JP2005222833A - Moving body - Google Patents

Abstract

The generated water is prevented from scattering when the generated water is discharged from the fuel cell.
In a mobile body equipped with a fuel cell that generates water accompanying power generation as a power source, the generated water generated by the fuel cell is drained through a drain guide 64 that reaches the ground or the vicinity thereof. Provide drainage means. Since the generated water is discharged through the drainage guide 64 that reaches the ground or the vicinity thereof, the flow of air that accompanies the movement of the moving body that may be received until the generated water reaches the ground after drainage ( The influence of the air flow can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the generated water from being applied to people or buildings when the generated water is discharged from the fuel cell.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile body, and more particularly, to a mobile body equipped with a fuel cell that generates water with power generation as a power source.

Conventionally, as this type of moving body, a four-wheel vehicle has been proposed in which a drain valve of generated water generated by a fuel cell is disposed in the vicinity of the wheel at the lower part of the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). . This drain valve is provided with a discharge port for generated water at the lower part thereof. By arranging the drain valve in the vicinity of the wheel, the drain valve is prevented from coming into contact with road surface protrusions or undulations.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-204126 (FIG. 1, page 3)

  As described above, in a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, it is necessary to discharge generated water generated by the fuel cell to the outside even during traveling. When discharging generated water while driving, even if the generated water is discharged to the rear of the vehicle, the discharged generated water is wound up by the driving wind and scattered on the windshield of the vehicle traveling behind or sideways, etc. Inconvenience may occur. Moreover, when discharging | emitting to a side, the case where water splashes on the person and building of a road shoulder may arise.

  One object of the moving body of the present invention is to prevent the generated water from scattering when the generated water is discharged from the fuel cell. One object of the moving body of the present invention is to prevent the generated water from being applied to a person or a building when discharging the generated water from the fuel cell. One object of the moving body of the present invention is to discharge static electricity charged in the moving body.

  The moving body of the present invention employs the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above-described object.

The mobile body of the present invention is a mobile body equipped with a fuel cell that generates water with power generation as a power source,
Drainage means for draining the generated water generated by the fuel cell through a drainage guide for reaching the ground or its vicinity;
It is a summary to provide.

  In the moving body of the present invention, the generated water generated by the fuel cell is discharged through the drainage guide that reaches the ground or the vicinity thereof, so that the generated water may be received until it reaches the ground after drainage. It is possible to reduce the influence of the air flow (air flow) accompanying the movement of the moving body. As a result, it is possible to prevent the generated water from being applied to people or buildings when the generated water is discharged from the fuel cell. Here, the mobile body includes a ground mobile body including vehicles such as automobiles and trains. In addition to the fuel cell, the mobile body may be mounted with a power source other than the fuel cell, such as a secondary battery or a capacitor.

  Moreover, in these movable bodies of the present invention, at least a part of the drainage guide may be in contact with the ground. By doing so, the generated water can easily reach the ground via the drainage guide, and the influence of the air flow can be effectively reduced. In addition, this makes it possible to reliably suppress the charge of generated water.

  In these movable bodies, the drainage guide may be provided with flexibility that can follow the ground during the movement of the movable body. By doing so, the drainage guide can follow and contact the ground even while the moving body is moving, and can be drained while suppressing scattering of generated water during the movement.

  In these movable bodies, the drainage guide may be a tubular body having a drainage outlet for discharging the generated water at the tip thereof and discharging the generated water on or near the ground. Moreover, in these moving bodies, the said drainage guide can be made into the continuous body which the said generated water can move along the surface or the inside. By doing so, it is possible to effectively suppress the influence of the air flow and allow the generated water to reach the ground or the vicinity thereof.

  In such a moving body of the present invention, the drainage guide may have a conductor portion that can contact the ground so that static electricity charged on the moving body can be discharged. By doing so, the static electricity charged on the moving body can be effectively discharged through the generated water that has been drained by the drainage guide to reach the ground or the vicinity of the ground.

