DE102021202696A1 - Tank device for storing gas fuel for a vehicle and method for operating a tank device for storing gas fuel for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention creates a tank device (1) for storing gas fuel for a vehicle (F), comprising at least one tank container (TB) into which the gas fuel can be filled; a pressure regulation device (2) with at least one pressure regulation unit (3) which is connected to the tank container (TB) or is arranged on it, the pressure regulation device (2) being set up to indicate a need for at least partial emptying of the tank container (TB). recognize and to operate the pressure regulation unit (3) in such a way that the gas fuel is at least partially drained from the tank container (TB) or an internal pressure of the tank container (TB) is lowered below a predetermined pressure.

Description

The present invention relates to a tank device for storing gas fuel for a vehicle and a method for operating a tank device for storing gas fuel for a vehicle.

State of the art

Safety devices and/or valves can be installed in known pressure storage tanks. For this purpose, fuel cell systems with tank arrangements or tanks for gaseous media are known. In order to stabilize pressure storage tanks in the event of an increase in the temperature of the storage medium or in the event of a leak and to prevent or at least reduce gas escaping, these can be equipped with valves, for example. However, it may subsequently also be desirable to provide an active emergency system or safety system on the tank devices in order to operate the vehicle and its fuel supply in an operating state in which the safety level when carrying fuel can at least be increased.

In the DE112006003013B4 describes a tank with a fitting and a valve, the valve being mounted in the fitting.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to claim 1 and a method for operating a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to claim 8.

Preferred developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Advantages of the Invention

The idea on which the present invention is based is to specify a tank device for storing gas fuel for a vehicle and a method for operating a tank device for storing gas fuel for a vehicle, in which an internal pressure in the fuel tank of the tank device can be reduced in order to increase a safety condition .

According to the invention, the tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle comprises at least one tank container, into which the gas fuel can be filled; a pressure regulation device with at least one pressure regulation unit which is connected to or arranged on the tank container, the pressure regulation device being set up to recognize a need for at least partial emptying of the tank container and to operate the pressure regulation unit in such a way that the gaseous fuel is at least partially drained from the Tank container is drained or an internal pressure of the tank container is lowered below a predetermined pressure.

The vehicle can be a vehicle with an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell vehicle. The gas fuel can be a gaseous gas for operating a fuel cell, for example hydrogen or other gases that are possible for this purpose. On the other hand, the gas fuel can also be a gas for a gas-powered vehicle, such as CNG or LPG, and this can also be liquid gas.

In the case of vehicles with a fuel cell system that break down after damage, an accident or a technical defect, there may still be tank containers filled with the gas fuel on site, with the tank container(s) being under high pressure (up to approx. 700 bar). . After an accident, this tank can be damaged or exposed to high temperatures (fire).

The mentioned tank device can make it possible to lower the pressure in the tank containers by measures or devices for emptying (for example by valves) or to empty the tank containers completely into the environment.

For example, the vehicle occupants, the breakdown service, workshop employees or authorized persons (fire brigade, police ...) can empty the tank.

The pressure regulation device can comprise one or more sensors with which a need to reduce the pressure in the tank container can be detected, or a user interface with which a user or a controller can receive the need for emptying and/or pressure reduction and communicate it to the pressure regulation unit ( en) can pass it on and can therefore operate it. For this purpose, the pressure regulation device can also comprise a control device with which the pressure regulation unit(s) can be controlled. For this purpose, the control device can also be connected to the sensors and read them out.

The gas fuel can be partially or completely drained from the tank container, depending on the desired specification. Furthermore, the control device can recognize via the sensors or through a manual input by the user via an operating interface on which side relative to the vehicle the gas fuel can be drained from the tank container in order to increase a safety level when the gas fuel is drained to the outside. For this purpose, for example, the gas fuel can be discharged on a side of the vehicle opposite the collision and/or on a side of the vehicle on which there is no direct fire or persons. This information can be specified manually by the user interface or can be recognized automatically via at least one sensor (optical), for example on the pressure regulation device. Sensors already present on the vehicle can also be used as sensors that can be used for this purpose, which are primarily arranged on the vehicle for another system but can also generate such information. For example, distance or motion sensors on the vehicle. The predetermined pressure can be determined by a user or vehicle manufacturer and can be based on safety standards.

According to a preferred embodiment of the tank device, the pressure regulation unit comprises a valve device which is attached to the tank container or is connected to an opening of the tank container and by means of which the gaseous fuel can be drained from the tank container.

