Moving body

Abstract

In a fuel cell system 20 mounted on a fuel cell vehicle of the invention, water separated by a gas-liquid separator 38 included in a hydrogen supply system and by a gas-liquid separator 48 included in an air supply discharge system 40 is temporarily accumulated in buffer tanks 62 a through 62 c, which are set inside a front fender or inside a front bumper of the vehicle. The accumulated water is released from water outlets 64 b and 64 c located forward and backward a front wheel of the vehicle having relatively little potential effects of vehicle wind or air flow caused by motion of the vehicle. For the purpose of reducing the potential effects of the vehicle wind on the released water, the fuel cell vehicle may have an air flow path that makes the released water flown obliquely backward the vehicle by the air flow or form an air curtain of exhaust gas or the air ahead of the released water. This arrangement effectively restricts the released water from being scattered by and swirled on the vehicle wind and thereby prevents potential troubles such that the released water is scattered on other vehicles running on the side and behind.

1 . A moving body with fuel cells that are mounted thereon as a power source and generate electric power with production of water as a by-product, said moving body comprising: 
 a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells from a water outlet located in a front section of said moving body to the atmosphere.    
   
   
       2 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 1 , said moving body being a vehicle, 
 wherein the water outlet is located at either of a bumper and a fender in a front section of said vehicle.    
   
   
       3 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the water outlet is located ahead of a front wheel of said vehicle.  
   
   
       4 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 2 , said moving body further comprising: 
 a water tank that is located in the front section of said vehicle to temporarily keep the water accumulated therein and is arranged in a pathway from the fuel cells to the water outlet for releasing the water to the atmosphere.    
   
   
       5 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the water tank is located inside the bumper of said vehicle.  
   
   
       6 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the water tank is located ahead of the water outlet.  
   
   
       7 . A moving body with fuel cells that are mounted thereon as a power source and generate electric power with production of water as a by-product, said moving body comprising: 
 a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells from a water outlet to the atmosphere; and    an air flow regulation module that regulates an air flow caused by motion of said moving body in a neighborhood of the water outlet of said water discharge module.    
   
   
       8 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the water outlet is arranged to release the water from a bottom side of said moving body substantially downward in a vertical direction, and 
 said air flow regulation module makes the air flow obliquely backward said moving body.    
   
   
       9 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said air flow regulation module makes the air flow backward at an angle in a range of 15 to 75 degrees relative to a lateral side of said moving body.  
   
   
       10 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said air flow regulation module regulates the air flow to have a vertically downward component.  
   
   
       11 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said air flow regulation module regulates the air flow introduced from front of said moving body.  
   
   
       12 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 8 , said moving body being a vehicle, 
 wherein the water outlet is located behind a front wheel of said vehicle.    
   
   
       13 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the water outlet is located on a side of a driver's seat.  
   
   
       14 . A moving body with fuel cells that are mounted thereon as a power source and generate electric power with production of water as a by-product, said moving body being equipped with a suspension device for supporting said moving body, said moving body comprising: 
 a water discharge module that has a water outlet attached to an under-spring member of the suspension device and releases water produced by the fuel cells from the water outlet to the atmosphere.    
   
   
       15 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the under-spring member is a suspension arm.  
   
   
       16 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 14 , said moving body being a vehicle, 
 wherein the water outlet is located in a neighborhood of a wheel.    
   
   
       17 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the water outlet is located behind a rear wheel.  
   
   
       18 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 14 , said moving body further comprising an air flow regulation module that regulates an air flow caused by motion of said moving body at the water outlet.  
   
   
       19 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said air flow regulation module restricts the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body.  
   
   
       20 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said air flow regulation module regulates the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body to have a vertically downward component.  
   
   
       21 . A moving body with fuel cells that are mounted thereon as a power source and generate electric power with production of water as a by-product, said moving body comprising: 
 a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells from a water outlet to the atmosphere; and    an air flow effect control module that restrains potential effect of an air flow caused by motion of said moving body on the water, which is released from the water outlet and eventually reaches road surface, at least in a neighborhood of the water outlet.    
   
   
       22 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates a gas flow in the neighborhood of the water outlet to flow in a direction substantially identical with a release direction of the water from the water outlet.  
   
   
       23 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates a gas flow to practically block off the air flow, which is caused by the motion of said moving body to affect the water released from the water outlet.  
   
   
       24 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates the gas flow ahead of a release position of the water in a moving direction of said moving body.  
   
   
       25 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates the gas flow behind a release position of the water in a moving direction of said moving body.  
   
