JP6634297B2 - Gas supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas supply device.

  In recent years, vehicles that use hydrogen gas, such as fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen vehicles, have been developed, and along with this, the development of hydrogen gas supply devices for filling hydrogen gas into tanks of the vehicles has been advanced. I have. As an example of such a hydrogen gas supply device, Patent Literature 1 discloses a buffer tank for receiving hydrogen gas, a compressor for compressing hydrogen gas supplied from the buffer tank, and a hydrogen gas compressed in the compressor. And a hydrogen accumulator for storing the hydrogen. In the hydrogen generator of Patent Document 1, hydrogen gas generated in an external hydrogen electrolyzer is received in a buffer tank, and the hydrogen gas in the buffer tank is compressed and stored in the hydrogen accumulator, so that the hydrogen accumulator is Hydrogen gas can be supplied to a tank or the like of a vehicle.

JP-A-2004-124148

  By the way, the rotation speed of the conventional compressor is rated, and it is difficult to drive the compressor at a rotation speed lower than the lower limit of the rating. For this reason, it is necessary to drive the compressor at a rated rotation speed, but in a state where hydrogen gas at a predetermined flow rate corresponding to the rated rotation speed is not supplied from the hydrogen generator to the suction side of the compressor. In addition, the suction pressure decreases in accordance with the operation of the compressor, and the operation of the compressor becomes unstable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas supply device capable of stabilizing the operation of a compressor.

A gas supply device according to the present invention is a compressor that compresses a gas supplied from a gas production device to generate a compressed gas, a pressure accumulator unit that stores the compressed gas generated in the compressor, and the pressure accumulator unit. A supply path for supplying the compressed gas stored in the dispenser to the dispenser, and when the supply flow rate of the gas from the gas producing device to the suction side of the compressor is less than a predetermined flow rate, the compressed gas of the pressure accumulating unit is supplied to the supply path. A supply unit that supplies a pressure to the suction side of the compressor , the pressure storage unit includes a plurality of pressure accumulators, the supply unit includes a plurality of flow paths that connect each pressure accumulator to the compressor, A plurality of valve members attached to the flow path and capable of opening and closing the respective flow paths; and a connection member connecting the compressor and each of the pressure accumulators, each of which is provided with a valve member. A plurality of pressure sensors that detect the pressure of the compressor, and a control unit that performs start-up control of the compressor and opening / closing control of the valve member. When the gas supply flow rate is less than the predetermined flow rate, the pressures detected by the pressure sensors in the pressure accumulators are different from the pressure accumulators except the pressure accumulators that are equal to or less than a preset threshold. In order to supply the compressed gas to the suction side of the compressor, open / close control of each valve member of the supply unit is performed, and start-up control of the compressor is performed. The compressed gas supplied from another pressure accumulator is caused to flow into the compressor, and the compressed gas generated by the compressor is supplied to the pressure accumulator whose pressure is equal to or less than the preset threshold. In addition, Controls the opening and closing of each valve member of the road.

  In the above gas supply device, a supply unit that supplies a compressed gas from the pressure accumulating unit to the suction side of the compressor is provided when a supply flow rate of the gas from the gas production device to the suction side of the compressor is less than a predetermined flow rate. ing. For this reason, for example, when the supply flow rate of the gas supplied from the gas production device to the compressor is reduced, for example, immediately after the start of the compressor, the compressed gas of the pressure accumulating unit is supplied to the suction side of the compressor. A sufficient gas supply flow rate to the compressor can be ensured. For this reason, the operation of the compressor can be stabilized. In addition, since the compressed gas is supplied from the pressure accumulating unit necessary for storing the compressed gas to be supplied to the dispenser to the suction side of the compressor, no additional equipment for storing the gas is required. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the gas supply device from increasing in size.

  The predetermined flow rate in the gas supply device is a flow rate determined by, for example, the number of revolutions of the compressor. That is, the predetermined flow rate is the flow rate of the gas that should be originally suctioned by the compressor driven at the predetermined rotation speed, and the flow rate supplied from the gas producing device to the suction side of the compressor is less than the predetermined flow rate. In this case, the insufficient gas is supplied from the pressure accumulating unit to the suction side of the compressor through the supply unit.

  In the above gas supply device, it is possible to determine whether the storage amount of the compressed gas in each accumulator is sufficient by determining whether the pressure value detected by each pressure sensor is equal to or less than a threshold. . When the gas supply flow rate from the gas producing device to the suction side of the compressor is less than a predetermined flow rate, the compressed gas is supplied to the compressor from another pressure accumulator except for the pressure accumulator whose pressure value is equal to or less than a threshold value. By opening and closing the respective valve members in such a manner, the compressed gas can be supplied from a pressure accumulator that sufficiently stores the compressed gas.

  It is preferable that the supply unit includes a pressure reducing valve that adjusts a supply flow rate of gas from the pressure accumulating unit to the compressor according to a suction pressure of the compressor.

  In the above gas supply device, the set pressure of the pressure reducing valve is set to a pressure corresponding to the suction pressure of the compressor, whereby an amount of compressed gas corresponding to the suction of the compressor flows from the pressure accumulating unit to the compressor. For this reason, of the gas supply flow rates according to the suction pressure of the compressor, only the shortage that cannot be covered by the gas supplied from the gas producing device can be supplied from the pressure accumulating unit. Therefore, it is possible to optimize the supply flow rate of the compressed gas supplied from the accumulator to the suction side of the compressor when the compressor is started.

