Patent Application
20080090120
Embodiments of the present invention will be described.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a description will be made of a fuel remaining amount calculation device for a fuel container in a fuel cell device to which the present invention is applied.
In
The apparatus operation vs fuel consumption amount conversion table block 101 includes fuel consumption amount data prepared in advance, corresponding to the operation of an electric power utilizing apparatus and outputs the fuel consumption amount data in respect of an input of operation mode information.
Note that, an example of the electric power utilizing apparatus herein includes an electric power utilizing apparatus such as an electronic apparatus utilizing electric power generated by a fuel cell using a fuel from the fuel container.
A display block 102 stores a fuel consumption amount, a remaining amount, warning, and the like, and performs displaying for an operator performing an apparatus operation, and the like. An apparatus operation interface block 103 transmits a content of the apparatus operation to an apparatus control block 104.
A fuel used amount counter block 105 records and counts the obtained fuel consumption.
An apparatus power source circuit 106 transmits the output of a fuel cell 107 to an apparatus circuit.
A fuel container 108 supplies a fuel to the fuel cell 107. The fuel container 108 sends data of fuel remaining amount before use to the apparatus control block 104 before use.
An electric power transmission path 109 extends from the fuel cell 107 to the apparatus power source circuit 106.
A fuel flow path 110 supplies the fuel from the fuel container 110 to the fuel cell 107.
The apparatus control block 104 determines the apparatus operation according to the operation information transmitted from the apparatus operation interface block 103 which has received the operation from an apparatus operator, and issues an operation command to each portion. When the apparatus control block 104 starts the above-mentioned operation, the apparatus control block 104 sends operation mode information to the apparatus operation vs fuel consumption amount conversion table block 101. The apparatus operation vs fuel consumption amount conversion table block 101 sends data on the fuel consumption amount in the above-mentioned operation mode to the apparatus control block 104 as information.
The fuel consumption amount in one operation obtained as described above is recorded and counted in the fuel used amount counter block 105.
As a result, the total consumption amount of the fuel is computed. The before-use fuel remaining amount data obtained at a time of installation of the fuel container is subtracted from the total consumption amount of the fuel, thereby obtaining a fuel remaining amount value to display the fuel consumption amount or the fuel remaining amount by the display block 102.
The apparatus operation vs fuel consumption amount conversion table block 101 is prepared in advance by grasping a current value at the time of operation thereof in terms of a design based on characteristics of the fuel cell to be used or by actual measurement of the fuel consumption amount or the like at the time of operation in a manufacturing process.
The apparatus operation vs fuel consumption amount conversion table block 101 performs, in respect of the input of the operation mode, an operation for outputting the fuel consumption amount taking account of a fuel consumption efficiency changed by a current value.
With the structure according to this embodiment, the fuel used amount can be accurately calculated without a need of a special sensor or circuit, and the fuel remaining amount in the fuel container can thus be calculated.
Next, a description will be made of a structural example in which a fuel container unit includes a fuel container and a fuel container storage block according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
The block diagram of
In
A fuel container storage block 201 is integrated with the fuel container and is data-rewritable.
The fuel container storage block 201 is detachably attached to the fuel container 108 to constitute a fuel container unit 202.
The fuel container storage block 201 stores the fuel remaining amount. In addition thereto, information on the number of times of fuel filling, a full container capacity, and the like may be stored in the fuel container storage block 201.
In this embodiment, in a case where the fuel container unit 202 is removed, a final remaining amount is written into the fuel container storage block 201 of the fuel container unit 202 as remaining amount data by command from the apparatus control block 104.
Next, in a case where the fuel container unit 202 is mounted, reading of the remaining amount data is performed from the fuel container storage block 201 of the fuel unit 202 to determine an initial capacity value for calculation of the fuel remaining amount.
A timing to write the remaining amount data into the fuel container unit may be any timing as long as a value is reflected immediately before the removal.
