Cogeneration vehicle system utilizing a fuel cell car and a mobile unit as a component of the system

• US 7,040,430 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukunaga, Takashi, Suzuki, Jiro, Nomura, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US10/368,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/53.5
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• 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: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/44 Heat storages, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 : related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04052 : Storage of heat in the fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04156 : with product water removal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04164 : by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0662 : Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 : Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

There is provided a vehicle system, including an electromobile having a fuel cell power generator mounted therein, and a predetermined mobile unit jointable to the electromobile, such that cogeneration within the mobile unit can be realized even during the travel of the electromobile. Via a joint section 30, a vehicle 10 including a fuel cell 13 as a source of motive power is jointed to a mobile unit 20 capable of travelling and at least including a storage battery 23 and a water tank 25. The water produced in the fuel cell 13 is recovered by a water recovery section 21 via the joint section 30. The heat produced in the fuel cell 13 is recovered by a heat recovery section 22 via the joint section 30. The recovered water is warmed up with the recovered heat, and thereafter stored in the water tank 25. The hot water stored in the water tank 25 is utilized as hot water to be used for controlling the temperature of the mobile unit 20 or supplied as hot water. Any excess electric power generated by the fuel cell 13 is stored in the storage battery 23, and supplied onto electric wiring within the mobile unit 20.

Claims

1. A cogeneration vehicle system using a fuel cell car, said cogeneration vehicle system comprising:

a vehicle including a fuel cell for generating electric power by using hydrogen as a fuel and a hydrogen supply section for storing the hydrogen fuel; and

a mobile unit including a space and equipment to be used by a user, the mobile unit being jointed to the vehicle so as to be capable of traveling while being trailed by and exchanging energy with the vehicle,

wherein the mobile unit further includes;

a heat storing section for recovering heat produced through the power generation by the fuel cell from the vehicle, heating predetermined water with the recovered heat, and storing the heated predetermined water in a water tank; and

an electricity storing section for recovering, from the vehicle, excess electric power which is generated through the power generation by the fuel cell but not needed for running the vehicle, and storing the excess electric power in a storage battery.

wherein the energy which is generated by the fuel cell but not used for running the vehicle is stored in the mobile unit, and used by the equipment in the mobile unit,

wherein the heat storing section recovers water produced through the power generation by the fuel cell from the vehicle, and uses the water as the predetermined water, and

wherein the vehicle further includes a filter for removing dust and hazardous matter, and supplies oxygen extracted from air which has been passed through the filter to the fuel cell.

2. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the heated predetermined water stored in the heat storing section is supplied to hot-water supplying equipment in the mobile unit, and the electric power stored in the electricity storing section is supplied to electric equipment in the mobile unit.

3. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein

if the electric power which is generated through the power generation by the fuel cell is smaller than a level of electric power which is necessary for running the vehicle, the electric power stored in the storage battery in the mobile unit is supplied to the vehicle.

4. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein, in a start sequence of the vehicle, the heat stored in the heat storing section in the mobile unit is used to warm up at least one of the fuel cell in the vehicle or the storage battery in the mobile unit.

5. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein, in a start sequence of the vehicle, the heat stored in the heat storing section in the mobile unit is used to warm up at least one of a window pane, internal air, and a seat of the vehicle.

6. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit further comprises a heating section for heating the heated predetermined water stored in the water tank by using catalytic combustion of the hydrogen fuel stored in the vehicle.

7. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle and the mobile unit are capable of being disjointed from each other, and when the vehicle and the mobile unit are disjointed from each other, the vehicle is capable of travelling alone by using the electric power generated by the fuel cell.

8. A cogeneration vehicle system using a fuel cell car, said cogeneration vehicle system comprising:

a vehicle including a fuel cell for generating electric power by using hydrogen as a fuel and a hydrogen supply section for storing the hydrogen fuel; and

a mobile unit including a space and equipment to be used by a user, the mobile unit being jointed to the vehicle so as to be capable of traveling while being trailed by and exchanging energy with the vehicle,

wherein the mobile unit further includes;

a heat storing section for recovering heat produced through the power generation by the fuel cell from the vehicle, heating predetermined water with the recovered heat, and storing the heated predetermined water in a water tank; and

an electricity storing section for recovering, from the vehicle, excess electric power which is generated through the power generation by the fuel cell but not needed for running the vehicle, and storing the excess electric power in a storage battery,

wherein the energy which is generated by the fuel cell but not used for running the vehicle is stored in the mobile unit, and used by the equipment in the mobile unit,

wherein when the heated predetermined water stored in the water tank is to be used for drinking, the mobile unit discharges the heated predetermined water out of the mobile unit if the heated predetermined water is cooled to about 50°

C. or lower, and

wherein when the heated predetermined water stored in the water tank is to be used for a purpose other than drinking, the mobile unit discharges the heated predetermined water out of the mobile unit before the heated predetermined water is cooled to about 0°

C.

9. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 8, wherein the heated predetermined water stored in the heat storing section is supplied to hot-water supplying equipment in the mobile unit, and the electric power stored in the electricity storing section is supplied to electric equipment in the mobile unit.

10. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 8, wherein

if the electric power which is generated through the power generation by the fuel cell is smaller than a level of electric power which is necessary for running the vehicle, the electric power stored in the storage battery in the mobile unit is supplied to the vehicle.

11. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 8, wherein, in a start sequence of the vehicle, the heat stored in the heat storing section in the mobile unit is used to warm up at least one of the fuel cell in the vehicle or the storage battery in the mobile unit.

12. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 8, wherein, in a start sequence of the vehicle, the heat stored in the heat storing section in the mobile unit is used to warm up at least one of a window pane, internal air, and a seat of the vehicle.

13. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 8, wherein the mobile unit further comprises a heating section for heating the heated predetermined water stored in the water tank by using catalytic combustion of the hydrogen fuel stored in the vehicle.

14. The cogeneration vehicle system according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle and the mobile unit are capable of being disjointed from each other, and when the vehicle and the mobile unit are disjointed from each other, the vehicle is capable of travelling alone by using the electric power generated by the fuel cell.