  The gas supply device further includes a curdle unit that stores a gas of the same main component as the gas of the gas production device, and the curdle unit supplies gas from the gas production device to a suction side of the compressor. When the flow rate is less than the predetermined flow rate, it is preferable to supply the gas stored in the curdle unit to the suction side of the compressor.

  In the above gas supply device, when the gas supply flow rate from the gas production device to the suction side of the compressor is less than a predetermined flow rate, the curl unit in addition to the supply unit also supplies gas to the suction side of the compressor. Therefore, the compressor can be operated more stably.

A gas supply device according to the present invention includes a compressor that compresses gas supplied from a gas production device through a gas inflow path to generate a compressed gas, and a pressure accumulator unit that stores the compressed gas generated in the compressor. A supply path for supplying the compressed gas stored in the pressure accumulating unit to a dispenser, and a curdle unit for storing a gas of the same main component as the gas supplied from the gas producing device, wherein the curdle unit is , A curl, a curl flow path connecting the curdle and the gas flow path, and a valve member attached to the curl flow path, control for starting the compressor and controlling opening and closing of the valve member. parts, further wherein the control unit, the supply flow rate of the gas from the gas production apparatus to the suction side of the compressor in and the pressure accumulator unit is less than a predetermined flow rate If the force is less than a preset threshold, gas stored in the Kadoru performs control of the valve member so as to be introduced into the gas flow path through the Kadoru passage, and said compressor By performing start-up control, the gas produced by the gas producing apparatus and the gas stored in the curdle are caused to flow into the compressor, and the pressure of the compressed gas generated by the compressor is equal to or less than the threshold. Supply to the pressure storage unit .

  In the above gas supply device, when the supply flow rate of the gas from the gas production device to the suction side of the compressor is less than a predetermined flow rate, the gas supply device includes a curdle unit that supplies a gas of the same main component as the gas to the compressor. I have. For this reason, for example, when the supply flow rate of the gas supplied from the gas production device to the compressor becomes short, for example, immediately after the compressor is started, by supplying the gas of the curdle unit to the suction side of the compressor, The gas supply flow rate to the machine can be sufficiently ensured. For this reason, the operation of the compressor can be stabilized.

  It is preferable that the curdle unit includes a pressure reducing valve that adjusts a gas supply flow rate from the curdle unit to a suction side of the compressor according to a suction pressure of the compressor.

  In the above gas supply device, the set pressure of the pressure reducing valve is set to a pressure corresponding to the suction pressure of the compressor, whereby the gas flows from the curdle unit into the compressor according to the suction of the compressor. Therefore, of the gas supply flow rate according to the suction pressure of the compressor, only the shortage that cannot be covered by the gas supplied from the gas producing device can be supplied from the curdle unit. Therefore, it is possible to optimize the supply flow rate of the gas supplied to the compressor at the time of starting the compressor.

  The above gas supply device may further include a spillback mechanism having a bypass flow path bypassing the compressor, and a shutoff valve provided in the bypass flow path so as to open and close the bypass flow path. preferable.

  In the above gas supply device, when the compressor is started, the spill-back mechanism supplies the compressed gas from the downstream flow path to the upstream flow path of the compressor to thereby supply the compressed gas from the supply unit or the curdle unit to the compressor. And the supply flow rate of the supplied gas can be reduced. Thus, the time for supplying gas to the suction side of the compressor through the supply unit or the curdle unit can be reduced. For this reason, the time required until the gas supply device can be stably operated only by the gas supplied from the gas production device can be shortened.

  It is preferable that the gas supply device further includes a rotation speed control unit that controls the rotation speed of the compressor so as to adjust the suction pressure of the compressor.

  In the above gas supply device, by controlling the rotation speed of the compressor when the compressor is started, the suction pressure of the compressor is reduced, thereby supplying the gas from the supply unit or the curdle unit to the suction side of the compressor. The gas supply flow rate can be reduced. Thus, the time for supplying gas to the suction side of the compressor through the supply unit or the curdle unit can be reduced. For this reason, the time required until the gas supply device can be stably operated only by the gas supplied from the gas production device can be shortened.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gas supply device capable of stabilizing the operation of a compressor.

It is a schematic diagram showing the composition of the gas supply device concerning a 1st embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a driving procedure of the gas supply device according to the first embodiment. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a gas supply flow rate from a gas production device and a time from the start of a compressor. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the gas supply apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the gas supply apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a graph which shows the relation between the number of rotations of a compressor, and discharge pressure in a gas supply device concerning a 4th embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the gas supply apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, in the drawings referred to below, for convenience of explanation, only the main components of the hydrogen station 10 according to the present embodiment are simplified. Therefore, the hydrogen station 10 according to the present embodiment may include any components not shown in the drawings referred to in this specification.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a hydrogen station 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The hydrogen station 10 includes the gas supply device 2 and a dispenser 11 that is a filling facility.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the gas supply device 2 compresses the hydrogen gas produced in the gas production device 12 to generate a compressed gas, and supplies the compressed gas to the dispenser 11.

  In the present embodiment, since the gas supply device 2 is an example in which the gas supply device 2 is a component of the hydrogen station 10, the gas production device 12 produces hydrogen gas and supplies it to the gas supply device 2, but is not limited thereto. Absent. The gas producing device 12 may produce a liquefied gas other than hydrogen gas and supply it to the gas supply device 2.

