JP4445190B2 - Gas fuel supply device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to gas fuel supply equipment for supplying a high pressure gas as the fuel gas to the gas fuel devices such as vacuum and internal combustion engine or a fuel cell, in a vacuum vessel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a fuel piping system that supplies fuel gas to gas fuel devices such as internal combustion engines and fuel cells that use high pressure gas as fuel, the fuel gas is shut down when the pressure is abnormal. Gas fuel that is equipped with a pressure sensor that detects the pressure in the decompression chamber on the chamber side and that is controlled to close the shut-off valve upstream of the decompressor when it is detected that the pressure in the decompression chamber has exceeded a predetermined pressure There is a feeding device.
[0003]
A safety device for a gas fuel decompressor that shuts off the passage of high-pressure gas with a fuel shut-off valve when a safety valve provided downstream of the decompression chamber operates to decompress the decompression chamber. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This is because when a malfunction occurs in the pressure regulator of the decompressor for some reason and the pressure in the decompression chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure, this is detected by the pressure sensor and the fuel shut-off valve is driven. The high-pressure gas passage is blocked. As a result, the application of high-pressure gas to the low-pressure piping system can be prevented in advance, and damage to the low-pressure piping components can be avoided. If a safety valve is provided, the safety valve is first actuated to depressurize the decompression chamber. Even when the safety valve fails, the pressure sensor detects an abnormal pressure in the decompression chamber and opens the passage for high-pressure gas. It is shut off with a fuel shut-off valve.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-41651 (page 8, FIG. 2)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the event of a pressure failure in the decompression chamber, when shutting down not only the shutoff valve upstream of the decompressor but also the shutoff valve downstream to stop the entire system of gas fuel equipment, Since a pressure higher than a predetermined pressure is contained, the gas fuel device may not be restarted even when the function of the decompressor is restored. In other words, because the pressure is sealed in the decompression chamber, the pressure sensor detects the decompressor as defective, and the gas fuel device cannot be restarted.
[0006]
In addition, when a safety valve is provided on the decompression chamber side of the decompressor, if the pressure setting for closing the shut-off valve upstream of the decompressor is set higher than the opening pressure of the safety valve, the pressure on the decompression chamber side is reduced when the decompressor malfunctions The slight pressure fluctuation that fluctuates in the vicinity of the opening pressure of the safety valve cannot be detected, and if it is set low as described above, the pressure above the set pressure is confined to the decompression chamber and the function of the decompressor is restored. There was a problem that it was not possible to restart even if it did.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and when the pressure reducer pressure is abnormally stopped and the function of the pressure reducer is restored, the gas fuel device can be easily restarted. and an object thereof is to provide a gas fuel supply equipment possible.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a decompressor for decompressing fuel gas, an upstream shut-off valve disposed upstream of the decompressor, and a downstream shut-off valve disposed downstream of the decompressor. When a safety valve provided between the pressure reducer and the downstream side of the shut-off valve, wherein disposed between the pressure reducer and the safety valve, the pressure between the pressure reducer and the downstream side of the shut-off valve detection a pressure sensor that, Ri name and a control means for instructing a cutoff and release of the shut-off valve of the shut-off valve and the downstream side of the upstream side, a gas fuel supply device for supplying the fuel gas to the gas fuel equipment Te, shut-off valve of the shut-off valve and the downstream side of the upstream side, the pressure of the pressure sensor detects the rather low than the valve opening pressure of the safety valve, it is determined that a malfunction has occurred in the decompressor function stop the gas fuel equipment closed when that becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure Both the control unit and inputs a start signal of the gas fuel appliance, opens instructs the shut-off valve of the downstream, the pressure detected by the pressure sensor is less than the predetermined pressure, the upstream-side It is characterized by instructing to open the shut-off valve.
[0012]
According to the invention described in claim 1, wherein said control means inputs the start signal, the shut-off valve of the downstream open instruction, the pressure detected by said pressure sensor falls below a predetermined pressure, said upstream Since the side shut-off valve is instructed to open, the gas fuel device can be easily restarted when the function of the decompressor is restored after the decompressor has stopped due to an abnormal pressure.
