FUEL GAS SUPPLY APPARATUS

Abstract

A fuel gas supply apparatus includes: a pressure reducing valve that reduces, to a preset pressure, a pressure of fuel gas supplied from a tank that stores the fuel gas; and a supply amount adjustment unit that adjusts, by selecting a fuel supply channel passing through at least one of two orifices that are provided on a downstream side of the pressure reducing valve and have different orifice diameters, a supply amount of the fuel gas from the fuel supply channel. According to the fuel gas supply apparatus, a mechanism for suppressing pressure fluctuations of the fuel gas is unnecessary, and thus the entire fuel gas supply apparatus can be accordingly reduced in size.

Claims

1. A fuel gas supply apparatus comprising: at least one pressure reducing valve that reduces, to a preset pressure, a pressure of fuel gas supplied from a tank that stores the fuel gas; a supply amount adjustment unit that adjusts, by selecting a fuel supply channel passing through at least one orifice provided on a downstream side of the at least one pressure reducing valve, a supply amount of the fuel gas from the fuel supply channel; and a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of the fuel gas in the tank, wherein the supply amount adjustment unit repeatedly changes at least one fuel supply channel selected from among a plurality of kinds of the fuel supply channels, and also makes an adjustment in such a way that an average supply amount of the fuel gas is maintained at a present target supply amount by changing a state maintaining time for maintaining a state where the at least one fuel supply channel is selected, based on a detection signal input from the pressure sensor, and the supply amount adjustment unit includes a lookup table storage that stores a lookup table indicating a correlation between a pressure of the fuel gas in the tank, and the supply amount in each state where the at least one fuel supply channel is selected, and a supply amount adjuster that specifies a pressure of the fuel gas in the tank, based on a detection signal input from the pressure sensor, specifies, by referring to the lookup table, the supply amount in a state where the at least one fuel supply channel is selected, the supply amount corresponding to the specified pressure of the fuel gas; calculates, from the specified supply amount and a preset switching cycle when the at least one fuel supply channel is repeatedly changed, the state maintaining time when the average supply amount is the largest supply amount; and performs control in such a way that a state where the at least one fuel supply channel is selected is maintained for only the calculated state maintaining time.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The fuel gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply amount adjuster changes the average supply amount by changing the state maintaining time according to a time change in the target supply amount.

5. A fuel gas supply apparatus comprising: at least one pressure reducing valve that reduces, to a present pressure, a pressure of fuel gas supplied from a tank that stores the fuel gas; and a supply amount adjustment unit that adjusts, by selecting a fuel supply channel passing through at least one orifice provided on a downstream side of the at least one pressure reducing valve, a supply amount of the fuel gas from the fuel supply channel, wherein the supply amount adjustment unit switches to a first state where only a first fuel supply channel passing through both of two kinds of orifices having different orifice diameters is selected, or a second state where a second fuel supply channel going around one orifice having a smaller orifice diameter of the two kinds of the orifices and passing through only the other orifice and the first fuel supply channel are both selected.

6. The fuel gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply amount adjustment unit further adjusts a supply amount of the fuel gas from the fuel supply channel by repeatedly and alternately causing a state where a fuel supply channel passing through at least one orifice provided on the downstream side of the at least one pressure reducing valve is selected, and a state where a fuel supply to the downstream side is shut off.

7. The fuel gas supply apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a main body provided with a first recessed portion communicating with, at a bottom portion, the downstream side of the at least one pressure reducing valve, and also communicating with, at an inner side wall, a second orifice member provided with the orifice, wherein the supply amount adjustment unit includes a first orifice member that has a columnar shape, has a second recessed portion in a tip portion, also has the orifice penetrating to communicate with an outer side wall from the inside of the second recessed portion, and is fitted slidably in the first recessed portion, and a driver that drives the first orifice member, and the driver drives the first orifice member in such a way as to switch to the first state or the second state by changing a position of the first orifice member in the first recessed portion.

8. The fuel gas supply apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the supply amount adjustment unit is allowed to cause a state where a fuel supply channel passing through at least one orifice provided on the downstream side of the at least one pressure reducing valve is selected, and a state where a fuel supply to the downstream side is shut off.