  In the present embodiment, the gas production device 12 is a device independent of the hydrogen station 10, but is not limited to this. The hydrogen station 10 may include the gas production device 12.

  The dispenser 11 is a facility for receiving hydrogen gas supplied from the gas supply device 2. The tank of the vehicle 13 carried into the hydrogen station 10 is filled with hydrogen gas through the dispenser 11. The vehicle 13 is, for example, a fuel cell vehicle.

  The gas supply device 2 includes a gas flow path unit 21, a compressor 22, a connection path unit 23, a pressure accumulation unit 24, a pressure sensor unit 25, a supply path unit 26, a cooler unit 27, and a supply unit 28. , A control unit 29.

  The gas passage unit 21 is a passage into which the hydrogen gas produced by the gas producing device 12 flows. The gas passage unit 21 has a gas passage 211 and a valve member 212. The gas passage 211 connects the gas producing device 12 to a suction side of a compression unit 222 of the compressor 22 described below. The valve member 212 is attached to the gas channel 211. The valve member 212 is, for example, a pressure reducing valve. Therefore, the pressure on the suction side of the compressor 22 can be kept constant. When hydrogen gas is supplied from the gas production device 12 to the gas supply device 2, the hydrogen gas is reduced to a predetermined pressure by the valve member 212, so that the hydrogen gas is supplied to the compression section 222 of the compressor 22 through the gas passage 211. Hydrogen gas flows in.

The compressor 22 is a compressor that compresses hydrogen gas on the suction side at a suction pressure corresponding to the rotation speed of the motor. The compressor 22 has a drive unit and a compression unit, and the compression unit is driven by the power of the drive unit. As a result, the hydrogen gas flowing through the gas passage 211 is compressed to generate a compressed gas. In the present embodiment, the drive source of the compressor 22 is set to be rotatable at a rotation speed (rpm) rated between r _min and r _max . The compressor 22 may be another type of compressor such as a screw compressor. In this case, the compressor 22 includes a piston and a cylinder.

  The connection path unit 23 sends a compressed gas of hydrogen gas generated in the compressor 22 to a pressure accumulating unit 24 described later. The connection path unit 23 has a common path 231, individual paths 232a to 232d, and valve members 233a to 233d. The common path 231 is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 22. The individual paths 232a to 232d connect the common path 231 and first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244 of the pressure accumulating unit 24 described later, respectively. The valve members 233a to 233d are attached to the individual paths 232a to 232d, respectively, and can open and close the individual paths 232a to 232d. The compressed gas generated in the compressor 22 flows out to the common path 231 and the first to fourth accumulators of the accumulator 24 through one of the individual paths 232a to 232d according to the opening / closing state of the valve members 233a to 233d. 241 to 244.

  The pressure accumulating unit 24 has a plurality of pressure accumulators that can store the compressed gas therein. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, four pressure accumulators of first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244 are provided. Compressed gas generated in the compressor 22 is stored in the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244. The first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244 are designed at the same design pressure (for example, 82 MPa).

  The pressure sensor unit 25 has a plurality of pressure sensors capable of detecting the pressure of the compressed gas in the pressure accumulating unit 24. In this embodiment, since the first to fourth pressure sensors 251 to 254 are attached to the first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244, respectively, the pressure sensor unit 25 has four pressure sensors. . The first to fourth pressure sensors 251 to 254 detect the pressure of the compressed gas stored in each of the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244. The pressure inside each of the first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244 corresponds to the remaining amount of the compressed gas stored in the first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244.

  The supply path unit 26 sends the compressed gas stored in the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244 to the dispenser 11. The supply path unit 26 has a supply path 261 and valve members 262a to 262d. The supply path 261 includes a plurality of individual paths that are connected to portions of the individual paths 232a to 232d downstream of the valve members 233a to 233d in the flow direction of the compressed gas, and a common path that connects the individual paths and extends to the dispenser 11. And The valve members 262a to 262d are attached to the individual passages of the supply passage 261 and can open and close the individual passages. The compressed gas stored in the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244 is supplied to the dispenser 11 through one of the individual paths in the supply path 261 according to the open / close state of the valve members 262a to 262d.

  The cooler unit 27 cools the compressed gas supplied to the dispenser 11. The cooler unit 27 has a refrigerator 271, a brine flow path 272, and a heat exchanger 273. In FIG. 1, the inside of the refrigerator 271 is omitted, and is shown by a rectangle. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 273 is built in the dispenser 11, and the brine flow path 272 is configured to pass through the refrigerator 271 and the heat exchanger 273. The compressed gas supplied to the dispenser 11 through the supply path 261 is cooled by the refrigerant flowing in the brine flow path 272 in the heat exchanger 273. Then, the refrigerant heated by the heat exchange with the compressed gas is cooled in the refrigerator.

  The supply unit 28 can supply the compressed gas stored in the pressure accumulating unit 24 to the suction side of the compressor 22 when the supply flow rate from the gas production device 12 to the compressor 22 is insufficient. In particular, in the present embodiment, the supply unit 28 can supply the compressed gas stored in the pressure accumulating unit 24 to the suction side of the compressor 22 when the compressor 22 is started. The supply unit 28 has a flow path 281 and valve members 282a to 282e.