Further, when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the upstream shut-off valve and the downstream shut-off valve can be shut off before the safety valve is opened.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A method for stopping and starting a gas fuel supply apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a gas fuel supply apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a gas fuel supply device 100 is mounted on a gas fuel vehicle (not shown). In the gas fuel supply apparatus 100, the pressure of the fuel tank 1 for storing a high pressure gas fuel is depressurized to a desired pressure by the pressure reducing unit 3, the gas fuel devices such as the depressurized fuel gas fuel cells or internal combustion engine 7 is supplied. Further, the supply and stop of the fuel gas is performed by the shut-off valve 2 upstream and the shut-off valve 4 downstream of the decompressor 3. The upstream shut-off valve 2 is an in-tank shut-off valve installed in the fuel tank 1. A gas fuel device 7 is connected to the downstream shutoff valve 4. Here, the fuel tank 1 for storing high-pressure gas fuel is the upstream side, and the gas fuel device 7 is the downstream side. A safety valve 5 is provided between the decompression chamber side 3 a of the decompressor 3 and the shutoff valve 4. A pressure sensor 6 is provided between the decompressor 3 and the safety valve 5 to detect the pressure on the decompression chamber side 3 a of the decompressor 3. The shutoff valves 2 and 4 and the pressure sensor 6 are connected to a control device 8 that controls the gas fuel supply device 100. The details of the function of the control device (control means) will be made clear later with reference to flowcharts and the like.
[0014]
Next, a method for stopping and starting the gas fuel supply apparatus 100 having the above configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in a gas fuel supply device 100 that supplies high-pressure gas fuel to a gas fuel device 7 such as an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell via a decompressor 3, the pressure on the decompression chamber side 3 a of the decompressor 3 is detected. Shut-off valves 2 and 4 are provided upstream and downstream of the pressure sensor 6 and the decompressor 3, and when the pressure on the decompression chamber side 3a of the decompressor 3 exceeds a predetermined pressure, the shut-off valve 2 upstream of the decompressor 3 and the downstream The shutoff valve 4 is shut off almost simultaneously, and the supply of fuel gas to the gas fuel device 7 is stopped.
[0015]
In such a fuel piping system, since the residual pressure is confined between the pressure reducer 3 and the shutoff valve 4 downstream of the pressure reducer 3, when the gas fuel device 7 stopped due to pressure abnormality is restarted, The pressure sensor detects the residual pressure and shuts off the shutoff valves 2 and 4, so that even if an ignition key (not shown) is turned on, it cannot be restarted. Therefore, when the gas fuel device 7 is restarted, the shut-off valve 4 downstream of the decompressor 3 is opened first, and supply of fuel gas by residual pressure to the gas fuel device 7 is started. When the pressure drops below a predetermined pressure, the shutoff valve 2 upstream of the decompressor 3 is opened, and the supply of fuel gas is started. At this time, the abnormal stop flow is canceled until the upstream shut-off valve 2 is opened. Thereby, when the pressure regulation of the decompressor 3 is restored, it can be restarted by turning on the ignition key. In addition, this description corresponds to the “instruction to open the downstream shut-off valve when an activation signal is input”.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the gas fuel supply apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a method for stopping and starting the gas fuel supply apparatus 100. In the gas fuel supply apparatus 100, both shutoff valves 2 and 4 are shut off due to an abnormality in pressure. As shown in FIG. 2, in the method for stopping and starting the gas fuel supply device 100 that supplies fuel gas to the gas fuel device 7, for example, when the vehicle ignition key is turned on (step S1), the fuel gas is decompressed. By controlling so that the shutoff valve 4 downstream of the decompressor 3 is opened (step S2), between the decompression chamber side 3a of the decompressor 3 and the shutoff valve 4 of the gas fuel supply device 100 stopped due to pressure abnormality ( The residual fuel gas pressure can be lowered by consuming the fuel gas such as hydrogen remaining in the fuel cell between the pressure reducer and the downstream circuit breaker. As a result, even after the vehicle is stopped due to an abnormal pressure, the fuel gas device 7 (also referred to as a hydrogen device) can be operated by consuming the fuel gas downstream of the decompressor (regulator) 3. The vehicle can travel by converting the fuel gas generated by the residual pressure into power energy generated by the operation of the gas fuel device 7. At this time, the pressure sensor 6 detects that the pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure set on the decompression chamber side 3a of the decompressor 3 (step S3: YES), the decompressor 3 is determined to be normal, and the decompressor 3 The upstream shutoff valve 2 is released (step S4). In other words, the abnormal stop flow is canceled until the upstream shut-off valve is opened. Thereby, for example, the vehicle can perform normal traveling.
[0017]
Further, when the pressure sensor 8 is detected to be equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure during normal traveling or the like (step S5: YES), the upstream and downstream shutoff valves 2 and 4 of the decompressor 3 are shut off (step S6). ) The supply of fuel gas to the gas fuel device 7 is stopped.
