exhaust system

Abstract

The invention relates to a discharge system (41) for at least one pressure vessel (19) filled with a combustible fluid for discharging the combustible fluid from the at least one pressure vessel (19) into the surroundings from exceeding a predefined limit value of a discharge parameter, comprising at least one discharge valve (28) for discharging fluid from the at least one pressure vessel (19) from exceeding the predefined limit value of the discharge parameter, at least one introduction opening (30) for introducing fluid from the at least one pressure vessel (19) into the at least one discharge valve (28), at least one discharge opening (33) for discharging fluid into the surroundings, wherein the discharge system (41) comprises at least one sensor (35) for detecting the ambient temperature and / or the ambient radiation around the at least one discharge opening (33) and is also able to control and / or regulate the discharge of fluid from the at least one discharge opening (33) depending on the ambient temperature and / or the ambient radiation detected by means of the at least one sensor (35) from exceeding the predefined limit value of the discharge parameter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust system, a pressure vessel system, a fuel cell system, and a motor vehicle for filling at least one pressure vessel with a combustible fluid. Background Technology

[0002] A fuel cell unit, acting as a primary cell, converts a continuously supplied supply of fuel and oxidant into electrical energy through redox reactions at the anode and cathode. Fuel cells are used in various stationary and mobile applications, such as in off-grid homes or motor vehicles, rail transport, aviation, aerospace, and shipping. Within a fuel cell unit, numerous fuel cells are stacked to form a fuel cell stack. Channels for guiding fuel, oxidant, and coolant are integrated within the fuel cell stack. Fuel is stored in a pressurized gas storage device. Typically, multiple pressurized gas storage devices are combined as pressure vessels into a pressure vessel system. In abnormal operating conditions, such as a fire in a motor vehicle, fuel from the pressure vessel system is continuously and immediately released into the surrounding environment for safety reasons, without further control and / or regulation, using a discharge valve as a shut-off mechanism for the TPRD (Temperature and Pressure Relief Device). This release occurs from a pre-defined limit value exceeding the output parameters (e.g., 200 or 300°C on the pressure vessel). In motor vehicles with fuel cell units used to power the vehicle with electrical energy from the fuel cell unit, hydrogen released under abnormal operating conditions poses a high hazard, as hydrogen combustion produces an invisible hydrogen flame. There is a risk that the released hydrogen will ignite and burn into a hydrogen flame in the high temperature, sparks, or other flames, or in the surrounding environment near the discharge opening. This presents a high risk of injury, especially to people near the vehicle, such as rescue personnel.

[0003] DE 10 2012 000 096 A1 discloses a temperature-pressure relief device for a pressure vessel, including a temperature-pressure sensing unit configured to unload pressure from the pressure vessel when a predetermined temperature and / or predetermined pressure is exceeded.

[0004] US 8,955,762 B2 illustrates a discharge valve as a TPRD (Temperature Pressure Relief Device), having a housing including an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A piston is supported in the housing as a closing mechanism. A spring is used to move the closing member from a closed position to an open position. An actuator changes its characteristics according to temperature, i.e., the volume of the actuator, so that the movement of the closing mechanism from the closed position to the open position can be activated by means of the actuator. Summary of the Invention

[0005] A discharge system according to the invention for discharging at least one pressure vessel filled with a flammable fluid from at least one pressure vessel into the surrounding environment from exceeding a predetermined limit value of the discharge parameters includes at least one discharge valve for discharging fluid from at least one pressure vessel from at least one pressure vessel from exceeding the predetermined limit value of the discharge parameters; at least one inlet opening for introducing fluid from at least one pressure vessel into at least one discharge valve; and at least one outlet opening for discharging fluid into the surrounding environment. Preferably, the discharge system includes at least one sensor for detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around at least one outlet opening, and particularly from exceeding the predetermined limit value of the discharge parameters, or when or during exceeding the limit value, the discharge of fluid from at least one outlet opening can be controlled and / or regulated based on the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation detected by means of at least one sensor. Therefore, in order to control and / or regulate the discharge of flammable fluid from at least one pressure vessel, ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation are additionally considered for the discharge to avoid igniting the discharged fluid in the surrounding environment.

[0006] In a supplementary variation, fluid outflow from the at least one discharge opening is blocked from exceeding at least one predetermined limit value of the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around the at least one discharge opening, and preferably, the predetermined limit value of ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation is assigned to each discharge opening.