  The flow path 281 has flow paths 281a to 281d connected to the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244, respectively, and a flow path 281e connecting the flow paths 281a to 281d and the gas flow path 211. The valve members 282a to 282d are attached to the flow paths 281a to 281d, respectively. In the present embodiment, the valve members 282a to 282d are configured by on-off valves. The valve member 282e is attached to a portion of the flow path 281e closer to the gas flow path 211 than a connection point with the flow paths 281a to 281d.

  In the present embodiment, the valve member 282e is configured by a pressure reducing valve. The set pressure of the valve member 282e is the same as the set pressure of the valve member 212, and is set according to the suction pressure of the compressor 22. Specifically, the set pressure of the valve member 282e is such that the pressure on the suction side of the compressor 22 becomes the suction pressure corresponding to the rotation speed when the compressor 22 is driven at the rated rotation speed. Is set to Accordingly, the supply unit 28 is configured to control the rotation speed when the supply flow rate of the gas from the gas production device 12 to the gas flow path 211 is smaller than the predetermined flow rate, that is, when the compressor 22 is driven at the rated rotation speed. When the pressure on the suction side of the compressor 22 is lower than the suction pressure corresponding to the pressure, the compressed gas is supplied from the pressure accumulating unit 24 to the suction side of the compressor 22.

  In the gas supply device 2, the compressed gas stored in the pressure accumulating unit 24 through one of the flow paths 281a to 281d is transferred to the gas flow path 211 in accordance with the open / close state of the valve members 282a to 282d or the pressure on the gas flow path 211 side. It is possible to supply.

  The control unit 29 is a part that performs activation control of various devices in the gas production apparatus 12, control of opening and closing of valves, and the like. The control unit 29 includes, for example, an MPU including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, and the like (not shown), and performs the various controls described above by executing a program stored in the ROM. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the control unit 29 is shown by one rectangle, but a unit for realizing the function of the control unit 29 is arbitrary, and all the functions of the control unit 29 are realized by one component. It is not realized.

  The control unit 29 supplies the compressed gas from any one of the first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244 to the dispenser 11 by controlling the opening and closing of the valve members 233a to 233d and the valve members 262a to 262d. The dispenser 11 supplies compressed gas (hydrogen gas) to the tank of the vehicle 13 by adjusting the opening of the flow control valve of the dispenser 11.

  Further, the control unit 29 receives the pressure values detected by the first to fourth pressure sensors 251 to 254, and compares the pressure value with a threshold value set in the control unit 29 in advance, thereby performing the first From among the fourth to fourth accumulators 241 to 244, an accumulator having a small remaining amount of compressed gas is determined.

  Further, the control unit 29 controls the activation of the compressor 22 based on the above determination result, and controls the opening and closing of the valve members 282a to 282d, so that the hydrogen gas is transferred from the gas production device 12 to the compressor 22. And the compressed gas is caused to flow into the compressor 22 from any of the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244.

  Here, a startup procedure of the gas supply device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 in addition to FIG.

  At the start point shown in FIG. 2, the gas supply device 2 is in a state where all of the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244 are filled with the compressed gas. Therefore, at this time, the supply of the hydrogen gas from the gas producing device 12 to the compressor 22 is stopped, and the driving of the compressor 22 is also stopped. At this time, the valve members 233a to 233d and the valve members 262a to 262d are assumed to be closed.

  When the vehicle 13 is carried into the hydrogen station 10, the supply of hydrogen gas to the tank is started by connecting the tank of the vehicle 13 to the dispenser 11 (step ST1). Specifically, the control unit 29 starts the supply of the compressed gas from any one of the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244 to the dispenser 11 by performing the opening control of the valve members 262a to 262d. For example, when the supply of the compressed gas from the first pressure accumulator 241 to the dispenser 11 is started, the control unit 29 performs control to open the valve member 262a to thereby control the compression stored in the first pressure accumulator 241. The gas is supplied from the supply path 261 to the dispenser 11. At this time, the dispenser 11 performs the opening adjustment control of the flow control valve included in the dispenser 11, so that the compressed gas is supplied from the dispenser 11 to the vehicle 13 according to a predetermined protocol.

  Incidentally, the control unit 29 sequentially receives the detection results of the pressure values of the first to fourth pressure sensors 251 to 254 attached to the first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244, respectively. Then, the control unit 29 that has received the respective pressure values in the first to fourth pressure sensors 251 to 254 compares the pressure value with a threshold value preset in the control unit 29, and determines whether the pressure value is equal to or less than the threshold value. Is determined (step ST2). This threshold value is set to a value similar to the pressure value in the reservoir when the stored compressed gas is reduced to a level that requires replenishment.

  The control unit 29 that has determined that all the detection results of the pressure values of the first to fourth pressure sensors 251 to 254 exceed the threshold value (No in step ST2), sends the first to fourth pressure sensors 251 to 254 Determines that sufficient compressed gas is stored, and continues to supply hydrogen gas to vehicle 13 without starting compressor 22.

  On the other hand, the control unit 29 that has determined that any of the pressure value detection results of the first to fourth pressure sensors 251 to 254 is equal to or smaller than the threshold (Yes in step ST2), sets the pressure value equal to or smaller than the threshold. It is determined that compressed gas should be supplied to the accumulator corresponding to the pressure sensor indicating, and preparations for starting control of the compressor 22 are performed (steps ST3 to ST5). For example, when the supply of the compressed gas from the first pressure accumulator 241 to the dispenser 11 is started in step ST1, the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor 251 is reduced because the compressed gas in the first pressure accumulator 241 decreases. The value gradually decreases. Then, when the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 251 becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, the control unit 29 performs the start control of the compressor 22 and the control before the start to replenish the first accumulator 241 with the compressed gas. Perform valve opening / closing control as preparation.