[0018]
As a result, the shut-off valve 4 downstream of the decompressor 3 is also closed, so that the gas fuel device 7 can be safely stopped by being connected to the downstream shut-off valve 4.
[0019]
At this time, since the gas fuel device 7 is stopped due to an abnormality in pressure, when restarting, as described above, the shutoff valve 4 downstream of the decompressor 3 is opened (step S2) to release the residual pressure. Then, the indicated value of the pressure sensor 6 is lowered. As a result, it can be confirmed that it can be restarted or started next. That is, it is possible to diagnose whether the decompressor 3 is good or bad.
[0020]
As a result, when the gas fuel device 7 such as an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell is started, the shutoff valve 4 downstream of the decompressor 3 is opened first, and the pressure on the decompression chamber side 3a of the decompressor 3 is less than a predetermined pressure. When this happens, the shutoff valve 2 upstream of the decompressor 3 is opened later, so that the pressure sensor 6 can confirm that the pressure in the decompression chamber is less than a predetermined pressure and start the gas fuel device.
[0021]
Further, since the safety valve 5 is provided on the decompression chamber side 3a of the decompressor 3 and the predetermined pressure for closing the shut-off valve 4 is set lower than the valve opening pressure of the safety valve 5, the predetermined pressure for closing the shut-off valve 4 is set to the safety valve 5 Even when a slight pressure fluctuation that cannot be detected when the valve opening pressure is set higher than the valve opening pressure, a failure of the decompressor 3 can be detected. In addition, it is possible to avoid the unnecessary release of fuel gas by opening the safety valve.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a graph (time chart) showing the indicated value of the pressure sensor 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a graph which shows the instruction | indication value of the pressure sensor 6 when the pressure reduction device 3 is recovered | restored, (b) is a graph which shows the instruction | indication value of the pressure sensor 6 when the pressure reduction device 3 has not recovered | restored.
[0023]
In FIG. 3A, when the pressure on the decompression chamber side exceeds a predetermined pressure due to a malfunction of the function of the decompressor 3, the supply of fuel gas is stopped, and the gas fuel device (fuel cell) 7 is stopped. The state of restart is indicated by the change in pressure. The vertical axis indicates the indicated value of the pressure sensor 6, and the horizontal axis indicates the time axis. Normally, the pressure on the decompression chamber side 3a of the decompressor 3 indicates the normal pressure a (indicated value A on the time axis). When a malfunction occurs in the decompressor 3, the indicated value of the pressure sensor 6 increases to indicate a failure detection threshold value b. Here, the shutoff valve 2 upstream and the shutoff valve 4 downstream of the decompressor 3 are closed (on the time axis). Indicated value B), the supply of fuel gas is stopped. Thereafter, although the indicated value of the pressure sensor slightly increases, it changes at a certain pressure as shown in the graph between the indicated value B on the time axis and the indicated value C on the time axis in FIG. When the safety valve is activated due to an increase in pressure after the supply of fuel gas is stopped, the fuel gas is released until the pressure drops below the operating pressure, and the pressure changes at a certain pressure.
[0024]
When the shut-off valve 4 downstream of the pressure reducer 3 is released when the gas fuel supply device 100 is restarted after being stopped due to an abnormal pressure (indicated value C on the time axis), the indicated value of the pressure sensor 6 is Falls and passes the defect detection threshold b. Here, when the upstream shut-off valve 2 is opened (indicated value D on the time axis), the indicated value of the pressure sensor 6 reaches the normal pressure a, the fuel is supplied to the gas fuel device 7 and restarted. The hysteresis may be set so that the threshold value b (predetermined pressure) when shutting off the shutoff valves 2 and 4 is different from the threshold value b (predetermined pressure) when opening the shutoff valve 2. .
[0025]
FIG. 3 (b) shows that the malfunction of the pressure reducing device 3 occurs, the malfunction of the pressure reducing valve is not resolved at the time of restart after the supply of fuel gas is stopped and the gas fuel device 7 is stopped. A state where the device 7 stops is shown in a graph. The transition of pressure in this graph is the same up to the indicated value D on the time axis in FIG. 3A, and when the shutoff valve 2 upstream of the decompressor 3 is opened (indicated value D on the time axis), the pressure The indication value of the sensor 6 once decreases, but when the malfunction of the decompressor 3 has not been eliminated, the pressure on the decompression chamber side 3a is not decompressed, so it immediately begins to rise, and the pressure on the decompression chamber side 3a of the decompressor 3 The defect detection threshold value b for detecting the defect is exceeded. Therefore, the shutoff valves 2 and 4 are closed (instruction value E on the time axis) according to an instruction from the pressure sensor 6 and the fuel gas supply is stopped. When the pressure reducer 3 stopped due to an abnormal pressure is not recovered when the gas fuel device is restarted, the pressure sensor 6 detects a failure of the pressure reducer 3 and the safety valve 5 is activated. Note that the pressure between the pressure reducer 3 and the downstream shut-off valve 4 includes the pressure in the pressure reducing chamber.
