Hydrogn supply apparatus and fuel gas supply apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a hydrogen supply apparatus which can mix an odorant with hydrogen gas even at a low temperature and can detect the leakage of the hydrogen gas. The apparatus comprises a gas storage portion which stores hydrogen gas therein, an odorant-addition portion which adds an odorant to the hydrogen gas fed from the gas storage portion, and a temperature control portion which controls the temperature of at least one of the hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage portion, the hydrogen gas fed from the gas storage portion and the odorant.

1 . A hydrogen supply apparatus, comprising:
 a gas storage portion which stores a hydrogen gas;   an odorant addition portion which adds an odorant to the hydrogen gas;   a temperature adjustment portion which adjusts a temperature of at least one of the hydrogen gas, the odorant, and the hydrogen gas to which the odorant has been added, so as to suppress the odorant mixed with the hydrogen gas from being solidified or liquefied;   an odorant temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the odorant to be added by the odorant addition portion; and   a prediction portion which obtains, as data, a temperature variation in the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion, which is caused by adiabatic expansion, and for predicting, based on the data, how the temperature of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion is reduced due to adiabatic expansion,   wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the odorant added by the odorant addition portion, when the temperature of the odorant detected by the odorant temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and   wherein the heating portion applies heat to the odorant, added to the hydrogen gas, in accordance with a heating amount determined based on:   the temperature of the odorant detected by the odorant temperature detection portion,   how the temperature of the hydrogen gas is reduced predicted by the prediction portion, and   a property of the odorant including at least one of a boiling point and a melting point of the odorant.   
   
   
       2 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stored gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a gas temperature reduction suppression portion which suppresses a temperature reduction in hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage portion, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas detected by the stored gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       3 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas detected by the hydrogen gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the odorant when at least one of the temperature of the hydrogen gas detected by the hydrogen gas temperature detection portion and the temperature of the odorant detected by the odorant temperature detection portion meets a predetermined condition.   
   
   
       6 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the hydrogen gas which is supplied from the gas storage and to which the odorant has been added by the odorant addition portion, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas detected by the hydrogen gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       7 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen gas supply amount adjustment portion which adjusts a supply amount of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion decreases the supply amount of the hydrogen gas, supplied from the gas storage portion, by the hydrogen gas supply amount adjustment portion, to thereby suppress a temperature reduction in hydrogen gas.   
   
   
       8 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or higher than a melting point of the odorant. 
   
   
       9 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or higher than a boiling point of the odorant. 
   
   
       10 . A hydrogen supply apparatus, comprising:
 a gas storage portion which stores a hydrogen gas mixed with an odorant;   a gas supply portion which supplies the hydrogen gas from the gas storage portion;   a gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage portion;   a gas temperature reduction suppression portion which suppresses a temperature reduction in hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage portion, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas detected by the gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature;   an odorant temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the odorant to be mixed with the hydrogen gas; and   a prediction portion which obtains, as data, a temperature variation in the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion, which is caused by adiabatic expansion, and for predicting, based on the data, how the temperature of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion is reduced due to adiabatic expansion,   wherein the predetermined temperature is set as a temperature at which the odorant to be mixed with the hydrogen gas is solidified or liquefied,   wherein the gas temperature reduction suppression portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the odorant added by the odorant addition portion, when the temperature of the odorant detected by the odorant temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, and   wherein the heating portion applies heat to the odorant, added to the hydrogen gas, in accordance with a heating amount determined based on:   the temperature of the odorant detected by the odorant temperature detection portion,   how the temperature of the hydrogen gas is reduced predicted by the prediction portion, and   a property of the odorant including at least one of a boiling point and a melting point of the odorant.   
   
   
       11 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a hydrogen gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion, when the temperature of the hydrogen gas detected by the hydrogen gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       12 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a hydrogen gas supply amount adjustment portion which adjusts a supply amount of the hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion decreases the supply amount of the hydrogen gas, supplied from the gas storage portion, by the hydrogen gas supply amount adjustment portion, to thereby suppress a temperature reduction in hydrogen gas.   
   
   
       13 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or higher than a melting point of the odorant. 
   
   
       14 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or higher than a boiling point of the odorant. 
   