[0007] In another embodiment, once a predetermined limit value for the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around one discharge opening, and especially all discharge openings is exceeded, fluid can be discharged from one discharge opening, and preferably, discharge from other discharge openings, and preferably, discharge from all other discharge openings, can be blocked. This single discharge opening is the one with the lowest ambient temperature and / or lowest ambient radiation among all discharge openings. Therefore, for example, when the predetermined limit value for the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around all discharge openings (the number of discharge openings n) is exceeded, fluid can be discharged from only one discharge opening (the number of discharge openings 1), i.e., discharge from this single discharge opening is not blocked, but discharge from all other discharge openings (the number of discharge openings n-1) is blocked. This ensures that fluid discharge from the single discharge opening can be carried out even when the predetermined limit value for the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around all discharge openings is exceeded, in order to, for example, prevent the pressure vessel from exploding due to large overpressure. Preferably, the environmental valve, especially a 3 / 2 directional valve, is installed in the discharge line so that fluid can be discharged from only one, and especially always the same, discharge opening, even when the vehicle is powered off. Here, the only, especially always the same, discharge opening is preferably a low-risk discharge opening, for example, on the roof of the vehicle.

[0008] In another variation, fluid can only be discharged from at least one discharge opening once a predetermined limit value of the discharge parameter is exceeded, and fluid discharge from the at least one discharge opening can only be blocked if the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening is exceeded. Preferably, fluid discharge from at least one discharge opening can only be implemented once the predetermined limit value of the discharge parameter is exceeded, i.e., the basic premise for discharge is exceeding the predetermined limit value of the discharge parameter as a first condition; however, actual discharge at each discharge opening depends on the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation at each discharge opening as a second condition, such that actual discharge from each discharge opening can only be implemented if both conditions are met.

[0009] In an additional embodiment, fluid outflow from the at least one discharge opening can be blocked by means of at least one ambient valve starting from a predetermined limit value exceeding the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around the at least one discharge opening.

[0010] To meet the destination requirements, each discharge port is equipped with an environmental valve.

[0011] In one supplementary configuration, at least one environmental valve is an additional valve used to supplement the discharge valve.

[0012] Preferably, the emission system includes multiple discharge openings and is capable of separately detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation at the discharge openings.

[0013] In another variation, the discharge system includes multiple sensors for detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around at least one discharge opening. Specifically, each discharge opening is equipped with at least one sensor for detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening. Preferably, the at least one sensor associated with each discharge opening for detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening is at a distance of less than 30 cm, 20 cm, 10 cm, or 5 cm from each discharge opening.

[0014] In another embodiment, the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around multiple discharge openings can be detected simultaneously, and the higher the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation at each discharge opening, the smaller the volumetric flow of fluid that can be discharged from the discharge opening, and vice versa.

[0015] Meeting the requirements, this device is capable of simultaneously detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around multiple discharge ports, and can block fluid discharge from each discharge port from exceeding a predetermined limit value for the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge port, and / or can fully open and / or be positioned in a fully open position from below a predetermined limit value for the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge port. This allows for the control and / or regulation of fluid discharge from the discharge ports, wherein the ambient valve is always fully open or always fully closed. When the ambient valve is fully closed, fluid discharge from the discharge port associated with that ambient valve is blocked.

[0016] The pressure vessel system according to the invention includes at least one pressure vessel for filling with a flammable fluid; and a discharge system for the at least one pressure vessel capable of being filled with a flammable fluid for discharging the flammable fluid from the at least one pressure vessel into the surrounding environment from a predetermined limit value exceeding the output parameter, wherein the discharge system is configured as described in this patent application.

[0017] The fuel cell system according to the present invention, particularly for motor vehicles, includes a fuel cell unit, a pressure vessel system having an exhaust system for filling at least one pressure vessel with a combustible fluid and an exhaust system for filling at least one pressure vessel with a combustible fluid, and a gas delivery device, the exhaust system being used to exhaust the combustible fluid from the at least one pressure vessel to the surrounding environment from a predetermined limit value exceeding the exhaust parameters; the gas delivery device being used to deliver a gaseous oxidant to the cathode of the fuel cell, wherein the pressure vessel system is configured as described in this patent application.