[0026]
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the pressure sensor 6 for detecting the pressure on the decompression chamber side 3 a of the decompressor 3, the shutoff valves 2 and 4 are provided upstream and downstream of the decompressor 3, and the decompression chamber of the decompressor 3 is provided. When the pressure of the gas fuel device 7 is restarted, the shut-off valve 4 downstream of the decompressor 3 is opened first, and the decompression chamber side 3a is shut off. When the pressure becomes less than a predetermined pressure, the gas fuel device 7 can be restarted by opening the shut-off valve 2 upstream of the pressure reducer 3, thereby solving the above-mentioned problem. Even when the safety valve 5 is provided on the decompression chamber side 3a of the decompressor 3 according to the present invention, the gas fuel device 7 can be restarted regardless of the predetermined pressure setting for closing the shutoff valves 2 and 4. . When the predetermined pressure for closing the shutoff valves 2 and 4 is set lower than the valve opening pressure of the safety valve 5, and the predetermined pressure for closing the shutoff valves 2 and 4 is set higher than the valve opening pressure of the safety valve 5 Even in a case where a slight pressure fluctuation that could not be detected occurs, a failure of the decompressor 3 can be detected.
[0027]
The embodiment described above is an example for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the gas fuel device has been described as being used by being loaded on an automobile, but it can also be applied to a ship, an aircraft, or the like. Further, the present invention can also be applied to ground-mounted (stationary) gas fuel devices.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the pressure on the downstream side of the pressure reducer becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the pressure reducer is detected as defective, and upstream and downstream of the pressure reducer that depressurizes the fuel gas. Since the two shut-off valves provided at the same time are shut off at the same time, the gas fuel device connected to the shut-off valve downstream of the decompressor can be safely stopped.
[0029]
In addition, when restarting a gas fuel device such as an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell, the shut-off valve downstream of the pressure reducer is opened first, and the supply of fuel gas to the gas fuel device is started. When the pressure becomes less than the pressure, the shutoff valve upstream of the pressure reducer is opened later, so the pressure sensor confirms that the pressure in the pressure reduction chamber is less than the predetermined pressure and can easily restart the gas fuel device. it can. Furthermore, when the malfunction of the decompressor is resolved, the operation of the gas fuel device can be resumed.
[0030]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the gas fuel device can be easily restarted when the function of the pressure reducer is recovered after the pressure of the pressure reducer stops due to an abnormality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a gas fuel supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the gas fuel supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs showing an indication value of a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 3A shows a case where the decompressor has recovered, and FIG. 3B shows a case where the decompressor has not recovered. .
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel tank 2, 4 Shut-off valve 3 Pressure reducer 3a Pressure reduction chamber side 5 Safety valve 6 Pressure sensor 7 Gas fuel apparatus 8 Control apparatus 100 Gas fuel supply apparatus

Claims (1)

A decompressor for decompressing the fuel gas, an upstream shut-off valve disposed upstream of the decompressor, a downstream shut-off valve disposed downstream of the decompressor, the decompressor and the downstream A safety valve provided between the pressure-reducing valve and the safety valve, and a pressure sensor that detects a pressure between the pressure-reducing device and the downstream-side shut-off valve; and Ri Na and a shutoff valve and control means for instructing cutoff and release of the shut-off valve of the downstream, a gas fuel supply device for supplying the fuel gas to the gas fuel equipment,
Given the shut-off valve of the downstream cut-off valve of the upstream side pressure where the pressure sensor is detected, the rather low than the valve opening pressure of the safety valve, failure is judged to have occurred in the function of the decompressor the rewritable stopping the gas fuel appliance closed when it becomes the above pressure,
The control means includes
When the start signal of the gas fuel device is input, the downstream shut-off valve is instructed to open, and when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor becomes less than the predetermined pressure , the upstream shut-off valve is instructed to open. A gas fuel supply device.

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