JP2012219949A - Fluid supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid supply system capable of reducing size of a tank opening for attaching a valve device.SOLUTION: The fluid supply system includes: hydrogen tanks 10, 10 capable of storing pressurized gaseous hydrogen in interiors; a valve device 20 provided on the hydrogen tank 10; a filling hole 30 positioned in an upstream side of the hydrogen tank 10; a pressure reducing valve positioned in a downstream side of the hydrogen tank 10; a gas filling passage passing hydrogen when filling hydrogen into the hydrogen tank 10 from the filling hole 30 via the valve device 20; and a gas supply passage passing hydrogen when supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen tank 10 via the valve device 20 in a direction of the pressure reducing valve 40. The valve device 20 includes one opening and closing valve adjusting passing of hydrogen by being opened during hydrogen filling and hydrogen supply; a pilot valve arranged coaxially with the opening and closing valve and adjusting pressures applied in an upstream and downstream of the opening and closing valve; an opening and closing valve passage varying passing directions of hydrogen in hydrogen filling and hydrogen supply; and a gas filling passage and the gas supply passage in one fluid passage.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid supply system including a fluid filling path and a fluid supply path.

  As the fluid, various gas supply systems (fluid supply systems) including, for example, a gas filling path for filling a tank with gas and a gas supply path for supplying the gas in the tank to a gas consuming device have been proposed. Patent Document 1 describes a system in which a gas filling path and a gas supply path are separately provided. Patent Document 2 describes a system in which a gas filling path and a gas supply path are shared, and a main valve and a pilot valve are separately arranged. The main valve is operated by a back pressure type using a differential pressure across the valve body.

Japanese Patent No. 4530644 US Pat. No. 7,309,113

  However, in a system in which a gas filling path and a gas supply path are separately arranged as described in Patent Document 1, a check valve that opens at the time of gas filling and a valve that opens at the time of gas supply are opened at the valve device of the tank. A valve (solenoid valve) must be provided separately, and there is a problem that the tank opening to which the valve device is attached becomes large. By increasing the size of the tank opening in this manner, the thrust for the gas in the tank to push out the valve device increases, and a structure for firmly attaching the valve device to the tank is required.

  In addition, if the gas filling path and the gas supply path are arranged separately, the pressure in the supply pipe downstream of the valve device remains low immediately after the tank is filled with gas. The speed becomes excessive, the pressure downstream of the pressure reducing valve overshoots, and there are problems such as a delay in activation due to the operation of the relief valve, deterioration in fuel consumption, and deterioration in durability due to application of impulse pressure to the seal portion of the valve device.

  Furthermore, if the filling path and the supply path are arranged separately, immediately after the gas filling into the tank is completed, the differential pressure across the valve device is large, and the seat portion of the valve device has a valve pressing force due to the pressure difference. Although it is strongly pressed and high durability is required, there is a problem that the durability of the seat portion of the valve device is deteriorated because when the valve is opened, it is forcibly pushed back by a thrust that overcomes the pressing force. In addition, a thrust that overcomes the differential pressure must be ensured during the operation of the valve device, resulting in a problem that the solenoid becomes larger. Furthermore, since a gas filling path and a gas supply path are required, there is a problem that the structure of the system and the valve is complicated.

  Therefore, in the gas supply system sharing the gas filling path and the gas supply path as described in Patent Document 2, the problems associated with the separate arrangement of the filling path and the supply path can be generally solved. However, even if the flow path is shared, the main valve (open / close valve) of the valve device and the pilot valve are configured separately, so that the problem that the tank opening becomes large remains.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a fluid supply system that can reduce the opening of a tank to which a valve device is attached and that can solve various problems associated with separate arrangement of a fluid filling path and a fluid supply path. The issue is to provide.

  The present invention includes a tank capable of storing a fluid to which pressure is applied, a valve device provided in the tank, a filling port that is located upstream of the tank and that opens to allow fluid to pass, and downstream of the tank A pressure reducing valve located on the side, a fluid filling passage through which fluid flows when the tank is filled with fluid from the filling port via the valve device, and the pressure reducing fluid from the tank via the valve device A fluid supply path through which fluid flows when supplying in the direction of the valve, and the valve device opens and closes when fluid is filled and fluid is supplied, and an on-off valve that adjusts fluid flow; A pilot valve that is arranged coaxially with the on-off valve and adjusts the pressure applied upstream and downstream of the on-off valve; and an on-off valve flow path in which the direction of fluid flow differs between when the fluid is filled and when the fluid is supplied The fluid filling path and the fluid supply path Characterized in that provided in one of the fluid path.

  According to this, by providing the pilot valve coaxially with the on-off valve, the radial dimension of the valve device can be shortened, and the tank opening for mounting the valve device can be reduced. Since the tank opening can be reduced in this way, the thrust (force for pushing the valve device) received by the valve device from the fluid in the tank can be reduced, and the structure for attaching the valve device to the tank can be simplified. That is, the screwing length of the valve device when screwing into the tank can be shortened, and the tank liner can be made thin.