[0018] A motor vehicle includes a body, multiple wheels, a pressure vessel system, and at least one conversion unit serving as a fuel cell unit and / or an internal combustion engine. The pressure vessel system includes at least one pressure vessel for filling with a combustible fluid and an exhaust system for filling the at least one pressure vessel with the combustible fluid. The exhaust system is used to discharge the combustible fluid from the at least one pressure vessel into the surrounding environment from a predetermined limit value exceeding derived parameters. The internal combustion engine is capable of operating with the combustible fluid from the pressure vessel system. The at least one conversion unit is used to convert the electrochemical energy of the combustible fluid into electrical energy and / or mechanical energy, wherein the pressure vessel system is configured as described in this patent application.

[0019] In particular, the output parameters for controlling and / or regulating at least one discharge valve are the temperature of the fluid in the pressure vessel and / or the temperature of at least one discharge valve and / or the pressure of the fluid in the pressure vessel. Preferably, at least one discharge valve can be opened from a point exceeding a predetermined limit value for the temperature of the pressure vessel and / or a predetermined limit value for the pressure of the pressure vessel and / or a predetermined limit value for the fluid in the pressure vessel and / or the temperature of at least one discharge valve, enabling the discharge of fluid from at least one discharge opening. Preferably, the output parameters can be detected separately for each pressure vessel, and the discharge valve associated with the corresponding pressure vessel can be controlled and / or regulated, in particular opened, based on the output parameters detected for that corresponding pressure vessel. Preferably, the output parameters include two sub-output parameters, namely temperature and pressure.

[0020] In another configuration, at least one discharge valve is fluid-guidedly connected to at least one discharge opening via at least one discharge line, and the distance between at least one discharge valve and at least one discharge opening is greater than 0.1m, 0.2m, 0.5m, 1m or 2m.

[0021] In another variation, the discharge openings of the pressure vessel system, especially all discharge openings, are at least 2m, 1m, 0.5m, 0.2m or 0.1m apart from each other on the vehicle.

[0022] In another variation, the discharge system includes at least one sensor for detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening, and is also able to control and / or regulate the discharge of fluid from each discharge opening based on the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation detected by the at least one sensor, either from the point of exceeding a predetermined limit value of the discharge parameter, or when exceeding it, or during the period of exceeding it.

[0023] In an additional embodiment, the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around multiple discharge openings can be detected simultaneously, and fluid can only be discharged from one discharge opening with the lowest ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation, while fluid discharge is blocked at at least one of the other discharge openings.

[0024] In a supplementary configuration, fluid outflow from each discharge opening is blocked from exceeding a predetermined limit value of ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening, and preferably, the predetermined limit value of ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation is assigned to each discharge opening.

[0025] In another variation, fluid can be discharged from each discharge opening only from the point where the predetermined limit value of the discharge parameter is exceeded, and fluid discharge from each discharge opening can be blocked from the point where the predetermined limit value of the discharge parameter is exceeded if the limit value of the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening is exceeded.

[0026] In an additional implementation, fluid outflow from each discharge opening can be blocked by means of each fully closed ambient valve starting from a predetermined limit value exceeding the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening.

[0027] In another variation, the discharge openings of the pressure vessel system, especially all discharge openings, are at least 2m, 1m, 0.5m, 0.2m or 0.1m apart from each other on the vehicle and / or the discharge openings of the pressure vessel system, especially all discharge openings, have different directions for discharging fluid from the discharge openings, especially the directions for discharging fluid from the discharge openings differ by at least 10°, 20°, 30°, 45°, 90° or 180°.

[0028] In accordance with the destination, at least one environmental valve consists of at least one discharge valve, such that at least one valve is capable of being controlled and / or regulated not only according to at least one output parameter but also according to ambient temperature and ambient radiation.

[0029] In an additional configuration, the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation, especially ambient thermal radiation, around a single discharge opening can be detected substantially by means of at least one sensor associated with the single discharge opening, and the control and / or regulation of a single ambient valve associated with the single discharge opening can be implemented by means of data on ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation detected by the at least one sensor.

[0030] In another configuration, at least one sensor, and in particular multiple sensors, are configured to detect ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening.

[0031] In a supplementary variant, at least one sensor for detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around at least one exhaust opening is a sensor for detecting temperature and / or infrared radiation and / or ultraviolet radiation and / or a thermoelectric sensor and / or a thermopile and / or a thermal imaging camera and / or an ultraviolet radiation photoelectric sensor and / or a sensor for detecting thermal radiation and / or a flame detector and / or a sensor for detecting hydrogen flames and / or a sensor for detecting two different radiation frequency ranges, particularly infrared and ultraviolet radiation, and / or a thermocouple and / or an ionizing electrode around at least one exhaust opening. The ionizing electrode can detect flames around the exhaust opening because the flame ionizes the air.

