Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Takehiro Nito

Hidehito Kubo

Masahiko Kimbara

Daigoro Mori

Makoto Tsuzuki

Keiji Toh

Akiko Kumano

Yoshihiro Isogai

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

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 control unitacquires acceleration &#x3b1; sensed by an acceleration sensorand if the control unitdetermines that acceleration &#x3b1; does not equal zero, the control unitagain acquires acceleration &#x3b1;. In the event that the control unitdecides that acceleration &#x3b1; equals zero, the control unitacquires the weight M sensed by the weight sensorThe control unitcontinues sampling of weight M until a predetermined sampling period has elapsed. Once the sampling period has elapsed, the control unitcalculates the average of weight M obtained through sampling, and uses the calculated average and a map to determine hydrogen amount.

Measurement of gas fuel amount

A hydrogen storage apparatus that includes multiple gas storage tanks that each house a storing/adsorbing material and through the interior of which a fluid travels is provided. The gas storage apparatusincludes roughly cylindrical gas storage tanksthat house hydrogen-storing alloy. The multiple gas storage tanksare disposed longitudinally parallel to each other in an ordered fashion such that roughly triangular prism-shaped empty spaces are formed between multiple adjacent hydrogen storage tanks. Coolant paths through which coolant flows are formed in these roughly triangular prism-shaped empty spaces. These coolant paths are thermally connected to the hydrogen-storing alloy in the gas storage tanksvia constituent members of the gas storage tanksand via heat transfer platesdisposed on the gas storage tanks

Gas storage apparatus

In a fuel cell system, a refrigerant channelthat circulates refrigerant is configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and each of a fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tankhaving a hydrogen storage alloy, and a radiator. The hydrogen storage alloy has a higher absorption temperature at which absorption and release become equilibrium under the predetermined hydrogen pressure than the temperature of the fuel cellin a steady-state operation. The refrigerant after cooling the fuel cell carries the heat generated by hydrogen absorption to the hydrogen storage alloy during storing from the tankand facilitates absorption of hydrogen.

Growing community of inventors

Toyota, Japan

Takehiro Nito