  In addition, since the fluid filling path and the fluid supply path are shared in the fluid path from the filling port to the pressure reducing valve, the downstream pressure of the on-off valve immediately after the tank is filled with fluid is equal to that in the tank, and the on-off valve is opened. At the time of valve operation, the pressure increase speed downstream of the on-off valve is not excessive, and overshoot downstream of the pressure reduction valve can be prevented beforehand. As a result, in a system in which a relief valve is provided downstream of the pressure reducing valve, it is possible to solve the problem that the relief valve operates, delay the start-up due to the operation of the relief valve, deterioration of fuel consumption, Deterioration of durability due to application of impulse pressure can be prevented.

  In addition, since the kick pilot type is used instead of the back pressure type, avoiding the valve opening mechanism due to the differential pressure may deteriorate the durability of the seat portion of the on-off valve, or may increase the solenoid of the valve device (described later) An increase in size of the plunger, the fixed core, and the electromagnetic coil in the embodiment can be prevented. Since the seat portion of the on-off valve can be made low in durability, it is possible to select a material such as a rubber material (for example, sealing property: good, strength: low) for the seat portion.

  Also, even when the pressure difference across the open / close valve is excessive, such as during tank maintenance, the use of a kick pilot type solenoid valve requires an excessive valve opening force and loads on the seat. Differential pressure operation of a large on-off valve can be avoided.

  In addition, by sharing the fluid filling path and fluid supply path, simplification (reduction) of piping on the system, simplification of the internal flow path, and check valve function for the on-off valve in the valve device It is possible to reduce the number of devices by integrating functions, and achieve a reduction in size and weight. In particular, it is suitable for an in-vehicle multiple tank system in which a mounting space is limited.

  Thus, since the valve device can be reduced in size and the tank opening can be reduced, a fluid supply system including a robust fuel supply system can be configured.

  The valve device includes a valve box, an open / close valve seat provided inside the valve box for opening and closing the open / close valve flow path, and a fluid pressure in a direction away from the open / close valve valve seat when fluid is filled. An on-off valve body having a pressure receiving surface, a pilot passage established in the on-off valve body, a pilot valve seat provided at one end of the on-off valve body, a pilot valve body, and the pilot valve body at one end A plunger, an interlocking mechanism portion that interlocks the on-off valve body and the plunger with a predetermined play, and one end of the plunger is in contact with the other end to urge the on-off valve body in the direction of the on-off valve seat An urging member, a fixed core that contacts the other end of the urging member, and an electromagnetic coil wound in a circumferential direction of the plunger.

  According to this, when the differential pressure (front-rear differential pressure) between the upstream and downstream of the on-off valve becomes large, such as during maintenance, the plunger is first driven to remove the pilot valve from the pilot valve seat formed on the on-off valve body. When the pilot passage is opened away, the fluid in the tank is discharged through the pilot passage to the fluid passage. At this time, since the on-off valve body and the plunger are provided with an interlocking mechanism portion that interlocks with a predetermined play, even if the plunger is driven, the on-off valve body does not open due to the differential pressure across the Only the pilot valve opens. After that, when the pressure on the downstream side and the upstream side of the on-off valve body is equalized, the plunger is further driven, the on-off valve body is separated from the on-off valve valve seat, and the on-off valve flow path and the fluid path communicate with each other. The fluid in the tank is discharged to the fluid passage through the on-off valve passage. At the time of fluid filling, the on-off valve body is opened by the pressure of the filling fluid, so that the fluid passes through the on-off valve channel in a direction opposite to that at the time of fluid supply and is filled into the tank.

  Further, the biasing member is characterized in that a spring force is set so as to close the on-off valve body when the inside of the tank reaches a preset fluid pressure.

  According to this, when the filling pressure of the fluid filled in the tank is reached, the on-off valve body is closed, so that the fluid filled in the tank can be prevented from coming out.

  In addition, a check valve is provided between the filling port and the tank to prevent a fluid flow to the filling port.

  According to this, the backflow of the fluid from the tank to the filling port can be prevented more reliably, and the decrease in the supply flow rate to the supply destination due to the fluid flowing into the pipe between the filling port and the tank can be suppressed.

  According to the present invention, the tank opening to which the valve device is attached can be made small, and various problems associated with the separate arrangement of the fluid filling path and the fluid supply path can be solved.

