Hydrogen storage unit as mobile transport unit for compressed gaseous hydrogen

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a mobile hydrogen storage unit which has a simple structure and is designed to be very flexible with regard to mobility and the ability thereof to be filled and emptied. According to the invention, this is achieved by a mobile hydrogen storage unit in sizes ranging from 10 to 100 kg of H2, such as 46 kg at 350 bar to 75 kg at 700 bar, comprising: a plurality of storage containers which are secured on a support system. The support system is capable of being brought into alignment with holding elements in a vehicle. The invention thus provides a solution as to how an average quantity (40 - 70 kg) of hydrogen can be transported securely and so as to be lockable using a delivery vehicle. This storage unit can also be filled at hydrogen filling stations in compliance with existing standards (currently J2601-2). This solution thus broadens the use of H2 in the vicinity of individual H2 filling stations to a wide variety of applications, including non-mobile applications, which require an energy supply of 1.3 - 2.3 MWh for an economical operation of the applications.

Description

[0001] Hydrogen storage unit as a mobile transport unit for compressed, gaseous hydrogen

[0002] The present invention relates to a mobile hydrogen storage unit.

[0003] Today, hydrogen gas is transported in H₂ cylinder bundles of 12–18 cylinders, each with a volume of 50 L (0.6–0.9 m³). These cylinders are filled to 200 bar or 300 bar and can thus hold 10–25 kg of hydrogen. On the other hand, there are containers and trailers that can transport H₂ masses of 350 kg to over 1000 kg at pressures of 200 bar and increasingly up to 500 bar or even 700 bar. These quantities require heavy trucks with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 40 tons, which must meet special safety requirements for both the vehicle and the driver.

[0004] In the intermediate range, a container size is missing that would allow a delivery van with a total weight of, for example, less than 3.5 tons to transport an H2 mass of 10 to 100 kg, and in particular between 40 and 70 kg.

[0005] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a mobile hydrogen storage unit that is simple in design and very flexible with regard to its mobility and filling and emptying capabilities.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by a mobile hydrogen storage unit according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0007] The present invention according to claim 1 thus provides a solution for transporting a medium quantity (40-70 kg) of hydrogen in a lockable and secure manner using a delivery van. This storage unit can also be refueled at hydrogen refueling stations in accordance with standards (currently J2601-2). This solution therefore extends the application of hydrogen in the vicinity of individual hydrogen refueling stations to a wide variety of applications, including non-mobile ones, that require an energy reserve of 1.3-2.3 MWh for economical operation.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit can have a higher-level tank management system (TMS) with interfaces that enable one or more of the following advantages / uses: a standardized, intelligent refueling interface for refueling at public and commercial filling stations; filling at H2 production plants; and dispensing to H2 consumers.

[0009] The discharge can take place via a pressure reduction station at a lower, selectable pressure level than the filling and / or storage level.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing, which shows:

[0011] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a multi-water storage unit;

[0012] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a transport vehicle with a charged hydrogen storage unit as shown in Figure 1. The hydrogen storage unit comprises several high-pressure cylinders with an operating pressure of 300–700 bar, designed as Type III, Type IV, or Type V tanks and typically with a cylinder size of 50–600 L, in particular between 200–450 L, geometric volume. The individual cylinders advantageously have a cylinder valve, but can also be designed without one, and are piped onto a common gas collector. A further option is to divide the system into several collectors that can be individually controlled. To prevent leakage, the hydrogen lines must be designed to be permanently leak-tight.

[0013] The mounting of the storage unit in the transport vehicle (see Figure 2) is ensured as follows: a base frame that allows the storage unit it supports to be repeatedly fixed and released on the vehicle floor / transport vehicle; a lifting device to pick up the storage unit with a forklift / lifting device and place it in the vehicle / transport vehicle and remove it again.

[0014] The individual tanks are mounted in a mounting structure that meets the following requirements:

[0015] The tank's longitudinal axis is installed in a horizontal position. The cylinder can be installed either longitudinally or transversely to the direction of travel.

[0016] Fixing the cylinders in their position, each having a fixed bearing and an axial sliding bearing to accommodate the pressure-dependent cylinder expansion. Stacking multiple storage units.

[0017] The mounting structure is designed for use in explosion-proof zones. It includes a tank nozzle and IR interface for refueling with hydrogen at public filling stations. The fittings are protected against detachment, even in the event of an accident.

[0018] Protection of the cylinders from deformed body parts or in the event of a rollover.

[0019] Interface to high-pressure applications supplied directly via one or more main valves. Interface to low-pressure applications supplied via a pressure reducing station connected to the main valve and a detachable connection to the low-pressure hose (preferably a quick-release coupling). Optional pressure relief as burst protection in the event of a fire in the transport vehicle.

[0020] The mobile H2 storage unit also includes a tank management system (TMS). This TMS serves for operational and condition monitoring, as well as for controlling and regulating filling and emptying processes (filling, moving, emptying states). The various operating states can be enabled and disabled using this TMS.

[0021] The standardized interface allows refueling at public and commercial filling stations. This communication enables the use of innovative refueling protocols that take the condition of the cylinders into account, resulting in short refueling times.

[0022] An RFID interface allows docking at production facilities and charging of the H2 storage unit.

[0023] The condition monitoring system (TMS) of the H2 storage allows this information to be used to track the history of the storage and to plan the logistics of the storage units.

[0024] An optional pressure reduction station is used to set the permissible supply pressure in the application. Depending on the design, this pressure can be fixed or adjusted at the storage system by trained personnel.

[0025] The H2 storage unit can be used to supply mobile, stationary, and temporary consumers. This includes, but is not limited to, applications such as vehicles, construction machinery, work equipment, trains, ships, buildings, construction sites, events, industrial processes, etc.

[0026] The arrangement of the cylinders can vary for different means of transport in terms of the number of cylinders used, the size of the cylinders and their placement.

[0027] The units can be transported to a customer as mobile units or exchange units in a vehicle, can be unloaded at a filling station in the vehicle or refueled outside the vehicle, or can then be placed at the customer / sales location until the energy content is consumed.

[0028] Depending on the cylinder operating pressure, the storage tanks can be filled at filling stations at either 350 bar or 700 bar. During filling processes at a production plant, an intelligent control system, which can recognize the type of storage tank, allows H2 storage systems with different operating pressures than those achievable at filling stations to be charged up to these filling pressures, provided the production plants are designed for these pressures up to a maximum of 500 bar.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Hydrogen storage unit in sizes from 10 to 100 kg H2, such as 46 kg@350 bar to 75 kg@700 bar, comprising: a plurality of storage containers mounted on a carrier system, the carrier system being equipped to be fitted with mounting elements in a vehicle.

2. Hydrogen storage module according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more cascades of storage containers are provided which can be controlled independently of each other for filling and / or emptying.

3. Hydrogen storage module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an integrated tank management system (TMS) is provided which is capable of performing operational and condition monitoring as well as controlling filling and emptying processes.

4. Hydrogen storage module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank management system, together with means for wireless digital data transmission, is equipped to perform data storage, tracking of the operating history, and remote monitoring, among other things, for logistics planning of the exchange of single or multiple storage containers.

5. Hydrogen storage module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A controllable interface is provided for refueling the hydrogen storage unit at public and / or private hydrogen filling stations.

6. Use of the hydrogen storage unit for utilizing a hydrogen infrastructure for mobility (filling station) for the development and / or supply of non-mobility applications, as well as for location-independent refueling of vehicles with insufficiently filled hydrogen tanks.

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