Method for operating tank system for storing gaseous fuel and tank system for storing gaseous fuel

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a tank system (1) for storing gaseous fuel for a vehicle, comprising the following steps: removing gas from the tank container by means of a gas line system (GL); ascertaining a pressure in a high-pressure region of the gas line system; determining the temperature in the respective tank container (TB1, TB2,..., TBn) during the removal of gas from the tank container; ascertaining, from the temperature ascertained at the respective tank container and the pressure in the high-pressure region of the gas line system (GL), a respective tank fill level in the respective tank container at a predetermined point in time during the removal of gas from the respective tank container; the change of the tank material level of the corresponding tank container or all the tank containers at a preset time point is determined; the gas consumption of a consumption system connected with the gas pipeline system at a preset time point is obtained; and comparing the gas consumption with a change in the tank level of the tank container or all tank containers taking into account a predetermined tolerance deviation, and identifying a leak in the tank installation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a tank system for storing gaseous fuel and a tank system for storing gaseous fuel. Background Art

[0002] Safety devices and / or valves can be installed in known pressure storage tanks. For this purpose, fuel cell systems or tanks for gaseous media with tank assemblies are known. To stabilize the pressure storage tank in the event of an increase in the temperature of the storage medium or a leak and to prevent or at least reduce the outflow of gas, the pressure storage tank can be equipped with a valve, for example. However, it is also desirable to better understand the tank filling level of the tank system in order to optimize the operation of the vehicle and its fuel supply system in an operating state.

[0003] In conventional hydrogen tank systems with multiple gas tanks, each with its own tank valve, not all tanks are equipped with their own pressure sensors. It is desirable to determine the tank fill level and, in the case of multiple tanks, the fill level after pressure equalization.

[0004] DE 11 2006 003 013 B4 describes a tank having a fitting and a valve, wherein the valve is fastened in the fitting. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The invention provides a method for operating a tank installation for storing gaseous fuel according to claim 1 and a tank installation for storing gaseous fuel according to claim 7 .

[0006] Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The present invention is based on the idea of ​​specifying a method for operating a tank system for storing gaseous fuel and a tank system for storing gaseous fuel, by means of which leaks in the tank container can be better determined.

[0008] According to the present invention, in a method for operating a tank device, gas is removed from a tank container via a gas pipeline system; the pressure in the high-pressure area of ​​the gas pipeline system is determined by a pressure sensor during the removal of gas from the tank container; the temperature in the corresponding tank container is determined during the removal of gas from the tank container; the corresponding tank level in the corresponding tank container at a predetermined time point during the removal of gas from the corresponding tank container is determined from the temperature determined on the corresponding tank container and the pressure in the high-pressure area of ​​the gas pipeline system; the change in the tank level of the corresponding tank container or all tank containers at a predetermined time point is determined; the gas consumption of a consumer system connected to the gas pipeline system at a predetermined time point is determined; and the gas consumption is compared with the change in the tank level of the corresponding tank container or all tank containers, and when the change in the tank level or all tank levels deviates from the gas consumption by more than a predetermined tolerance deviation, a leak in the tank device is identified. To this end, the tank device comprises at least one tank container; a gas pipeline system connected to the at least one tank container; at least one temperature sensor in the respective tank container and a pressure sensor in the high-pressure area of ​​the gas pipeline system, wherein the respective tank container is connected to the high-pressure area of ​​the gas pipeline system; and a control device connected to the respective temperature sensor and pressure sensor.

[0009] The method according to the present invention advantageously allows leaks in a tank system to be detected during operation of a vehicle and / or a consumer system. After the leak has been detected, the operation of the tank system can then be transitioned to a safer state. Advantageously, pressure sensors in the high-pressure region of the gas line system and temperature sensors of the respective tank containers can be evaluated, and the tank fill level at one or all tank containers can be determined at different points in time. Within the meaning of the present invention, the expression "the respective tank container" can also be replaced by "a tank container" or "all tank containers," and the same applies to the tank fill level.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the pressure in the high-pressure region of the gas line system is ascertained if, during vehicle operation, pressure equilibrium is assumed between the respective tank container and the high-pressure region within a tolerance range.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, a warning is issued and / or operation of the vehicle is interrupted when a leak is detected.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the gas consumption is ascertained from the operation of the fuel cell.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the gas consumption determined from the operation of the consumer system is back-calculated proportionally to the change in the tank filling level of all tank containers.

[0014] According to the present invention, a tank device for storing gaseous fuel for vehicles includes at least one tank container; a gas pipeline system connected to the at least one tank container; at least one temperature sensor in the corresponding tank container or all tank containers and a pressure sensor in the high-pressure area of ​​the gas pipeline system, wherein the corresponding tank container is connected to the high-pressure area of ​​the gas pipeline system; and a control device, which is connected to the corresponding temperature sensor and pressure sensor and is configured to perform the method according to the present invention.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the tank arrangement, the control device is connectable to a fuel cell of the vehicle and is provided to ascertain from the fuel cell the gas consumption required for the power generated by the fuel cell.

[0016] The gas piping system may be used to supply gaseous fuel to the tank container and may also be used to convey gas from the tank container to the engine or fuel cell of the vehicle.The valve arrangement may include a closable valve that can be opened and closed electrically.

[0017] The vehicle may be a fuel cell vehicle. The gaseous fuel may be a gaseous gas for operating the fuel cell, such as hydrogen or another suitable gas for this purpose. Alternatively, the gaseous fuel may be a gas for gas-operated vehicles, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), in which case it may also be liquefied gas.