It is a whole lineblock diagram showing the fluid supply system concerning a 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the valve apparatus used for a fluid supply system. It is sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the valve apparatus at the time of gas filling, (a) is the time of non-excitation (P1> P2), (b) is the time of non-excitation (P2 = target filling pressure). It is sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the valve apparatus at the time of gas supply, (a) is at the time of non-excitation (P1 = P2), (b) is at the time of excitation. It is sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the valve apparatus at the time of a maintenance, (a) is at the time of non-excitation, (b) is at the time of excitation (P1 <P2), (c) is at the time of excitation (P1 = P2). It is a whole lineblock diagram showing the fluid supply system concerning a 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, fluid supply systems 1A and 1B according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, a vehicle (fuel cell vehicle) provided with a fuel cell system F1 to which the fluid supply systems 1A and 1B are applied will be described as an example. In addition, the fluid supply systems 1A and 1B according to the present embodiment use hydrogen gas as a fluid, and a fuel cell system for ships, aircraft, or a stationary fuel cell system for home use or business use, etc. It can also be applied to.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the fluid supply system 1A includes hydrogen tanks 10A and 10B (10, tank), a valve device 20 provided in the hydrogen tank 10, and a filling located upstream of the hydrogen tank 10 (10A). It has a port 30, a pressure reducing valve 40 located on the downstream side of the hydrogen tank 10 (10B), and a gas pipe 50 (fluid path).

  The hydrogen tank 10 is a container filled with high-purity hydrogen gas as fuel at high pressure. Further, the hydrogen tank 10 is provided with a temperature sensor (not shown) constituted by a thermistor or the like that detects the temperature of hydrogen in the tank.

  The hydrogen tank 10 is formed of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and has a liner (tank chamber) 10a (see FIG. 2, only a part of which is shown) that stores hydrogen gas at a high pressure. The periphery of the liner 10a is CFRP. It is configured to be covered with a cover 10b (see FIG. 2, only a part is shown) formed of (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) or GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic).

  The valve device 20 is a normally closed kick pilot solenoid valve attached to an opening 10c (see FIG. 2) formed in the hydrogen tank 10, and is controlled to be opened and closed by an ECU 100 described later. The detailed structure of the valve device 20 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The filling port 30 is connected to, for example, a hydrogen supply hose extending from a dispenser provided in the hydrogen filling station. The filling port 30 is provided with a first check valve 30a. When the filling of hydrogen is started, the first check valve 30a is opened by the hydrogen pressure (filling pressure) at the time of filling. .

  The pressure reducing valve 40 has a function of reducing the pressure of the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank 10 to a predetermined pressure and supplying it to the fuel cell FC. Note that the pressure reducing valve 40 may have a function of closing when hydrogen is charged, that is, when hydrogen is not consumed in the fuel cell FC, or a normally closed shut-off valve ( (Not shown) may be provided.

  The gas pipe 50 (fluid path) includes a pipe 50a extending from the filling port 30 to the pressure reducing valve 40, a pipe 50b branched from the pipe 50a and connected to the valve device 20 of the hydrogen tank 10A (10), and the pipe 50a. And piping 50c connected to the valve device 20 of the hydrogen tank 10B (10).

  In the pipe 50a, the part extending from the filling port 30 to the branch part of the pipe 50b is a pipe 50a1, the part between the branch part of the pipe 50b and the branch part of the pipe 50c is the pipe 50a2, and the branch part of the pipe 50c is A portion between the pressure reducing valve 40 is a pipe 50a3. In the present embodiment, when the hydrogen tank 10A is filled with hydrogen, the pipes 50a1 and 50b correspond to gas filling passages (fluid filling passages), and when the hydrogen tank 10B is filled with hydrogen, the pipes 50a1, 50a2, and 50c are It corresponds to a gas filling channel (fluid filling channel). When hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank 10A toward the pressure reducing valve 40, the pipes 50b, 50a2, and 50a3 correspond to gas supply passages (fluid supply passages), and hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank 10B to the pressure reducing valve 40. In the case of supplying toward the pipe, the pipes 50c and 50a3 correspond to gas supply flow paths (fluid supply paths).

  Further, in FIG. 1, the case where the hydrogen tanks 10A and 10B are connected to the pipe 50a at different positions via the pipes 50b and 50c is described as an example, but the present invention is limited to this. Instead, the pipe 50b and the pipe 50c may be joined together and connected to the pipe 50a as a single pipe.

  In the present embodiment, the fluid supply system 1A (1B) including the two hydrogen tanks 10A and 10B has been described as an example, but the fluid supply system including only one hydrogen tank 10 may be used. Alternatively, a fluid supply system including three or more hydrogen tanks 10 may be used.

  The fluid supply system 1A configured as described above is applied to a vehicle (fuel cell vehicle) including the fuel cell system F1. The fuel cell system F1 includes a fuel cell FC, a relief valve 60, an ejector 61, a purge valve 62, a compressor 70, and the like, in addition to the fluid supply system 1A.

  The fuel cell FC is a fuel cell stack configured by stacking a plurality of solid polymer type single cells (not shown), and the plurality of single cells are electrically connected in series. The single cell includes an MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly), and a conductive anode separator (not shown) and a cathode separator (not shown) sandwiching the MEA.

