Patent Application
20220397238
The present invention relates to a hydrogen supply system.
At a business facility such as a distribution warehouse or a factory, expectations are running high for a fuel_-cell forklift (hereinafter referred to as an “FC forklift”) because of advantages such as CO2 reduction as well as filling time reduction and unnecessity of backup batteries.
A typical fuel-cell vehicle travels to a hydrogen station provided at a particular place to have a refill of hydrogen (hydrogen gas) as fuel as fuel (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example). However, some commercial vehicles such as the FC forklifts operated at the business facility or the like cannot travel on a public road and thus have difficulty in traveling to a hydrogen station to have a refill of hydrogen. Furthermore, since spread of FC forklifts is at an initial stage in Japan, it is difficult in reality to hold a hydrogen station in, for example, a business facility.
Thus, recently, a mobile supply system using a dedicated filling vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a “mobile hydrogen station”) has become available as a system of hydrogen supply to the FC forklifts. The mobile hydrogen station used in this system is constituted by, for example, a dedicated large-sized truck provided with a cargo bed on which a hydrogen storage container and a hydrogen filling device are installed.
The mobile hydrogen station fills a hydrogen storage zone with hydrogen at a hydrogen filling facility provided at a particular place, and then moves to the business facility having made a request and fills, with hydrogen, an FC forklift having a decreased hydrogen storage amount. Note that, since the hydrogen storage container provided at the mobile hydrogen station fixed to the cargo bed, it is impossible to remove and transport the hydrogen storage container itself.
The mobile supply system using a conventional mobile hydrogen station has problems as described below. For example, when the hydrogen storage amount of the FC forklift in the business facility has decreased, the mobile hydrogen station transports hydrogen upon a request from the business operator side. Thus, when arrival of the mobile hydrogen station is delayed because of an unexpected reason such as traffic congestion, hydrogen in the FC forklift runs out first, which interferes operation in some cases.
Furthermore, a typical mobile hydrogen station carries hydrogen in an amount enough for supply to three or four FC forklifts and visits and transports hydrogen to a plurality of business facilities in one service. Thus, there is the problem that hydrogen runs out before a business facility far from the hydrogen filling facility is reached and hydrogen cannot be supplied to a business facility at a remote place.
In addition, considerable cost is needed to operate a single mobile hydrogen station, and thus, for example, it is difficult in reality to shuttle a plurality of mobile hydrogen stations between the hydrogen filling facility and a plurality of business facilities. Thus, with the mobile supply system using the conventional mobile hydrogen station, it is difficult for the mobile hydrogen station to arrive at a timing desired by each business facility, and there is the problem that the FC forklift cannot be refilled when needed, which results in low usability.
The present invention is made in view of the above description and an object is to provide a hydrogen supply system capable of supplying hydrogen to a fuel-cell vehicle at a desired timing.
To solve the above-described problem and achieve the object, a hydrogen supply system according to the present invention is configured to supply hydrogen to a fuel-cell vehicle by using a curdle for hydrogen transport, and includes: a filling unit provided at a hydrogen filling facility and configured to fill the curdle with hydrogen; a management unit configured to calculate a transport timing at which the hydrogen-filled curdle is transported to a business facility that operates the fuel-cell vehicle; a transport unit configured to transport the hydrogen-filled curdle to the business facility in accordance with the transport timing; and a disposition unit configured to dispose the hydrogen-filled curdle transported to the business facility at a place to which the fuel-cell vehicle is capable of accessing to have a refill of the hydrogen in the business facility.
In the above-described hydrogen supply system according to the present invention, the curdle includes a dispenser unit configured to supply the hydrogen to the fuel-cell vehicle.
In the above-described hydrogen supply system according to the present invention, the transport unit is configured to collect the curdle disposed in the business facility and having a decreased hydrogen storage amount, and transport the curdle to the hydrogen and the filling unit is configured to fill the curdle transported to the hydrogen filling facility with the hydrogen.
In the above-described hydrogen supply system according to the present invention, when collecting the curdle having a decreased hydrogen storage amount, the transport unit is configured to transport another hydrogen-filled curdle to the business facility.
The above-described hydrogen supply system according to the present invention further includes a remaining amount data acquisition unit configured to acquire hydrogen remaining amount data on a curdle disposed at the business facility, wherein the management unit is configured to predict, based on the remaining amount data, a remaining amount of the hydrogen in future in the curdle disposed at the business facility, and calculate the transport timing based on the predicted remaining amount of the hydrogen.