[0018] In a vehicle with a fuel cell system, tank containers filled with gaseous fuel may be present, one or more of which may be under high pressure (up to approximately 700 bar nominally). During a stoppage of a vehicle with a hydrogen storage system, different pressures may occur in the individual tanks. This is due to different temperature changes in the individual tanks, for example due to different tank embodiments or different ambient conditions at the tanks causing different heating or cooling. These differences or influences can be taken into account for the individual tanks.

[0019] The tank apparatus may also have the features and advantages associated with the method, and vice versa.

[0020] Further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the schematic diagram of the drawing.

[0022] The accompanying drawings show:

[0023] Figure 1 : A schematic diagram of a tank apparatus for storing gas fuel for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] In the figures, the same reference signs identify identical or functionally identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating a tank apparatus for storing gaseous fuel for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The tank device 1 includes at least one tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn); a gas pipeline system GL connected to the at least one tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn); at least one temperature sensor in the corresponding tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) and a pressure sensor in the high-pressure area of ​​the gas pipeline system GL, wherein the corresponding tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) is connected to the high-pressure area of ​​the gas pipeline system GL; and a control device connected to the corresponding temperature sensor and pressure sensor. In the method, gas is removed from a tank container via a gas line system GL; the pressure in the high-pressure region of the gas line system GL is determined via a pressure sensor during the removal of gas from the tank container; the temperature in the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) is determined during the removal of gas from the tank container; the respective tank fill level in the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) is determined at a predetermined time point during the removal of gas from the respective tank container from the determined temperature of the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) and the pressure in the high-pressure region of the gas line system GL; the change in the tank fill level of the respective tank container or of all tank containers (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) at a predetermined time point is determined; the gas consumption of a consumer system connected to the gas line system at a predetermined time point is determined; and the gas consumption is compared with the change in the tank fill level or of all tank fill levels, and a leak in the tank system is detected when the change in the tank fill level or of all tank fill levels deviates from the gas consumption by more than a predetermined tolerance deviation.

[0027] Figure 1 A system comprising a hydrogen storage device with a tank arrangement 1 and a fuel cell system BZE is shown.

[0028] Multiple tanks TB1, TB2, ... are symbolically represented here as a single tank, which can be connected to a safety valve SV (e.g., TPRD) and to a shutoff valve 2. The tank side TS (e.g., toward the tank area) can be connected to the tanks TB1, ... via a check valve RSV. The shutoff valve can be connected to the fuel cell BZ in the fuel cell arrangement BZE via a regulator R, in particular via a gas line GL. The gas line GL itself can have a sensor Si on the high-pressure side, i.e., upstream of the regulator in the flow direction, wherein such a pressure and / or temperature sensor Si can also be present on the fuel cell side, i.e., downstream of the regulator R. The fuel cell BZ can be connected to a blower GB and an exhaust gas area AB. The fuel cell can then supply power to an energy management system D, e.g., a battery Batt, one or more capacitors C, an associated control unit D-SE, and drive a motor M.

[0029] Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto but can be modified in various ways.

Claims

1. A method for operating a tank system (1) for storing gaseous fuel for vehicles, wherein: The tank device (1) comprises: at least one tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn); a gas line system (GL) connected to the at least one tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn); at least one temperature sensor in the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) and a pressure sensor in the high-pressure region of the gas pipeline system (GL), wherein the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) is connected to the high-pressure region of the gas pipeline system (GL); and A control device connected to corresponding temperature sensors and pressure sensors; The method comprises the following steps: - removing gas from the tank container via the gas line system (GL); - during the removal of gas from the tank container, determining the pressure in the high-pressure region of the gas line system (GL) by means of the pressure sensor; - determining the temperature in the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, . . . , TBn) during the removal of gas from the tank container; - determining the respective tank filling level in the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, . . . , TBn) at a predetermined point in time during the removal of gas from the respective tank container from the temperature determined at the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, . . . , TBn) and the pressure in the high-pressure region of the gas line system (GL); - determining the change in the tank filling level of the corresponding tank container or all tank containers (TB1, TB2, . . . , TBn) at a predetermined point in time; - determining the gas consumption of a consumer system connected to the gas pipeline system at a predetermined point in time; and The gas consumption is compared with the change in the tank fill level of the tank container or all tank containers and a leak in the tank system is detected if the change in the tank fill level of the tank container or all tank containers deviates from the gas consumption by more than a predetermined tolerance deviation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the high-pressure region of the gas line system (GL) is determined if a pressure balance between the respective tank container and the high-pressure region is assumed within a tolerance range during vehicle operation. 3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a warning is issued and / or operation of the vehicle is interrupted when a leak is detected. 4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gas consumption is ascertained from the operation of the fuel cell. 5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gas consumption determined from the operation of the consumer system is back-calculated proportionally to the change in the tank filling level of all tank containers.

6. A tank device (1) for storing gaseous fuel for a vehicle (F), comprising: at least one tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn); a gas line system (GL) connected to the at least one tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn); at least one temperature sensor in the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) and a pressure sensor in the high-pressure region of the gas pipeline system (GL), wherein the respective tank container (TB1, TB2, ..., TBn) is connected to the high-pressure region of the gas pipeline system (GL); and A control device is connected to the corresponding temperature sensor and the pressure sensor and is configured to carry out the method according to claim 1 .

7. The tank arrangement (1) according to claim 6, in which the control device can be connected to a fuel cell of the vehicle and is configured to ascertain from the fuel cell the gas consumption required for the power generated by the fuel cell.

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