprinkler.

The cooling mechanism 7 may be composed of two or more different types of equipment, such as a radiator and a water sprinkler. For example, the cooling mechanism 7 may have a configuration in which the fuel cell 4 is cooled with a radiator and at least one of the fuel tank 3 or the outer shell structure 5 is cooled with a sprinkler.

The fuel tank 3 and the fuel cell 4 are integrally constructed, and the fuel tank 3 is never separated from the fuel cell 4. Therefore, it is desirable that the pipe p1 connecting the fuel tank 3 and the fuel cell 4 be fixed to the fuel tank 3 by welding. This is advantageous for suppressing leakage of hydrogen fuel. The pipe p1 may be fixed to the fuel cell 4 by welding.

A pressure reducing valve 8 may be installed in the middle of the pipe p1 connecting the fuel tank 3 and the fuel cell 4. The pressure reducing valve 8 makes it possible to reduce the pressure of, for example, 90 MPa of hydrogen gas stored in the fuel tank 3 to 3 MPa and supply it to the fuel cell 4 . The pressure reducing valve 8 only needs to have the function of reducing the pressure of hydrogen gas to a pressure that can be used by the fuel cell 4.

The installation of the pressure reducing valve 8 makes it possible to store hydrogen gas in the fuel tank 3 at a pressure higher than the pressure of hydrogen gas available in the fuel cell 4 . The amount of hydrogen gas that can be stored in the fuel tank 3 can be increased.

The power supply unit 1 includes a supply port 9 for supplying hydrogen fuel to the fuel tank 3 from the outside of the outer shell structure 5. The supply port 9 is arranged, for example, on the outer surface of the outer shell structure 5, and has a configuration in which it is connected to the fuel tank 3 via a pipe p4. Hydrogen fuel is supplied to the fuel tank 3 through a supply port 9 .

The configuration of the supply port 9 is not limited to the above. It is sufficient that the fuel tank 3 fixed inside the outer shell structure 5 is configured to be able to supply hydrogen fuel from outside the outer shell structure 5 .

The power supply unit 1 may include a relief valve 10 for releasing the pressure inside the fuel tank 3 to the outside of the power supply unit 1 in an emergency when the pressure inside the fuel tank 3 exceeds a preset upper pressure limit. . The relief valve 10 can be configured as a valve that opens when a preset pressure is applied.

It is desirable that the relief valve 10 be arranged, for example, on the upper surface of the outer shell structure 5. It is possible to prevent hydrogen fuel from being injected from the relief valve 10 toward the traveling motor of the portal crane. This is advantageous in preventing an accident in which the hydrogen fuel discharged from the relief valve 10 catches fire. The configuration in which the relief valve 10 is arranged is not limited to the above. The position where the relief valve 10 is placed can be appropriately set depending on the position where the power supply unit 1 is placed in the cargo handling equipment 2, the position of equipment such as a motor included in the cargo handling equipment 2, and the like.

Next, a method of supplying fuel to the power supply unit 1 installed in the cargo handling equipment 2 will be explained. When the remaining amount of hydrogen fuel in the fuel tank 3 becomes low, the power supply unit 1 is removed from the cargo handling equipment 2. Thereafter, another power supply unit 1 whose fuel tank 3 is filled with hydrogen fuel is installed in the cargo handling equipment 2. At this time, the power supply unit 1 is transported, for example, by a forklift or installed on the cargo handling equipment 2. By replacing the power supply unit 1 installed in the cargo handling equipment 2, the same effect as when hydrogen fuel is supplied to the fuel tank 3 can be obtained.

Since there is no need to connect or disconnect pipes through which hydrogen fuel flows, there is no need to perform hydrogen replacement or nitrogen replacement. For example, hydrogen fuel can be supplied to the power supply unit 1 with the same amount of work as transporting a container or the like.

The power supply unit 1 removed from the cargo handling equipment 2 is transported to hydrogen supply equipment such as a hydrogen station. In the hydrogen supply equipment, replacement work such as hydrogen replacement is performed, and hydrogen fuel is supplied from the supply port 9 of the power supply unit 1 to the fuel tank 3. The power supply unit 1 supplied with hydrogen fuel is placed, for example, in a storage area. The power supply unit 1 placed in the storage area is used as a replacement power supply unit 1 for the cargo handling equipment 2 .

When replacing the power supply unit 1 of the cargo handling equipment 2, since the fuel tank 3 and the fuel cell 4 are replaced as one unit, the fuel tank 3 can be brought into the same state as when hydrogen fuel is supplied in a relatively short time. I can do it. The cargo handling equipment 2 such as a portal crane can resume cargo handling work in a relatively short time. This is advantageous for shortening the downtime of the cargo handling equipment 2 due to the supply of hydrogen fuel. It is possible to suppress the decline in cargo handling efficiency at container terminals. The supply of hydrogen fuel to the fuel tank 3 in the hydrogen supply equipment will not affect the operation of the cargo handling equipment 2 such as a gate type crane.