  If Yes in step ST2, the connection path unit 23 is adjusted so that the compressed gas can flow into the pressure accumulator for which the detection result of the pressure value by the pressure sensor is determined to be equal to or smaller than the threshold value (step ST3). Specifically, the control unit 29 controls the opening of each of the valve members 233a to 233d so that the compressed gas can flow only into the pressure accumulator determined in step ST2 that the pressure value of the pressure sensor is equal to or smaller than the threshold value. I do. For example, when the control unit 29 starts supplying the compressed gas from the first pressure accumulator 241 to the dispenser 11 in step ST1, and determines that the pressure value in the first pressure sensor 251 has become equal to or less than the threshold value in step ST2. Then, control is performed to open the valve member 233a so that the compressed gas can flow into the first accumulator 241 through the common path 231 and the individual path 232a when the compressor 22 is driven.

  Next, the gas passage unit 21 is adjusted so that hydrogen gas can flow from the gas producing device 12 into the compressor 22 (step ST4). Specifically, the control unit 29 controls opening and closing of the valve member 212 so that the hydrogen gas produced by the gas producing device 12 can flow into the gas flow path 211 at a predetermined pressure. Thereby, when the compressor 22 is driven, the hydrogen gas produced in the gas producing device 12 is sucked into the compressor 22 through the gas passage 211. When the valve member 212 is constituted only by the pressure reducing valve and the hydrogen gas flows from the gas producing device 12 into the compressor 22 in accordance with the suction of the compressor 22, step ST4 can be omitted.

  Next, the supply unit 28 is adjusted so that the compressed gas can flow into the gas flow path 211 from the pressure accumulator determined that the detection result of the pressure value by the pressure sensor exceeds the threshold (step ST5). . Specifically, the control unit 29 controls the valve member so that it can flow into the gas flow path 211 from a pressure accumulator other than the pressure accumulator for which the detection result of the pressure value of the pressure sensor is determined to be equal to or less than the threshold value in step ST2. The on / off control of the on / off valves in 282a to 282d is performed. If it is determined in step ST2 that the detection result of the pressure value of the first pressure sensor 251 is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, the control unit 29 determines whether the second to fourth pressure accumulators 242 to 242 other than the first pressure accumulator 241 The valve members 282a, 282c, and 282d are closed and the valve member 282b is opened so that the compressed gas can flow into the gas flow path 211 from any one of the 244 (the second accumulator 242 in the present embodiment). .

  Next, activation of the compressor 22 is started (step ST6). Specifically, after performing steps ST3 to ST5, the control unit 29 controls the activation of the compressor 22. As a result, the compressor 22 starts driving at a predetermined rotation speed, and sucks gas upstream of the compressor 22 at a suction pressure corresponding to the rotation speed. At this time, since the set pressure of the valve member 212 and the valve member 282e is set to a value corresponding to the suction pressure of the compressor 22, only a shortage of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas producing device 12 is stored in the pressure accumulating unit 24. The compressed gas thus drawn is sucked into the compressor 22. Thereby, the hydrogen gas and the compressed gas flow into the compressor 22, and the compressed gas is generated in the compressor 22. Then, the generated compressed gas is supplied to the accumulator which needs to be refilled.

  Steps ST3 to ST5 may be performed in a different order. Steps ST3 to ST6 may be performed simultaneously.

  In the gas supply device 2 according to the present embodiment described above, the operation of the compressor 22 is started when the compressor 22 is started when the supply flow rate of the gas supplied from the gas production device 12 to the compressor 22 becomes less than the predetermined flow rate. Can be stabilized. The details are as follows.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the supply flow rate (Nm ³ / hr) of the hydrogen gas when the supply of the hydrogen gas from the gas production device 12 is started in step ST4 and the time (min) elapsed from the start of the supply. FIG. In the present embodiment, the rated flow rate of the gas compressor 22 is sucked into the compressor 22 in the case where it is driven at a rotational speed of the rating to be A _1.

As shown in FIG. 3, immediately after starting the supply of hydrogen gas from the gas production apparatus 12 at step ST4, the supply flow rate of the hydrogen gas is not less than the rated flow rate A _1, rated flow A ₁ over time Will approach. In the present embodiment, a period of 0 minute to 75 minutes the supply rate of the hydrogen gas is less than the rated flow A _1. For this reason, when the supply unit 28 does not exist and the compressor 22 sucks only the hydrogen gas from the gas producing device 12, the pressure on the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve becomes lower than the set pressure in the period. In this case, the operation of the compressor 22 becomes unstable. Therefore, in the gas supply device 2 according to the present embodiment, a supply unit 28 that supplies the compressed gas of the pressure accumulation unit 24 to the compressor 22 is provided. Thereby, during a period of 0 minute to 75 minutes when the supply flow rate of the hydrogen gas from the gas production device 12 to the gas flow path 211 is insufficient, the compressed gas can be supplied to the gas flow path 211 through the supply unit 28. it can. Therefore, the possibility that the operation of the compressor 22 becomes unstable can be reduced.

