Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki

Daigoro Mori

Hidehito Kubo

Masahiko Kimbara

Keiji Toh

Katsuyoshi Fujita

Akiko Kumano

Yoshihiro Isogai

Takehiro Nito

Makoto Tsuzuki

Katsuhiko Hirose

Norihiko Haraikawa

Kumiko Nishizawa

Hidefumi Oishi

Shintaro Watanabe

Kenji Komiya

Kosei Yoshida

A hydrogen filling system includes a first tank and a second tank that are configured to be filled with hydrogen and communicate with each other, a first hydrogen feeder and a second hydrogen feeder configured to feed hydrogen to the first tank and the second tank, and a controller configured to control the first hydrogen feeder and the second hydrogen feeder. The controller estimates a hydrogen fill factor of the first tank and the second tank, based on a first internal temperature of the first tank and a second internal temperature of the second tank, and a first pressure of hydrogen gas fed from the first hydrogen feeder and a second pressure of hydrogen gas fed from the second hydrogen feeder. The controller is configured to stop the first hydrogen feeder and the second hydrogen feeder when the hydrogen fill factor reaches a predetermined threshold fill factor.

Hydrogen filling system

It is possible to achieve reduction in the occurrence of tension decrease at fiber bundles in a sheet. A method of manufacturing a tank includes several steps. A feed step is carried out of feeding a sheet including aligned fiber bundles while applying tension to the sheet in the longitudinal directions of the fiber bundles. The method further includes a detection step of detecting a decreased tension part subjected to tension decrease in the sheet being fed and a tension recovery step of compensating for the tension decrease at the decreased tension part by spraying an organic solvent if the decreased tension part is detected in the detection step. The method also includes a winding step of winding the sheet having been fed on a liner.

Method of manufacturing tank

A hydrogen filling system includes: a hydrogen tank that is filled with hydrogen; a determination unit that determines whether to fill hydrogen into the hydrogen tank; and a temperature regulating unit that regulates a temperature of the hydrogen tank, wherein, when the determination unit determines to fill hydrogen into the hydrogen tank, the temperature regulating unit starts cooling the hydrogen tank before filling of hydrogen into the hydrogen tank is started.

Hydrogen filling system and hydrogen filling method

A system for hydrogen charging has an orifice provided as a flow restrictor between a hydrogen charging port and a hydrogen tank having a larger heat flux value. No orifice is provided on the side of a hydrogen tank having a smaller heat flux value. The orifice has a function of increasing the channel resistance. With the above, it is possible to initially have the hydrogen tank having a smaller heat flux value in the fully charged state, and thereafter the hydrogen tank having a larger heat flux value in the fully charged state. Alternatively, a check valve having a cracking pressure &#x394;Pcan be provided as a flow restrictor on the side of the hydrogen tank having larger heat flux, and a check valve having a cracking pressure &#x394;Pcan be provided as a flow restrictor on the side of the hydrogen tank having smaller heat flux, wherein &#x394;P&#x3e;&#x394;P.

System for hydrogen charging

An MH tank modulehas a hollow outer shell portionformed of metal. The outer shell portionhas a plurality of MH powder retaining chambersdefined by a plurality of fins. A plurality of MH tank modulesare bound together by a first tank holderand a second tank holder. The tank holdersare each configured by fastening and fixing first, second, third, and fourth holder components-, which are separate from one another. The first to fourth holder components-each have a heat medium passage-. The first to fourth holder components-each have recessed portionseach corresponding to the shape of a side portion of each MH tank module. The MH tank modulesare held individually by the corresponding recessed portions

Hydrogen gas storage device

A hydrogen storage tank includes a tank main body, partition sections, and a hydrogen flow pipe. The hydrogen flow pipe prevents MH powder from passing through and permits hydrogen to pass through. The tank main body includes a hollow body portion having openings on opposite ends. Dome portions are joined to opening ends of the body portion. Partition sections are provided in the body portion so that first retaining chambers, which retain the MH powder, are defined in the body portion. Extended portions, which serve as second partition members, are provided in the dome portions to divide the space in the dome portions into second retaining chambers, which retain the MH powder.

Hydrogen storage tank

A hydrogen station includes gas storage equipment for storing hydrogen, a dispenser for charging hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage equipment into a hydrogen tank of a vehicle, and a blower. When charging hydrogen, the blower blows air towards a radiator of the vehicle parked at a predetermined vehicle parking area of the hydrogen station. The current flow of the blower is adjusted in accordance with the heat load on the radiator.

Hydrogen station, method of charging hydrogen, and vehicle

A gas storage tank for storing a gas, the tank has an opening formed on at least one of two ends; a filling unit that is housed in the tank; and a support member that is arranged between the tank and the filling unit and holds the filling unit in the tank to connect a whole gap formed between the tank and the filling unit with the opening.