[0032] In another embodiment, the surrounding environment that can be detected by at least one sensor at each discharge opening has a distance of less than 10m, 5m, 2m, 1m, 0.5m or 0.2m from each discharge opening, especially in the direction in which the fluid is discharged from the discharge opening.

[0033] In one additional variant, the emission system includes an operating valve.

[0034] Preferably, the operating valve is capable of actively closing and opening, especially by means of an electromagnet, and more preferably actively closing and opening according to the operating state of the fuel cell unit. Therefore, the operating valve is open during operation of the fuel cell unit and closed when the fuel cell unit is shut down.

[0035] In one additional embodiment, the fuel cell unit includes a housing and / or a connecting plate.

[0036] In another variation, the fuel cell unit includes at least one connection device, particularly multiple connection devices, and clamping elements for pre-tightening the fuel cell stack under pressure.

[0037] In another configuration, the fuel cell includes a proton exchange membrane, an anode, a cathode, at least one gas diffusion layer, and at least one bipolar plate.

[0038] In another embodiment, the connecting device is configured as a bolt and / or rod.

[0039] The clamping element is constructed as a clamping plate, which is suitable for the destination.

[0040] In another variation, the gas delivery device is constructed as a blower or compressor.

[0041] Preferably, the fuel is hydrogen, hydrogen-rich gas, reformed gas, or natural gas.

[0042] Preferably, the fuel cell and / or components are constructed substantially in a planar and / or disc shape.

[0043] In a supplementary variant, the oxidant is air containing oxygen or pure oxygen.

[0044] Preferably, the fuel cell unit is a PEM fuel cell unit with a PEM fuel cell. Attached Figure Description

[0045] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1 Cross-section of a pressure vessel system with three pressure vessels. Figure 2 Longitudinal section of a pressure vessel Figure 3 A highly simplified diagram of a fuel cell system with a fuel cell unit and a pressure vessel system, the pressure vessel system including an emission system, and Figure 4 : A three-dimensional view of a motor vehicle. Detailed Implementation

[0046] exist Figure 1 The pressure vessel system 21 is shown in the figure and Figure 2The diagram shows a longitudinal section of a pressure vessel 19 serving as a pressurized gas storage device 20. In the pressurized gas storage device 20, a fluid, namely gaseous hydrogen as fuel, is stored in the internal space 27 of the pressure vessel 19 at a pressure of approximately 400 to 800 bar. The internal space 27 is defined by a cylindrical vessel sidewall 23, a substantially disc-shaped rear wall 24, and a similarly substantially disc-shaped front wall 25. Here, the vessel sidewall 23, rear wall 24, and front wall 25 are constructed of metal, particularly steel, or fiber-reinforced plastic. An opening 26 is constructed in the front wall 25. A discharge valve 28 is fixed in the region of the opening 26 in the front wall 25 as a TPRD 29 (temperature and pressure relief device). The discharge valve 28 has an inlet opening 30, and the opening 26 in the front wall 25 leads to the inlet opening 30. Furthermore, the discharge valve 28 is fluid-tightly connected to the front wall 25. The discharge valve 28 only opens and discharges fluid from the internal space 27 of the pressure vessel 19 to the surrounding environment through the discharge line 31 to the discharge opening 33 at the end of the discharge line 31, once the predetermined limit value of the discharge parameters of the discharge valve 28 is exceeded—that is, the predetermined pressure of the fluid in the internal space 27 and the predetermined temperature of the discharge valve 28. The discharge valve 28 is connected to the front wall 25 of the pressure vessel 19 in a thermally conductive manner, such that the temperature of the fluid in the internal space 27 substantially corresponds to the temperature of the discharge valve 28. The predetermined temperature of the discharge parameters is, for example, 120°C or 200°C, and the predetermined pressure of the discharge parameters is 850 bar when the maximum permissible operating pressure of the pressure vessel 19 is 800 bar. This means that the discharge valve 28 opens when the maximum permissible operating pressure of the pressure vessel 19 exceeds 50 bar. Figure 1 The pressure vessel system 21 shown has three pressure vessels 19 arranged in it, and these pressure vessels are surrounded by a generally rectangular shell 22.