  Further, in the gas supply device 2 according to the present embodiment, since the compressed gas stored in the pressure accumulating unit 24 is used as the gas to be supplied to the compressor 22 when the compressor 22 is started, a storage tank for gas supply and the like are separately provided. Need not be provided.

  Furthermore, in the gas supply device 2 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 29 determines whether or not the pressure value detected by each pressure sensor is equal to or less than a threshold value, and compresses only the accumulator whose pressure value is equal to or less than the threshold value. Open / close control of the valve members 233a to 233d is performed so that the gas flows. Therefore, when the compressor 22 is started, the compressed gas can be effectively supplied to the pressure accumulator of which the remaining amount of the compressed gas is low among the first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244. .

  Further, in the gas supply device 2 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 29 controls the accumulator whose pressure value is equal to or smaller than the threshold value among the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244 at the time of the start control of the compressor 22. The opening / closing control of each of the valve members 282a to 282d is performed so that the compressed gas is supplied to the compressor 22 from the other pressure accumulators other than. Thereby, the compressed gas in the accumulator in which the compressed gas is sufficiently stored can be supplied.

  Further, in the gas supply device 2 according to the present embodiment, when the control unit 29 determines that the pressure of the pressurized gas in the pressure accumulating unit 24 is equal to or less than a preset threshold, the control unit 29 performs the start control of the compressor 22. The compressed gas can be supplied to the pressure accumulating unit 24 before the pressure gas in the pressure accumulating unit 24 runs short. Further, the control unit 29 performs startup control so that the compressed gas is supplied from the supply unit 28 to the gas flow path 211 which is a flow path for flowing the gas from the gas producing apparatus 12 to the compressor 22. When the compressor 22 is started, both the hydrogen gas and the compressed gas flow into the compressor 22 through the gas passage 211. Therefore, the operation of the compressor 22 at the time of starting the pressure can be stabilized.

  Further, in the gas supply device 2 according to the present embodiment, the compressed gas is supplied to the dispenser 11 among the first to fourth accumulators 241 to 244, so that the internal pressure of the first pressure sensor 251 is reduced. Gas can be supplied. Further, since the compressed gas is supplied from the second pressure accumulator 242, which is different from the first pressure accumulator 241 for supplying the compressed gas from the compressor 22, to the gas flow path 211 through the supply unit 28, the compressed gas is sufficiently supplied. The compressed gas in the stored second pressure accumulator 242 is sent to the suction side of the compressor 22 while efficiently supplying the compressed gas to the first pressure accumulator 241 deficient in the compressed gas.

  Further, in the gas supply device 2 according to the present embodiment, since the set pressure of the valve member 282e, which is a pressure reducing valve, is set to a value corresponding to the suction pressure of the compressor 22, an amount corresponding to the suction of the compressor 22 is set. Of compressed gas flows from the pressure accumulating unit 24 into the compressor 22. Therefore, of the gas supply flow rate according to the suction pressure of the compressor 22, only the shortage that cannot be covered by the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas production device 12 can be supplied from the pressure accumulating unit 24. Therefore, the supply flow rate of the compressed gas supplied from the pressure accumulating unit 24 to the compressor 22 when the compressor 22 is started can be optimized.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the compressed gas is supplied from the pressure accumulating unit 24 to the suction side of the compressor 22 through the supply unit 28 when the compressor 22 is started up is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even when a sufficient time has elapsed since the start of the compressor 22, the supply flow rate of the hydrogen gas from the gas production device 12 to the suction side of the compressor 22 changes, and the supply flow rate reaches a predetermined flow rate. In a case where the compressor 22 does not exist, the operation of the compressor 22 can be stabilized by supplying the compressed gas from the pressure accumulating unit 24 to the suction side of the compressor 22 through the supply unit 28.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a gas supply device 2 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the same structure, operation and effect as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

  The gas supply device 2 according to the second embodiment includes a curdle unit 30 instead of the supply unit 28 of the gas supply device 2 according to the first embodiment.

  The curdle unit 30 includes a curdle 31, a curdle flow path 32, and a valve member 33. The curdle 31 is a storage facility for storing gas to be supplied to the compressor 22. The gas of the same main component as the gas supplied from the gas production device 12 to the compressor 22 is stored in the curdle 31. In the present embodiment, since hydrogen gas is supplied from the gas production device 12 to the compressor 22, the gas stored in the curdle 31 is also hydrogen gas. The curdle channel 32 connects the curdle 31 and the gas channel 211. The valve member 33 is attached to the curdle flow path 32. The valve member 33 is composed of, for example, a pressure reducing valve or an on-off valve. The opening and closing of the valve member 33 is controlled by the control unit 29. In the second embodiment, in step ST5 of FIG. 2, the control unit 29 controls the valve member 33 so that the gas stored in the curdle 31 can flow into the gas channel 211 through the curdle channel 32. Do. Accordingly, when the control unit 29 performs the start control of the compressor 22 in step ST6, the hydrogen gas produced in the gas producing apparatus 12 and the gas stored in the curdle 31 are supplied through the gas passage 211 to the compressor. 22 will be sucked.

  As described above, the gas supply device 2 according to the second embodiment includes the curdle unit 30 in which the gas of the same main component as the gas supplied from the gas production device 2 is stored. The gas produced by the gas producing device 12 and the gas stored in the curdle unit 30 can be supplied. When the control unit 29 of the gas supply device 2 starts the compressor 22, the start control is performed such that the gas is supplied from the curdle unit 30 to the compressor 22. Both will be supplied. For this reason, immediately after the compressor 22 is started, it is possible to prevent the supply amount of the gas supplied to the compressor 22 from being reduced, thereby stabilizing the operation of the compressor 22 at the time of start.

