HYDROGEN FILLING SYSTEM AND HYDROGEN FILLING METHOD

A hydrogen filling system includes a hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device. The hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device is configured to acquire detection information detected by a vehicle and determine whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle at a hydrogen filling device provided in a hydrogen filling area of a hydrogen station, based on the detection information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-101438 filed on Jun. 18, 2021, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a hydrogen filling system and a hydrogen filling method.

2. Description of Related Art

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-003086 (JP 2017-003086 A) describes a self filling system in which a user fills up a hydrogen-fueled vehicle with hydrogen by him or herself with the use of a self filling machine in a hydrogen station. In this system, an image monitoring device, a calling device, and a filling enable-disable instruction device are provided. With the image monitoring device, an instructor is able to monitor a user around the self filling machine through an image in a monitoring facility for monitoring a hydrogen station remotely. The instructor and the user are able to talk to each other with the calling device. The filling enable-disable instruction device is capable of enabling or disabling filling work with the self filling machine based on operation of the instructor in the monitoring facility.

SUMMARY

In JP 2017-003086 A, hydrogen filling is enabled or disabled based on information from equipment, such as a camera, installed in a hydrogen station. In other words, hydrogen filling is enabled or disabled depending on the equipment of a hydrogen station. For this reason, for example, determination as to whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling comes under the influence of whether the model of the equipment of a hydrogen station is new or old. In addition, equipment of a hydrogen station needs to be replaced, so hydrogen station-side cost increases.

The disclosure provides a hydrogen filling system and a hydrogen filling method capable of enabling or disabling hydrogen filling without dependence on equipment of a hydrogen station.

An aspect of the disclosure relates to a hydrogen filling system. The hydrogen filling system includes a hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device configured to acquire detection information detected by a vehicle and determine whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle at a hydrogen filling device provided in a hydrogen filling area of a hydrogen station, based on the detection information.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a hydrogen filling method. The hydrogen filling method includes acquiring detection information detected by a vehicle and determining whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle at a hydrogen filling device provided in a hydrogen filling area of a hydrogen station, based on the detection information.

According to the aspects of the disclosure, it is possible to provide a hydrogen filling system and a hydrogen filling method capable of enabling or disabling hydrogen filling without dependence on equipment of a hydrogen station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

First, the configuration of a hydrogen filling system1according to a first embodiment will be described with reference toFIG.1andFIG.2. The hydrogen filling system1includes vehicles10, hydrogen filling devices20, a monitoring device30, and a hydrogen filling information center40.

Each of the vehicles10is, for example, a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) and runs by using hydrogen gas. The vehicle10includes a communication control unit11, a filling information acquisition unit12, a sensor unit (sensor)13, an image capturing unit (image capturing device)14, a voice acquisition unit (voice acquisition device)15, and a storage unit16. The communication control unit11communicates with the hydrogen filling devices20and the hydrogen filling information center40in a wireless communication system. The filling information acquisition unit12is mounted on the vehicle10and acquires filling information used between the vehicle10and the hydrogen filling device20in order to fill up the vehicle10with hydrogen gas. The filling information is, for example, information on the temperature, pressure, volume, filling level, or filling rate of a hydrogen tank.

The sensor unit13is a sensor mounted on the vehicle10. The sensor unit13acquires, for example, sensor information on a hydrogen concentration, a hydrogen leakage sound, or a vibration in the vehicle10. For example, the sensor unit13is installed at a hydrogen filling port of the hydrogen tank or an upper part of an FC stack in the vehicle10. The image capturing unit14is a camera mounted on the vehicle10. The image capturing unit14acquires a captured image of a user, for example, driving the vehicle10, as capture image information. The capture image information may be a plurality of captured images obtained by capturing the image of the user of the vehicle10or may be a video obtained by filming the user of the vehicle10. The voice acquisition unit15is a microphone mounted on the vehicle10. The voice acquisition unit15acquires user's voice as voice information. The storage unit16stores, for example, vehicle information, such as registration information and hydrogen filling history of the vehicle10.

The communication control unit11transmits the filling information acquired by the filling information acquisition unit12, the sensor information acquired by the sensor unit13, the capture image information acquired by the image capturing unit14, and the voice information acquired by the voice acquisition unit15, and the vehicle information stored in the storage unit16to the hydrogen filling information center40. Here, the filling information, the sensor information, the capture image information, and the voice information are referred to as detection information that is information detected by the vehicle10. The detection information is, more specifically, hydrogen filling environment information that is information on an environment in which hydrogen is filled in the vehicle10.

