Hydrogen storage apparatus
A hydrogen storage apparatus of a vehicle driven by a fuel cell comprising hydrogen storage tank holding apparatuses 8, 9 having pluralities of hydrogen storage tank insert parts 10 . When the replaceable hydrogen storage tank 20 is inserted into the hydrogen storage tank insert part 10 , the hydrogen outflow part 28 of the hydrogen storage tank 20 is coupled with the hydrogen inflow part 23 connected to the fuel cell 40 . The grippable handle 24 is formed at the end portion of the hydrogen storage tank 20 . A work of inserting the hydrogen storage tank 20 into the hydrogen storage tank insert part 10 and a work of coupling the hydrogen inflow part 23 and the hydrogen outflow part 28 is performed by gripping the handle 24.
1 . A hydrogen storage apparatus of a vehicle driven by a fuel cell, comprising:
a hydrogen storage tank holding apparatus supported by the vehicle and having a plurality of hydrogen storage tank insert parts;
replaceable hydrogen storage tanks inserted in the hydrogen storage tank insert parts for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell of the vehicle;
a hydrogen inflow part, connected to the fuel cell, protruding from an end wall of each hydrogen storage tank insert part toward an inside of the hydrogen storage tank insert part;
a hydrogen outflow part, which is coupled with the hydrogen inflow part when a replaceable hydrogen storage tank among the replaceable hydrogen storage tanks is inserted into the hydrogen storage tank insert part, that is a recess formed at one end portion of a casing of the replaceable hydrogen storage tank; and
a grippable handle formed at another end portion of the replaceable hydrogen storage tank, the grippable handle being configured to couple the hydrogen inflow part and the hydrogen outflow part.
2 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the grippable handle is configured to couple the hydrogen inflow part and the hydrogen outflow part by gripping the handle and rotating the replaceable hydrogen storage tank.
3 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen inflow part and the hydrogen outflow part are coupled by fitting the recessed hydrogen outflow part of the replaceable hydrogen storage tank onto the projecting hydrogen inflow part.
4 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the recessed hydrogen outflow part and the projecting hydrogen inflow part have a coupling structure where the recessed hydrogen outflow part is coupled with the projecting hydrogen inflow part based on the recessed hydrogen outflow part being made to rotate after fitting the recessed hydrogen outflow part into the projecting hydrogen inflow part.
5 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the coupling structure is comprised of a screw structure.
6 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a guide wall for guiding the hydrogen outflow part of the replaceable hydrogen storage tank to the hydrogen inflow part when inserting the replaceable hydrogen storage tank into the hydrogen storage tank insert part is formed at the hydrogen storage tank insert part.
7 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the guide wall has a cylindrical shape.
8 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a sensor for detecting a state of stored hydrogen inside the replaceable hydrogen storage tank is arranged at the other end part side of the hydrogen storage tank.
9 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein two end faces of the replaceable hydrogen storage tank are formed from flat surfaces.
10 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a normally closed type outflow control valve for controlling an outflow of hydrogen from the replaceable hydrogen storage tank is arranged at the hydrogen outflow part, and a valve opening control device for controlling opening of the outflow control valve is arranged at the hydrogen inflow part.
11 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen supply control device for controlling a supply of hydrogen from the replaceable hydrogen storage tank to the fuel cell, the hydrogen supply control device has a remaining hydrogen amount estimating unit for estimating a remaining amount of hydrogen inside the replaceable hydrogen storage tank, and a replaceable hydrogen storage tank for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell is selected based on the estimated remaining amount of hydrogen inside the replaceable hydrogen storage tank.
12 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a pair of replaceable hydrogen storage tanks from among the replaceable hydrogen storage tanks held by the hydrogen storage tank holding apparatus are configured to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell, when the estimated remaining amount of hydrogen of at least one hydrogen storage tank among the selected pair of replaceable hydrogen storage tanks falls below a set amount of hydrogen, a next pair of replaceable hydrogen storage tanks from the replaceable hydrogen storage tanks held by the hydrogen storage tank holding apparatus is configured to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell.
13 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the hydrogen supply control device has a display device for displaying the fact that the replaceable hydrogen storage tank should be replaced when the estimated remaining amount of hydrogen of the replaceable hydrogen storage tank falls below the set amount of hydrogen.
14 . The hydrogen storage apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a sensor for detecting a state of stored hydrogen inside the replaceable hydrogen storage tank is arranged at the other end portion side of the replaceable hydrogen storage tank, and the remaining hydrogen amount estimating unit estimates a remaining amount of hydrogen inside the replaceable hydrogen storage tank based on a detection signal of the sensor.