  Note that the second embodiment may be combined with the first embodiment. Specifically, the gas supply device 2 according to the first embodiment may include the curdle unit 30 according to the second embodiment. In this case, gas can be supplied to the suction side of the compressor 22 from both the supply unit 28 and the curdle unit 30. For this reason, the operation of the compressor 22 can be more reliably stabilized.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a gas supply device 2 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the same structure, operation and effect as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

  The gas supply device 2 according to the third embodiment further includes a spillback mechanism 40 capable of adjusting a pressure difference between the upstream side and the downstream side of the compressor 22.

  The spillback mechanism 40 includes a bypass flow path 41, a shutoff valve 42, and a discharge control valve 43.

  The bypass flow path 41 connects the gas flow path 211 and the common path 231 so as to straddle the compressor 22. The shutoff valve 42 is attached to the bypass flow passage 41 and can open and close the bypass flow passage 41. The discharge control valve 43 is attached to the pressure accumulating unit 24 side of the common path 231 with respect to a connection point with the bypass flow path 41, and can adjust the discharge amount of the compressed gas to the pressure accumulating unit 24 side. The shut-off valve 42 and the discharge control valve 43 are controlled by the control unit 29.

  In the gas supply device 2 according to the third embodiment, when the compressor 22 is started, the spill-back mechanism 40 causes the gas passage, which is the upstream passage from the common passage 231, which is the downstream passage of the compressor 22. By supplying the compressed gas to 211, the supply flow rate of the compressed gas supplied from the supply unit 28 to the suction side of the compressor 22 can be reduced. Thereby, the time for supplying the compressed gas to the compressor 22 through the supply unit 28 can be reduced. For this reason, the time until the gas supply device 2 can be stably operated only by the gas supplied from the gas production device 2 can be shortened.

  In the third embodiment, the spill-back mechanism 40 is provided in the gas supply device 2 according to the first embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the gas supply device 2 according to the second embodiment may be used. A spillback mechanism 40 may be provided.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a gas supply device 2 according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the same structure, operation and effect as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

The gas supply device 2 according to the fourth embodiment is configured so that the control unit 29 can control the rotation speed of the compressor 22. Specifically, in the fourth embodiment, the compressor 22 is configured so that the rotation speed (rpm) can be changed between r _{max and} r _min .

In the fourth embodiment, when starting the compressor 22 in step ST6 in FIG. 2, the control unit 29 controls the start of the compressor 22 at the rotation speed of r _min . Then, as shown in FIG. 6, by performing control to gradually increase the rotation speed of the compressor 22 every time a fixed time elapses, a low flow rate of the hydrogen gas from the gas production device 12 is obtained when the flow rate is low. The compressor 22 is rotated at a rotation speed, and the compressor 22 is rotated at a high rotation speed as the supply flow rate increases with time.

  In the gas supply device 2 according to the fourth embodiment, the suction pressure of the compressor 22 is reduced by controlling the rotation speed of the compressor 22 when the compressor 22 is started. The supply flow rate of the compressed gas supplied to the suction side of the nozzle 22 can be reduced. Thereby, the time for supplying the compressed gas to the suction side of the compressor 22 through the supply unit 28 can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the time until the gas supply device 2 can be stably operated only by the gas supplied from the gas production device 12.

  In the fourth embodiment, an example has been described in which the control unit 29 performs control to increase the rotation speed of the compressor 22 stepwise with the passage of time. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control unit 29 rotates in a linear shape with the passage of time. Control for increasing the number may be performed.

  Further, the fourth embodiment is a modification of the method of starting the compressor 22 of the gas supply device 2 according to the first embodiment, but is not limited thereto, and the gas supply device 2 according to the second embodiment is not limited to this. May be started by the method according to the fourth embodiment.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a gas supply device 2 according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the same structure, operation and effect as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

  In the gas supply device 2 according to the fifth embodiment, the pressure accumulating unit 24 is constituted by only one first accumulator 241, and the pressure sensor unit 25 is constituted by only one first pressure sensor 251. The supply unit 28 includes a flow path (one flow path in which the individual flow path 281a and the common flow path 281e are directly connected) and a valve member 282e that is a pressure reducing valve.

  In the fifth embodiment, since the flow path is a direct flow path having no branch, there is no need to provide an on-off valve such as the valve members 282a to 282d, and the compressed gas is supplied according to the activation of the compressor 22. When supplying the gas to the suction side of the compressor 22, the control unit 29 does not need to control the opening and closing of the on-off valve.

  The embodiments described above are illustrative in all aspects and should not be construed as limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description of each of the embodiments, and includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  For example, in the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the pressure accumulating unit 24 is configured by four first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244, and in the fifth embodiment, the pressure accumulating unit 24 includes one Although constituted by one accumulator 241, the number of accumulators included in the accumulator 24 is not limited to this. That is, the number of pressure accumulators is arbitrary, and can be appropriately changed according to the usage mode of the gas supply device 2.