The hydrogen filling device20is provided in a hydrogen filling area of a hydrogen station and communicates with the monitoring device30in a wireless communication system or a wired communication system. The hydrogen filling device20has a function to allow the user to be able to fill up the vehicle10with hydrogen by him or herself. Specifically, the hydrogen filling device20has a touch-screen ordering machine, and the user fills up the vehicle10with hydrogen in accordance with screen display and voice guidance. The hydrogen filling device20is controlled by the monitoring device30as to whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10.

The monitoring device30is installed in a monitoring area remote from the hydrogen filling areas in the hydrogen station and communicates with the hydrogen filling information center40and the hydrogen filling devices20installed respectively in the hydrogen filling areas in a wireless communication system or a wired communication system. The monitoring device30controls whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20in accordance with an instruction from the hydrogen filling information center40. In addition, the monitoring device30controls whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20in accordance with an instruction of an instructor who is stationed in the monitoring area and monitors the hydrogen station. The monitoring device30may centrally manage a plurality of hydrogen stations and control the hydrogen filling devices20or may be installed in each hydrogen station and control the hydrogen filling devices20.

The hydrogen filling information center40communicates with the vehicles10in a wireless communication system. The hydrogen filling information center40communicates with the monitoring device30in a wireless communication system or a wired communication system. Here, the hydrogen filling information center40is capable of communicating with a plurality of the vehicles10or a plurality of the monitoring devices30and performing integrated management of the vehicles10or the monitoring devices30.

The hydrogen filling information center40includes a hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41. The hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41acquires the vehicle information acquired from the vehicle10and determines whether to enable or disable the procedure of the user to start hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20based on the vehicle information. The hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41acquires the detection information (filling information, sensor information, capture image information, and voice information) detected by the vehicle10and determines whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20, based on the detection information. Then, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41transmits an instruction based on the determination result to the monitoring device30. The hydrogen filling information center40stores the vehicle information, filling information, sensor information, capture image information, and voice information acquired from each vehicle10in association with the vehicle10.

Subsequently, the operation of the hydrogen filling system1according to the first embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, the operation of the hydrogen filling information center40of the hydrogen filling system1will be described in detail with reference toFIG.3andFIG.4. Initially, after the vehicle10arrives at the hydrogen filling area of the hydrogen station, the communication control unit11of the vehicle10acquires vehicle information from the storage unit16. The vehicle information includes, for example, the vehicle registration information for identifying the vehicle10and the hydrogen filling history, such as the number of times hydrogen filling to the vehicle10has been performed in the past and a date and time at which hydrogen filling is performed. Then, the communication control unit11transmits the vehicle information to the hydrogen filling information center40. The communication control unit11transmits identification information for identifying the hydrogen filling area to the hydrogen filling information center40.

Next, as shown inFIG.3, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41of the hydrogen filling information center40receives the vehicle information from the vehicle10(step S101). Subsequently, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41determines whether there is any flaw in the received vehicle information (step S102). For example, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41determines that there is a flaw in the vehicle information when the vehicle10is not a registered vehicle from the vehicle registration information.

When there is a flaw in the vehicle information (YES in step S102), the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41transmits, to the monitoring device30, an instruction to disable the procedure of the user to perform hydrogen filling to the vehicle10(hydrogen filling procedure disable instruction) (step S103). Here, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41selects the monitoring device30provided in the monitoring area for monitoring the hydrogen filling area at which the vehicle10has arrived, by using the identification information for identifying the hydrogen filling area, acquired from the vehicle10.

When the monitoring device30receives the hydrogen filling procedure disable instruction from the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41, the monitoring device30causes the hydrogen filling device20to disable the procedure of the user to perform hydrogen filling to the vehicle10. At this time, the monitoring device30may cause the hydrogen filling device20to disable the procedure of the user to perform hydrogen filling to the vehicle10in accordance with determination made by an instructor present in the monitoring area for which the hydrogen filling procedure disable instruction has been found. Subsequently, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41transmits, to the vehicle10, information that the procedure of the user to perform hydrogen filling to the vehicle10is disabled (step S104).

On the other hand, when there is no flaw in the vehicle information (NO in step S102), the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41transmits, to the monitoring device30, an instruction to enable the procedure of the user to perform hydrogen filling to the vehicle10(hydrogen filling procedure enable instruction) (step S105). Here, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41selects the monitoring device30provided in the monitoring area for monitoring the hydrogen filling area at which the vehicle10has arrived, by using the identification information for identifying the hydrogen filling area, acquired from the vehicle10.

When the monitoring device30receives the hydrogen filling procedure enable instruction from the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41, the monitoring device30causes the hydrogen filling device20to enable the procedure of the user to perform hydrogen filling to the vehicle10. At this time, the monitoring device30may cause the hydrogen filling device20to enable the procedure of the user to perform hydrogen filling to the vehicle10in accordance with determination made by the instructor present in the monitoring area for which the hydrogen filling procedure enable instruction is found.

