Method for coordinating a blowdown process of a motor vehicle with a hydrogen tank and an assistance system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for coordinating a venting process (30) of a motor vehicle (14) having a hydrogen tank (18) by means of an assistance system (10), wherein, depending on the hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen tank (18), a venting process (30) of hydrogen into the surroundings (40) of the motor vehicle (14) is initiated by means of an electronic computing device (32) of the assistance system (10), characterized in that venting information (42) about another motor vehicle (16) having another hydrogen tank (22) is received by means of a communication device (34) of the assistance system (10), and the venting process (30) of the hydrogen tank (18) of the motor vehicle (14) is coordinated depending on the venting information (42) of the other motor vehicle (16). The invention also relates to an assistance system (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for coordinating the venting process of a motor vehicle with a hydrogen tank using an auxiliary system, as described in the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to an auxiliary system. Background Technology

[0002] It is known from existing technology that motor vehicles operating with hydrogen are equipped with canisters of liquid hydrogen (LH2), which evaporates, for example, when heated. This may also apply to, for example, non-liquid hydrogen, provided that the hydrogen canister is equipped with an overpressure valve. During evaporation, the concentration should not exceed 4% of the hydrogen-containing air mixture, otherwise it may cause the mixture to ignite upon contact with an ignition source. Because hydrogen technology is widely used in motor vehicles, although each vehicle can comply with this regulation, if multiple vehicles are parked close together, there is no coordination for venting, and thus the concentration may exceed 4%.

[0003] DE 10 2014 226 873 A1 relates to an apparatus and method for indicating the safety of a hydrogen tank in the event of a vehicle fire. The apparatus includes a hydrogen storage tank and a heat relief device installed within a valve of the hydrogen storage tank. Furthermore, a controller is designed to measure the flow rate of hydrogen discharged from the hydrogen storage tank using sensors to determine whether the measured discharged hydrogen flow rate is within a predetermined reference flow rate range. Additionally, the controller is designed to transmit an alarm message when the measured discharged hydrogen flow rate remains within the predetermined flow rate range. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method and an auxiliary system that can improve the safety of motor vehicles and the environment surrounding them.

[0005] This objective is achieved by the method and auxiliary system described in accordance with the independent claim. Advantageous design options are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for coordinating the (evaporative gas) release process of a motor vehicle having a hydrogen tank with the aid of an auxiliary system, wherein the release process of hydrogen to the environment surrounding the motor vehicle is initiated by means of an electronic computing device of the auxiliary system based on the hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen tank.

[0007] The regulations stipulate that communication devices of the auxiliary system are used to receive venting information about another vehicle with another hydrogen tank, and the venting process of the hydrogen tank of the vehicle is coordinated based on the venting information of the other vehicle.

[0008] Therefore, a method is proposed, in particular, for coordinating the release of hydrogen into motor vehicles equipped with hydrogen tanks, in order to minimize the ignition hazard. This results in an improvement in the safety of motor vehicles equipped with hydrogen tanks, which could potentially produce a dangerous ignition mixture due to uncontrolled release. In this case, the hazard is minimized, and a method can be implemented to notify all persons in the surrounding environment and the vehicle owner of the danger.

[0009] Therefore, it is specifically proposed that motor vehicles establish communication with other motor vehicles in the vicinity, particularly through wireless technologies such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication. These motor vehicles communicate via communication devices and mutually forward dispersal information, and perhaps route planning data from a queue management system. This can be performed not only between motor vehicles but also coordinated through, for example, a central electronic computing device (which could be a back-end server). Based on the calculated relative positions of the motor vehicle and another motor vehicle at various points in the dispersal process, the timing is chosen such that the time between dispersals is maximized. If the dispersals are too close in time, the vehicle owner can be informed of the danger via back-end communication and can use displays on the vehicle to warn those standing nearby or notify the fire department. This can be utilized similarly to a so-called eCall.

[0010] According to an advantageous design, flare information is transmitted via near-field communication between two vehicles. For example, a vehicle can communicate directly with another vehicle via vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. Alternatively, it can be stipulated that, for example, another vehicle sends flare information to infrastructure via vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication, whereby the infrastructure also transmits the flare information back to the vehicle via V2X communication. Therefore, communication between two vehicles can be performed in different ways. This ensures reliable transmission of flare information to the vehicle.