  The MEA includes an electrolyte membrane (solid polymer membrane) made of a monovalent cation exchange membrane (for example, perfluorosulfonic acid type), and an anode and a cathode sandwiching the electrolyte membrane. The anode and cathode are mainly composed of a conductive porous material such as carbon paper, and contain a catalyst (Pt, Ru, etc.) for causing an electrode reaction in the anode and cathode.

  The anode separator 12 is formed with an anode flow path 12 formed of a groove for supplying and discharging hydrogen to and from the anode of each MEA. The cathode separator is formed with a cathode channel 13 formed by a groove for supplying and discharging air to and from the cathode of each MEA.

  When hydrogen is supplied to each anode through the anode flow channel 12 and air (oxygen) is supplied to each cathode through the cathode flow channel 13, a potential difference (OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) is generated in each single cell. ), Open circuit voltage). Next, when the fuel cell FC and an external load (such as a travel motor) are electrically connected and a current is taken out, the fuel cell FC generates power.

  The relief valve 60 includes a check valve that opens when the pressure in the pipe 50d exceeds a predetermined pressure. In addition, the relief valve 60 is not limited to what is opened mechanically, and may be opened by an electrical signal.

  The ejector 61 is disposed in the pipe 50d downstream from the relief valve 60, and returns the unreacted hydrogen discharged from the anode flow path 12 of the fuel cell FC to the anode flow path 12 of the fuel cell FC via the pipe 50e. have. Note that a hydrogen pump may be used instead of the ejector 61.

  The purge valve 62 is disposed in the pipe 50f on the outlet side of the anode flow path 12 of the fuel cell FC, and is opened so that the hydrogen circulation flow path (the anode flow path 12, the pipes 50d, 50e) is generated during the power generation of the fuel cell FC. ) To evacuate impurities (water vapor, nitrogen, etc.) accompanying the circulating hydrogen. In addition, as a timing which opens a purge valve and discharges | emits an impurity, the minimum cell voltage input from the cell voltage monitor (not shown) which detects the voltage of the single cell of fuel cell FC is below predetermined cell voltage, for example It is time to become.

  The compressor 70 supplies air (oxygen) to the cathode of the fuel cell FC, is constituted by a supercharger or the like driven by a motor, and is connected to the inlet of the cathode channel 13 through a pipe 50g. When the compressor 70 is driven, air from the outside of the vehicle is compressed and supplied to the cathode channel 13. The rotation speed of the motor of the compressor 70 is set to be increased so that air is supplied at a large flow rate and a high pressure when, for example, a depression amount (accelerator opening) of an accelerator pedal (not shown) increases.

  A humidifier, a back pressure valve, and a diluter (not shown) are provided on the cathode side of the fuel cell system F1, respectively.

  The humidifier includes a plurality of hollow fiber membranes capable of exchanging moisture. Between the air supplied to the fuel cell FC via the hollow fiber membranes and the humid cathode off gas discharged from the cathode channel 13. Thus, the air is exchanged and the air supplied to the fuel cell FC is humidified.

  The back pressure valve is configured by a normally open valve that can be adjusted in opening degree, such as a butterfly valve, and is provided in the pipe 50h. For example, the opening degree of the back pressure valve is controlled to be reduced (squeezed) by the ECU 100 in order to supply air at a high pressure when the accelerator pedal is depressed.

  The diluter is provided in the pipe 50h downstream of the back pressure valve. The anode offgas discharged from the purge valve 62 through the pipe 50f is introduced, and after diluting hydrogen in the anode offgas with the cathode offgas, It is configured to discharge.

  The ECU 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), various interfaces, an electronic circuit, and the like, and opens and closes the valve device 20, the purge valve 62, and the compressor 70. Control the rotation speed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the valve device 20 is attached to the hydrogen tank 10, and includes a valve box 21, an on-off valve body 22, a pilot valve body 23, a solenoid 24, a coil spring 25 (biasing member), an interlocking mechanism portion M, and the like. It consists of FIG. 2 shows the valve device 20 in a simplified manner for easy explanation.

  The valve box 21 has a substantially cylindrical accommodating portion 21 s that accommodates the on-off valve body 22, the pilot valve body 23, the solenoid 24, the coil spring 25, and the valve interlocking mechanism M, and communicates with the outside of the hydrogen tank 10. A first communication hole 21 a and second communication holes 21 b and 21 b communicating with the inside of the hydrogen tank 10 are provided. The second communication hole 21b is not limited to two places, and may be one place or three places or more.

  Further, a thread groove 21d is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the valve box 21, and the thread groove 21d and the thread groove 10d formed in the opening 10c of the hydrogen tank 10 are screwed together to form the valve device. 20 is attached to the hydrogen tank 10. The hydrogen tank 10 and the valve device 20 are joined to each other via a seal member (not shown) such as an O-ring so that hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 10 does not leak to the outside.

