US-12618524-B2 - Gas detection system and gas detection method

US12618524B2US 12618524 B2US12618524 B2US 12618524B2US-12618524-B2

Abstract

A gas detection system is for detecting the remaining amount of gas in a gas tank that stores a predetermined gas. The gas detection system includes: a gas detector that detects the predetermined gas; and a shutter (e.g., a pressure detector) that is connected between the gas tank and the gas detector and opens and closes a path of the predetermined gas from the gas tank to the gas detector.

Inventors

Kenji Motomochi
Shinichi Yoneda
Satoru Ito
Ken Kawai

Assignees

NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240722
Priority Date: 20220131

Claims (12)

1 . A gas detection system for detecting a remaining amount of gas in a gas tank that stores a predetermined gas, the gas detection system comprising: a gas detector that detects the predetermined gas; and a shutter that is connected between the gas tank and the gas detector and opens and closes a path of the predetermined gas from the gas tank to the gas detector, wherein the shutter includes an open-close valve that opens when a pressure of the predetermined gas is less than or equal to a predetermined pressure, the gas detector detects whether or not the predetermined gas is present, a communication hole for allowing communication between the gas tank and the gas detector is provided in the open-close valve, the gas detection system further comprises: an adjuster that adjusts a position of a lid that closes the communication hole, and when the gas detector detects the predetermined gas, the adjuster moves the lid toward the open-close valve to close the communication hole.
2 . The gas detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the shutter further includes: a partition film that blocks the path and includes an opening in which the open-close valve is provided; a housing that houses the partition film and the open-close valve and allows the pressure of the predetermined gas to act on the partition film; and the lid that closes the communication hole from an end of the communication hole closer to the gas detector than to the gas tank.
3 . The gas detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the shutter includes an open-close valve that opens and closes the path at predetermined time intervals, and the gas detector detects a concentration of the predetermined gas.
4 . The gas detection system according to claim 3 , wherein the shutter further includes: a movement member that opens and closes the path at the predetermined time intervals by moving the open-close valve; and a housing that houses the open-close valve.
5 . The gas detection system according to claim 1 , further comprising: a depressurization valve that is disposed in the path, at a position between the shutter and the gas detector, and depressurizes the predetermined gas flowing from the shutter into the gas detector.
6 . The gas detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the gas detector includes: one or more release valves for releasing the predetermined gas from the shutter to an outside of the gas detector; and a controller that controls opening and closing of the one or more release valves.
7 . The gas detection system according to claim 1 , further comprising: a wireless communicator that communicates with a device outside a mobile body to which the gas detection system is provided.
8 . The gas detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the gas detection system is a battery-operable system.
9 . The gas detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the gas detector detects hydrogen as the predetermined gas.
10 . A gas detection system for detecting a remaining amount of gas in a gas tank that stores a predetermined gas, the gas detection system comprising: a gas detector that detects the predetermined gas; and a shutter that is connected between the gas tank and the gas detector and opens and closes a path of the predetermined gas from the gas tank to the gas detector, wherein the gas detector includes: one or more release valves for releasing the predetermined gas from the shutter to an outside of the gas detector; and a controller that controls opening and closing of the one or more release valves, the one or more release valves include: a first release valve that opens and closes a path between an internal space of the gas detector and an external space outside the gas detector; and a second release valve that opens and closes a path between the gas detector and a fuel cell to which the predetermined gas is supplied from the gas tank, and the controller opens at least one of the first release valve or the second release valve when the predetermined gas is to be released to the outside of the gas detector.
11 . The gas detection system according to claim 10 , wherein the controller has a gas leak detection mode for detecting a gas leak in the external space and a remaining-gas-amount detection mode for detecting the remaining amount of the predetermined gas in the gas tank, in the gas leak detection mode, the controller opens the first release valve to allow a gas in the external space to flow into the internal space of the gas detector, and in the remaining-gas-amount detection mode, the controller opens at least the second release valve to supply, to the fuel cell, the predetermined gas whose concentration has been detected.
12 . The gas detection system according to claim 10 , further comprising: a check valve disposed between the gas detector and the fuel cell to prevent backflow of the predetermined gas from the fuel cell to the gas detector.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation application of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2023/000636 filed on Jan. 12, 2023, designating the United States of America, which is based on and claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-013076 filed on Jan. 31, 2022. The entire disclosures of the above-identified applications, including the specifications, drawings and claims are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. FIELD The present disclosure relates to a gas detection system and a gas detection method. BACKGROUND Recent years have seen efforts made to expand the spread of hydrogen-fueled mobility entities such as fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), fuel cell bicycles, and fuel cell drones. In order to eliminate concerns about running out of hydrogen fuel, such mobility entities are required to detect the remaining amount of hydrogen. Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses a technique for measuring the remaining amount of gaseous fuel (e.g., compressed gas fuel) such as hydrogen using a pressure sensor. CITATION LIST Patent Literature PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-240854 SUMMARY Technical Problem With the technique disclosed by PTL 1, however, the remaining amount of gas may not be accurately detected when the remaining amount of gas is low. In view of this, the present disclosure provides a gas detection system and a gas detection method for detecting the remaining amount of gas more accurately than the conventional technique. Solution to Problem A gas detection system according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a gas detection system for detecting a remaining amount of gas in a gas tank that stores a predetermined gas, the gas detection system including: a gas detector that detects the predetermined gas; and a shutter that is connected between the gas tank and the gas detector and opens and closes a path of the predetermined gas from the gas tank to the gas detector. A gas detection method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a gas detection method to be performed by a gas detection system for detecting a remaining amount of gas in a gas tank that stores a predetermined gas, wherein the gas detection system includes: a gas detector that detects whether or not the predetermined gas is present; and a shutter that is connected between the gas tank and the gas detector and includes an open-close valve that opens and closes a path of the predetermined gas from the gas tank to the gas detector, the gas detection method including: causing the open-close valve to open naturally when a pressure of the predetermined gas is less than or equal to a predetermined pressure; and detecting, by the gas detector, the predetermined gas from the shutter when the open-close valve is open. A gas detection method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a gas detection method to be performed by a gas detection system for detecting a remaining amount of gas in a gas tank that stores a predetermined gas, wherein the gas detection system includes: a gas detector that detects a concentration of the predetermined gas; and a shutter that is connected between the gas tank and the gas detector and includes an open-close valve that opens and closes a path of the predetermined gas from the gas tank to the gas detector, the gas detection method including: opening and closing the path at predetermined time intervals using the open-close valve; and detecting, by the gas detector, a concentration of the predetermined gas from the shutter when the open-close valve is open. Advantageous Effects According to an aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to implement a gas detection system and the like capable of detecting the remaining amount of gas more accurately than the conventional technique. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS These and other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, by way of non-limiting examples of embodiments disclosed herein. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a gas detection system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a control device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating operation of the gas detection system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation of the control device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another example of operation of the control device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a gas detection system according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 7A is a diagram for describing detection of a gas concentration when there is a sufficient amount of gas remaining in a gas tank according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 7B is a diagram for describing detectio