In step S101, after the vehicle10arrives at the hydrogen filling area, the vehicle10may transmit the vehicle information to the monitoring device30via the hydrogen filling device20or the hydrogen filling information center40. In this case, the monitoring device30may determine whether there is any flaw in the vehicle information in accordance with an instruction of the instructor present in the monitoring area. Then, the monitoring device30may execute control as to whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20in accordance with the determination result.

Subsequently, after step S105, when the hydrogen filling device20enables the procedure of the user to perform hydrogen filling to the vehicle10, the user performs a predetermined procedure to start hydrogen filling by him or herself at the hydrogen filling device20in the hydrogen filling area. The predetermined procedure is, for example, a procedure by which the user performs operation, such as entering private information and using a credit card, in accordance with screen display, voice guidance, or the like on a display of the hydrogen filling device20. Then, after the user completes the predetermined procedure to start hydrogen filling, the hydrogen filling device20transmits, to the vehicle10, an instruction to start hydrogen filling.

Subsequently, after receiving the instruction to start hydrogen filling from the hydrogen filling device20, the filling information acquisition unit12of the vehicle10acquires filling information, such as the temperature, pressure, volume, filling level, and filling rate of the hydrogen tank, used between the vehicle10and the hydrogen filling device20in order to fill up the vehicle10with hydrogen gas. The sensor unit13acquires sensor information, such as a hydrogen concentration, a hydrogen leakage sound, and a vibration, in the vehicle10. The image capturing unit14acquires a captured image of the user, for example, driving the vehicle10, as capture image information. The voice acquisition unit15acquires the voice of the user of the vehicle10as voice information. The communication control unit11transmits the filling information acquired by the filling information acquisition unit12, the sensor information acquired by the sensor unit13, the capture image information acquired by the image capturing unit14, and the voice information acquired by the voice acquisition unit15to the hydrogen filling information center40. At this time, the communication control unit11may transmit any one or more of the filling information, the sensor information, the capture image information, and the voice information to the hydrogen filling information center40.

The storage unit16of the vehicle10may prestore the filling information acquired by the filling information acquisition unit12, the sensor information acquired by the sensor unit13, the capture image information acquired by the image capturing unit14, and the voice information acquired by the voice acquisition unit15. In this case, the communication control unit11may acquire the filling information, the sensor information, the capture image information, and the voice information from the storage unit16and transmit the acquired filling information, sensor information, capture image information, and voice information to the hydrogen filling information center40.

Next, as shown inFIG.4, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41of the hydrogen filling information center40receives the filling information, the sensor information, the capture image information, and the voice information from the vehicle10(step S201). The hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41determines whether there is any abnormality in the vehicle10by using the received filling information, sensor information, capture image information, and voice information (step S202). Specifically, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41determines whether there is any abnormality in the vehicle10, such as an abnormal hydrogen concentration, an abnormal hydrogen leakage sound, and an abnormal vibration, in the vehicle10by using the sensor information. The hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41determines whether there is an abnormal behavior of the user of the vehicle10, such as a dangerous behavior and accidental behavior of the user of the vehicle10, by using the capture image information or the voice information. The hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41automatically determines whether there is an abnormality in the vehicle10by using the filling information, the sensor information, the capture image information, and the voice information through, for example, machine learning or the like.

When there is an abnormality in the vehicle10(YES in step S202), the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41transmits, to the monitoring device30, a hydrogen filling disable instruction to disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10(step S203). When the monitoring device30receives the hydrogen filling disable instruction from the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41, the monitoring device30causes the hydrogen filling device20to disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10. At this time, the monitoring device30may cause the hydrogen filling device20to disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10in accordance with determination of the instructor present in the monitoring area for which the hydrogen filling disable instruction is found. Subsequently, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41transmits, to the vehicle10, information that hydrogen filling to the vehicle10is disabled (step S204).

On the other hand, when the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41determines that there is no abnormality in the vehicle10(NO in step S202), the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41transmits, to the monitoring device30, a hydrogen filling enable instruction to enable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10(step S205). When the monitoring device30receives the hydrogen filling enable instruction from the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41, the monitoring device30causes the hydrogen filling device20to enable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10. At this time, the monitoring device30may cause the hydrogen filling device20to enable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10in accordance with determination of the instructor present in the monitoring area for which the hydrogen filling enable instruction is found. As a result, the user of the vehicle10is able to start hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20.

Subsequently, when the hydrogen filling device20enables hydrogen filling to the vehicle10, the user starts hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20. While hydrogen filling to the vehicle10is being performed at the hydrogen filling device20, the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41repeats the process of step S201, step S202, step S203, and step S204.