In the above-described hydrogen supply system according to the present invention, the remaining amount data acquisition unit is configured to further acquire hydrogen remaining amount data on the fuel-cell vehicle operated at the business facility, and the management unit is configured to predict the remaining amount of the hydrogen that is able to be used at the business facility in future based on the remaining amount data on the curdle and the remaining amount data on the fuel-cell vehicle, and calculate the transport timing based on the predicted remaining amount of the hydrogen.
In the above-described hydrogen supply system according to the present invention, the curdle includes a plurality of hydrogen storage containers, and each of the hydrogen storage containers is a composite structure container made of a steel liner and a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.
In the above-described hydrogen supply system according to the present invention, the carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic used for each of the hydrogen storage containers has a longitudinal elastic modulus equal to or larger than 230 GPa.
In the above-described hydrogen supply system according to the present invention, each of the hydrogen storage containers has a maximum hydrogen storage pressure of 40 MPa or higher.
According to the present invention, it is possible to supply hydrogen to a fuel-cell vehicle at a desired timing by transporting a portable curdle to the business facility and keeping and using the curdle at the business facility. Specifically, according to the present invention, the timing of filling a fuel-cell vehicle with hydrogen can be determined by a user, which improves convenience at hydrogen supply.
The following describes a hydrogen supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that, constituent components in the embodiment described below include those easily replaceable by the skilled person in the art or those identical in effect.
(Hydrogen Supply System)
The following first describes the hydrogen supply system according to the present embodiment with reference to
No to that, the above-described “business facility” is, for example, a distribution warehouse or a factory. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of business facilities. Moreover, there may be a plurality of FC forklifts 5 operated at each business facility.
The management device 1, the hydrogen filling device 2, each curdle 4, and each FC forklift 5 can perform mutual communication through a network NW. The network NW is constituted by, for example, the Internet network, a cellular-phone network, and the like.
(Management Device)
The following describes the management device (management unit) 1. The management device 1 is provided at a management center. The management device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a storage unit 13. Specifically, the control unit 11 includes a processor constituted by a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and a memory (main storage unit) constituted by a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM) (neither illustrated).
The control unit 11 loads a computer program stored in the storage unit 13 onto a work area of the main storage unit, executes the computer program, and controls each component or the like through the execution of the computer program, thereby achieving a function matching a predetermined purpose. The control unit 11 functions as a remaining amount prediction unit 111 and a transport timing, calculation unit 112 through the execution of the computer program. Note that, details of the remaining amount Prediction unit 111 and the transport timing calculation unit 112 will be described later.
The communication unit 12 is constituted by, for example, a local area network (LAN) interface board, a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication, and the like. The communication unit 12 is connected to the network NW such as the Internet as a public communication network. In addition, the communication unit 12 performs communication with the hydrogen filling device 2, each curdle 4, and each FC forklift 5 by connecting to the network NW.
The storage unit 13 is constituted by a recording medium such as an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), a hard disk drive (HID), or a removable media. The removable media is, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) memory or a disk recording medium such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), or a Btu-ray (registered trademark) disc (BD). Furthermore, an operating system (OS), various computer programs, various tables, various databases, and the like can be stored in the storage unit 13. For example, hydrogen remaining amount data periodically transmitted from each curdle 4 and each FC forklift 5 and data such as a result of calculation by the control unit 11 are stored in the storage unit 13.
(Hydrogen Filling Device)
The following describes the hydrogen filling device (filling unit) 2. The hydrogen filling device 2 is a device for filling, with hydrogen, a curdle 4 transported by the transport vehicle 3 and is provided at a hydrogen filling facility. The hydrogen filling facility is, for example, a hydrogen generation source configured to generate by-product hydrogen by petroleum refinement and waste plastic generation. The hydrogen filling device 2 includes a non-illustrated compressor, compresses the hydrogen generated at the hydrogen filling facility, and then fills, with the hydrogen, the curdle 4 collected or transported by the transport vehicle 3.
(Transport Vehicle)
The transport vehicle (transport unit) 3 is a general-purpose vehicle such as a typical truck and transports the curdle 4 between the hydrogen filling facility and the business facility. The transport vehicle 3 transports a hydrogen-filled curdle 4 that is filled with hydrogen at the hydrogen filling facility to the business facility. Then, the transport vehicle 3 collects a curdle 4 disposed in the business facility and having a decreased hydrogen storage amount and transports the collected curdle 4 to the hydrogen filling facility.
Specifically, when collecting the curdle 4 having a decreased hydrogen storage amount, the transport vehicle 3 transports another hydrogen-filled curdle 4 to the business facility. Note that, the “curdle 4 having a decreased hydrogen storage amount” means, for example, a curdle 4 having a hydrogen storage pressure decreased to “20 MPa” approximately when the curdle 4 initially has a hydrogen storage pressure of “45 MPa”.