9. The fuel gas supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the supply amount adjustment unit further adjusts a supply amount of the fuel gas from the fuel supply channel by repeatedly and alternately causing a state where a fuel supply channel passing through at least one orifice provided on the downstream side of the at least one pressure reducing valve is selected, and a state where a fuel supply to the downstream side is shut off.

10. The fuel gas supply apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the supply amount adjustment unit is allowed to cause a state where a fuel supply channel passing through at least one orifice provided on the downstream side of the at least one pressure reducing valve is selected, and a state where a fuel supply to the downstream side is shut off.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a fuel gas supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 4A is an arrow cross-sectional view taken along an A-A line in FIG. 2 of the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 4B is an arrow cross-sectional view taken along a B-B line in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 5A is an arrow cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 2 of a case where the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment is in a first state;

[0017] FIG. 5B is an arrow cross-sectional view taken along a C-C line in FIGS. 3 and 4A of the case where the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment is in the first state;

[0018] FIG. 6A is an arrow cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 2 of a case where the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment is in a second state;

[0019] FIG. 6B is an arrow cross-sectional view taken along the C-C line in FIGS. 3 and 4A of the case where the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment is in the second state;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a correlation indicated by correlation information stored in a lookup table of the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a transition of a supply amount of fuel gas supplied from the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment, and illustrating a case where a time per unit cycle during which the second state is maintained is dT1_1:

[0022] FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a transition of a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied from the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment, and illustrating a case where a time per unit cycle during which the second state is maintained is dT1_2 longer than dT1_1;

[0023] FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of a case where the fuel gas supply apparatus according to a modified example is in the first state;

[0024] FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of a case where the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the modified example is in the second state;

[0025] FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a case where the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the modified example is in the first state;

[0026] FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of a case where the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the modified example is in the second state;

[0027] FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the modified example; and

[0028] FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of the fuel gas supply apparatus according to the modified example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Hereinafter, a fuel gas supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to drawings. The fuel gas supply apparatus according to the present embodiment includes: a pressure reducing valve that reduces, to a preset pressure, a pressure of fuel gas supplied from a tank that stores the fuel gas; and a supply amount adjustment unit that adjusts, by selecting one fuel supply channel from among a plurality of kinds of fuel supply channels passing through at least one of a plurality of kinds of orifices that is provided on a downstream side of the pressure reducing valve and has different orifice diameters, a supply amount of the fuel gas from the fuel supply channel.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a fuel gas supply system according to the embodiment includes a tank 1 that stores fuel gas, and a fuel gas supply apparatus 2 that supplies the fuel gas stored in the tank 1 to a power generation apparatus such as, for example, a fuel cell. The tank 1 stores, for example, hydrogen as the fuel gas.

[0031] The fuel gas supply apparatus 2 includes a shutoff valve 21 interposed in a fuel supply channel L1 of the fuel gas supplied from the tank 1, a pressure reducing valve 22 provided on a downstream side of the shutoff valve 21, and a supply amount adjustment unit 3 that is provided on the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 22 and adjusts a flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to a connection opening 25 to the power generation apparatus. Further, the fuel gas supply apparatus 2 includes a fuel filler 41 for filling the tank 1 with the fuel gas in a state where the shutoff valve 21 is shut off, a safety valve 42 that is open when an internal pressure of the tank 1 exceeds a preset reference value, and a pressure sensor 26 that measures the internal pressure of the tank 1. The fuel filler 41 includes a check valve 411 for preventing backflow of the fuel gas filling in the tank 1 during filling of the fuel gas in the tank 1. Furthermore, the fuel gas supply apparatus 2 includes a connection port 44 used when another tank (not illustrated) is connected in parallel on an upstream side of the shutoff valve 21, and a safety valve 43 that is open when a pressure on the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 22 exceeds a preset reference pressure.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fuel gas supply apparatus 2 includes a main body 31, a cover 32 that has a bottomed cylindrical shape and is attached to the main body 31 in such a way as to cover a +Z direction side of the main body 31, and a fixing portion 33 that protrudes from the main body 31 in a Z direction and is fixed to a cap portion of the tank 1. Further, a driver holder 35 that has a frame shape and holds a driver 27 described below in a state where the driver 27 is disposed inside protrudes on a Y-direction side of the main body 31. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 3, an orifice member holder 34 that has a tubular shape, is continuously integrally provided with the main body 31, and allows an orifice member 232 described below of the supply amount adjustment unit 3 to be fitted inside is provided on an X-direction side of the main body 31. The connection opening 25 is provided on the X-direction side of the orifice member 232. Further, the safety valves 42 and 43 are provided in such a way as to be aligned in a Z-axis direction on a +Y-direction side of the orifice member holder 34 on the X-direction side of the main body 31.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the shutoff valve 21 includes a cylinder 211 that has a cylindrical shape, and is fitted in a recessed portion 31a provided in the main body 31 in a state where an end portion on the +Y-direction side in a tubular axial direction is exposed to the +Y-direction side of the main body 31, a valve body 212 disposed inside the cylinder 211, and an operation knob 213 provided on an end portion on the +Y-direction side of the valve body 212. Further, the shutoff valve 21 includes an O-ring 214 that is fitted in a groove 211a provided in an outer wall of the cylinder 211 and is welded with pressure to an inner wall of the recessed portion 31a of the main body 31.