Gas storage tank and method of manufacturing the same

A hydrogen fuel automobile has a heat medium passage through which a heat medium which can exchange heat with a drive portion and can be supplied to a heat medium pipe for a hydrogen tank flows. An air cooling apparatus has a compressor for compressing a refrigerant gas, a condenser, an evaporator and a refrigerant circuit. The hydrogen fuel automobile is provided with a bypass passage which branches from the refrigerant circuit so that expanded refrigerant liquid detours the evaporator so as to be drawn into the compressor. A switch portion can switch between a state where the refrigerant liquid passes through the evaporator so as to be drawn into the compressor and a state where the refrigerant liquid detours the evaporator so as to flow through the bypass passage. The hydrogen storage material cooling portion cools the hydrogen storage material in the hydrogen tank using the refrigerant liquid that flows through the bypass passage. Accordingly, the time for filling the tank with hydrogen can be made short in comparison with a case where the radiator and the fan mounted in the automobile are used to cool the hydrogen tank when the tank is being filled with hydrogen.

Hydrogen tank cooling device and cooling method in hydrogen fuel automobile, and hydrogen fuel automobile

A manufacturing method of a hydrogen storage tank stored with a hydrogen gas by including built-in hydrogen-occlusion alloys, has a stacking step of stacking plate members building up heat transfer fins, an arranging step of disposing the hydrogen-occlusion alloys between the neighboring plate members so as to form an area in which to dispose the hydrogen-occlusion alloys and an area in which to dispose none of the hydrogen-occlusion alloys, and a pressurizing step of forming air spaces sectioned by the plate members building up the heat transfer fins and containing the previously built-in hydrogen-occlusion alloys in a way that gets a part of the plate members deformed by pressurizing the plate members in a stacking direction thereof so as to restrict migrations of the hydrogen-occlusion alloys disposed in the arranging step.

Hydrogen storage tank and its manufacturing method

A hydrogen storage tank () and method for replacing an open-close valve that prevents oxidizing of a hydrogen absorption alloy (MH) accommodated in a tank body () when replacing an open-close valve () connected to a hydrogen supply-release pipe () extending from a tank body (). The hydrogen storage tank () includes a tank body () accommodating hydrogen absorption material (MH), a hydrogen supply-release pipe () for supplying hydrogen gas to the tank body () and releasing hydrogen gas from the tank body (), and a gas supply pipe () for supply inert gas to the tank body () and arranged independently from the hydrogen supply-release pipe (). The method for replacing an open-close valve () connected to the hydrogen supply-release pipe () includes supplying inert gas through a gas supply pipe () to the tank body () and replacing the open-close valve in a state in which inert gas can be released from the hydrogen supply-release pipe ().

Method for replacing an open-close valve for a hydrogen storage tank

The technique of the invention manufactures a gas storage tank, which includes a gas absorbent/adsorbent and is capable of storing a high-pressure gas. The manufacturing process of a hydrogen storage tank first assembles a heat exchanger unit and packs the particles of hydrogen storage alloy into the heat exchanger unit. The manufacturing process then blocks hydrogen storage alloy filling holes used for packing the hydrogen storage alloy in the heat exchanger unit and attaches a detachable cover member to a hydrogen inlet. The manufacturing process subsequently locates the heat exchange unit filled with the hydrogen storage alloy in a cylindrical tank and narrows both ends of the tank to form joint openings. The manufacturing process then heat-treating the tank under water cooling and detaches the cover member. The manufacturing process attaches joint assemblies to the joint openings and forms a reinforcement layer around the outer circumference of the tank to complete the hydrogen storage tank.

Method of manufacturing a gas storage tank

A tank main body accommodates a heat exchanger including a heating medium pipe. A plurality of heat exchanger fins are coupled to the heating medium pipe to divide the interior of the tank main body into a plurality of spaces. A hydrogen storage alloy is provided in the spaces. An absorption portion is provided in the spaces. The absorption portion is deformed by a force generated by expansion of the hydrogen storage alloy, thereby absorbing the force. Therefore, the heat exchanger is prevented from being deformed or damaged even if the bulk density of the hydrogen storage alloy is reduced due to expansion and pulverization of the hydrogen storage alloy.

A pressure tank includes a liner separated into a cap and a main body. A shell covers the outer surface of the liner. The shell is formed of a fiber reinforced plastic. A heat exchanger is arranged in the liner. A header is connected to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is supported on the liner by fastening the header to the cap or the main body.

Growing community of inventors

Mishima, Japan

Daigoro Mori