  Furthermore, in the moving body of the present invention, cooling water for cooling the fuel cell can be introduced. By doing so, the cooling water having high conductivity can be drained, and thereby the ion exchange load of the fuel cell cooling system can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the drainage means can be a means connected to a liquid storage part of a gas-liquid separation means provided in an exhaust gas path from the fuel cell. By carrying out like this, the generated water stored by the liquid storage part can be drained easily.

  Any one of the moving bodies described above may be a vehicle, and the drainage guide may be provided at the center or rear in the front-rear direction on the driver's seat side of the vehicle. In such a moving body, it is preferable that the drainage guide is provided inside the mat guard of the rear wheel of the vehicle.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples.

  FIG. 1 is a plan layout view showing an example of a plane layout of devices mounted on the fuel cell vehicle 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of devices mounted on the fuel cell vehicle 10 of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the fuel cell system 20 centering on the fuel cell stack 22 mounted on the fuel cell vehicle 10 of the embodiment. . FIG. 4 is a view showing the vicinity of the ground surface of the drainage guide 64. For ease of explanation, first, the system configuration of the fuel cell system 20 will be described using the system configuration diagram of FIG. 3, and then the arrangement of each device of the fuel cell system 20 will be described using FIG. 1 and FIG. To do.

  The fuel cell system 20 mounted on the fuel cell vehicle 10 according to the embodiment includes, for example, a plurality of unit cell units in which an electrolyte membrane formed of a polymer is sandwiched between two electrodes (a fuel electrode and an air electrode). The constructed fuel cell stack 22, a hydrogen supply system 30 that supplies hydrogen from the high-pressure hydrogen tank 31 to the fuel electrode (negative electrode) of the fuel cell stack 22, and air to the air electrode (positive electrode) of the fuel cell stack 22 In addition, an air supply / discharge system 40 that processes the exhaust from the air electrode, a cooling system 50 that cools the fuel cell stack 22, and a drainage system 60 that discharges exhaust gas and generated water from the system to the outside.

  The hydrogen supply system 30 includes a hydrogen supply passage 32 that supplies hydrogen from the high-pressure hydrogen tank 31 to the fuel cell stack 22, and a hydrogen circulation passage 33 that returns hydrogen discharged from the fuel cell stack 22 to the hydrogen supply passage 32. Is provided. In the hydrogen supply flow path 32, a backflow prevention valve (check valve) for preventing hydrogen from flowing back from the high-pressure hydrogen tank 31, a gate valve for supplying or stopping supply of hydrogen to the fuel cell stack 22, etc. Is provided. The hydrogen circulation path 33 includes a hydrogen pump 34 for pumping hydrogen to the hydrogen supply path 32, a gas-liquid separator 38 for separating gas and liquid by liquefying the water vapor in the circulating hydrogen, and a hydrogen supply flow A backflow prevention valve (check valve) for preventing the hydrogen on the side of the path 32 from flowing back, a gate valve for stopping the discharge of hydrogen from the fuel cell stack 22, and the like are provided. Further, various sensors used for controlling the supply amount of hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell stack 22 to the hydrogen supply passage 32 and the hydrogen circulation passage 33 and the operation state of the fuel cell stack 22, for example, the flow of the fuel cell stack 22. A pressure sensor provided at the inlet or the discharge side of the hydrogen pump 34, a temperature sensor provided near the outlet of the fuel cell stack 22 or the discharge side of the hydrogen pump 34, and the like are attached. The water separated by the gas-liquid separator 38 is introduced into the connecting pipe 62a provided in the drainage system 60 as it is. A branch pipe is attached to the hydrogen circulation path 33 via a gate valve, and hydrogen in the hydrogen circulation path 33 is introduced into the diluter 61 of the drainage system 60 through this branch pipe, diluted and opened to the atmosphere. Is done.