[0034] The pressure reducing valve 22 includes a cylinder 221 that has a cylindrical shape, and includes an end portion on a Z-direction side in the tubular axial direction being fitted in a recessed portion 31b provided in the main body 31, a valve body 222, and a pressing member 223 that presses the valve body 222 to the +Z-direction side. The valve body 222 includes a main portion 2221 that has a cylindrical shape and includes an end portion on the Z-direction side being put inside the cylinder 221, and an outer flange portion 2222 that has a disk shape and extends from an end portion on the +Z-direction side of the main portion 2221 in a radial direction of the main portion 2221. The pressure reducing valve 22 includes an O-ring 224 that is fitted in a groove 2222a provided in a peripheral surface of the outer flange portion 2222 of the valve body 222, and abuts an inner wall of the cover 32, an O-ring 225 that is fitted in a groove 2221a provided in an outer wall of the end portion on the Z-direction side of the main portion 2221 of the valve body 222, and is welded with pressure to an inner wall of the cylinder 221, and an O-ring 226 that is fitted in a groove 221a provided in an outer wall of the end portion on the Z-direction side of the cylinder 221, and is welded with pressure to an inner wall of the recessed portion 31b provided in the main body 31. Then, the fuel gas is introduced into a region S221 provided among the inside of the main portion 2221, the +Z-direction side of the outer flange portion 2222, and the inner wall of the cover 32, and air is introduced into a region S222 provided among the inner wall of the cover 32, the Z-direction side of the outer flange portion 2222, the outer wall of the main portion 2221, and the +Z-direction side of the main body 31. Then, a position of the valve body 222 is determined based on a pressing force of the pressing member 223 and a pressure of the fuel gas introduced into the region S221. When the shutoff valve 21 is open, the pressure reducing valve 22 reduces, to a preset pressure, a pressure of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel supply channel L1 provided inside the fixing portion 33 and the main body 31 from the tank 1, and a fuel supply channel L2 communicating with the pressure reducing valve 22 from the shutoff valve 21 in the main body 31, and the pressure reducing valve 22 supplies the fuel gas to a fuel supply channel L3 on the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 22.

[0035] The pressure sensor 26 is, for example, a diaphragm pressure sensor, and is fitted in a recessed portion 31c provided in the main body 31 in a state where an end portion on the Y-direction side is exposed to the Y-direction side of the main body 31, and detects a pressure of the fuel gas present in the fuel supply channel L1 via a branch flow channel L11 communicating with the fuel supply channel L1. Then, the pressure sensor 26 outputs a detection signal indicating the detected pressure of the fuel gas to a control unit 28.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the fuel filler 41 includes a filler main body 412 that has a cylindrical shape, and is fitted in a recessed portion 31d provided in the main body 31 in a state where an end portion on the +X-direction side in the tubular axial direction is exposed to the +X-direction side of the main body 31, and a check valve 411 is provided inside the filler main body 412. An end portion on the X-direction side of the filler main body 412 communicates with the fuel supply channel L1 via a branch flow channel L12 provided in the main body 31. Further, the fuel filler 41 includes an O-ring 413 that is fitted in a groove 412b provided in an outer wall of the end portion on the X-direction side of the filler main body 412 and is welded with pressure to an inner wall of the recessed portion 31d provided in the main body 31. The safety valve 42 is disposed in a position in the main body 31 facing the fuel filler 41 across the fuel supply channel L1 in an X-axis direction, and is fitted in a recessed portion 31e provided in the main body 31 in a state where an end portion on the X-direction side is exposed to the X-direction side of the main body 31. An end portion on the +X-direction side of the safety valve 42 communicates with the fuel supply channel L1 via a branch flow channel L13 provided in the main body 31. The safety valve 43 is disposed on the +Z-direction side of the safety valve 42 in the main body 31, and is fitted in a recessed portion 31f provided in the main body 31 in a state where an end portion on the X-direction side is exposed to the X-direction side of the main body 31. An end portion on the X-direction side of the safety valve 43 communicates with a region in the pressure reducing valve 22 communicating with the fuel supply channel L3 provided in the main body 31.