   
       15 . A fuel gas supply apparatus, comprising:
 a gas storage portion which stores a fuel gas;   an odorant addition portion which adds an odorant to the fuel gas;   a temperature adjustment portion which adjusts the temperature of at least one of the hydrogen gas, the odorant, and the hydrogen gas to which the odorant has been added, so as to suppress the odorant mixed with the fuel gas from being solidified or liquefied;   an odorant temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the odorant to be added by the odorant addition portion; and   a prediction portion which obtains, as data, a temperature variation in the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage portion, which is caused by adiabatic expansion, and for predicting, based on the data, how the temperature of the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage portion is reduced due to adiabatic expansion,   wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the odorant added by the odorant addition portion, when the temperature of the odorant detected by the odorant temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and   wherein the heating portion applies heat to the odorant, added to the fuel gas, in accordance with a heating amount determined based on:   the temperature of the odorant detected by the odorant temperature detection portion,   how the temperature of the fuel gas is reduced predicted by the prediction portion, and   a property of the odorant including at least one of a boiling point and a melting point of the odorant.   
   
   
       16 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a stored gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the fuel gas stored in the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a gas temperature reduction suppression portion which suppresses a temperature reduction in fuel gas stored in the gas storage portion, when the temperature of the fuel gas detected by the stored gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       17 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a fuel gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage portion, when the temperature of the fuel gas detected by the fuel gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a fuel gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the odorant when at least one of the temperature of the hydrogen fuel gas detected by the fuel gas temperature detection portion and the temperature of the odorant detected by the odorant temperature detection portion meets a predetermined condition.   
   
   
       20 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a fuel gas temperature detection r portion which detects the temperature of the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the fuel gas which is supplied from the gas storage portion and to which the odorant has been added by the odorant addition portion, when the temperature of the fuel gas detected by the fuel gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       21 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a fuel gas supply amount adjustment portion which adjusts a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion decreases the supply amount of the fuel gas, supplied from the gas storage portion, by the fuel gas supply amount adjustment portion, to thereby suppress a temperature reduction in fuel gas.   
   
   
       22 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or higher than a melting point of the odorant. 
   
   
       23 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or higher than a boiling point of the odorant. 
   
   
       24 . A fuel gas supply apparatus, comprising:
 a gas storage portion which stores a fuel gas mixed with an odorant;   a gas supply portion which supplies the fuel gas from the gas storage portion;   a gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the fuel gas stored in the gas storage portion; and   a gas temperature reduction suppression portion which suppresses a temperature reduction in fuel gas stored in the gas storage portion, when the temperature of the fuel gas detected by the gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature,   wherein the predetermined temperature is set as a temperature at which the odorant to be mixed with the fuel gas is solidified or liquefied.   
   
   
       25 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising a fuel gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion has a heating portion which increases the temperature of the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage portion, when the temperature of the fuel gas detected by the fuel gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       26 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising a fuel gas supply amount adjustment portion which adjusts a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied from the gas storage portion,
 wherein the temperature adjustment portion decreases the supply amount of the fuel gas, supplied from the gas storage portion, by the fuel gas supply amount adjustment portion, to thereby suppress a temperature reduction in hydrogen gas.   
   
   
       27 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or higher than a melting point of the odorant. 
   
   
       28 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or higher than a boiling point of the odorant. 
   
   
       29 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas storage portion comprises a plurality of gas storage portions;   the apparatus further comprises a stored gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage portion; and   when the temperature of the hydrogen gas detected by the stored gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the temperature adjustment portion selects, out of the plurality of gas storage portions, the gas storage portion the temperature of which is higher than the predetermined temperature, to thereby supply the hydrogen gas inside the gas storage portion to a fuel cell.   
   
   
       30 . A hydrogen supply apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the gas temperature reduction suppression portion is a heating portion which heats the hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage portion, and   wherein the heating portion is disposed at a lower part of the gas storage portion.   
   
   
       31 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the gas storage portion comprises a plurality of gas storage portions;   the apparatus further comprises a stored gas temperature detection portion which detects the temperature of the fuel gas stored in the gas storage portion; and   when the temperature of the fuel gas detected by the stored gas temperature detection portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the temperature adjustment portion selects, out of the plurality of gas storage portions, the gas storage portion the temperature of which is higher than the predetermined temperature, to thereby supply the fuel gas inside the gas storage portion to a fuel cell.   
   
   
       32 . A fuel gas supply apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the gas temperature reduction suppression portion is a heating portion which heats the fuel gas stored in the gas storage portion, and   wherein the heating portion is disposed at a lower part of the gas storage portion.