  The air supply / discharge system 40 humidifies the air measured by the mass flow meter 43 and pressurized by the air compressor 44 by the humidifier 46 and supplies the air to the air electrode of the fuel cell stack 22 through the supply pipe 42. Air (exhaust gas) from the air electrode of the fuel cell stack 22 is supplied to the humidifier 46 to humidify the air from the air compressor 44, and then separated into gas and liquid by the gas / liquid separator 48. The water separated by the gas-liquid separator 48 is sent to the connecting pipe 62b of the drainage system 60 as it is, and the separated gas (exhaust gas) is sent to the diluter 61 to be used as a dilution gas and released to the atmosphere. The Here, the gas-liquid separator 48 of the embodiment means that the gas-liquid is not completely separated but incompletely separated. That is, the gas separated by the gas-liquid separator 48 is not a completely dry gas but is a gas containing incompletely saturated, completely saturated or supersaturated water vapor, or in addition to such water vapor, as fine droplets. This gas also contains water.

  The cooling system 50 cools the fuel cell stack 22 by circulating cooling water through a cooling water circulation path 52 that forms a cooling water circulation path using a cooling water flow path formed inside the fuel cell stack 22. The cooling water circulation path 52 is provided with a cooling water pump 54 for circulating the cooling water and a radiator 56 with a fan for cooling the circulating cooling water using air. In order to manage the temperature of the cooling water, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooling water is attached to the vicinity of the outlet from the fuel cell stack 22 in the cooling water circulation path 52 and the rear stage of the radiator 56. Further, the cooling water circulation path 52 is provided with an ion exchange device and a conductivity measuring device for keeping the conductivity of the cooling water below a certain level.

  The drainage system 60 includes communication pipes 62a and 62b through which water separated by the gas-liquid separator 38 of the hydrogen supply system 30 and the gas-liquid separator 48 of the air supply / discharge system 40 is directly introduced and drained to the outside, and these connection pipes. 62a and 62b, a drainage guide 64 for joining and draining wastewater to the outside, and a hydrogen supply system using the exhaust gas separated by the gas-liquid separator 48 of the air supply / exhaust system 40 as dilution gas in the diluter 61 And a gas discharge pipe for diluting and discharging hydrogen exhausted from 30.

  Such a fuel cell system 20 drives the hydrogen pump 34, the air compressor 44, and the cooling water pump 54 on the basis of signals from various sensors, and adjusts the opening degree of each gate valve and flow rate control valve. A power control unit (hereinafter referred to as “PCU”) 70 that controls the battery stack 22 and a motor for traveling (not shown), a rechargeable secondary battery, an inverter for driving the motor, and the like are also provided. Since it does not form the core, the illustration and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel cell stack 22 is disposed so as to lie at the lower center of the front portion of the vehicle, and the PCU 70 is disposed thereon. A humidifier 46 and an air compressor 44 are arranged in the fender on the left front portion of the fuel cell stack 22. A radiator 56 is disposed in front of the fuel cell stack 22, and a radiator 72 for an air conditioner that adjusts air in the passenger compartment is disposed in front of the radiator 56. Further, a gas-liquid separator 38 of the air supply / exhaust system 40 is disposed in the lower right front portion of the driver's seat, and a communication pipe 62a is connected to the gas-liquid separator 38. A gas-liquid separator 48 connected to the humidifier 46 is also arranged at the lower right front of the driver's seat, and a communication pipe 62b is connected to the gas-liquid separator 48. In addition, a hydrogen pump 34 and a cooling water pump 54 are disposed at the front of the vehicle, and a diluter 61 is disposed at the front, center, or rear of the vehicle, but these are not shown.

  The communication pipes 62a and 62b are connected to a communication pipe 63 extending from the vehicle driver's seat side to the rear wheel side, and the communication pipe 63 extends to the rear wheel rear side along the exhaust gas pipe 61a from the diluter 61. It is connected to a drainage guide 64 disposed inside the mat guard 80 behind the rear wheel. The produced water separated by the gas-liquid separator 38 and the gas-liquid separator 48 is joined through the connecting pipes 62a and 62b and then through the connecting pipe 63, and further discharged from the drainage guide 64 to the outside. ing.