The valve device can be arranged directly on the tank container, for example on an opening of the tank container. On the other hand, the valve device can also be arranged on a pipe or hose at a certain distance from the tank container, and the opening of the tank container can be connected to the valve device by the hose or pipe. However, pipes or hoses from a number of tank containers can also be connected to such a valve device or to a number of valve devices.

According to a preferred embodiment of the tank device, it comprises a plurality of tank containers, on each of which a pressure regulation unit is arranged and the pressure regulation device is set up to operate the pressure regulation units separately or simultaneously.

Each tank container can be connected to its own valve device, more than one tank container can be connected to one valve device, or all tank containers can be connected to exactly one valve device. Such connections with at least one valve device can be present on more than one side of the tank container(s) at the same time in order to be able to drain the gaseous fuel on that side, if necessary, on which no persons or fire or other sources of danger are adjacent. This can be detected by sensors and can be controlled by the control device. The statements can also apply to valve devices directly at the opening of the associated tank container.

According to a preferred embodiment of the tank device, the pressure regulation device is set up to be controlled manually and/or via a remote control.

The remote control can include a wireless connection with a sensor device and/or a control device, for example by radio transmission and/or common communication methods with the sensors and/or the pressure regulation device/unit (WLAN, Bluetooth, telephone network, radio, or others). The manual control can also take place via an operating interface for the user, which can be a display, a keyboard, a voice input, a sensor system or something else or can use something similar.

According to a preferred embodiment of the tank device, the pressure regulation device comprises a sensor device and/or a triggering mechanism with which operation of the at least one pressure regulation unit can be controlled.

The triggering mechanism may be mechanically or electrically in communication and/or connected to and operate the pressure regulation units.

According to a preferred embodiment of the tank device, the triggering mechanism comprises an impact detector and a mechanical or electronic valve opening mechanism which can be operated by the impact detector in such a way that the at least one pressure regulation unit can be activated in the event of an impact on the vehicle.

The impact detector can be a body which can respond to deformation and thereby impart a mechanical action to the valve opening mechanism in order to activate it. Activating may correspond to opening or closing the pressure regulation unit to release the gaseous fuel. A rod or a cable can be moved, with which a valve device can be opened mechanically. Alternatively, the impact detector can also have an electrically controlled or triggered action on the valve opening mechanism given, such as signal transmission, to operate and activate it. The opening by the mechanical or electrical action can apply to one or more valve devices, simultaneously or sequentially.

According to a preferred embodiment of the tank device, several pressure regulation units are connected to the mechanical or electronic valve opening mechanism and can be activated simultaneously and/or the pressure regulation units are arranged and/or set up to discharge the gaseous fuel in a predetermined direction or on a predetermined side of the vehicle.

According to the invention, a tank device according to the invention is provided in a method for operating a tank device for storing a gaseous fuel for a vehicle; filling the gas fuel into the at least one tank container; recognizing a need for at least partially emptying the tank container; operating the pressure regulation unit in such a way that the gas fuel is at least partially discharged from the tank container or an internal pressure of the tank container is lowered below a predetermined pressure.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the need for the at least partial emptying corresponds to a collision of the vehicle with another vehicle or object, a fire or a maintenance of the tank container or the vehicle or a manual determination.

A manual determination can be understood to mean that a user can determine manually that the tank container should be emptied, for example the pressure regulation unit can be opened manually. This emptying can also be stopped manually, for example when enough gas has been released or the external circumstances no longer allow the gas to be released.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, several tank containers are emptied via a pressure regulation unit or via several pressure regulation units.

Depending on the condition of the vehicle, in the event of damage, the control of the vehicle and central electrics or electronics may still be functional or may already be deactivated. If the electronics are still active, the sensors in the vehicle, such as acceleration sensors, ultrasound or others, can also be used to check the condition and position of the vehicle, e.g. standing, lying or other, and distances around the vehicle can be checked, e.g whether this is free-standing or wedged in or something else. In this way, it can be recognized in which direction the venting of the gaseous fuel can make sense. In this case, for a desired draining, a user can check whether emptying the tank containers makes sense and is possible in each case.

The tank device can also be characterized by the features mentioned in connection with the method and its advantages, and vice versa.