[0047] Furthermore, the discharge valve 28 is connected to the pressure line 10, which serves as the fuel line 11, for discharging fluid from the pressure vessel 19 for the normal operation of the fuel cell unit 1. Figure 3 ).exist Figure 3 The diagram shows a fuel cell system 5 having a pressure vessel system 21 and a fuel cell unit 1. The fuel cell unit 1 includes a fuel cell stack 2, which is a fuel cell pile 2, and the fuel cell stack 2 is surrounded by a housing (not shown) and, preferably, a connecting plate (not shown). A large number of fuel cells 3, i.e., PEM fuel cells 4, are stacked within the fuel cell stack 2. Due to the large stack of approximately 300 to 400 fuel cells 3, for simplicity, these fuel cells are... Figure 3The fuel cell stack 2 is not shown in the diagram. Channels for guiding fuel hydrogen, oxidant air, and coolant (not shown) are constructed within the fuel cell stack 2. Fuel hydrogen is directed to the anode of the fuel cell 3, and oxidant air is directed to the cathode of the fuel cell 3. Oxidant air is introduced into the fuel cell stack 2 from ambient air via supply lines 9 and gas delivery devices 6, such as a blower 7 or a compressor 8.

[0048] Fuel hydrogen is introduced into the fuel cell stack 2 from pressure vessel system 21 via supply line 17. Fuel line 11, connected to discharge valve 28, serves as pressure line 10, initially connecting to fuel line rail 12 on pressure vessel 19. Fuel from the three pressure vessels 19 is supplied from fuel line rail 12 to operating valve 15 via high-pressure line 14 at approximately 800 bar, and from operating valve 15 to pressure reducer 18 via another high-pressure line 14. Operating valve 15 is open only during operation of fuel cell unit 1 and closed when fuel cell unit 1 is shut down. In pressure reducer 18, the fuel pressure in intermediate-pressure line 13 is reduced by approximately 10 to 20 bar. Fuel is directed from intermediate-pressure line 13 to injector 16 or metering valve 16. At injector 16, the fuel pressure is reduced to a blow-in pressure between 1 and 3 bar. Fuel is then supplied from injector 16 to supply line 17 for fuel (…). Figure 3 And a channel from the supply line 17 to the fuel used for the fuel cell stack 2.

[0049] The discharge valve 28 on the pressure vessel 19 is fluidly connected to the discharge line 31 via a common discharge rail 32. Three separate discharge lines 31 branch from the common discharge rail 32 and terminate at discharge openings 33. Thus, the fuel cell system 5 with the discharge system 41 includes three discharge openings 33. An ambient valve 34 is arranged in each discharge line 31 that leads only to the discharge opening 33. The ambient valve 34 can completely block the discharge of fuel through only one discharge opening 33. The ambient valves 34 can be opened and closed individually, i.e., one, two, or three ambient valves can be opened. Sensors 35 for detecting temperature and radiation around the discharge opening 33 are arranged in the vicinity or area of ​​the discharge opening 33, for example, at a distance of less than 30 cm, 20 cm, 10 cm, or 5 cm from the discharge opening 33. The data detected by the sensors 35 is transmitted to the control and / or regulation unit 36 ​​via data lines (not shown). Based on data detected by sensor 35, the ambient valve 34 is controlled and / or regulated. Specifically, the ambient valve 34 associated with each discharge opening 33 closes when the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation exceeds a predetermined limit value around the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening 33, and opens when the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation falls below the predetermined limit value around the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around each discharge opening 33, such that fluid is actually discharged as long as at least one discharge valve is open under other conditions. In contrast, the discharge system 41 can also be used to controllably discharge fluid from at least one discharge opening 33 without exceeding the limit values ​​of the discharge parameters, for example, in maintenance situations in a factory. Therefore, the discharge system 41 includes a discharge valve 28, sensor 35, ambient valve 34, and discharge line 31.

[0050] exist Figure 4 The motor vehicle 37 shown, such as a passenger car or truck, includes a body 39 and four wheels 38. Figure 3 The fuel cell system 5, shown, comprising a fuel cell unit 1 and a pressure vessel system 21, is installed in a motor vehicle 37. The pressure vessel system 21 also includes an emission system 41. The fuel cell unit 1 converts the electrochemical energy present in fuel hydrogen into electrical energy. The electrical energy generated by the fuel cell unit 1 is used as an electric current in the motor vehicle 37 to supply power to a drive motor, which serves as a traction motor, to traction and drive the motor vehicle 37.