[0037] Returning to FIG. 1, the supply amount adjustment unit 3 repeatedly changes at least one fuel supply channel selected from among a plurality of kinds of fuel supply channels. Specifically, the supply amount adjustment unit 3 adjusts a supply amount of the fuel gas from the fuel supply channel L3 by selecting at least one fuel supply channel from among two kinds of fuel supply channels passing through at least one of two kinds of orifices 241 and 242 that are provided on the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 22 and have different orifice diameters. The supply amount adjustment unit 3 includes an orifice member 231 provided with the orifice 241, the orifice member 232 provided with the orifice 242, the driver 27 that drives the orifice member 231, and the control unit 28 that controls the driver 27. By driving the orifice member 231, as indicated by an arrow AR1, the driver 27 switches to a first state where only a fuel supply channel passing through both of the orifices 241 and 242 is selected, or a second state where a fuel supply channel going around the orifice 241 and passing through only the orifice 242 and the fuel supply channel passing through both of the orifices 241 and 242 are both selected.

[0038] As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the orifice member 231 has a columnar shape, and is fitted slidably in a Y-axis direction in a recessed portion 31g provided in the main body 31 in a state where an end portion on the Y-direction side is exposed to the Y-direction side of the main body 31. The recessed portion 31g communicates with, at a bottom portion, the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 22, and also communicates with, at an inner side wall, the orifice member 232 provided with the orifice 242. A recessed portion 231a is provided in an end portion on the +Y-direction side of the orifice member 231. Further, the orifice 241 penetrates through the end portion on the +Y-direction side of the orifice member 231 in such a way as to communicate with an outer wall from the inside of the recessed portion 231a. A groove 231b is provided in the outer wall of the end portion on the +Y-direction side of the orifice member 231, and a sealing member 233 that is annularly constituted from an elastic material such as silicone rubber and is elastically in contact with an inner wall of the recessed portion 31g is fitted in the groove 231b. The driver 27 includes a shaft 272 including an end portion on the +Y-direction side being coupled to the orifice member 231, and an actuator 271 that drives the shaft 272 along the Y-axis direction. The orifice member 232 has a cylindrical shape, and is fitted in a recessed portion 34a provided in the orifice member holder 34 in a state where an end portion on the +X-direction side is exposed to the +X-direction side of the orifice member holder 34. The orifice 242 is provided in an end portion on the X-direction side of the orifice member 232. Further, an O-ring 234 being welded with pressure to an inner wall of the recessed portion 34a is fitted in a groove 232a provided in an outer wall of the end portion on the X-direction side of the orifice member 232.

[0039] Then, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a state where the orifice member 231 is in a first position Pos1 in which the end portion on the +Y-direction side of the orifice member 231 abuts the bottom portion of the recessed portion 31g of the main body 31 is the first state where only a fuel supply channel PASS1 passing through both of the orifices 241 and 242 is selected, as indicated by a broken line arrow. Herein, as indicated by an arrow AR2 in FIGS. 6A and 6B, when the driver 27 moves the orifice member 231 from the first position Pos1 to a second position Pos2 on the Y-direction side of the first position Pos1, a state where the end portion on the +Y-direction side of the orifice member 231 is separated from the bottom portion of the recessed portion 31g of the main body 31 is set. This case is the second state where a fuel supply channel PASS2 going around the orifice 241 and passing through only the orifice 242 and the fuel supply channel PASS1 passing through both of the orifices 241 and 242 are both selected. In the case of the second state, a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the connection opening 25 is increased further than that in the case of the first state. In this way, the driver 27 changes a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the connection opening 25 via a fuel supply channel L4 by changing a position of the orifice member 231 in the recessed portion 31g.

