JP2002252010A - Hydrogen supply device for fuel cells - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a fuel cell hydrogen supply device provided with a hydrogen storage tank and a hydrogen tank in which a hydrogen storage alloy can be quickly heated at a low temperature start. A hydrogen supply device includes a hydrogen storage tank containing a hydrogen storage alloy capable of absorbing and releasing hydrogen as a fuel of a fuel cell, and a hydrogen tank capable of storing hydrogen in a compressed state.
9, a heat exchange tube 5 for indirectly heating the hydrogen storage tank 1 via air, connecting the hydrogen storage tank 1 and the hydrogen tank 19 in parallel to the fuel cell 7, and connecting the hydrogen storage tank 1 and the hydrogen tank. And hydrogen supply pipes 9, 13, and 17 for enabling connection. At the time of low temperature starting, hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank 19 to the fuel cell 7, and hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank 19 to the hydrogen storage tank 1 to heat the hydrogen storage alloy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell for supplying hydrogen as fuel to a fuel cell, and more particularly to a hydrogen storage tank containing a hydrogen storage alloy and a hydrogen storage tank capable of compressing and storing hydrogen. The present invention relates to a fuel cell hydrogen supply device provided with a hydrogen tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a hydrogen supply apparatus for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell mounted on a moving body such as an automobile is designed to release hydrogen from a hydrogen storage alloy that has previously stored hydrogen and supply the hydrogen to the fuel cell. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-2000)
No. 88196).

[0003] In this hydrogen storage alloy, the storage and release of hydrogen involves the passage of heat. When storing hydrogen, the heat must be removed from the hydrogen storage alloy, and when releasing hydrogen, the hydrogen storage alloy is subjected to heat. Must be supplied. Here, the amount of heat required to release hydrogen is covered by the heat capacity of the hydrogen storage alloy. Unless heat is applied from the outside, the temperature of the hydrogen storage alloy decreases due to the release of hydrogen and the release pressure decreases, so hydrogen is released. You can't do that.

Therefore, in order to stably release hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy, heat generated during power generation of the fuel cell is recovered, and the waste heat is used to heat the hydrogen storage alloy, thereby reducing the temperature of the hydrogen storage alloy. A system for preventing the lowering has been considered.

[0005]

In this system, when the engine is started at a low temperature, since the fuel cell is not operated, the hydrogen storage alloy cannot be heated by the waste heat of the fuel cell. It is necessary to heat the storage alloy. Conventionally, an electric-heat conversion element such as an electric heater or a Peltier element has been used as a heating means at this time, and the electric-heat conversion element is operated using electric power stored in a battery to heat the hydrogen storage alloy. ing.

However, when an electric-heat conversion element such as an electric heater or a Peltier element is used, the following problem occurs. Electric power for operating the electro-thermal conversion element is produced by converting hydrogen and stored in a battery, so that the overall efficiency of hydrogen utilization is reduced. Since a heating device (that is, an electro-thermal conversion element) is required, the volume and weight of the entire system increase, which is disadvantageous for mounting on a moving body such as a vehicle. The amount of heat and time are required to heat the electro-thermal conversion element itself, which is inefficient and cannot quickly heat the hydrogen storage alloy.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell, which can heat the hydrogen storage alloy itself by utilizing the heat generated during the hydrogen storage of the hydrogen storage alloy to heat the hydrogen storage alloy at an early stage. To provide.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a hydrogen supply apparatus for a fuel cell according to the present invention is provided with a fuel cell (for example, a fuel cell 7 in an embodiment described later). A hydrogen storage tank (for example, a hydrogen storage tank 1 in an embodiment to be described later) containing a hydrogen storage alloy capable of storing and releasing hydrogen as a fuel, and a hydrogen tank (for example, an embodiment to be described later) capable of storing hydrogen in a compressed state. A hydrogen tank 19), heating means for heating the hydrogen storage tank in order to release hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy (for example, a duct 3 and a heat exchange tube 5 in an embodiment described later), and A hydrogen flow path (e.g., a hydrogen flow path that connects the storage tank and the hydrogen tank in parallel to the fuel cell and allows the hydrogen storage tank and the hydrogen tank to be connected) Comprises a hydrogen supply pipe 9, 13 and 17) in the embodiment described below, when the heating means does not cover the amount of heat required by the hydrogen storage tank,
Hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank to the fuel cell, hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen storage tank, and the hydrogen storage alloy stores hydrogen.