When replacing the power supply unit 1, there is no need to connect or disconnect pipes through which hydrogen fuel flows, so that problems such as leakage of hydrogen fuel cannot occur. This is advantageous for improving safety in the vicinity of the cargo handling equipment 2.

Work that has the potential to leak hydrogen fuel will only be carried out in predetermined areas, such as hydrogen supply facilities. It is easy to take safety measures, such as covering the area around hydrogen supply equipment with concrete walls. This is advantageous for improving safety in the vicinity of hydrogen supply equipment. Hydrogen fuel can be supplied to the fuel tank 3 at a location away from the cargo handling equipment 2 and the like where sparks may be generated. This is advantageous for improving safety in operations where hydrogen fuel may leak.

Next, control in the power supply unit 1 will be explained. Operation control is performed when the power supply unit 1 is connected to the cargo handling equipment 2. During operation control, hydrogen fuel is supplied from the fuel tank 3 to the fuel cell 4. The fuel cell 4 generates electricity, and electricity is output from the terminal 6. Electricity is supplied to the load handling equipment 2. The operation control is a control that enables power supply from the power supply unit 1 to the cargo handling equipment 2.

When the power supply unit 1 is placed in a storage area formed in a container terminal, suspension control is performed. During the shutdown control, a shutoff valve included in the fuel cell 4 and placed in the middle of a flow path through which hydrogen fuel flows is closed. Hydrogen fuel is not supplied from the fuel tank 3 to the fuel cell 4. A configuration may also be adopted in which the pressure reducing valve 8 is controlled to stop the supply of hydrogen fuel to the fuel cell 4. Separately from the pressure reducing valve 8, the supply of hydrogen fuel to the fuel cell 4 may be stopped by a pipe p1 connecting the fuel tank 3 and the fuel cell 4 or by a control valve installed in the fuel tank 3.

The power supply unit 1 placed in the storage area is not connected to the load handling equipment 2. Since the fuel cell 4 is in a state where no electricity is output, the reaction in the fuel cell 4 stops. The output of electricity may be stopped by a cable c1 connecting the fuel cell 4 and the terminal 6 or by a switch installed in the fuel cell 4.

Hydrogen fuel is not consumed in the pause control. When supplying hydrogen fuel to the fuel tank 3 in the hydrogen supply facility, stop control may be performed. Further, when the power supply unit 1 is connected to the cargo handling equipment 2 and the cargo handling equipment 2 is stopped, the suspension control may be performed.

The power supply unit 1 may include a configuration that performs cooling control in which the fuel tank 3 is cooled by the cooling mechanism 7. For example, electricity is supplied from the fuel cell 4 to the cooling mechanism 7. The fuel tank 3 is cooled by the cooling mechanism 7. During the cooling control, hydrogen fuel may be supplied from the fuel tank 3 to the fuel cell 4, unlike the suspension control. Since the fuel tank 3 can be cooled, it is advantageous for improving safety.

When the power supply unit 1 is installed in the cargo handling equipment 2 and is controlling the operation of supplying electricity, cooling control can be performed in parallel. Since the fuel cell 4 is generating power during work control, a portion of the electricity output from the fuel cell 4 to the cargo handling equipment 2 can be used to operate the cooling mechanism 7. It is possible to suppress the fuel tank 3 of the power supply unit 1 installed in the cargo handling equipment 2 from rising in temperature due to direct sunlight or the like.

Cooling control may be performed while the power supply unit 1 is not connected to the cargo handling equipment 2. For example, cooling control may be performed while the power supply unit 1 is placed in the storage area. Since the fuel tank 3 can be cooled even when placed in the storage area, it is advantageous for improving safety.

Further, although the power supply unit 1 is connected to the cargo handling equipment 2, the cooling control may be performed when the cargo handling equipment 2 is at rest.

The power supply unit 1 may have a storage battery disposed inside the outer shell structure 5, and the cooling mechanism 7 may be operated by electricity supplied from the storage battery. In this case, the fuel cell 4 is not supplied with hydrogen and is in the same state as the rest control in which it does not output electricity. That is, when the power supply unit 1 has a storage battery, the pause control and the cooling control can be performed in parallel. This storage battery is charged by receiving electricity when the fuel cell 4 is operating.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the terminal 6 of the power supply unit 1 may be automatically connected to the terminal 11 of the cargo handling equipment 2. It has a connecting part 12 for attaching and detaching the power supply unit 1 to and from the cargo handling equipment 2. The connecting portion 12 is formed in a substantially L-shape when viewed in the transverse direction x, and is installed in the cargo handling equipment 2 in a state that it can be tilted about the transverse direction x as a central axis. A terminal 11 of the cargo handling equipment 2 is fixed to this connecting portion 12. A cable c3 for supplying electricity from the power supply unit 1 to the cargo handling equipment 2 and a signal line s3 for transmitting and receiving signals between the power supply unit 1 and the cargo handling equipment 2 are connected to the terminal 11.