Although a dedicated filling vehicle such as a mobile hydrogen station is used is the conventional mobile supply system, the transport vehicle 3 in the present embodiment may use any vehicle on which a curdle 4 can be loaded. Furthermore, a plurality of curdles 4 may be loaded on the transport vehicle 3.
(Curdle)
Each curdle 4 is for supplying hydrogen to the FC forklift 5 at the business facility. The curdle 4 is placed at a predetermined place in the business facility, and when hydrogen filling is needed, the FC forklift 5 travels to the above-described place to be filled with hydrogen. Note that, the hydrogen filling from the curdle 4 to the FC forklift 5 is directly performed by the driver of the FC forklift 5. Furthermore, the hydrogen from the curdle 4 to the FC forklift 5 is completed in several minutes (for example, three minutes approximately).
The curdle 4 includes a plurality of hydrogen storage containers 41. Each hydrogen storage container 41 is a composite structure container made of a steel liner (steel pipe) and a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. The hydrogen storage container 41 has a structure in which a sheet of the carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic is wound around the steel liner. The carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic used for the hydrogen storage container 41 preferably has a longitudinal elastic modulus equal to or larger than 230 GPa. It is possible to achieve both weight reduction and high rigidity of the hydrogen storage container 41 by using the carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic having the above-described elastic modulus. More preferably, the elastic modulus is equal to or larger than 350 GPa.
Each hydrogen storage container 41 is preferably designed, for example, as described below. Note that, the hydrogen storage pressures of hydrogen storage containers 41 in one curdle 4 may be all the same (for example, 45 MPa at three curdles) or may be partially different (for example, 45 MPa at two curdles and 30 MPa at one curdle).
Although omitted from illustrations in
The dispenser unit is a unit for supplying hydrogen to the FC forklift 5 and has at least a function to prevent abrupt temperature increase of the hydrogen storage containers 41 at hydrogen filling. Furthermore, the dispenser unit may include a control valve configured to automatically control a flow rate of hydrogen, and a rapid filling software application configured to perform hydrogen filling while switching a plurality of hydrogen storage containers 41. In addition, the dispenser unit may include an orifice for controlling the flow rate of hydrogen.
Furthermore, the sprinkler unit is a unit for cooling the hydrogen storage containers 41 by sprinkling and provided to prevent exceedance of, for example, a use temperature upper limit set by “High Pressure Gas Safety Act”. Furthermore, the protection barrier is a wall provided so that the hydrogen storage containers 41 is not exposed to direct sunlight. Furthermore, the fork pocket is a guide hole into which the FC forklift 5 inserts a click when transporting the curdle 4 being loaded on the transport vehicle 3.
Each curdle is preferably designed to have a total weight of, for example, 2.5 t or lower including the above-described plurality of hydrogen storage containers 41, the dispenser unit, the sprinkler unit, and the protection barrier, and the like. With the total weight of 2.5 t or lower, the curdle 4 can be lifted by the FC forklift 5 and easily loaded onto the general-purpose vehicle.
(FC Forklift)
Each FC forklift 5 is an industrial fuel-cell vehicle operated in the business facility and travels on a non-public road. Although omitted from illustrations in
The FC forklift 5 functions as a disposition unit configured to dispose the hydrogen-filled curdle 4 at a predetermined place in the business facility when the transport vehicle 3 has arrived at the business facility. In this case, the FC forklift 5 inserts the click into toe fork pocket provided to the curdle 4 loaded on the transport vehicle 3 and transports the curdle 4. Note that, the above-described “predetermined place” means a place to which the FC forklift 5 is capable of freely accessing to have a refill of hydrogen in the business facility and around which an explosion-proof electric facility is disposed.
(Hydrogen Supply Method)
The following describes a method of hydrogen supply by the hydrogen supply system with reference to
Subsequently, residual pressures of the curdle 4 and the FC forklift 5 are measured by using a pressure meter and a thermometer, and the hydrogen remaining amount data is acquired from temperatures and pressures thus obtained. Thereafter, the hydrogen remaining amount data is periodically transmitted to the management device 1 (steps S3 and S4). Subsequently, the remaining amount prediction unit 111 of the management device 1 measures the residual pressures of the curdle 4 and the FC forklift 5 by using the pressure meter and thermometer provided to each of the curdle 4 and the FC forklift 5, and acquires the hydrogen remaining amount data from temperatures and pressures thus obtained. Then, the remaining amount prediction unit 111 predicts the remaining amount of hydrogen that can be used at the business facility in future based on these remaining amount data (step S5)
Note that, the above-described temperatures do not necessarily need to be obtained by directly measuring the temperatures of the containers, and for example, an environmental temperature such as outside temperature of an environment in which the containers are used may be used. Furthermore, at step S5, the remaining amount of hydrogen that can be used the business facility in future can be predicted by using, for example, Expression (1) below.