  FIG. 4 shows a portion near the ground surface of the drainage guide 64. As shown in FIG. 4, the drainage guide 64 is in the form of a pipe through which drainage passes, and a drainage port 66 for discharging the drainage to the outside is provided on the distal end side of the drainage guide 64. The drain port 66 is provided so as to have an open end substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the drain guide 64. The drainage guide 64 has such a length that the vicinity of the drainage port 66 is in contact with the ground when the fuel cell vehicle 10 is stopped, and the fuel cell vehicle 10 is free from projections and undulations on the ground when the fuel cell vehicle 10 is traveling. It is flexible enough to follow the uneven shape. As a result, even when the fuel cell vehicle 10 is traveling, the vicinity of the drainage port 66 of the drainage guide 64 is in contact with the ground at all times. Examples of such a flexible drainage guide 64 material include artificial or natural polymer materials. Further, the drainage guide 64 includes a conductor layer 68 made of metal or the like in a range extending along the length of the drainage port 66, and a part of the conductor layer 68 is made of a metal connecting pipe 63. The fuel cell vehicle 10 is connected to the conductor portion.

  The drain port 66 is configured so that the amount of water per unit time that can be drained is smaller than the amount of water per unit time that is generated by the fuel cell stack 22 during power generation when the maximum load is applied to the fuel cell stack 22. The discharge section is designed. In the fuel cell vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment, the average water amount per unit time generated by the fuel cell stack 22 or a slightly larger amount of water generated by the fuel cell stack 22 when traveling according to a general driving pattern is discharged from the drain port 66. The drainage cross section of the drain outlet 66 is designed.

  In the fuel cell vehicle 10 of the present embodiment described above, the water generated by the fuel cell stack 22, that is, the water separated by the gas / liquid separator 38 of the hydrogen supply system 30 and the gas / liquid of the air supply / discharge system 40. The water separated by the separator 48 is introduced into the connecting pipes 62a and 62b as it is, and then the drainage from both the connecting pipes 62a and 62b is merged by the connecting pipe 63 and moves through the drainage guide 64 to the drain outlet. 66 is discharged. The vicinity of the drain port 66 of the drain guide 64 is in contact with the ground, and the drainage flowing out from the drain port 66 reaches the ground via the drain guide 64, so that the drain guide 66 reaches the ground. During this period, exposure to the air flow generated during the travel of the fuel cell vehicle 10 is suppressed, and the influence of the air flow is suppressed. Thus, since the generated water from the fuel cell stack 22 can be drained through the drainage guide 64 while suppressing the influence of the air flow, the amount of splashed water when the drained water is rolled up by the traveling wind and scattered. Can be suppressed. In addition, the generated water is prevented from being charged by static electricity charged in the fuel cell vehicle 10.

  In addition, since the conductor layer 68 is provided in a part of the drain guide 64, the vicinity of the drain port 66 of the drain guide 64 is in contact with the ground, so that static electricity charged in the fuel cell vehicle 10 can be discharged. In particular, since the generated water is drained from the drain port 66 and the drainage wets the vicinity of the ground surface of the drainage guide 64, the discharge resistance to the ground can be reduced by the generated water and the discharge can be performed smoothly. Can do.

  Furthermore, since the drainage guide 64 is arranged behind the rear wheel, it is possible to suppress the drainage of the drainage by the front wheel and the rear wheel. Further, since the drainage guide 64 is arranged inside the mat guard 80, it is more difficult to be influenced by the traveling wind, and the amount of scattered water discharged by the traveling wind can be further suppressed. Since the portion that is easily visually recognized from the outside is the portion that is exposed from the lower end of the mat guard 80 until it reaches the ground, the appearance of the vehicle is hardly damaged. Furthermore, since the drainage guide 64 is arranged on the driver's seat side, it is possible to suppress inconveniences such as the fact that the drained water is scattered and applied to pedestrians and the like.