[0011] Another advantage is that the release information can be transmitted as the timing and / or quantity of hydrogen release, and / or the location of another vehicle and / or the pressure inside another hydrogen tank and / or the position of the release valve on another hydrogen tank. In particular, vehicles can therefore communicate with each other via communication devices and thus send information about their parking location, hydrogen tank pressure, hydrogen fill quantity, predicted release time, and the position of the exhaust valve within the vehicle, and perhaps also route planning data from the queue management system. Therefore, it is possible to reliably determine whether the release of hydrogen from a vehicle's tank is feasible without, for example, exceeding the 4% concentration in the air.

[0012] In another advantageous design, the amount of hydrogen released from the hydrogen tank and / or the timing of the hydrogen release can be coordinated. For example, the amount of hydrogen released can be adjusted accordingly. In particular, if, for example, another vehicle has also initiated its release process, the release amount can be adjusted to prevent the corresponding hydrogen criticality level in the surrounding environment from being reached. Furthermore, the release timing can also be coordinated. If, for example, another vehicle has already released hydrogen, the release timing can be delayed to the greatest extent possible, thus delaying the vehicle's release timing to prevent the hydrogen criticality level in the air mixture.

[0013] It has also proven advantageous to coordinate the release process based on the hydrogen content in the environment surrounding the vehicle. For example, the vehicle itself or its surrounding environment can be equipped with appropriate measuring devices to measure the hydrogen content in the environment. For instance, if a critical hydrogen content has been reached, such as 4% in ambient air, the release process can be delayed accordingly. This can prevent dangerous hydrogen concentrations in the air mixture.

[0014] Advantageously, an environmental model of the surrounding environment can be created using an electronic computing device based on emission information from one vehicle and another. Specifically, the environmental model includes emission information from all vehicles with hydrogen tanks within the surrounding environment. In particular, an approximate mixing model is performed within the environmental model of vehicles with hydrogen tanks, based on the parking location (which could be, for example, an open area or a narrow residential street) to calculate the emission level. The calculation or determination of the environmental model can be performed locally / distributed across all vehicles, or centrally at the vehicle or at the rear end. Therefore, specific environmental models can be created for different surrounding environments, thereby preventing excessively high hydrogen concentrations in the surrounding environment.

[0015] In another advantageous design, the warning device of the auxiliary system is controlled according to the coordination of the venting process, and an alarm for the surrounding environment is generated by the warning device. In particular, for this purpose, for example, a device inside the vehicle can be used to perform the warning of the surrounding environment. For example, the vehicle's horn or lights can be operated. Furthermore, a microphone can be activated, for example, to warn the surrounding environment, especially people in the surrounding environment, that, for example, a critical value of hydrogen content in the air has been detected. This can be achieved, for example, by a voice message delivered via the microphone. Further alternatively or additionally, it can be specified that, for example, the warning device is designed to be centrally controlled, and that, for example, during passive venting (meaning that although a critical hydrogen value already exists in the air mixture, passive venting must be carried out, for example, due to excessive pressure in the hydrogen tank), the surrounding environment can be warned and the fire department can be notified in advance of the presence of a dangerous value.

[0016] This method is particularly a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product having a program code structure that, when executed by an electronic computing device, causes it to perform the method according to the preceding aspect. Consequently, the invention also relates to a computer-readable storage medium incorporating the computer program product.

[0017] Another aspect of the invention relates to an auxiliary system for coordinating the venting process of a motor vehicle with a hydrogen tank, comprising at least one electronic computing device and a communication device, wherein the auxiliary system is designed to perform the method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by means of the auxiliary system.

[0018] In a favorable design of the auxiliary system, the electronic computing device is designed to be located outside the vehicle and centrally store emission information and vehicle emission information, and based on this, the electronic computing device creates an environmental model about the surrounding environment.

[0019] In another advantageous design of the auxiliary system, the electronic computing device is designed to generate control signals for the ventilation system based on the created environmental model, so as to ventilate the surrounding environment. For example, the corresponding values ​​and / or environmental model and corresponding alarms can be transmitted to infrastructure, such as measurement displays for underground parking garages, residential automation systems, or control or monitoring centers, thereby enabling, for example, control of the ventilation equipment to reduce hydrogen gas concentration, in particular. This allows, for example, multiple vehicles equipped with hydrogen tanks to be used in an underground parking garage.

[0020] The advantageous design of the method should also be considered as an advantageous design of the auxiliary system. The auxiliary system, therefore, possesses thematic characteristics that allow the execution of the method or its advantageous design. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Other advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the specification, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the drawings and / or shown individually in the figures, may be used not only in their respective specified combinations, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 A top view schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the auxiliary system;

[0023] Figure 2 A schematic process diagram is shown according to one embodiment of the method. Detailed Implementation

[0024] In the figure, identical or functionally identical parts are labeled with the same reference numerals.

