HYDROGEN FILLING APPARATUS

• US 20100012219A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Steel Works Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Steel Works Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Shouichi, Sato, Yukio, Kawaharazaki, Yoshinori, Fujita, Yasuhiro, Shibukawa, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/4
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/035 High pressure (>10 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/035 High pressure, i.e. between 10 and 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/036 Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0346 by forced circulation, e.g. using a fan
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0383 outside the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0478 Position or presence
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/07 for household use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 for filling with compressed gases
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/00 Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/45 Hydrogen technologies in production processes

Abstract

The invention comprises a hydrogen source, a detachable connecting port to which a hydrogen storage container is connected in order to store hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen source, a container cooling unit (an air blower) for cooling a hydrogen storage container connected to the connecting port, a container connection recognition unit (a limit switch, a controller) for recognizing connection of a hydrogen storage container to the connecting port, and a fill-up detection unit (a pressure transmitter, a hydrogen remaining sensor, a controller) for detecting that the hydrogen storage container connected to the connecting port is filled up with hydrogen. Consequently, it contributes to simple and safe hydrogen filling in the general public.

Claims

1. A hydrogen filling apparatus comprising:

a hydrogen source;

a detachable connecting port to which a hydrogen storage container is connected to store hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen source;

a container cooling unit for cooling a hydrogen storage container connected to the connecting port;

a container connection recognition unit for recognizing connection of a hydrogen storage container to the connecting port; and

a fill-up detection unit for detecting that the hydrogen storage container connected to the connecting port is filled up with hydrogen.

2. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a hydrogen filling control unit for supplying and filling the hydrogen storage container with hydrogen from the hydrogen source after recognition of the connection by the connection recognition unit and for completing supply and filling with the hydrogen according to fill-up detection by the fill-up detection unit.

3. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the hydrogen filling control unit controls the container cooling unit to cool a hydrogen storage container supplied and filled with hydrogen.

4. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an apparatus cover with which at least the connecting port is covered, the apparatus cover in which an air introduction port is disposed in a low position and an air discharge port is disposed in a high position and also the connecting port can be arranged proximately in an air path ranging from an air introduction port to an air discharge port; and

an air introduction machine for forcedly introducing air into the air introduction port.

5. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein a hydrogen storage container connected to the connecting port is arrangeable in the air path such that the hydrogen storage container is cooled by air flowing through the air path.

6. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the fill-up detection unit detects a flow rate or a pressure or both of the flow rate and the pressure of hydrogen with which the hydrogen storage container is supplied and filled and calculates a hydrogen filling ratio of the inside of the container based on the detection result.

7. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the fill-up detection unit detects a fill-up based on a detection result of a hydrogen remaining sensor for detecting the remaining amount of hydrogen of the inside of the hydrogen storage container.

8. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the container cooling unit comprises a cooling tube in which a refrigerant flows and heat exchange with the hydrogen storage container is conducted.

9. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a hydrogen tank in the hydrogen source; and

a Peltier device for cooling the hydrogen storage container by the heat absorption side and heating the hydrogen tank by the heat dissipation side in the case of supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen tank.

10. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a charging hole for charging the hydrogen storage container is disposed in an apparatus body comprising the connecting port, and the charging hole has a shape in which the periphery of the hydrogen storage container is surrounded through a small gap, and

wherein an outer peripheral surface of the hydrogen storage container and an inner peripheral surface of the charging hole have concave and convex shapes for positioning in which any one of the peripheral surfaces or the respective peripheral surfaces engage mutually and the hydrogen storage container is positioned so as to have a small gap between the charging hole and the hydrogen storage container over substantially the whole periphery.