Symbols in Expression (1) above denote as follows.
The following describes exemplary calculation (exemplary prediction) of a hydrogen remaining amount in future by using Expression (1) above. In this example, at a business facility owns and operates one curdle 4 and two FC forklifts 5, and a remaining amount of hydrogen that can be used at the business facility in future one hour after is predicted for a case in which values received by the remaining amount prediction unit 111 at time t are as follows.
αi(t): correction ratio of the hydrogen remaining amount of the first curdle 4, which is received by the remaining amount prediction unit 111 at time t=0.8
In this case, the remaining amount prediction unit 111 calculates the remaining amount of hydrogen that can be used at the business facility in future one hour after, using Expression (1) above as described below.
R(1)=0.8×10kg−{1kg(1−0.2)+0.2kg}−1kg{1kg(1−0.5)+0.4kg}==8kg−1kg−0.9kg=6.1kg
In Expression (1) above, Xi is preferably calculated from an operation record at each business facility or the like by computational science using IoT or the like. Furthermore, the remaining amount prediction unit may predict the number of FC forklifts 5 that can be filled with hydrogen remaining in a curdle 4. Hereinafter, description of step S6 or later in
Subsequently, the transport timing calculation unit 112 of the management device 1 calculates, based on the hydrogen remaining amount of the curdle 4 in future, which is predicted by the remaining amount prediction unit 111, a transport timing at which a hydrogen-filled curdle 4 is transported to the business facility (step S6). The transport timing calculation unit 112 calculates, as the transport timing, for example, a time point earlier than a time point at which the hydrogen remaining amount of the curdle 4 disposed at the business facility runs out.
Note that, when calculating the transport timing, the transport timing calculation unit 112 may calculate the transport timing, with consideration on, for example, the degree of congestion of vehicles on a travel route of the transport vehicle 3 to the business facility, or the like. Alternatively, the transport timing calculated by the transport timing calculation unit 112 may be a time at which the transport vehicle 3 departs the hydrogen filling facility or may be a time at which the transport vehicle 3 arrives at the business facility.
Subsequently, the transport vehicle 3 transports a hydrogen-filled curdle 4 to the business facility in accordance with the transport timing calculated by the transport timing calculation unit 112. Specifically, when the above-described transport timing is the time of departure from the hydrogen filling facility, the transport vehicle 3 departs the hydrogen filling facility at the time, or when the above-described transport timing is the time of arrival at the business facility, the transport vehicle 3 arrives at the business facility in the time.
Furthermore, when having transported the hydrogen-filled curdle 4 to the business facility, the transport vehicle 3 also collects a curdle 4 having a decreased hydrogen storage amount (step S8). Then, the hydrogen filling device 2 refills, with hydrogen, the curdle 4 having a decreased hydrogen storage amount and transported by the transport vehicle 3 (step S9). Thereafter, steps S2 to S9 are repeated.
With the hydrogen supply system according to the present embodiment as described above, it is possible to supply hydrogen to the FC forklift 5 at a desired timing by transporting a portable curdle 4 to the business facility and keeping and using the curdle at the business facility. In other words, with the hydrogen supply system according to the present embodiment, the timing of filling the FC forklift 5 with hydrogen can be determined by the user, which improves convenience at hydrogen supply.
Furthermore, with the hydrogen supply system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to transport the curdle 4 to the business facility at an optimum timing, thereby preventing a situation in which hydrogen in the FC forklift 5 runs out before the curdle 4 is transported.
The hydrogen supply system according to the present invention has been described in detail by means of the form of the invention and examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these descriptions, and should be interpreted broadly based on the claims. In addition, it goes without saying that various changes and modifications based on these descriptions are also included in the scope of the present invention.
For example, the example in which the hydrogen supply system is applied to the FC forklift 5 as the industrial fuel-cell vehicle is described in the above-described embodiment, but the hydrogen supply system may be applied to a household fuel-cell vehicle. Furthermore, the hydrogen supply system is applicable not only to the fuel-cell vehicle but also to a mobile object such as a ship or a drone on which a fuel cell system is implemented.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the remaining amount prediction unit 111 of the management device 1 acquires the hydrogen remaining amount data on the curdle 4 and the FC forklift 5 and predicts, based on these remaining amount data, the remaining amount of hydrogen that can be used at the business facility in future (refer to step S5 in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-207666 | Nov 2019 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2020/042978 | 11/18/2020 | WO |