  Further, the opening / closing valve body 22 contacts the inside of the valve box 21 to block the first communication hole 21a from the hydrogen tank 10, and the opening / closing valve body 22 is separated from the first communication hole 21a. An on-off valve seat 21c is provided to communicate with the inside of the tank 10. The opening / closing valve seat 21c has, for example, a recess 21e formed in a ring shape in the circumferential direction so that the concave surface thereof faces downward in the figure in the valve box 21, and the recess 21e is made of rubber or resin. The sealing member 21f is fitted. Thus, the communication between the first communication hole 21a and the hydrogen tank 10 is blocked by the peripheral edge of the tip (upper end in the figure) of the on-off valve body 22 coming into contact with the seal member 21f.

  The on-off valve main body 22 operates as a main valve of the valve device 20, and is formed, for example, in a substantially T shape in cross section and accommodated in the accommodating portion 21s. The tip (upper part in the figure) of the on-off valve body 22 is a large-diameter portion 22a1 that is larger than the opening diameter of the first communication hole 21a and has a diameter that can contact the seal member 21f. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of the on-off valve body 22 (large diameter portion 22a1) that faces the first communication hole 21a is a pressure receiving surface 22p that receives the pressure of hydrogen (gas pressure) during gas filling. Moreover, the base end part (illustration lower part) of the on-off valve main body 22 is the small diameter part 22a2 whose diameter is smaller than the large diameter part 22a1.

  The on-off valve body 22 is formed with a pilot passage 22b penetrating along the axis O direction at the radial center of the large diameter portion 22a1 and the small diameter portion 22a2. Further, the base end (one end, the lower end in the drawing) of the on-off valve body 22 is configured to function as a pilot valve seat 22c of a pilot valve body 23 described later.

  The pilot valve body 23 is arranged so as to be coaxial O with the on-off valve body 22, and is arranged at a position facing the pilot passage 22 b formed in the on-off valve body 22. The pilot valve body 23 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or resin, and has a diameter larger than the diameter of the pilot passage 22b. As described above, since the on-off valve body 22 and the pilot valve body 23 are arranged coaxially with each other, the radial dimension of the valve device 20 can be shortened.

  A pilot member may be configured by providing a seal member on the on-off valve body 22 side instead of the pilot valve body 23 side, and a seal member is provided on the on-off valve body 22 side instead of the on-off valve valve seat 21c side. The on-off valve may be configured.

  The solenoid 24 generates a driving force when the on-off valve main body 22 and the pilot valve body 23 are opened, and includes a plunger 24a, a fixed core 24b, an electromagnetic coil 24c, and the like.

  The plunger 24a is made of a magnetic material and has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in a rod shape in the direction of the axis O. A pilot valve body 23 is fitted into the tip (one end, upper end in the figure) of the plunger 24a. The plunger 24 a is also arranged so as to be coaxial with the on-off valve body 22 and the pilot valve body 23.

  The fixed core 24b is made of a magnetic material and is fixed to the bottom of the accommodating portion 21s formed in the valve box 21. The fixed core 24b has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is disposed to face the base end (the lower end in the drawing) of the plunger 24a so as to be coaxial with the plunger 24a.

  The electromagnetic coil 24c is configured to be wound around a bobbin (not shown), and is disposed so as to surround the plunger 24a and the fixed core 24b.

  The coil spring 25 is disposed so that one end thereof is in contact with the base end (the other end) of the plunger 24a and the other end is in contact with the fixed core 24b, and the plunger 24a is pressed so that the on-off valve body 22 is opened and closed. It is comprised so that it may bias in the direction of 21c. It should be noted that the spring force of the coil spring 25 is an on / off valve when the hydrogen tank 10 reaches a preset filling target pressure (the tank fluid pressure is preset) during hydrogen filling (gas filling). The main body 22 is set to be closed. The filling target pressure is, for example, a pressure at which the inside of the hydrogen tank 10 becomes full.

  The interlocking mechanism M interlocks the opening / closing valve body 22 and the plunger 24a with a predetermined play, and includes a support member 26a, an engagement pin 26b, and a connecting hole 24s formed in the plunger 24a. It is configured.

  The support member 26a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction, and has a first cylindrical portion 26a1 positioned on the open / close valve body 22 side (upper side), a diameter larger than the first cylindrical portion 26a1, and a plunger 24a. 2nd cylindrical part 26a2 formed in larger diameter than this. The second cylindrical portion 26a2 is formed to extend to a height position in the middle of the second communication hole 21b.

  As a result, the first cylindrical portion 26a1 is fixed to the on-off valve body 22 by being in contact with the lower surface of the large-diameter portion 22a1 of the on-off valve body 22 and by being externally fitted on the small-diameter portion 22a2. A part of the base end of the on-off valve body 22 protrudes from the second cylindrical part 26a2, and a part of the plunger 24a (upper part in the drawing) is inserted between the second cylindrical part 26a2 and the plunger 24a. A gas flow part Q1 that allows hydrogen to flow is formed.