[0025] Figure 1 A side view schematic diagram of one embodiment of the auxiliary system 10 is shown. In the current embodiment, the auxiliary system 10 is shown particularly in a garage 12. Here, a vehicle 14, another vehicle 16, and yet another vehicle 26 are located in the garage 12. Vehicle 14 has a hydrogen tank 18 with a vent valve 20. The other vehicle 16 also has another hydrogen tank 22 with another vent valve 24. Furthermore, the other vehicle 26 has yet another hydrogen tank 28. The auxiliary system 10 is designed to coordinate the venting process 30 of the vehicle 14 with the hydrogen tank 18. The auxiliary system 10 has at least one electronic computing device 32 for this purpose, which may be designed here as a central electronic computing device outside the vehicle. In addition, the auxiliary system 10 has at least one communication device 34, which is formed here in the vehicle 14. The other vehicle 16 also has another communication device 36. The other vehicle 28 has yet another communication device 38.

[0026] In the method of coordinating the release process 30 with the aid system 10, based on the hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen tank 18, the release process 30 of hydrogen to the surrounding environment 40 of the vehicle 14, and in particular the garage 12, is initiated with the aid system 10's electronic computing device 32. Here, a communication device 34 is used to receive release information 42 regarding another hydrogen tank 22 and yet another hydrogen tank 28, and the release process 30 of the hydrogen tank 18 is coordinated based on the release information 42 of another vehicle 16 and yet another vehicle 26.

[0027] Figure 1 Specifically, it is shown that another vehicle 16 and yet another vehicle 26 transmit the emission information 42 to the central electronic computing unit 32. Alternatively or additionally, it may be specified that the other vehicle 16 and yet another vehicle 26 transmit the emission information 42 directly to vehicle 14, for example, via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. But in particular, such communication occurs by means of near-field communication between vehicle 14 and the other vehicle 16.

[0028] In particular, as venting information 42, the timing and / or quantity of hydrogen venting and / or the location of the other vehicle 16 and / or the pressure inside the other hydrogen tank 22 and / or the location of the venting valve 24 on the other hydrogen tank 32 can be transmitted. Furthermore, the amount of hydrogen vented from the hydrogen tank 18 and / or the timing of hydrogen venting from the hydrogen tank 18 are coordinated. It can also be specified, for example, that the hydrogen content in the surrounding environment 40 of the vehicle 14 is measured by means of a hydrogen sensor 44, and the venting process 30 is coordinated based on the measured hydrogen content. Here, the hydrogen sensor 44 is designed to be located outside the vehicle. Alternatively, the hydrogen sensor 44 may be provided inside the vehicle, i.e., within the vehicle 14.

[0029] Furthermore, it can be stipulated that an environmental model 46 is created using an electronic computing device 32 based on the release information 42 of motor vehicle 14 and the release information 42 of another motor vehicle 16.

[0030] It can also be stipulated that the warning device 48 of the auxiliary system 10 is controlled according to the coordination of the release process 30 (here, the warning device is located inside the vehicle, i.e., in the vehicle 14), and an alarm for the surrounding environment 40 is generated by means of the warning device 48. Alternatively, the warning device 48 can also be provided by the surrounding environment 40, for example, the garage 12.

[0031] It can also be specified that the electronic computing device 32 is designed to generate control signals for the ventilation device 50 for ventilating the surrounding environment 40 based on the created environmental model 46.

[0032] Therefore, the present invention particularly proposes, for example, using vehicle-to-infrastructure communication to achieve a coordinated temporal and / or spatial distribution of the emission process 30 or the emission amount, with the aim of achieving the minimum maximum concentration and / or not exceeding the limit within the surrounding environment 40. For example, measurements and / or alarms can be forwarded to infrastructure, such as garage 12. For this purpose, measurements can be forwarded to underground garages, residential automation systems, or measurement displays at control and monitoring centers, where, for example, control of ventilation devices 50 can then be implemented to reduce gas concentration. This can be achieved, for example, by allowing underground garages to be used by vehicles equipped with hydrogen tanks.