When the power supply unit 1 is installed on the cargo handling equipment 2 as illustrated in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 12 tilts upon contact with the bottom surface of the outer shell structure 5, and the power supply unit 1 is automatically fixed. becomes. At this time, the terminal 11 of the cargo handling equipment 2 is automatically connected to the terminal 6 of the power supply unit 1.

When the power supply unit 1 is installed in the cargo handling equipment 2, the terminals 6 and 11 can be automatically connected. In other words, terminal 6 is automatically connected to terminal 11. It becomes possible to perform the replacement work of the power supply unit 1 in an even shorter time. Similarly, when removing the power supply unit 1 from the cargo handling equipment 2, the connecting portion 12 tilts to automatically release the fixation of the power supply unit 1. At that time, the terminal 11 of the cargo handling equipment 2 is automatically disconnected from the terminal 6 of the power supply unit 1.

The terminal 6 may have a protective wall. When the power supply unit 1 is not installed in the cargo handling equipment 2, the protective wall has a configuration that covers and protects the terminal 6. When the power supply unit 1 is installed in the cargo handling equipment 2, the protective wall is moved to a position where the terminal 6 is exposed due to contact with the terminal 11 or the connecting portion 12. This is advantageous in realizing automatic connection of the terminals 6 and 11 while protecting the terminal 6.

The power supply unit 1 may include a fan that actively exhausts the gas inside the outer shell structure 5 to the outside. Even if hydrogen gas leaks inside the outer shell structure 5, it is possible to exhaust the hydrogen gas from the outer shell structure 5 to the outside. The fan can be arranged, for example, on the wall of the shell structure 5. When the cooling mechanism 7 has a cooling fan, it may have a configuration in which the cooling fan is used to move gas. A gas flow can be generated inside the outer shell structure 5 by means of a cooling fan. The power supply unit 1 may include a configuration for exhausting hydrogen gas to the outside from an exhaust port formed on the wall surface of the outer shell structure 5.

1 Power supply unit 2 Cargo handling equipment 3 Fuel tank 4 Fuel cell 5 Outer shell structure 6 Terminal 7 Cooling mechanism 8 Pressure reducing valve 9 Supply port 10 Relief valve 11 Terminal 12 (of cargo handling equipment) Connecting section x Transverse direction y Traveling direction z Vertical direction p1-3 pipe c1-3 cable s1-3 signal line

Claims (8)

In a power supply unit that is connected to cargo handling equipment and supplies electricity to the cargo handling equipment,
A fuel tank for storing hydrogen fuel, a fuel cell connected to the fuel tank via a pipe, a pressure reducing valve disposed in the middle of the pipe, and an outer shell in which the fuel tank and the fuel cell are disposed. A power supply unit comprising: a shell structure; and a terminal connected to the fuel cell via a cable and disposed outside the shell structure. The power supply unit according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling mechanism that cools the fuel tank. The power supply according to claim 2 , wherein the power supply unit is configured to perform cooling control to operate the cooling mechanism when the power supply unit is not connected to the cargo handling equipment and is placed in a storage area. unit. The power supply unit according to claim 2 or 3, comprising a storage battery that supplies electricity to the cooling mechanism. In a method for controlling a power supply unit connected to cargo handling equipment and supplying electricity to the cargo handling equipment,
The power supply unit includes a fuel tank storing hydrogen fuel, a fuel cell connected to the fuel tank via a pipe, a pressure reducing valve disposed in the middle of the pipe, and the fuel tank and the fuel cell located inside. an outer shell structure disposed on the fuel cell; and a terminal connected to the fuel cell via a cable and disposed outside the outer shell structure,
A method for controlling a power supply unit, characterized in that after the power supply unit is removed from the target cargo handling equipment, another power supply unit is installed in the target cargo handling equipment. When the power supply unit is installed in the cargo handling equipment, the terminals of the power supply unit are automatically connected to the terminals of the cargo handling equipment , and the power supply unit is automatically connected to the terminals of the cargo handling equipment by the connecting portion installed in the cargo handling equipment. The method of controlling a power supply unit according to claim 5, wherein the power supply unit is fixed . The power supply unit includes a cooling mechanism that cools the fuel tank,
The power supply unit according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the power supply unit performs cooling control to operate the cooling mechanism when the power supply unit is not connected to the cargo handling equipment and is placed in a storage area. control method. The power supply unit includes a cooling mechanism that cools the fuel tank and a storage battery that supplies electricity to the cooling mechanism,
8. A suspension control in which hydrogen fuel is not supplied to the fuel cell and a cooling control in which the cooling mechanism is operated by electricity supplied from the storage battery are performed in parallel. How to control the power supply unit.

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