With the structure of this embodiment, even when the fuel container unit 202 is removed at a midpoint of use, the fuel remaining amount at a time of next use can be accurately calculated.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, a description will be made of a case where calculation of the fuel consumption amount by a fuel consumption amount calculation unit using fuel consumption amount data of an apparatus operation vs fuel consumption amount conversion table according to the present invention is performed based on at least one of a one-shot operation and an operation duration time.
A current amount is changed variously depending on the operation with the elapse of time.
One of operation modes of the electric power utilizing apparatus is a one-shot mode in which a change pattern of the current value is determined and in which the fuel consumption amount in the operation mode is determined.
Another of the operation modes is a mode based on the operation duration time, in which a current is constant and a time is not constant and in which the fuel consumption per unit time is determined.
According to the operation mode, the apparatus operation vs fuel consumption amount conversion table outputs the fuel consumption amount in the entire operation with respect to the one-shot mode and outputs data on the fuel consumption amount per unit time with respect to the mode based on the operation duration time.
In the one-shot mode, when the fuel consumption amount in the entire operation is output, it is directly counted as the fuel consumption.
In the mode based on the operation duration time, when the data on the fuel consumption amount per unit time is output, a product of the data on the fuel consumption amount per unit time and a duration time of the operation mode is counted as the fuel consumption.
Next, a description will be made of how the fuel consumption calculation is performed specifically by the electric power utilizing apparatus having those two modes.
A mode A period 303 is an initial operation period of starting of the power source of the electric power utilizing apparatus, in which the power source switch is turned on by an operator, whereby the electric power utilizing apparatus side operates in a predetermined current using pattern for a period TA(S).
A mode of this operation, for example, is a one-shot operation mode MA. According to the apparatus operation vs fuel consumption amount conversion table, the fuel consumption amount is counted as NA (cc).
After completion of this operation, the electric power utilizing apparatus waits for key entry by the operator.
In a case where this period is a mode B period 304, a fuel consumption amount SB (cc) per unit time is determined according to the apparatus operation vs fuel consumption amount conversion table obtained by a relationship between a use current value and the fuel consumption amount in this operation mode.
A fuel consumption amount NB (cc) consumed in the mode B period 304 is calculated from a time TB (S) of the mode B period 304 using the following equation, that is, NB(cc)=SB(cc/S)×TB(S).
In the same manner, after switching on, a fuel consumption amount NC (cc) is the fuel consumption amount in a one-shot operation in a mode of a timing TC, and at a timing TD, the same mode as the mode at a timing TB is used, and a fuel consumption amount per unit time is set to SB (cc/S).
In a mode at a timing TE, the fuel consumption amount per unit time with respect to a current value IE (A) is set to SE (cc/S). At a timing TF, the same mode as the mode at the timing TB is used, and a fuel consumption amount per unit time is set to SB (cc/S).
At a timing TG, similarly to the timing TE, a fuel consumption amount per unit time is set to SE (cc/S).
In a mode at a timing TH, the fuel consumption amount in the one-shot operation is set to NH (cc). In a mode at a timing TI, a fuel consumption amount per unit time with respect to a current value II(A) is set to SI (cc/S). At a timing TJ, a fuel consumption amount in the one-shot operation is set to NJ (cc).
Those values are obtained and counted according to the respective operation modes by using the apparatus operation vs fuel consumption conversion table.
A total fuel consumption amount NTOTAL (cc) until switching off is calculated by using the following equation, that is, NTOTAL(cc)=NA+SB×TB+NC+SB×TD+SE×TE+SB×TF+SE×TG+NH+SI×TI+NJ.
With the above-mentioned fuel consumption amount calculation unit, the fuel consumption can be accurately calculated in an operation whose time is not determined or a transient instantaneous operation, thereby enabling determination of the fuel remaining amount.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-282204, filed Oct. 17, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-282204 | Oct 2006 | JP | national |
