Installation structure of release pipe in fuel cell vehicle and fuel gas vehicle

• US 20090025989A1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Togasawa, Shuichi, Takaku, Koichi, Miura, Kentaro
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/01 Arrangement of fuel conduits chassis frame forming fluid conduit means B62D21/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03427 for heating fuel, e.g. to avoiding freezing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/71 Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0107 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/013 Two or more vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/908 Fuel cell

Abstract

A release outlet (52) of a release pipe (51) of a relief valve (50) is provided in the vicinity of an exhaust outlet (170) of a fuel cell box (39) in a space between a sub-frame (22) and the fuel cell box (39). A ventilating inlet (130) is formed on a front wall (120) of the fuel cell box (39). A fan (180) can send outside air into the fuel cell box (39). A ventilation flow of the outside air which is sent into the fuel cell box (39) passes through and ventilates the fuel cell box (39) so as to cool a fuel cell stack (38). Exhaust air is exhausted rearward from the exhaust outlet (170) of an exhaust duct (160). The release pipe (51) and the release outlet (52) are heated by the exhaust air. Therefore, heating the release pipe (51) and the release outlet (52) can prevent the release outlet (52) from being blocked by snow or ice.

Claims

1. An installation structure of a release pipe in a fuel cell vehicle having a hydrogen tank which stores hydrogen as fuel gas and a fuel cell stack which generates electric power using the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank, the fuel cell stack and the hydrogen tank being arranged in order from front to back of the vehicle in such a manner that the fuel cell stack lies ahead of the hydrogen tank between left and right mainframes which extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle under a floor of the vehicle, wherein

the release pipe is provided to release the fuel gas in abnormal conditions, and wherein

at least a release outlet of the release pipe is placed between the left and right mainframes and between the fuel cell stack and the hydrogen tank under the floor.

2. An installation structure of a release pipe in a fuel cell vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a fuel cell box which contains at least the fuel cell stack; and

a ventilation which ventilates hydrogen inside the fuel cell box;

wherein the ventilation sends ventilation air to rearward of the fuel cell box toward the release outlet.

3. An installation structure of a release pipe in a fuel cell vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the release outlet is placed in a higher position than a center axis of the hydrogen tank.

5. An installation structure of a release pipe in a fuel cell vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the release outlet is placed in a higher position than a center axis of the hydrogen tank.

4. An installation structure of a release pipe in a fuel gas vehicle having a gas container which stores fuel gas, and an engine which generates power using the fuel gas supplied from the gas container, wherein

the release pipe is provided to release the fuel gas in abnormal conditions, and wherein

at least a release outlet of the release pipe is placed in an area which is heated by the engine.