   
       26 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates the gas flow laterally inward a release position of the water in a moving direction of said moving body.  
   
   
       27 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates the gas flow laterally outward a release position of the water in a moving direction of said moving body.  
   
   
       28 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates the gas flow in a circular shape around the water.  
   
   
       29 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates the gas flow to surround the water.  
   
   
       30 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates the gas flow of exhaust gas from said moving body.  
   
   
       31 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein said air flow effect control module generates the gas flow of exhaust gas from the fuel cells.  
   
   
       32 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein said air flow effect control module has a fan to generate the gas flow.  
   
   
       33 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the fan is a cooling fan to cool down a device mounted on said moving body.  
   
   
       34 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the fan is arranged in a lower portion of said moving body to make a flow of the exhaust gas having a vertically downward component.  
   
   
       35 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein said air flow effect control module regulates the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body to generate the gas flow.  
   
   
       36 . A moving body with fuel cells that are mounted thereon as a power source and generate electric power with production of water as a by-product, said moving body comprising: 
 a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells from a water outlet to the atmosphere; and    a backward scatter control module that restrains water released from the water outlet and water reaching road surface after the release from the water outlet from being scattered backward by an air flow caused by motion of said moving body.    
   
   
       37 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein said backward scatter control module generates a gas flow behind the water outlet to flow in a direction substantially identical with a release direction of the water from the water outlet.  
   
   
       38 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein said backward scatter control module generates a gas flow having a vertically downward component behind the water outlet.  
   
   
       39 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein said backward scatter control module regulates the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body to generate the gas flow.  
   
   
       40 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein said backward scatter control module generates the gas flow of exhaust gas from said moving body.  
   
   
       41 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein said backward scatter control module generates the gas flow of exhaust gas from the fuel cells.  
   
   
       42 . A moving body with fuel cells that are mounted thereon as a power source and generate electric power with production of water as a by-product, said moving body comprising: 
 a gas liquid separation discharge module that receives a supply of exhaust gas including at least part of water produced by the fuel cells in the form of steam, effects gas liquid separation of the supplied exhaust gas by function of centrifugal separation, and releases separated gas and liquid in a substantially identical direction to the atmosphere.    
   
   
       43 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 42 , wherein said gas liquid separation discharge module comprises: 
 a gas liquid separator module that makes a spiral flow of the exhaust gas to effect the centrifugal gas liquid separation; and    a release module that releases the gas and the liquid separated by said gas liquid separator module in a direction having a vertically downward component.    
   
   
       44 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said release module has a bent pipe, which bends a substantially horizontal flow of the gas and the liquid from said gas liquid separator module to a vertically downward direction and releases the vertically downward flow of the gas and the liquid.  
   
   
       45 . A moving body with fuel cells that are mounted thereon as a power source and generate electric power with production of water as a by-product, said moving body comprising: 
 a release module having a release mechanism that changes a release direction of exhaust gas in a range between a vertically downward direction and a horizontal direction, in response to a variation in flow rate of the exhaust gas from the fuel cells,    said release module activating said release mechanism to release water and the exhaust gas produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere.    
   
   
       46 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said release mechanism changes the release direction of the exhaust gas to the horizontal direction, in response to an increase in flow rate of the exhaust gas from the fuel cells.  
   
   
       47 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said release mechanism changes the release direction of the exhaust gas from the vertically downward direction to a horizontal and lateral direction of said moving body, in response to a variation in flow rate of the exhaust gas from the fuel cells.  
   
   
       48 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said release mechanism changes the release direction of the exhaust gas from the vertically downward direction to a horizontal and backward direction of said moving body, in response to a variation in flow rate of the exhaust gas from the fuel cells.  
   
   
       49 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said release mechanism has a movable pipe that is linked via a hinge to an upper edge of an end of a stationary pipe fixed to said moving body in a substantially horizontal orientation.  
   
   
       50 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said release mechanism has a bendable pipe that is linked in a bendable manner to an end of a stationary pipe fixed to said moving body in a substantially horizontal orientation, and a deformable elastic member that is deformable by force of a gas flowing through the bendable pipe, 
 said release mechanism utilizing the deformable elastic member to adjust a bending state of the bendable pipe and make a free end of the bendable pipe face substantially downward in the vertical direction, in response to a low flow rate of the exhaust gas.    
   
   
       51 . A moving body with fuel cells that are mounted thereon as a power source and generate electric power with production of water as a by-product, said moving body comprising: 
 a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells from a water outlet to the atmosphere; and    a scatter control module that restrains scatter of the water released from the water outlet of said water discharge module.    
   