With this configuration, when the heating means cannot cover the amount of heat required by the hydrogen storage tank, hydrogen necessary for operating the fuel cell is supplied from the hydrogen tank to the fuel cell. At the same time, hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen storage tank, so that the hydrogen storage alloy stored in the hydrogen storage tank absorbs the hydrogen and generates heat, thereby rapidly heating the hydrogen storage alloy. Become.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the amount of hydrogen released from the hydrogen tank when the heating means cannot supply the heat required by the hydrogen storage tank Is the sum of the amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage tank and the amount of hydrogen required by the fuel cell. With this configuration, it is possible to rapidly heat the hydrogen storage alloy while ensuring proper operation of the fuel cell.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automotive fuel cell system including a hydrogen supply device. A hydrogen storage tank 1 containing a hydrogen storage alloy therein is installed at a downstream portion in the duct 3. The hydrogen storage tank 1 is made of stainless steel, is designed to withstand a pressure of 3 MPa in this embodiment, and has a large number of fins 1a on the outer peripheral surface. The hydrogen storage alloy stored in the hydrogen storage tank 1 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, a BCC-based hydrogen storage alloy is used and has a dissociation pressure characteristic as shown in FIG. In this hydrogen storage alloy, the temperature corresponding to the dissociation pressure of 3 MPa, which is the pressure resistance of the hydrogen storage tank 1, is 120 ° C.

The hydrogen storage tank 1 inside the duct 3
A heat exchange tube 5 is provided on the upstream side.
The heat exchange tube 5 is connected to a cooling water circuit (not shown) of a fuel cell (referred to as an FC stack in FIG. 1) 7 installed outside the duct 3 so that the cooling water of the fuel cell 7 circulates. It is supposed to. The fuel cell 7 is a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, which generates electricity by electrochemically reacting hydrogen and oxygen in air, and the cooling water is generated when the fuel cell 7 generates power. It is for removing heat. The cooling water heated by cooling the fuel cell 7 is introduced into the heat exchange tube 5 and exchanges heat with the air flowing through the duct 3 when passing through the heat exchange tube 5, whereby the cooling water is cooled and the fuel is cooled again. It returns to the cooling water circuit of the battery 7. That is, the heat exchange tube 5 can be said to be a cooling radiator for the fuel cell 7. The air heated by heat exchange with the cooling water flows through the duct 3 to the hydrogen storage tank 1,
Heat. In the first embodiment, the duct 3 and the heat exchange tube 5 constitute heating means using air as a heat medium.

The hydrogen released from the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage tank 1 is supplied to the hydrogen supply pipe 9 and the switching valve V
1. The fuel is supplied to the fuel cell 7 through the hydrogen supply pipe 13. The hydrogen supply pipe 13 is provided with a flow meter 15, and the hydrogen supply pipe 9 is provided with a pressure regulator 27. The pressure regulator 27 reduces the pressure of hydrogen when supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen tank 19 to the hydrogen storage tank 1 as described later. In this embodiment, the pressure regulator 2
Set pressure of 7 is set to 3MPa a breakdown voltage of the hydrogen storage tank 1.

The hydrogen storage tank 1 is connectable to a hydrogen tank 19 installed outside the duct 3 via a hydrogen supply pipe 9, a switching valve V1, and a hydrogen supply pipe 17. The hydrogen tank 19 cannot release hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy due to a low temperature, or cannot release hydrogen immediately from the hydrogen storage alloy due to a decrease in temperature when hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage alloy, so that hydrogen cannot be supplied from the hydrogen storage tank 1 to the fuel cell 7 because of the temperature drop. Sometimes, the hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 19 is supplied to the fuel cell 7 and the hydrogen storage tank 1. The hydrogen tank 19 is capable of compressing and storing hydrogen at a higher pressure than the hydrogen storage tank 1, and in this embodiment, the withstand pressure of the hydrogen tank 19 is set to 25 MPa. In addition,
In this embodiment, the hydrogen supply pipes 9, 13, 17 constitute a hydrogen flow path.

The switching valve V1 allows the hydrogen flow path to be switched between three patterns. In the first pattern, the hydrogen supply pipe 9 and the hydrogen supply pipe 13 are communicated to close the hydrogen supply pipe 17, In the second pattern, all the hydrogen supply pipes 9, 13, 17 are communicated, and in the third pattern, all the hydrogen supply pipes 9, 13, 17 are closed.
A drive section (not shown) of the switching valve V1 is electrically connected to an electronic control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as ECU) 37 for the fuel cell. Is switched.

On the other hand, in the duct 3, the hydrogen storage tank 1
And a heat exchange tube 5, a merging duct 21 is connected to the merging duct 21. The merging duct 21 has an outside air duct 23 that can introduce outside air, and a cool air that can introduce cold air cooled by a cooler (not shown). The duct 25 is connected.