  The engagement pin 26b is disposed extending in a direction orthogonal to the axis O direction, and is fixed to attachment holes 26a3 and 26a3 formed in the second cylindrical portion 26a2. On the other hand, the plunger 24 a is formed with a connecting hole 24 s through which the engaging pin 26 is inserted at the height position of the engaging pin 26. The connecting hole 24s is formed with a width (height) that allows the engagement pin 26 to move inside, and a clearance (on the opening / closing valve body 22 side, pilot valve body 23 side) of the engagement pin 26 ( Play) S is formed. 2 shows a structure in which a gap is formed above and below the engagement pin 26, the valve device 20 (the on-off valve body 22 and the pilot valve body 23) is closed as shown in FIG. It is sufficient that the clearance S is formed only on the upper side of the engagement pin 26 in the figure.

  Further, in the valve device 20 according to the present embodiment, the on-off valve channel Q2 through which hydrogen flows between the valve box 21, the on-off valve body 22 and the support member 26a when the on-off valve body 22 is opened. Is formed. The on-off valve flow path Q2 flows so that hydrogen is led out from the second communication hole 21b after hydrogen is introduced from the first communication hole 21a during gas filling, and from the second communication hole 21b during gas supply. After hydrogen is introduced, the hydrogen flows through the first communication hole 21a. Thus, in the on-off valve flow path Q2 in this embodiment, the direction in which hydrogen flows is different between gas filling and gas supply (opposite).

  In this embodiment, the on-off valve seat 21c, the on-off valve body 22, the solenoid 24, and the interlock mechanism M constitute an on-off valve, and the pilot passage 22b, the pilot valve body 23, and the solenoid 24 constitute a pilot valve. Yes.

  Next, the operation of the fluid supply system 1A according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the valve device at the time of gas filling, (a) at the time of non-excitation (P1> P2), (b) at the time of non-excitation (P2 = target filling pressure), and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the valve device at the time of supply, (a) is a non-excitation (P1 = P2), (b) is an excitation, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the valve device during maintenance. , (A) is during non-excitation, (b) is during excitation (P1 <P2), and (c) is during excitation (P1 = P2).

  First, when the hydrogen tank 10A is filled with hydrogen, the solenoid 24 is in a non-excited (demagnetized) state, and both the on-off valve body 22 and the pilot valve body 23 are piloted by the biasing force of the coil spring 25. The valve body 23 is closed in the direction in which the pilot valve seat 22c is pressed, and the on-off valve body 22 is closed in the direction in which the on-off valve valve seat 21c is pressed (the state shown in FIG. 2).

  Then, by starting the filling of hydrogen from the filling port 30, the first check valve 30a (see FIG. 1) of the filling port 30 is opened, and the hydrogen is directed toward the valve device 20 through the pipes 50a1 and 50b. Filling is started.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, the pressure on the upstream side of the on-off valve body 22 (outside the valve device 20) is P1, and the downstream side of the on-off valve body 22 (in the hydrogen tank 10A (see FIG. 1)). ) Is P2, the pressure P1 is greater than the pressure P2 (P1> P2), so the pressure receiving surface 22p of the on-off valve body 22 is pressed by the pressure P1 on the filling port 30 side, and the on-off valve body 22 opens and closes. Separated from the valve valve seat 21c, the first communication hole 21a and the second communication hole 21b communicate with each other via the on-off valve channel Q2, hydrogen flows in the direction of the arrow in the on-off valve channel Q2, and hydrogen is stored in the hydrogen tank. 10 is filled.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the pressure P2 in the hydrogen tank 10 reaches a predetermined pressure set in advance (for example, the target filling pressure, the pressure at which the hydrogen tank 10 is full), the pressure P1 = The on / off valve body 22 is pressed together with the pilot valve body 23 by the urging force of the coil spring 25 by the pressure P2, and the on / off valve body 22 is closed, and the flow between the first communication hole 21a and the on / off valve channel Q2 is made. Shut off and hydrogen filling is complete.

  On the other hand, when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on, the ECU 100 starts supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell FC. That is, at the time of gas supply (hydrogen supply), the ECU 100 outputs a command for exciting the solenoid 24 of the valve device 20. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), immediately after the completion of gas filling, the pressure P1 and the pressure P2 are substantially equal when the valve device 20 is closed. In addition, when the solenoid 24 is excited, the pilot valve body 23 is not opened, but the on-off valve body 22 is immediately separated from the on-off valve seat 21c, and the on-off valve body 22 is opened. When the on-off valve body 22 is opened, the first communication hole 21a and the second communication hole 21b communicate with each other via the on-off valve flow path Q2, and hydrogen flows in the on-off valve flow path Q2 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. And hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank 10 toward the pressure reducing valve 40.