   
       52 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 51 , wherein said scatter control module enhances a force in a direction acting on fall of the water.  
   
   
       53 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said scatter control module increases a fall weight of the water.  
   
   
       54 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 53 , wherein said scatter control module accumulates the water and leads the accumulated water to the water outlet.  
   
   
       55 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 54 , wherein said scatter control module effects gas liquid separation of exhaust gas from the fuel cells, which includes at least part of the water in the form of steam, to accumulate the water.  
   
   
       56 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said scatter control module accelerates the fall of the water with an air flow caused by motion of said moving body.  
   
   
       57 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 56 , wherein said scatter control module makes the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body as a flow having a vertically downward component relative to the water, so as to accelerate the fall of the water.  
   
   
       58 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said scatter control module accelerates the fall of the water with a flow of a gas emitted from said moving body.  
   
   
       59 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 58 , wherein said scatter control module emits the gas flow from said moving body as a flow having a vertically downward component relative to the water, so as to accelerate the fall of the water.  
   
   
       60 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 51 , wherein said scatter control module reduces a force in a direction acting on splash of the water.  
   
   
       61 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 60 , wherein said scatter control module restricts effect of an air flow caused by motion of said moving body on the water.  
   
   
       62 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 61 , wherein said scatter control module regulates the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body relative to the water, so as to restrict the effect of the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body on the water.  
   
   
       63 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 62 , wherein said scatter control module restricts the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body relative to the water.  
   
   
       64 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 62 , wherein said scatter control module blocks off the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body relative to the water.  
   
   
       65 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 62 , wherein said scatter control module makes the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body as a flow having a vertically downward component relative to the water.  
   
   
       66 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 61 , wherein said scatter control module reduces a force in a direction acting on the splash of the water with a flow of a gas emitted from said moving body.  
   
   
       67 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 66 , wherein said scatter control module restricts the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body relative to the water with a flow of a gas emitted from said moving body.  
   
   
       68 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 66 , wherein said scatter control module blocks off the air flow caused by the motion of said moving body relative to the water with a flow of a gas emitted from said moving body.  
   
   
       69 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 51 , wherein said scatter control module restricts motion of the water.  
   
   
       70 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 69 , wherein said scatter control module restricts the motion of the water with a flow of a gas emitted from said moving body.  
   
   
       71 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 70 , wherein said scatter control module restricts the motion of the water with an air flow caused by motion of said moving body.  
   
   
       72 . A moving body, comprising: 
 fuel cells that generate electric power through electrochemical reaction of hydrogen with oxygen;    an exhaust system that emits exhaust gas from said fuel cells out of said moving body; and    a water discharge control mechanism that restrains discharge of water, which is contained in the exhaust gas, out of said moving body at a speed of not lower than a preset level.    
   
   
       73 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 72 , wherein said water discharge control mechanism is a valve mechanism that reduces an opening at the speed of not lower than the preset level.  
   
   
       74 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 72 , wherein said water discharge control mechanism is a drain that has an opening at a position and orientation to make a ram pressure produced by motion of said moving body act in a direction of restricting discharge of the water.  
   
   
       75 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 72 , wherein said exhaust system has a gas liquid separation mechanism to separate the water from the exhaust gas, and 
 said water discharge control mechanism is located in a water discharge system downstream said gas liquid separation mechanism.    
   
   
       76 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 75 , wherein said gas liquid separation mechanism has a water tank that temporarily keeps the water accumulated therein, and 
 said water discharge system is provided in the water tank to have an opening in a front portion of said moving body.    
   
   
       77 . A moving body, comprising: 
 fuel cells that generate electric power through electrochemical reaction of hydrogen with oxygen;    an exhaust system that emits exhaust gas from said fuel cells out of said moving body;    a water tank that temporarily keeps water contained in the exhaust gas; and    a drain that is formed in a front portion of said moving body to discharge the water from said water tank.    
   
   
       78 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 77 , wherein the drain has an opening at a position and orientation to make a ram pressure produced by motion of said moving body act in a direction of restricting discharge of the water.  
   
   
       79 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 77 , wherein the drain has a valve mechanism that reduces an opening at a speed of not less than a preset level.  
   
   
       80 . A moving body in accordance with  claim 77 , wherein said exhaust system has a gas liquid separation mechanism to separate the water from the exhaust gas, and 
 said water tank is located in a water discharge system downstream said gas liquid separation mechanism.