In step S201, the vehicle10may transmit the filling information, the sensor information, the capture image information, and the voice information to the monitoring device30via the hydrogen filling device20or the hydrogen filling information center40. In this case, the instructor in the monitoring area may determine whether there is any abnormality in the vehicle10based on the received various pieces of information. Then, the monitoring device30may execute control as to whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20in accordance with the determination result.

The hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41and the instructor present in the monitoring area may cooperatively determine whether there is any abnormality in the vehicle10by using the filling information, the sensor information, the capture image information, and the voice information. When, for example, the instructor present in the monitoring area finds a determination result that the hydrogen filling enable-disable determining device41determines that there is an abnormality in the vehicle10and approves the determination result, the monitoring device30may cause the hydrogen filling device20to disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10.

Subsequently, after completion of hydrogen filling, the hydrogen filling information center40stores all the pieces of information (that is, the filling information, the sensor information, the capture image information, the voice information, and the vehicle information) transmitted from the vehicle10to the hydrogen filling information center40and the monitoring device30. Thus, the hydrogen filling information center40uses the pieces of information at the time of hydrogen filling to the vehicle10next time and later.

Therefore, in the hydrogen filling system1according to the first embodiment, the hydrogen filling information center40determines whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20based on the detection information detected by the vehicle10. Therefore, the hydrogen filling system1is capable of enabling or disabling hydrogen filling to the vehicle10without dependence on equipment of a hydrogen station. Thus, the hydrogen filling system1determines whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10without the influence of whether the model of the equipment of the hydrogen station is new or old. In addition, the hydrogen filling system1does not need to replace equipment of a hydrogen station, so an increase in hydrogen station-side cost is suppressed.

In the hydrogen filling system1, the hydrogen filling information center40acquires not only the filling information from the filling information acquisition unit12but also the sensor information acquired by the sensor unit13, the capture image information acquired by the image capturing unit14, and the voice information acquired by the voice acquisition unit15. Then, the hydrogen filling information center40determines whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicle10at the hydrogen filling device20based on the acquired pieces of information. Therefore, the hydrogen filling system1is able to handle cases where evolution of fuel cell electric vehicles, such as improvement in filling function, and extensive proliferation of a wide variety of fuel cell electric vehicles by improving the accuracy of determining whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling based on sensor information, capture image information, and voice information.

In the hydrogen filling system1, the hydrogen filling information center40acquires information from the vehicles10and automatically determines whether to enable or disable hydrogen filling to the vehicles10respectively at the hydrogen filling devices20. In other words, the hydrogen filling system1implements automation and efficiency of monitoring hydrogen filling to each of the vehicles10. Therefore, the hydrogen filling system1improves the convenience of customers in a hydrogen station by extending the operation time of the hydrogen station and reduces a burden on instructors in monitoring areas. Thus, the hydrogen filling system1is able to promote and accelerate proliferation of fuel cell electric vehicles and hydrogen stations.

In the hydrogen filling system1, the hydrogen filling information center40performs integrated management of the monitoring devices30that respectively monitor hydrogen stations. Therefore, even when hydrogen stations are operated by different groups, it is possible to implement information sharing between the hydrogen stations.

The disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be modified as needed without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Hardware Configuration

Next, an example of the hardware configuration of a computer1000of each of the components concerned with the hydrogen filling system1will be described with reference toFIG.5. As shown inFIG.5, the computer1000includes a processor1001and a memory1002. The processor1001may be, for example, a microprocessor, a microprocessing unit (MPU), or a central processing unit (CPU). The processor1001may include a plurality of processors. The memory1002is made up of a combination of a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory. The memory1002may include a storage placed remote from the processor1001. In this case, the processor1001may access the memory1002via an I/O interface (not shown).

Each of the components in the above-described embodiment is made up of hardware or software or both, may be made up of one piece of hardware or one piece of software, or may be made up of a plurality of pieces of hardware or a plurality of pieces of software. The functions (processes) of the components in the above-described embodiment may be implemented by a computer. For example, programs for performing a method according to the embodiment may be stored in the memory1002, and the functions may be implemented by the processor1001running the programs stored in the memory1002.

Each of the programs includes a command set (or software code) for causing a computer to execute one or more functions described in the embodiment when the program is loaded onto the computer. The programs may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium. Nonrestrictive examples of the computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium include memory technologies, such as a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a solid-state drive (SSD), and others, optical disk storages, such as a CD-ROM, a digital versatile disc (DVD), a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, and others, and magnetic storage devices, such as a magnetic cassette, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk storage, and others. The programs may be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. Nonrestrictive examples of the temporary computer-readable medium or communication medium include an electrical, optical, acoustic, or other-type propagation signals.