  The hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank 10 via the valve device 20 is supplied to the anode of the fuel cell FC after being decompressed by the decompression valve 40. In addition, along with the gas supply, the ECU 100 starts driving the compressor 70, and after the air taken from outside the vehicle is compressed, it is humidified by a humidifier (not shown) and supplied to the cathode of the fuel cell FC. The power generated by the fuel cell FC is supplied to an external load such as a travel motor (not shown).

  Incidentally, during maintenance such as inspection of the hydrogen tank 10 (airtight inspection, pressure resistance inspection, etc.), as shown in FIG. 5A, the pressure P1 on the downstream side of the on-off valve body 22 is low and the pressure P2 in the hydrogen tank 10 is low. The pressure difference between the upstream and downstream sides of the on-off valve body 22 becomes very large (front-rear differential pressure).

  Thus, during maintenance, when the solenoid 24 is excited by the ECU 100, as shown in FIG. 5B, the plunger 24a is sucked downward in the figure, the pilot valve body 23 is separated from the pilot valve seat 22c, and the pilot The valve body 23 opens. At this time, since the differential pressure across the on-off valve body 22 is very large, the on-off valve body 22 will not open even if the solenoid 24 is excited. Therefore, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5B, the hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 10 passes through the second communication hole 21b, the gas flow part Q1, the pilot passage 22b, and the first communication hole 21a, and passes through the hydrogen tank 10. Spill from.

  In this way, hydrogen flows out through the pilot passage 22b, and the pressure P1 on the downstream side (the pressure reducing valve 40 side, the fuel cell FC side) of the on-off valve body 22 is increased upstream (on the hydrogen tank 10). When the pressure P1 and the pressure P2 become equal, as shown in FIG. 5C, the on-off valve body 22 is separated from the on-off valve seat 21c. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 5B, when the pressure P1 and the pressure P2 become equal, the plunger 24a is sucked downward in the figure by the suction force of the solenoid 24. At this time, since the engaging pin 26b is already in contact with the upper surface 24s1 in the connecting hole 24s, when the plunger 24a is further sucked, the engaging pin 26b is lowered, and at the same time, the on-off valve body 22 is also lowered. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the on-off valve body 22 is opened.

  As described above, according to the fluid supply system 1A according to the present embodiment, the pilot valve body 23 (pilot valve)) is provided coaxially with the on-off valve body 22 (on-off valve), whereby the valve device The radial dimension R (see FIG. 2) 20 can be shortened, and the tank opening of the hydrogen tank 10 for mounting the valve device 20 can be reduced. Since the tank opening can be reduced in this way, the thrust (force for pushing the valve device 20) received by the valve device 20 from the gas in the hydrogen tank 10 can be reduced, and the screwing length of the valve device 20 when screwing into the hydrogen tank 10 is reduced. The length L (see FIG. 2) can be shortened, and the thickness D of the liner 10a (see FIG. 2) and the cover 10b (see FIG. 2) of the hydrogen tank 10 can be reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the gas filling flow path (fluid filling path) and the gas supply flow path (fluid supply path) are shared in the fluid path from the filling port 30 to the pressure reducing valve 40 (provided in one fluid path). Since the downstream pressure (P1) of the on-off valve body 22 is equal to the pressure P2 in the hydrogen tank 10 immediately after gas filling the hydrogen tank 10, the opening / closing is performed when the on-off valve body 22 is opened. The overshoot downstream of the pressure reducing valve 40 can be prevented in advance without the pressure increase speed downstream of the valve body 22 becoming excessive. Thereby, in the fluid supply system 1A in which the relief valve 60 (see FIG. 1) is provided downstream of the pressure reducing valve 40, the problem that the relief valve 60 operates can be solved.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the pressure increase speed downstream of the on-off valve body 22 does not become excessive, it is possible to prevent the durability from being deteriorated by applying the impulse pressure to the seal member 21f of the on-off valve body 22.

  Further, in this embodiment, the back pressure type (Patent Document 2) is not adopted as in the prior art, and the kick pilot type is adopted. Therefore, the seal member of the on-off valve body 22 can be avoided by avoiding the operation mechanism due to the differential pressure. It is possible to prevent the durability of 21f from deteriorating and the solenoid 24 (plunger 24a, fixed core 24b, electromagnetic coil 24c) of the valve device 20 from being increased in size. Thereby, since it is not necessary to make the sealing member 21f of the on-off valve body 22 excessively durable, a material such as a rubber material (for example, sealing property: good, strength: low) is selected for the sealing member 21f. It becomes possible. Moreover, since the load to the sealing member 21f of the required on-off valve main body 22 can be reduced, the required valve opening force of the on-off valve main body 22 can be reduced, and the solenoid can be downsized.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a kick pilot type solenoid valve (valve device 20) is employed even when the pressure difference across the on-off valve body 22 is temporarily excessive during maintenance of the hydrogen tank 10 or the like. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the differential pressure operation of the on-off valve which requires an excessive valve opening force and has a heavy load on the seal member 21f.