  Further, in the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the example in which the pressure accumulating unit 24 is constituted by the four first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244 has been described. A vessel may be provided. This auxiliary pressure accumulator is provided between the connection path unit 23 and the supply path unit 26 similarly to the first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244, and can store the compressed gas from the compressor 22. . In the gas supply device 2, the driving of the compressor 22 is stopped when a sufficient amount of compressed gas is supplied to the first to fourth pressure accumulators 241 to 244, and at this time, the auxiliary pressure accumulator is empty. . In such a case, the compressed gas can be received in the auxiliary pressure accumulator when the compressor 22 is started, so that the compressor 22 can be started quickly.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the compressed gas corresponding to the suction pressure of the compressor 22 is supplied to the suction side of the compressor by the valve member 282e and the valve member 33, which are pressure reducing valves. Although the supply amount of the compressed gas was controlled mechanically, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by attaching a flow meter or a pressure gauge to the gas flow path 211 and using a flow control valve capable of adjusting the opening degree in place of the pressure reducing valve, the control unit 29 which receives the flow rate information or the pressure information allows the gas The opening of the flow control valve may be controlled so that the pressure in the flow path 211 is constant.

  In addition to the above embodiments, the supply flow rate of the hydrogen gas to be supplied to the compressor 22 is reduced by, for example, changing the suction pressure trip value in the compressor 22. However, a method of stably operating the compressor 22 can be considered.

2 Gas supply device 11 Dispenser 12 Gas production device 22 Compressor 24 Accumulation unit 28 Supply unit 29 Control unit (including rotation speed control unit)
30 Card unit 33 Valve member (pressure reducing valve)
Reference Signs List 40 spill-back mechanism 41 bypass flow path 42 shut-off valve 211 gas flow path 241 to 244 first to fourth pressure accumulators (plural pressure accumulators)
251 to 254 First to fourth pressure sensors (plural pressure sensors)
261 Supply path 281a to 281d Flow path 282a to 282d Valve member 282e Valve member (pressure reducing valve)

Claims (7)

A compressor that compresses the gas supplied from the gas production device to generate a compressed gas,
An accumulator unit for storing the compressed gas generated in the compressor,
A supply path for supplying the compressed gas stored in the pressure accumulating unit to a dispenser,
When the supply flow rate of gas from the gas production device to the suction side of the compressor is less than a predetermined flow rate, a supply unit that supplies the compressed gas of the pressure storage unit to the suction side of the compressor ,
The accumulator unit includes a plurality of accumulators,
The supply unit includes a plurality of flow paths connecting each pressure accumulator to the compressor, and a plurality of valve members attached to the flow paths and capable of opening and closing the flow paths,
A valve member is disposed on a connection path connecting the compressor and each accumulator,
A plurality of pressure sensors for detecting the pressure in each of the accumulators,
A control unit for performing start control of the compressor and opening / closing control of the valve member,
The control unit is configured such that when the supply flow rate of the gas from the gas production device to the suction side of the compressor is less than the predetermined flow rate, the pressure detected by each of the pressure sensors of the accumulators is set in advance. Controlling the opening and closing of each valve member of the supply unit so as to supply the compressed gas to the suction side of the compressor from another pressure accumulator other than the pressure accumulator that is equal to or less than the threshold value, and starting the compressor. By performing control, the gas supplied from the gas producing apparatus and the compressed gas supplied from the other pressure accumulator are caused to flow into the compressor, and the compressed gas generated by the compressor is compressed. A gas supply device that controls opening and closing of each valve member of the connection path so as to supply the pressure accumulator that is equal to or less than the preset threshold value . The gas supply device according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit includes a pressure reducing valve that adjusts a supply flow rate of the compressed gas from the pressure accumulation unit to a suction side of the compressor according to a suction pressure of the compressor. Further comprising a curdle unit for storing a gas of the same main component as the gas of the gas producing apparatus,
When the supply flow rate of gas from the gas production device to the suction side of the compressor is less than a predetermined flow rate, the curl unit supplies the gas stored in the curl unit to the suction side of the compressor. gas supply device according to claim 1 or 2. A compressor that compresses a gas supplied from a gas production device through a gas inflow path to generate a compressed gas;
An accumulator unit for storing the compressed gas generated in the compressor,
A supply path for supplying the compressed gas stored in the pressure accumulating unit to a dispenser,
A curl unit that stores a gas of the same main component as the gas supplied from the gas production device,
The curdle unit is
Curdle and
A curdle passage connecting the curl and the gas passage,
A valve member attached to the curdle flow path,
A control unit that performs start control of the compressor and open / close control of the valve member,
When the control section, the supply flow rate of the gas from the gas production apparatus to the suction side of the compressor is equal to or less than the threshold pressure is set in advance in and the pressure accumulator unit is less than a predetermined flow rate, stored in the Kadoru Controlling the valve member so that the gas can flow into the gas flow path through the curdle flow path, and performs start-up control of the compressor so that the gas produced by the gas production apparatus A gas supply device , wherein a gas stored in a curdle is caused to flow into the compressor, and the compressed gas generated by the compressor is supplied to a pressure accumulating unit having a pressure equal to or lower than the threshold . The gas supply device according to claim 4 , wherein the curdle unit includes a pressure reducing valve that adjusts a supply flow rate of gas from the curdle unit to a suction side of the compressor according to a suction pressure of the compressor. A bypass passage bypassing the compressor;
The gas supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , further comprising: a spill-back mechanism having a shut-off valve provided in the bypass passage so as to open and close the bypass passage. The gas supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , further comprising a rotation speed control unit that controls a rotation speed of the compressor so as to adjust a suction pressure of the compressor.

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