A fan 29 is provided in the duct 3 downstream of the hydrogen storage tank 1, and a drive motor (not shown) of the fan 29 is electrically connected to the ECU 37, based on a command from the ECU 37. ON / OFF operation.

In the duct 3, the merging duct 2
A flow control valve V2 is provided between the junction of the heat exchanger 1 and the heat exchange tube 5. The outside air duct 23 and the cool air duct 25 are also provided with flow control valves V3 and V4, respectively. A drive unit (not shown) for driving the valve bodies of these flow control valves V2 to V4 is electrically connected to the ECU 37 so that the opening degree of the valve bodies is adjusted according to a command value from the ECU 37. Has become.

The hydrogen supply pipe 9 and the hydrogen supply pipe 17 are provided with pressure sensors P1 and P2, respectively.
1, P2 outputs an output signal corresponding to the detected pressure to the ECU 37.

In the duct 3, a temperature sensor TC is provided between the heat exchange tube 5 and the flow control valve V2, and between the junction with the junction duct 21 and the hydrogen storage tank 1.
2, TC3 are provided. The outside air duct 23 and the cool air duct 25 are also provided with temperature sensors TC5 and TC4. Further, in the hydrogen storage tank 1, a temperature sensor TC1 for detecting the temperature of the hydrogen storage alloy housed therein is provided, and on the upstream side of the heat exchange tube 5,
A temperature sensor TC6 for detecting the temperature of the cooling water supplied to the heat exchange tube 5 is provided. These temperature sensors TC1 to TC6 output signals corresponding to the detected temperatures as EC signals.
Output to U37.

In the hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell configured as described above, during normal operation, the hydrogen supply pipe 17 is closed by connecting the hydrogen supply pipe 9 and the hydrogen supply pipe 13 by the switching valve V1, and the hydrogen storage tank is closed. Hydrogen released from the hydrogen storage alloy in 1 is supplied to the fuel cell 7 to generate power. Then, in order to supplement heat absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy when the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage tank 1 releases hydrogen, the outside air introduced into the duct 3 by the fan 29 is supplied to the fuel cell flowing through the heat exchange tube 5. Heating is performed by exchanging heat with the cooling water of No. 7, and the heated outside air is caused to flow around the hydrogen storage tank 1, thereby absorbing the heat of the outside air from the fins 1a and heating the hydrogen storage tank 1.

The amount of heat for heating the hydrogen storage tank 1 is proportional to the product of the temperature difference between the temperature of the heating medium and the temperature of the hydrogen storage tank 1 multiplied by the flow rate of the heating medium. The amount of heat taken is proportional to the amount of hydrogen released from the hydrogen storage tank 1. The heating medium may be cooling water flowing through the heat exchange tube 5 or air supplied to the hydrogen storage tank 1.

In order to stably supply hydrogen to the fuel cell 7, the inside of the hydrogen storage tank 1 is controlled to have a predetermined constant pressure.
In other words, control is performed so that the temperature in the hydrogen storage tank 1 becomes a temperature corresponding to the above-mentioned constant pressure when the dissociation pressure is used.

In the temperature control of the hydrogen storage tank 1 in the hydrogen supply device, the outside air introduced from the outside air duct 23, the cool air introduced from the cool air duct 25, and the heat exchange introduced from the upstream end of the duct 3 The outside air heated by the tube 5 (hereinafter referred to as a heated outside air, and the outside air duct 2
3 is distinguished from the outside air introduced from 3) at a predetermined flow rate ratio, so that the amount of heat required to control the hydrogen storage tank 1 to a predetermined temperature is supplied to the hydrogen storage tank 1.

More specifically, the ECU 37 includes a temperature sensor T
From the hydrogen storage alloy temperature calculated based on the output signal of C1, the released hydrogen pressure calculated based on the output signal of the pressure sensor P1, and the hydrogen supply amount calculated based on the output signal of the flow meter 15, hydrogen The temperature of the air to be supplied to the storage tank 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a target air temperature) is calculated.
Based on the output signals of the temperature sensors TC2, TC4 and TC5, the temperature of the heated outside air, the temperature of the cool air introduced from the cool air duct 25, and the temperature of the outside air introduced from the outside air duct 23 are calculated and detected by the temperature sensor TC3. The flow ratio between the heated outside air, the outside air, and the cool air is calculated so that the air temperature reaches the target air temperature, and the flow control valves V2, V2,
The valve openings of V3 and V4 are calculated, and output signals corresponding to the respective valve openings are output to the drive units of the flow control valves V2, V3 and V4.