[0051] The pressure vessel system 21 is fixed to the underside of the vehicle body 39 of the motor vehicle 37. Under certain operating conditions, such as in the event of an accident and / or fire under the vehicle body 39, it is necessary for safety reasons to immediately and briefly release the fuel in the pressure vessel 19 into the surrounding environment. Hydrogen flame combustion is invisible, meaning that objects around the discharge opening 33 could ignite the hydrogen emitted from the discharge opening 33 by high temperature, sparks, or a flame already present around the discharge opening 33, thus creating a dangerous, invisible hydrogen flame. To avoid this, the ambient temperature and ambient radiation, especially ambient thermal radiation, in the area surrounding the discharge opening 33 are detected by sensor 35, and when a limit is exceeded at each discharge opening 33, the ambient valve 34 associated with that discharge opening 33 is controlled and / or the regulating unit 36 ​​is closed. Therefore, under certain operating conditions, fuel is discharged from the pressure vessel 19 only at at least one discharge opening 33 where the limit is not exceeded and therefore there is no danger of igniting the fuel emitted from the discharge opening 33.

[0052] In another embodiment, not shown, the discharge valve 28 and the ambient valve 34 consist of only a single valve. The following description will essentially only focus on... Figure 3 The difference in the illustrated embodiment is that sensors for detecting the pressure and temperature of the fluid within the pressure vessel 19 are arranged on the pressure vessel 19. Valves on the pressure vessel 19 connect to only one discharge line 31, and this discharge line connects to only one discharge opening 33. The three valves on the three pressure vessels 19 are opened by means of the control and / or regulation unit 36 ​​only when the limits of the derived parameters in each pressure vessel 19 are exceeded, and the predetermined limits of the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation detected by the sensor 35 are not exceeded.

[0053] In another embodiment, not shown, the pressure vessel system 21 includes only one discharge opening 33 and only one sensor 35. The following description will essentially only focus on... Figure 3 The difference is illustrated in the embodiment. Therefore, even when the predetermined limit value of the output parameter is exceeded, the combustible fluid as fuel hydrogen is only output from the single discharge opening 33 if the limit value of ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation detected by the single sensor 35 is not exceeded at the single discharge opening 33.

[0054] Overall, the key advantages are related to the emission system 41 according to the invention, the pressure vessel system 21 according to the invention, the fuel cell system 5 according to the invention, and the motor vehicle 37 according to the invention. Under specific operating conditions, especially in the event of an accident or fire, it is necessary to remove fuel from the pressure vessel 19 into the surrounding environment within a short time. Because the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation around the discharge opening 33 are detected by means of sensor 35, fuel is only released into the surrounding environment through the discharge opening 33 where there is no risk of the discharged fuel igniting and forming a dangerous hydrogen flame. Therefore, operational safety can be significantly improved when using the emission system 41 and the pressure vessel system 21 in the motor vehicle 37. Hydrogen flames are visually invisible, thus posing a significant danger to rescue forces, especially in the event of an accident involving the motor vehicle 37, making the use of the motor vehicle 37 according to the invention significantly improve safety in the event of an accident.

Claims

1. A discharge system (41) for at least one pressure vessel (19) filled with a flammable fluid, for discharging the flammable fluid from the at least one pressure vessel (19) into the surrounding environment from a predetermined limit value exceeding a discharge parameter, said discharge system comprising: - At least one discharge valve (28) for discharging fluid from the at least one pressure vessel (19) from a pre-given limit value exceeding the discharge parameter. - At least one inlet opening (30) for introducing fluid from the at least one pressure vessel (19) into the at least one outlet valve (28), - At least one discharge opening (33) for discharging fluid into the surrounding environment. Its features are, The discharge system (41) includes at least one sensor (35) for detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the environment surrounding the at least one discharge opening (33), and is able to control and / or regulate the discharge of fluid from the at least one discharge opening (33) based on the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation detected by means of the at least one sensor (35), even from a predetermined limit value exceeding the discharge parameter.

2. The emission system according to claim 1, Its features are, The fluid can be blocked from being discharged from at least one discharge opening (33) starting from at least one predetermined limit value exceeding the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of the at least one discharge opening (33).

3. The emission system according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, Fluid can be discharged from the discharge opening (33) starting from a predetermined limit value exceeding the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of a discharge opening (33).