  In the fuel cell vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the vicinity of the drain port 66 of the drain guide 64 is in contact with the ground. It is preferable that the generated water is guided by the drainage guide 64 until it reaches the ground or the vicinity thereof. However, the drainage guide 64 does not necessarily have to contact the ground, specifically, about several centimeters from the ground. Preferably, the water can be drained at a site of about 2 to 3 cm at the highest from the ground. This is because the influence of the air flow can be suppressed by such drainage.

  Although the drainage guide 64 of the fuel cell vehicle 10 of the present embodiment uses a pipe-shaped drainage pipe having a substantially constant cross-sectional shape, it may be a tapered pipe-shape that tapers toward the tip side. Further, it does not have to be in the form of a pipe whose periphery is completely shut off from the outside, and at least the front side of the fuel cell vehicle 10 can be shut off, and the generated water is brought into contact with the ground by flowing down or dripping the generated water. It is only necessary to have a guide surface that guides it so that it can be reached. Therefore, for example, a substantially U-shaped or semi-circular bowl-shaped body can be used. Furthermore, the opening shape of the drain port 66 can be formed to have an opening edge that is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the drain guide 64.

  Further, the drainage guide is not limited to a pipe shape or a bowl shape that mainly propagates inside, but may be one that can transmit the generated water to the surface and / or inside thereof to reach the ground or its vicinity. Good. Examples of the drainage guide that mainly transmits the generated water to the surface include a chain, a plate, and a tape, as well as chains that are applied to ordinary underground discharge elements for vehicles. These preferably have a conductor portion such as metal so that the static electricity charged in the fuel cell vehicle 10 can be discharged. Chains and the like are also preferable in that they usually have sufficient flexibility. Examples of the drainage guide that mainly transmits the generated water to the inside thereof include a knitted fabric, a woven fabric, and a bundle of fibers configured to allow the generated water to permeate through capillary action. Even in this type of drainage guide, it is preferable to provide a conductor such as metal in order to discharge or facilitate static electricity. This type of drainage guide is also preferable in that it has flexibility. In these various drainage guides, it is necessary that the generated water from the communication pipe 63 is connected to the end of the communication pipe 63 or the like so as to be transmitted to these drainage guides.

  In the fuel cell vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the generated water from each part from the fuel cell stack 22 is joined and discharged in the connecting pipe 63, but the generated water from each part is individually drained. In addition, the drainage guide may be provided only in a part of the plurality of drainage systems. Further, in the fuel cell vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the generated water from the fuel cell stack 22 is introduced as it is into the drainage communication pipes 62a and 62b, but may be stored in a buffer tank provided in the right fender. Further, after that, after storing in the buffer tanks at the left and right lower portions of the bumper, it may be introduced into the drainage guide 64 after that. Further, instead of providing the buffer tank in the right fender, the water generated from the fuel cell stack 22 may be stored in the buffer tanks at the lower left and right sides of the bumper and then introduced into the drainage guide 64. By using the buffer tank in this way, the amount of discharged water per unit time can be made substantially uniform by providing means for adjusting the amount of generated water discharge inside or outside the buffer tank.

  Further, in the fuel cell vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the conductor layer 68 is provided on a part of the surface of the drainage guide 64. However, the conductor layer is provided so as to be able to discharge static electricity charged in the fuel cell vehicle 10. If it is enough. Therefore, the conductor layer can also be provided inside the drainage guide 64, or the drainage guide 64 itself can be formed of a conductor material, and further protrudes from the distal end side of the drainage guide 64 and is directed to the ground. It can also be.

  Furthermore, in the fuel cell vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, only the generated water from the fuel cell 22 is supplied to the drain guide 64, but this is not a limitation. For example, the cooling water circulation in the cooling system 50 It is also possible to introduce the cooling water circulating through the passage 52 into the drainage guide 64 via the connecting pipes 62a and 62b or the connecting pipe 63. By draining at least a part of the cooling water that exceeds a certain conductivity and newly supplying water with a low conductivity from the other, the conductivity of the circulating cooling water can be easily kept below a certain level. The load of ion exchange in the system 50 can be reduced. In addition, the discharge effect can be enhanced by supplying wastewater having a relatively high conductivity to the drainage guide 64.