Since the fuel cell 7 is not operated when the fuel cell 7 is started, the hydrogen storage tank 1 cannot be heated using the waste heat of the fuel cell 7 as in the normal operation described above. Therefore, depending on the temperature conditions at the time of startup, no hydrogen can be released from the hydrogen storage alloy, or even if hydrogen can be released, the release of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy will cause the hydrogen storage alloy to immediately release the hydrogen. , And hydrogen cannot be supplied from the hydrogen storage tank 1 to the fuel cell 7 in some cases.

In this hydrogen supply device, when the heat exchange tube 5 serving as a heating means for the hydrogen storage tank 1 cannot supply the heat amount required by the hydrogen storage tank 1 (for example, at the time of low-temperature start-up), The hydrogen in the tank 19 is directly supplied to the fuel cell 7 to stably supply the required amount of hydrogen to the fuel cell 7 and operate the fuel cell 7 properly,
The hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 19 is supplied to the hydrogen storage tank 1 to cause the hydrogen storage alloy to store the hydrogen, causing the hydrogen storage alloy to generate heat and heating the hydrogen storage alloy itself and the hydrogen storage tank 1. As a result, the cooling water is warmed by the operation of the fuel cell 7, and at the same time, the hydrogen storage alloy 1 and the hydrogen storage tank 1 are heated very quickly by supplying hydrogen to the hydrogen storage tank 1. The amount of hydrogen released from the hydrogen tank 19 is the sum of the amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage tank 1 and the amount of hydrogen required by the fuel cell 7.

If the pressure in the hydrogen tank 19 is set higher than the pressure resistance (3 MPa) of the hydrogen storage tank 1,
The pressure of hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank 19 to the hydrogen storage tank 1 is reduced to 3 MPa by the pressure regulator 27 and supplied.
Can be heated up to a temperature corresponding to the dissociation pressure of

When supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen tank 19 to the fuel cell 7 and the hydrogen storage tank 1, the temperature of the cooling water rises due to the operation of the fuel cell 7, and the temperature of the hydrogen storage tank 1 rises due to the hydrogen storage of the hydrogen storage alloy. Then, even if the hydrogen released from the hydrogen storage alloy is supplied from the hydrogen storage tank 1 to the fuel cell 7, the amount of heat required by the hydrogen storage tank 1 is continued until the heat exchange tube 5 can supply the heat, so that it can be supplied. When this happens, the hydrogen supply source to the fuel cell 7 is switched from the hydrogen tank 19 to the hydrogen storage tank 1, and the above-described normal operation state is set.

By doing so, it is possible to heat the hydrogen storage alloy very quickly as compared with the conventional case where the hydrogen storage tank 1 is heated using an electro-thermal conversion element such as an electric heater. The switching of the hydrogen supply source from the hydrogen tank 19 to the hydrogen storage tank 1 can be expedited. As a result, the amount of hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank 19 to the fuel cell 7 can be reduced, and the capacity of the hydrogen tank 19 can be reduced.

The hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank 19 to the hydrogen storage tank 1 for heating the hydrogen storage alloy is stored in the hydrogen storage alloy, and after the hydrogen storage alloy is heated, released from the hydrogen storage alloy and released from the fuel cell 7. Since the fuel is supplied as a fuel, the chemical energy of hydrogen is not substantially consumed for heating the hydrogen storage alloy. Therefore, hydrogen can be used effectively.

Next, the process of supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell at the time of low temperature starting will be described with reference to the drawing of FIG. In addition,
In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the hydrogen storage tank is described as an MH tank, and the fuel cell is described as an FC stack.
In this embodiment, the temperature of the cooling water supplied to the heat exchange tube 5 is set to a predetermined temperature t1 (for example, 60 ° C.).
Is determined to be a time when the heat exchange tube 5 cannot cover the amount of heat required by the hydrogen storage tank 1.

The fuel cell 7 is started to start by an ON signal of an ignition switch, and the ECU 37 detects the temperature of the cooling water supplied to the heat exchange tube 5 based on the output signal of the temperature sensor TC6 (step S101), and cools down. It is determined whether the water temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature t1 (step S102).

If a negative determination is made in step S102, the process proceeds to step S103, where the switching valve V2 is opened and the switching valves V3 and V4 are closed. Thus, the introduction of outside air from the outside air duct 23 and the introduction of cool air from the cool air duct 25 are prevented, and only the air in the duct 3 can be circulated. However, at this time, since the fan 29 is not operated, the outside air does not flow through the duct 3.