[0033] Figure 2A schematic process diagram illustrating one embodiment of the method is shown. In the first step S1, vehicle 14 is parked or in motion, where it may be stationary for an extended period, such as in traffic congestion. In the second step S2, vehicle 14 establishes direct communication with another vehicle 16 or establishes communication with other vehicles 16, 26 in the surrounding environment 40 via an external electronic computing device 32. In the third step S3, data regarding the venting process 30 is exchanged. This includes communication regarding the parking location, hydrogen storage pressure, hydrogen filling amount, predicted venting time, the position of the venting valve 20 on vehicle 14, route planning, and emission volume. In the fourth step S4, an environmental model 46 for vehicles 14, 16, 26 is created. In the fifth step S5, the environmental model 46 for vehicles 14, 16, 26 is created, where, in this case, an approximate hybrid model is calculated, particularly based on the parking location. Environmental conditions, such as open areas or narrow residential streets, can also be considered for this purpose. In step S6, the relevant data from vehicles 14, 16, and 26 in the relevant surrounding environment 40 is input into the fugitive emission calculation device. In step S7, the release timing of vehicles 14, 16, and 26 is coordinated according to the specified environmental model 46, wherein the release process 30 can be determined and allocated accordingly. In step S8, if the releases are too close in time, the owners of vehicles 14, 16, and 26 can be notified of the danger through backend communication, and the display means at vehicles 14, 16, and 26 can be used to warn people standing nearby, and, for example, to notify the fire department. This method can be used here similarly to the so-called eCall. The determination of the environmental model 46 can be performed not only locally at all vehicles 14, 16, and 26, but also centrally at a central electronic computing device 32 outside the vehicles, as shown here.

[0034] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0035] 10. Auxiliary Systems

[0036] 12 Garages

[0037] 14 Motor vehicles

[0038] 16 Another motor vehicle

[0039] 18 Hydrogen cylinders

[0040] 20 Vent valve

[0041] 22 Another hydrogen tank

[0042] 24 Another exhaust valve

[0043] 26 Another motor vehicle

[0044] 28 Another hydrogen tank

[0045] 30. Release process

[0046] 32 Electronic computing devices

[0047] 34 Communication devices

[0048] 36 Another communication device

[0049] 38 Another communication device

[0050] 40 Surrounding environment

[0051] 42. Spreading information

[0052] 44 Hydrogen meter

[0053] 46 Environmental Model

[0054] 48 Warning devices

[0055] 50 Ventilation devices

[0056] S1 First Step

[0057] S2 Second Step

[0058] S3 Third Step

[0059] S4 Fourth Step

[0060] S5 Fifth Step

[0061] S6 Sixth Step

[0062] S7 Step Seven

[0063] S8 Eighth Step

Claims

1. A method for coordinating the venting process (30) of a motor vehicle (14) having a hydrogen tank (18) with the aid of an auxiliary system (10), wherein, Based on the hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen tank (18), the electronic computing device (32) of the auxiliary system (10) initiates the release process (30) of hydrogen to the surrounding environment (40) of the motor vehicle (14). Its features are, The communication device (34) of the auxiliary system (10) receives venting information (42) about another motor vehicle (16) with another hydrogen tank (22), and the venting process (30) of the hydrogen tank (18) of the motor vehicle (14) is coordinated based on the venting information (42) of the other motor vehicle (16).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The emission information (42) is transmitted via near-field communication between the vehicle (14) and the other vehicle (16).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, As venting information (42), the timing and / or quantity of hydrogen venting and / or the location of the other vehicle (16) and / or the pressure in the other hydrogen tank (22) and / or the location of the venting valve (24) on the other hydrogen tank (22) are transmitted.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The amount of hydrogen released from the hydrogen tank (18) and / or the timing of hydrogen release from the hydrogen tank (18) are coordinated.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The emission process (30) is also coordinated based on the hydrogen content in the surrounding environment (40) of the motor vehicle (14).

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, An environmental model (46) of the surrounding environment (40) is created by means of the electronic computing device (32) based on the release information (42) of the motor vehicle (14) and the release information (42) of the other motor vehicle (16).

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The warning device (48) of the auxiliary system (10) is controlled in accordance with the coordination of the release process (30) and an alarm for the surrounding environment (40) is generated by means of the warning device (48).

8. An auxiliary system (10) for coordinating the release process (30) of a motor vehicle (14) having a hydrogen tank (18), comprising at least one electronic computing device (32) and a communication device (34), wherein, The auxiliary system (10) is designed to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The auxiliary system (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The electronic computing device (32) is designed to store the emission information (42) and the emission information (42) of the vehicle (14) outside the vehicle and to create an environmental model (46) of the surrounding environment (40) based thereon.

10. The auxiliary system (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The electronic computing device (32) is designed to generate control signals for ventilation devices (50) for the surrounding environment (40) based on the created environmental model (46).

Images