4. The emission system according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, Fluid can only be discharged from the at least one discharge opening (33) once the predetermined limit value of the discharge parameter is exceeded, and fluid can only be blocked from being discharged from the at least one discharge opening (33) when the limit value of the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of each discharge opening (33) is exceeded.

5. The emission system according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, From a predetermined limit value exceeding the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of the at least one discharge opening (33), fluid can be blocked from being discharged from the at least one discharge opening (33) by means of at least one ambient valve (34).

6. The emission system according to claim 5, Its features are, Each discharge opening (33) is equipped with an environmental valve (34).

7. The emission system according to claim 5, Its features are, The at least one environmental valve (34) is an additional valve used to supplement the discharge valve (28).

8. The emission system according to any one of claims 1, 2, 6 and 7, Its features are, The emission system (41) includes multiple discharge openings (33) and is capable of separately detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation at the discharge openings (33).

9. The emission system according to any one of claims 1, 2, 6 and 7, Its features are, The emission system (41) includes multiple sensors (35) for detecting ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of the at least one discharge opening (33).

10. The emission system according to any one of claims 1, 2, 6 and 7, Its features are, It is possible to simultaneously detect the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of multiple discharge openings (33), and the greater the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation at each discharge opening (33), the smaller the volume flow of fluid that can be discharged from the discharge opening (33), and vice versa.

11. The emission system according to claim 5, Its features are, It can simultaneously detect the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of multiple discharge openings (33), and can block the outflow of fluid from each discharge opening (33) from exceeding a predetermined limit value of the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of each discharge opening (33), and / or At least one ambient valve (34) associated with each of the discharge openings (33) is fully opened from a predetermined limit value below the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of each discharge opening (33).

12. The emission system according to claim 3, Its features are, From a predetermined limit value exceeding the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of all discharge openings (33), it is possible to implement the discharge of fluid from only one discharge opening (33) and to block the discharge from other discharge openings (33).

13. The emission system according to claim 12, Its features are, It is possible to allow fluid to be discharged from only one discharge opening (33) from a predetermined limit value exceeding the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of all discharge openings (33), and to block discharge from all other discharge openings (33).

14. The emission system according to claim 9, Its features are, Each discharge opening (33) is equipped with at least one sensor (35) for detecting the ambient temperature and / or ambient radiation in the surrounding environment of each discharge opening (33).

15. A pressure vessel system (21), comprising: - At least one pressure vessel (19) for filling with a flammable fluid, - A discharge system (41) for at least one pressure vessel (19) capable of being filled with a flammable fluid, for discharging the flammable fluid from the at least one pressure vessel (19) into the surrounding environment from a predetermined limit value exceeding the discharge parameter. Its features are, The emission system (41) is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. A fuel cell system (4), comprising: - Fuel cell unit (1) - A pressure vessel system (21) having at least one pressure vessel (19) for filling with a flammable fluid and a discharge system (41) for filling the at least one pressure vessel (19) with the flammable fluid, the discharge system being used to discharge the flammable fluid from the at least one pressure vessel (19) to the surrounding environment from a predetermined limit value exceeding the discharge parameter. - A gas delivery device (6) for delivering gaseous oxidant to the cathode of the fuel cells (2, 3), Its features are, The pressure vessel system (21) is constructed according to claim 15.

17. The fuel cell system (4) according to claim 16. Its features are, The fuel cell system (4) is configured for use in a motor vehicle (37).

18. A motor vehicle (37), comprising: - Body (39). - Multiple wheels (38) - A pressure vessel system (21) comprising at least one pressure vessel (19) for filling with a flammable fluid and a discharge system (41) for filling the at least one pressure vessel (19) with the flammable fluid, the discharge system being used to discharge the flammable fluid from the at least one pressure vessel (19) to the surrounding environment from a predetermined limit value exceeding the discharge parameter. - At least one conversion unit (40), as a fuel cell unit (1) and / or an internal combustion engine capable of operating with the aid of a combustible fluid from the pressure vessel system (21), for converting the electrochemical energy of the combustible fluid into electrical energy and / or mechanical energy. Its features are, The pressure vessel system (21) is constructed according to claim 15.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 18, Its features are, The two discharge openings (33) of the pressure vessel system (21) are at least 2m, 1m, 0.5m, 0.2m or 0.1m apart from each other on the vehicle (37).

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 19, Its features are, All discharge openings (33) of the pressure vessel system (21) are at least 2m, 1m, 0.5m, 0.2m or 0.1m apart from each other on the vehicle (37).

Images