Further features and advantages of embodiments of the invention result from the following description with reference to the attached drawings.

character list

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments given in the schematic figures of the drawing.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Tankvorrichtung zum Speichern eines Gastreibstoffs für ein Fahrzeug gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer Tankvorrichtung zum Speichern eines Gastreibstoffs für ein Fahrzeug gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung einer Tankvorrichtung zum Speichern eines Gastreibstoffs für ein Fahrzeug gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung; und
• 4 eine Blockdarstellung von Verfahrensschritten des Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer Tankvorrichtung zum Speichern eines Gastreibstoffs für ein Fahrzeug gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 2 a schematic representation of a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to a further embodiment of the present invention;
• 3 a schematic representation of a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and
• 4 a block diagram of method steps of the method for operating a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figures, the same reference symbols denote the same elements or elements with the same function.

1 shows a schematic representation of a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The tank device 1 for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle F, according to which comprises 1 a plurality of tank containers TB, for example bottles filled or fillable with hydrogen. The tank device 1 comprises a pressure regulation device 2 with a plurality of pressure regulation units 3, with each pressure regulation unit 3 comprising a valve device VE, which is arranged on a tank container TB, with the pressure regulation device 2 being set up to recognize a need for at least partial emptying of the tank container TB and operate the pressure regulation units 3 such that the gas fuel is at least partially discharged from the tank container TB or an internal pressure of one or more tank containers TB is lowered below a predetermined pressure. The need may be an impact on the vehicle, such as a rear-end collision.

The pressure regulation device 2 can be set up to operate the pressure regulation units 3 simultaneously.

The pressure regulation device 2 can include a triggering mechanism AM, with which operation of the pressure regulation units 3 can be controlled, with which the gas fuel can be at least partially drained from all tank containers at the same time, for example. The triggering mechanism AM can include an impact detector AD and a mechanical valve opening mechanism, which can be operated by the impact detector in such a way that the pressure regulation units 3 can be activated in the event of an impact on the vehicle F. The crash detector AD may be a deformation box that can deform upon impact and trigger the mechanical valve opening mechanism. For this purpose, the mechanical valve opening mechanism can be connected to the deformation box and can comprise a cable BT or a rod which can displace a carrier TR against the direction of travel in the event of an impact. In this case, the carrier can be movable and open the valve devices via a valve train Z. Alternatively, the carrier can remain fixed and represent a stable anchoring of the deflection, so that with a movement, for example the rod against the direction of travel, a valve actuation in the direction of travel can be achieved (reversal of direction), with the valve train Z via a deflection roller UM on the carrier TR can be pulled with the pole. Of course, direct actuation without deflection around the carrier is also conceivable.

A deflection roller UM can be attached to the carrier, which can pull a valve train Z (Bowden cable), which can be attached to the rod or the cable, in the deflected direction forward, i.e. in the direction of travel, and thereby pull a fastening of the valve devices forward and can open the valve devices and thus discharge the gas fuel. The carrier TR, the cable or the rod, the valve train, the deflection pulley UM and the fastening of the valve devices can be part of the triggering mechanism. In other words, after the 1 one or more valve devices can be opened using the cable pull, hydraulically by a piston or by a linkage (rod). Due to the deformation of the deformation box (crash box), a Bowden cable can be actuated, for example by means of a push rod (actuation), which can actuate one or more valve devices in any direction via the deflection, which then leads to the breakdown of the gas fuel contained in the tank container(s), e.g hydrogen. The valve devices (PRD/TPRD thermal and pressure relief device as a safety valve) can either be attached to a bracket (rail) which can connect the tank containers or can be attached directly to the tank containers without this rail.

2 shows a schematic representation of a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The tank device 1 on the vehicle F essentially corresponds to that of 1 , However, the pressure-regulating device 2 differs from that of FIG 1 differs that after 2 a pressure line 5 is present, such as a hose or pipe, which connects all tank containers TB and a valve device VE to one another. A valve device VE can then be connected to this pipe or to this hose, which valve device can reduce the pressure on all tank containers TB and can at least partially discharge the gaseous fuel on all tank containers. In contrast, the execution of the 1 also drain all tank containers, but open all valve devices by a mechanical (tractive force) or electrical action (signal to open). After 2 the mechanical action or electrical action is necessary for only one valve device VE. The valve device VE can be PRD, as can the 1 . It should be mentioned here that the valve devices of the 1 may also include TPRDs. This embodiment of the 2 can also have a plurality of valve devices, it being possible for a valve device to be connected to a number of tank containers and their openings.

3 shows a schematic representation of a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment of 3 resembles that of 2 , although the release mechanism AM instead of a mechanical component is equipped with an electrically controlled component for transmitting the action to open the valve devices. In this case, the triggering mechanism AM can have a sensor device det, which can itself detect a need to release the gas fuel, or can have this transmitted by a control device or an operator interface 6 . The sensor device det and the user interface 6 can communicate with one another by radio. The pressure regulation device 2 can be constructed in exactly the same way as in FIG 2 shown. A pressure line 5 can be present, for example a hose or pipe, which connects all tank containers TB and a valve device VE to one another.