[0040] The control unit 28 includes a supply amount adjuster 281 that adjusts a supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the connection opening 25, and a lookup table storage 282 that stores a lookup table. The control unit 28 is, for example, a microcomputer including a memory. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the lookup table stored in the lookup table storage 282 stores information indicating a correlation between a pressure Pr of the fuel gas of the tank 1 detected by the pressure sensor 26, and supply amounts F0 and F1 of the fuel gas supplied to the connection opening 25 in each of the first state and the second state described above. The example illustrated in FIG. 7 indicates that the supply amounts F0 and F1 in each of the first state and the second state are maximum supply amounts F0_0 and F1_0 when the pressure Pr of the tank 1 is a pressure Pr_0 at a full-tank time, and the supply amounts F0 and F1 gradually decrease as the pressure Pr decreases.

[0041] The supply amount adjustment unit 3 makes an adjustment in such a way that an average supply amount of the fuel gas is maintained at a preset target supply amount by changing a state maintaining time for maintaining a state where at least one fuel supply channel is selected, based on a detection signal input from the pressure sensor 26. Specifically, the supply amount adjuster 281 makes an adjustment in such away that an average supply amount of the fuel gas is maintained at a preset target supply amount by repeatedly and alternately causing the first state and the second state described above, based on a detection signal input from the pressure sensor 26. Specifically, the supply amount adjuster 281 controls the driver 27 in such a way as to cause the driver 27 to repeatedly change a position of the orifice member 231 in the recessed portion 31g of the main body 31, based on a detection signal input from the pressure sensor 26. In this way, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a supply amount F of the fuel gas supplied to the connection opening 25 alternately changes over time to the supply amount F0 in the first state described above and the supply amount F1 in the second state. Then, the supply amount adjuster 281 controls the driver 27 in such a way that an average supply amount acquired by hourly averaging the supply amount F of the fuel gas supplied to the connection opening 25 is a target supply amount. Herein, the average supply amount is represented by a relational expression of Equation (1) below.

[00001]$\left[\mathrm{Mathematical}1\right]$$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Fave}=\frac{\mathrm{dT}1F1+\left(\mathrm{dT}2-\mathrm{dT}1\right)F0}{\mathrm{dT}2}& \mathrm{Equation}\left(1\right)\end{array}$

[0042] Herein, Fave indicates an average supply amount, F0 indicates a supply amount in the first state described above, and F1 indicates a supply amount in the second state described above. Further, dT1 indicates a second state maintaining time for maintaining the second state, and dT2 indicates a switching cycle for performing switching between the first state and the second state. Herein, the supply amount adjuster 281 specifies a pressure of the tank 1, based on a detection signal input from the pressure sensor 26, and specifies each of the supply amounts F0 and F1 corresponding to the specified pressure by referring to the lookup table stored in the lookup table storage 282. Next, by using the relational expression represented by Equation (1) described above, the supply amount adjuster 281 calculates, from each of the specified supply amounts F0 and F1 and a preset switching cycle, a second state maintaining time when an average supply amount is a target supply amount. Then, the supply amount adjuster 281 controls the driver 27 in such a way that the second state is maintained for only the calculated second state maintaining time. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the supply amount adjuster 281 switches the average supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the connection opening 25 to Fave1 or Fave2 greater than Fave1 by switching the second state maintaining time to a time dT1_1 or a time dT1_2 longer than the time dT1_1. Further, when the target supply amount described above changes over time, the supply amount adjuster 281 changes the average supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the connection opening 25 by changing the second state maintaining time according to a time change in the target supply amount.

[0043] As described above, in the fuel gas supply apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment, the supply amount adjustment unit 3 adjusts a supply amount of the fuel gas from the fuel supply channel PASS1, PASS2 by selecting at least one fuel supply channel PASS1, PASS2 from among two kinds of the fuel supply channels PASS1 and PASS2 passing through at least one of a plurality of kinds of the orifices 241 and 242 that is provided on the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 22 and has different orifice diameters. In this way, a mechanism for suppressing pressure fluctuations of the fuel gas is unnecessary, and thus the entire fuel gas supply apparatus 2 can be accordingly reduced in size.