Next, proceeding to step S104, the switching valve V1 is operated so that all the hydrogen supply pipes 9, 13, and 17 are communicated with each other to supply the hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 19 to the fuel cell 7 and to store the hydrogen. The fuel is supplied to the tank 1 and at the same time, the fuel cell 7 is started to generate power. Thereby, the hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 19 is reduced to 3 MPa by the pressure regulator 27 and supplied to the hydrogen storage tank 1, and the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage tank 1 stores hydrogen and generates heat. Further, the cooling water is heated by the operation of the fuel cell 7, and the cooling water temperature rises.

Then, the flow returns to step S101 to detect the cooling water temperature, and the processing from step S101 to step S104 is repeated until an affirmative determination is made in step S102. When the temperature of the cooling water exceeds the predetermined temperature t1, step S
If an affirmative determination is made in step 102, the process proceeds to step S105, in which the fan 29 is rotated to take outside air into the duct 3, and
The outside air heated when passing through the heat exchange tube 5 (heated outside air) flows into the hydrogen storage tank 1, and the heated outside air is used to heat the hydrogen storage tank 1.

Next, proceeding to step S106, the switching valve V1 is operated so as to close the hydrogen supply pipe 17 by connecting the hydrogen supply pipe 9 and the hydrogen supply pipe 13, and the hydrogen tank 1
The supply of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tank 1 to the hydrogen storage tank 1 was stopped, and the supply source of hydrogen to the fuel cell 7 was switched from the hydrogen tank 19 to the hydrogen storage tank 1 to release hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage tank 1. Hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell 7. As a result, the start is completed, and thereafter the operation control is performed in a normal state.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in this embodiment, when the temperature of the cooling water supplied to the heat exchange tube 5 does not exceed the predetermined temperature T1, it is determined that the heat amount required by the hydrogen storage tank 1 cannot be covered by the heat exchange tube 5. However, the predetermined temperature t1 is not limited to 60 ° C. Further, the criterion is not limited to the cooling water temperature. Instead, for example, the temperature of the air supplied to the hydrogen storage tank 1 (the temperature sensor TC3 in the embodiment).
Alternatively, the determination can be made based on the air temperature detected by (1).

[0039]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the heating means cannot cover the amount of heat required by the hydrogen storage tank, the hydrogen storage alloy stored in the hydrogen storage tank is used. However, since it absorbs hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank and generates heat and can rapidly heat the hydrogen storage alloy, it is possible to quickly switch the hydrogen supply source from the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen storage tank. The effect is achieved.

Further, since the hydrogen storage alloy can be rapidly heated, the capacity of the hydrogen tank serving as a hydrogen supply source to the fuel cell until the hydrogen storage alloy is heated can be reduced. Further, hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen storage tank to heat the hydrogen storage alloy is stored in the hydrogen storage alloy, released from the hydrogen storage alloy after heating of the hydrogen storage alloy, and supplied as fuel for the fuel cell. Therefore, it is not necessary to substantially consume the chemical energy of hydrogen for heating the hydrogen storage alloy, and the hydrogen storage alloy can be efficiently heated.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the hydrogen storage alloy can be rapidly heated while ensuring proper operation of the fuel cell.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an automotive fuel cell including a hydrogen supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a hydrogen supply process at the time of a low-temperature start in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an example of a dissociation pressure characteristic diagram of a hydrogen storage alloy.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hydrogen storage tank 3 Duct (heating means) 5 Heat exchange tube (heating means) 7 Fuel cell 9, 13, 17 Hydrogen supply pipe (hydrogen flow path) 19 Hydrogen tank

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yoshio Naoya 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama F-term in Honda R & D Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5H027 AA06 BA13 BA14 CC06 KK01 KK41 MM01 MM09

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A hydrogen storage tank containing a hydrogen storage alloy capable of absorbing and releasing hydrogen as a fuel of a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank capable of storing hydrogen in a compressed state, and releasing hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy. Heating means for heating the hydrogen storage tank, a hydrogen flow path connecting the hydrogen storage tank and the hydrogen tank in parallel with the hydrogen storage tank and the hydrogen tank connected to the fuel cell, And when the heating means cannot cover the amount of heat required by the hydrogen storage tank, hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank to the fuel cell, and hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen storage tank to supply the hydrogen. A hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell, wherein the alloy stores hydrogen. 2. The amount of hydrogen released from the hydrogen tank when the heating means cannot cover the amount of heat required by the hydrogen storage tank depends on the amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage alloy in the hydrogen storage tank. 2. The hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the sum is the sum of the amount of hydrogen required by the fuel cell.