  In the present embodiment, the gas supply channel (fluid filling channel) and the gas supply channel (fluid supply channel) are shared, thereby simplifying (reducing) piping and valves on the fluid supply system 1. In the apparatus 20, it is possible to reduce the number of devices by simplifying the internal flow path and integrating the function into the on-off valve body 22 with a check valve function, thereby achieving a reduction in size and weight. In particular, it is suitable for an in-vehicle multiple tank system in which a mounting space is limited.

  Thus, since the tank opening of the valve device 20 and the hydrogen tank 10 can be reduced, the fluid supply system 1A including a robust fuel supply system can be configured.

  In the present embodiment, the spring force of the coil spring 25 is set so as to close the on-off valve body 22 when the inside of the hydrogen tank 10 reaches a preset gas pressure (target filling pressure) during gas filling. Yes. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the hydrogen filled in the hydrogen tank 10 from escaping during gas filling.

  FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram showing a fluid supply system according to the second embodiment. The fluid supply system 1B according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which a second check valve 80 is added to the fluid supply system 1A according to the first embodiment. The second check valve 80 corresponds to the check valve described in the claims. In addition, the other components are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.

  The second check valve 80 provided in the fluid supply system 1B is provided in a pipe 50a1 (50a) between the filling port 30 and the hydrogen tank 10A (10), and hydrogen from the hydrogen tank 10 side to the filling port 30 is provided. It has a function of blocking the flow of (gas).

  According to the fluid supply system 1B according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained by the first embodiment, the second check valve 80 is provided at the position shown in FIG. , 10B more reliably prevent hydrogen from leaking from the filling port 30, and hydrogen gas flows into the pipe 50a1 between the filling port 30 and the hydrogen tanks 10A, 10B, so that the supply destination (fuel cell FC) A decrease in the supply flow rate to the can be suppressed.

  In the above-described two embodiments, hydrogen gas is described as the fluid. However, a gas other than hydrogen, a fluid such as a liquid fuel, a gas-liquid mixture, or the like may be used.

1A, 1B Fluid supply system 10 (10A, 10B) Hydrogen tank 20 Valve device 21 Valve box 21a First communication hole 21b Second communication hole 21c Open / close valve valve seat 21e Recess 21f Seal member 21s Storage part 22 Open / close valve body 22a1 Large diameter Part 22a2 Small diameter part 22b Pilot passage 22c Pilot valve seat 22p Pressure receiving surface 23 Pilot valve body 24 Solenoid 24a Plunger 24b Fixed core 24c Electromagnetic coil 24s Connection hole 25 Coil spring (biasing member)
26a Support member 26a1 First cylindrical portion 26a2 Second cylindrical portion 26b Engaging pin 30 Filling port 40 Pressure reducing valve 50a (50a1, 50a2, 50a3), 50b, 50c Piping (fluid path)
80 Second check valve (check valve)
FC fuel cell Q2 On-off valve channel M Interlocking mechanism O-axis S Clearance (play)

Claims (4)

A tank capable of storing fluid under pressure, and
A valve device provided in the tank;
A filling port that is located upstream of the tank and opens to allow the fluid to pass when the tank is filled;
A pressure reducing valve located downstream of the tank;
A fluid filling path through which fluid flows when the tank is filled with fluid from the filling port via the valve device;
A fluid supply path through which fluid flows when supplying fluid from the tank to the pressure reducing valve via the valve device;
The valve device is
One on-off valve that adjusts the flow of fluid by opening the valve when filling fluid and supplying fluid;
A pilot valve that is arranged coaxially with the on-off valve and adjusts the pressure applied upstream and downstream of the on-off valve;
An on-off valve flow path in which the direction of fluid flow differs between when the fluid is filled and when the fluid is supplied,
The fluid supply system, wherein the fluid filling path and the fluid supply path are provided in one fluid path. The valve device is
A valve box,
An on-off valve seat for opening and closing the on-off valve flow path provided inside the valve box;
An on-off valve body having a pressure receiving surface for receiving fluid pressure in a direction away from the on-off valve valve seat when fluid is filled;
A pilot passage established in the on-off valve body;
A pilot valve seat provided at one end of the on-off valve body;
A pilot valve body,
A plunger provided with one end of the pilot valve body;
An interlocking mechanism for interlocking the on-off valve body and the plunger with a predetermined play;
A biasing member having one end in contact with the other end of the plunger and biasing the on-off valve body toward the on-off valve valve seat;
A fixed core with which the other end of the urging member contacts;
The fluid supply system according to claim 1, further comprising: an electromagnetic coil wound in a circumferential direction of the plunger.   3. The fluid supply system according to claim 2, wherein the biasing member has a spring force set so as to close the on-off valve body when the inside of the tank reaches a preset fluid pressure. 4. .   4. The check valve according to claim 1, wherein a check valve that prevents a flow of fluid to the filling port is disposed between the filling port and the tank. 5. Fluid supply system.

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