[0044] Further, the fuel gas supply apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment includes the main body 31 provided with the recessed portion 31g communicating with, at the bottom portion, the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 22, and also communicating with, at the inner side wall, the orifice member 232 provided with the orifice 242. Further, the supply amount adjustment unit 3 includes: the orifice member 231 that has a columnar shape, has the recessed portion 231a in the end portion on the +Y-direction side, has the orifice 241 penetrating to communicate with the outer side wall from the inside of the recessed portion 231a, and is fitted slidably in the recessed portion 31g; and the driver 27 that drives the orifice member 231. Then, by driving the orifice member 231 by the driver 27 and changing a position of the orifice member 231 in the recessed portion 31g, the supply amount adjustment unit 3 switches to the first state where only the fuel supply channel PASS1 passing through both of the orifices 241 and 242 is selected, or the second state where the fuel supply channel PASS2 going around the orifice 241 and passing through only the orifice 242 and the fuel supply channel PASS1 are both selected. In this way, the configuration of the supply amount adjustment unit 3 can be simplified and reduced in size.

[0045] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the orifice member 231 has a columnar shape, and is fitted slidably in the Y-axis direction in the recessed portion 31g provided in the main body 31 in a state where the end portion on the Y-direction side is exposed to the Y-direction side of the main body 31.

[0046] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described above. For example, the supply amount adjustment unit may adjust a supply amount of the fuel gas by selecting at least one fuel supply channel from among three or more kinds of fuel supply channels passing through at least one of three or more kinds of orifices that are provided on the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 22 and have different orifice diameters.

[0047] In the embodiment, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, the supply amount adjustment unit may include a supply channel relay member 2231 that causes the fuel gas flowing from the fuel supply channel L3 to flow out to the downstream side, and a driver 2027 that drives the supply channel relay member 2231. The supply channel relay member 2231 has a columnar shape, is provided with a groove 2231a in a side wall, and also causes the fuel gas flowing from the fuel supply channel L3 into the groove 2231a to flow to the downstream side. Further, the supply channel relay member 2231 is fitted in a recessed portion 2031g provided in a main body 2031 of the fuel gas supply apparatus in such a way that the supply channel relay member 2231 is slidable in a central axis direction of the recessed portion 2031g. Further, a plurality of grooves 2231b is provided on both sides of the groove 2231a in a central axis direction of the supply channel relay member 2231 in a side wall of the supply channel relay member 2231, and a sealing member 2233 that is annularly constituted from an elastic material and is elastically in contact with an inner wall of the recessed portion 2031g is fitted in each of the grooves 2231b. The driver 2027 includes a shaft 2272 coupled to the supply channel relay member 2231, and an actuator 2271 that drives the shaft 2272 along the central axis direction of the supply channel relay member 2231.

[0048] Further, two orifices 2241 and 2242 having different cross-sectional areas are provided between the recessed portion 2031g in the main body 2031 and the fuel supply channel L4. The orifices 2241 and 2242 have, for example, a cross-sectional circular shape, and an inside diameter D1 of the orifice 2241 is smaller than an inside diameter D2 of the orifice 2242. In FIG. 9A, as indicated by a broken line arrow, the fuel gas flowing from the fuel supply channel L3 into the groove 2231a of the supply channel relay member 2231 is in a state of passing through only the orifice 2241 and reaching the fuel supply channel L4. Then, when the driver 2027 of the fuel gas supply apparatus moves the supply channel relay member 2231 as indicated by an arrow AR3 as illustrated in FIG. 9B, the fuel gas flowing from the fuel supply channel L3 into the groove 2231a of the supply channel relay member 2231 is switched to a state of passing through only the orifice 2242 and reaching the fuel supply channel L4.