  In the fuel cell vehicle 10 of this embodiment, one drain port 66 is provided behind the rear wheel on the driver's seat side. However, a plurality of drain ports 66 may be provided, and the position of the drain port 66 is limited to this. Instead, for example, it can also be provided in the central part of the vehicle, preferably in the central part in the front-rear direction on the driver seat side.

  In the fuel cell vehicle 10 of this embodiment, a type that cannot be completely gas-liquid separated is used as the gas-liquid separator 48 of the air supply / exhaust system 40, but a type that can be completely gas-liquid separated is used. It is good.

  In the embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell as a power source. However, the vehicle is equipped with a power source other than a fuel cell, such as a secondary battery or a capacitor, in addition to a fuel cell. It is good also as what mounts various electric power sources. Further, the present invention is not limited to automobiles equipped with fuel cells, and may be applied to various ground moving bodies including vehicles other than automobiles, and may be applied to moving bodies other than ground moving bodies. It is good.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented in the form.

  The present invention is applicable to the automobile industry.

It is a plane arrangement | positioning figure which shows an example of the plane arrangement | positioning of the apparatus mounted in the fuel cell vehicle 10 of an Example. It is a side surface arrangement | positioning figure which shows an example of the side surface arrangement | positioning of the apparatus mounted in the fuel cell vehicle 10 of an Example. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a fuel cell system 20 centering on a fuel cell stack 22 mounted on a fuel cell vehicle 10 of an embodiment. It is sectional drawing which illustrates the ground vicinity part of the drainage guide in the fuel cell vehicle 10 of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel cell vehicle, 20 Fuel cell system, 22 Fuel cell stack, 30 Hydrogen supply system, 31 High pressure hydrogen tank, 32 Hydrogen supply flow path, 33 Hydrogen circulation path, 34 Hydrogen pump, 38 Gas-liquid separator, 40 Air supply / discharge System, 42 Supply pipe, 43 Mass flow meter, 44 Air compressor, 46 Humidifier, 38, 48 Gas-liquid separator, 50 Cooling system, 52 Cooling water circuit, 54 Cooling water pump, 56 Radiator, 60 Drainage system, 61 Diluter 61a Exhaust gas pipe, 62a, 62b, 63 Connecting pipe, 64 Drainage guide, 66 Drainage port, 68 Conductor layer 70 Power control unit (PCU), 72 Radiator.

Claims (10)

A mobile body equipped with a fuel cell that generates water in conjunction with power generation as a power source,
Drainage means for draining the generated water generated by the fuel cell through a drainage guide for reaching the ground or its vicinity;
A moving object comprising:   The moving body according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the drainage guide is in contact with the ground.   The movable body according to claim 1, wherein the drainage guide has flexibility capable of following the ground during the movement of the movable body.   The said drainage guide is a moving body in any one of Claims 1-3 which is a tubular body provided with the drain outlet for discharging | emitting the said produced | generated water on the ground surface or its vicinity at the front-end | tip.   The movable body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drainage guide is a continuous body in which the generated water is movable along its surface or inside.   The said drainage guide is a moving body in any one of Claims 1-5 which has a conductor part which can contact the ground so that the static electricity charged to the said moving body can be discharged.   The mobile body according to claim 1, wherein cooling water for cooling the fuel cell is formed in the drainage means so as to be able to be introduced.   The moving body according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the drainage means is connected to a liquid storage part of a gas-liquid separation means provided in an exhaust gas path from the fuel cell.   The mobile body according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the mobile body is a vehicle, and the drainage guide is provided at a center or rear of the vehicle driver's seat side.   The moving body according to claim 9, wherein the drainage guide is provided inside a mat guard of a rear wheel of the vehicle.

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