With the sensor device det and the wireless communication device, which can include the sensor device or to which the sensor device can be connected, it is possible to generate an electronic call for help and use it to control the delivery of the gaseous fuel, for example via a so-called e-call.

With such a remote control, the valve device(s) can be opened from a safe distance from the vehicle, for example by a radio signal (FM, GSM/2G...5G, Bluetooth, infrared, light sensor, rain sensor or similar) or by the vehicle's radio key , in which case a special key combination can be specified. Alternatively, an application (app) on a mobile phone can also be used for remote control. In this case, the actuation device of the valve device, such as the PRD (pressure release device), can have a unique IP address that can be activated by the application, but which can also be controlled and triggered by the user.

There may also be an emergency call system, for example in the control device or used by it, such as eCall, which in the event of an accident can send out another signal parallel to the emergency call signal, which can be detected by a receiver, for example the fire brigade and at Confirmation can actuate the valve device (possible with or without rail). All the operations mentioned so far can act on one or more valve devices in order to achieve the draining of the tank contents, at least partially.

4 shows a block diagram of method steps of the method for operating a tank device for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the method for operating a tank device for storing gaseous fuel for a vehicle, a tank device according to the invention is provided S1; filling S2 of the gaseous fuel into the at least one tank container; a detection S3 of a need for at least partial emptying of the tank container; operating S4 the pressure regulation unit in such a way that the gas fuel is at least partially discharged from the tank container or an internal pressure of the tank container is lowered below a predetermined pressure.

Although the present invention has been fully described above with reference to the preferred exemplary embodiment, it is not restricted thereto but can be modified in a variety of ways.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 112006003013 B4 [0003]

Claims (10)

Tank device (1) for storing a gas fuel for a vehicle (F), comprising: - At least one tank container (TB) into which the gas fuel can be filled; - a pressure regulation device (2) with at least one pressure regulation unit (3) which is connected to the tank container (TB) or is arranged on it, the pressure regulation device (2) being set up to avoid a need for at least partial emptying of the tank container (TB) and to operate the pressure regulation unit (3) in such a way that the gas fuel is at least partially drained from the tank container (TB) or an internal pressure of the tank container (TB) is lowered below a predetermined pressure. Tank device (1) after claim 1 , in which the pressure regulation unit (3) comprises a valve device (VE) which is attached to the tank container (TB) or is connected to an opening of the tank container (TB) and by means of which the gaseous fuel can be drained from the tank container. Tank device (1) according to one of Claims 1 or 2 , which comprises a plurality of tank containers (TB), on each of which a pressure regulation unit (3) is arranged and the pressure regulation device (2) is set up to operate the pressure regulation units (3) separately or simultaneously. Tank device (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , in which the pressure regulation device (2) is set up to be controlled manually and/or via a remote control. Tank device (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , in which the pressure regulation device (2) comprises a sensor device and/or a triggering mechanism (AM) with which operation of the at least one pressure regulation unit (3) can be controlled. Tank device (1) after claim 5 , in which the triggering mechanism (AM) comprises an impact detector and a mechanical or electronic valve opening mechanism which can be operated by the impact detector in such a way that the at least one pressure regulation unit (3) can be activated in the event of an impact on the vehicle (F). Tank device (1) after claim 6 , in which several pressure regulation units (3) are connected to the mechanical or electronic valve opening mechanism and can be activated simultaneously and/or the pressure regulation units (3) are arranged and/or set up to direct the gas fuel in a predetermined direction or on a predetermined side of the Vehicle (F) drain. Method for operating a tank device (1) for storing a gaseous fuel for a vehicle (F), comprising the steps: - Providing (S1) a tank device (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 ; - Filling (S2) of the gas fuel into the at least one tank container (TB); - Recognition (S3) of a need for at least partial emptying of the tank container (TB); - Operating (S4) the pressure regulation unit (3) in such a way that the gas fuel is at least partially drained from the tank container (TB) or an internal pressure of the tank container (TB) is lowered below a predetermined pressure. procedure after claim 8 wherein the need for at least partially emptying corresponds to a collision of the vehicle with another vehicle or object, a fire, or maintenance of the tank container or vehicle, or a manual determination. Procedure according to one of Claims 8 or 9 , in which several tank containers (TB) are emptied via a pressure regulation unit (3) or via several pressure regulation units (3).

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