[0049] Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 10A, two orifices 3241 and 3242 may be provided between a recessed portion 3031g in the main body 3031 of the fuel gas supply apparatus and the fuel gas supply apparatus L4, and the supply channel relay 2231 may be disposed in a position in which the groove 2231a faces only one of the two orifices 3241 and 3242 or a position in which the groove 2231a faces both of the two orifices 3241 and 3242. In FIG. 10A, as indicated by a broken line arrow, the fuel gas flowing from the fuel supply channel L3 into the groove 2231a of the supply channel relay member 2231 is in a state of passing through only the orifice 3241 and reaching the fuel supply channel L4. Then, when the driver 3027 of the fuel gas supply apparatus moves the supply channel relay member 2231 as indicated by an arrow AR4 as illustrated in FIG. 10B, the fuel gas flowing from the fuel supply channel L3 into the groove 2231a of the supply channel relay member 2231 is switched to a state of passing through both of the orifices 3241 and 3242 and reaching the fuel supply channel L4.

[0050] In the embodiment, the supply amount adjustment unit may further adjust a supply amount of the fuel gas from the fuel supply channel L3 by repeatedly and alternately causing a state where a fuel supply channel passing through at least one orifice provided on the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 22 is selected, and a state where a fuel supply to the downstream side is shut off. In other words, a supply amount of the fuel gas in the first state described in the embodiment may be set to 0. In this case, the supply amount adjustment unit may be configured to have a structure of the orifice member 231 without the orifice 241 instead of the orifice member 231, and include a shutoff member (not illustrated) that shuts off a flow of the fuel gas to the downstream side.

[0051] In the embodiment, for example, as in a fuel gas supply apparatus 3002 as illustrated in FIG. 11, two pressure reducing valves 3022 connected to each other in series on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 21 interposed in the fuel supply channel L1 of the fuel gas supplied from the tank 1 may be included. Herein, the number of the pressure reducing valves 3022 connected to each other in series is not limited to two, and may be three or more. Alternatively, for example, as in a fuel gas supply apparatus 4002 as illustrated in FIG. 12, two pressure reducing valves 4022 connected to each other in parallel on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 21 interposed in the fuel supply channel L1 of the fuel gas supplied from the tank 1 may be included. Herein, the number of the pressure reducing valves 4022 connected to each other in parallel is not limited to two, and may be three or more. Alternatively, at least one group of the plurality of pressure reducing valves 4022 connected in parallel and at least one pressure reducing valve 3022 may be configured to be connected to each other in series.

[0052] Although the embodiments and the modified examples of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to them. The present disclosure includes the embodiments and the modified examples being appropriately combined and also the embodiments and the modified examples being appropriately added with modifications.

[0053] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-029217, filed on Feb. 28, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0054] The present disclosure is suitable as a fuel gas supply apparatus that supplies fuel gas to a fuel cell mounted on, for example, small transportation means.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0055] 1 Tank [0056] 2, 3002, 4002 Fuel gas supply apparatus [0057] 3 Supply amount adjustment unit [0058] 21 Shutoff valve [0059] 22, 3022, 4022 Pressure reducing valve [0060] 25 Connection opening [0061] 26 Pressure sensor [0062] 27, 2027 Driver [0063] 28 Control unit [0064] 31 Main body [0065] 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, 31g, 34a, 231a, 2031g, 3031g Recessed portion [0066] 32 Cover [0067] 33 Fixing portion [0068] 34 Orifice member holder [0069] 35 Driver holder [0070] 41 Fuel filler [0071] 42, 43 Safety valve [0072] 44 Connection port [0073] 211, 221 Cylinder [0074] 211a, 221a, 231b, 232a, 412a, 2221a, 2222a, 2231a, 2231b Groove [0075] 212, 222 Valve body [0076] 213 Operation knob [0077] 214, 224, 225, 226, 234, 413 O-ring [0078] 223 Pressing member [0079] 231, 232 Orifice member [0080] 233, 2233 Sealing member [0081] 241, 242, 2241, 2242, 3241, 3242 Orifice [0082] 271, 2271 Actuator [0083] 272, 2272 Shaft [0084] 281 Supply amount adjuster [0085] 282 Lookup table storage [0086] 411 Check valve [0087] 412 Filler main body [0088] 2221 Main portion [0089] 2222 Outer flange portion [0090] 2231 Supply channel relay member [0091] L1, L2, L3 Fuel supply channel [0092] L11, L12, L13 Branch flow channel [0093] PASS1, PASS2 Fuel supply channel [0094] S221, S222 Region