Check valve and dispenser with check valve

Abstract

The invention relates to a non-return valve (10) for a H2 high-pressure system (100), in particular for a dispenser (110) of the H2 high-pressure system (100), wherein the non-return valve (10) comprises a main body (20) having an inlet interface (22) for connecting the non-return valve (10) with a refueling infrastructure (150) and an outlet interface (24) for connecting the non-return valve (10) with a high-pressure system (100), wherein the main body (20) comprises a flow channel (26) interconnecting the inlet interface (22) and the outlet interface (24) for fluid exchange, wherein a piston (30) is arranged in the main body (20) and movable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the flow channel (26) relative to a sealing seat (28) of the main body (20), wherein the flow channel (26) is arranged at least partially around the piston (30); a piston holder (32) with a piston spring (34), wherein the piston holder (32) and the piston spring (34) are arranged at least partially within the piston, wherein the piston spring (34) is configured for pressing the piston (30) into the closed position, wherein the piston holder (32) is fixed on the inside of the main body (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a check valve for H2 high-pressure systems, particularly for distributors used in H2 high-pressure systems. Furthermore, this invention relates to a distributor for H2 high-pressure systems, wherein the distributor includes at least one check valve. Background Technology

[0002] Known high-pressure systems for hydrogen include check valves for handling hydrogen flow into, for example, distributors entering the high-pressure system. Distributors are typically used to distribute hydrogen from one inlet opening to multiple outlet openings to deliver hydrogen to multiple storage tanks and / or hydrogen consumers. High-pressure systems for hydrogen are commonly used in various applications, such as as fuel supply systems in modern drive units of vehicles and / or automobiles.

[0003] Known check valves are very limited in their flow rate and / or flow range for hydrogen. This flow rate is typically limited by the construction of the check valve, especially by its internal structure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention claims a check valve for a high-pressure H2 system, particularly a distributor for a high-pressure H2 system, having the features of independent claim 1. Furthermore, this invention discloses a distributor for a high-pressure H2 system having the features of independent claim 9. Other advantages and details of the invention become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. In this regard, the features described with respect to the check valve according to the invention naturally also apply to the distributor according to the invention in any case, and vice versa, so that the disclosure of various aspects of the invention is always cited or may be cited.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, a check valve for an H2 high-pressure system, particularly for a distributor of an H2 high-pressure system, is disclosed. The check valve includes a body having an inlet port for connecting the check valve to a filling infrastructure and an outlet port for connecting the check valve to a high-pressure system. The body includes a flow channel that interconnects the inlet and outlet ports for fluid exchange. A piston is arranged within the body and movable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the flow channel relative to a sealing seat of the body. The flow channel is arranged to at least partially surround the piston. The check valve also includes a piston retainer with a piston spring, wherein the piston retainer and piston spring are at least partially arranged within the piston. The piston spring is configured to press the piston into a closed position. The piston retainer is fixed to the inside of the body.

[0006] The refueling infrastructure is preferably understood as a refueling station, a stationary or mobile refueling unit and / or other fuel source, preferably hydrogen.

[0007] The body of the check valve is preferably understood as the cover and / or housing of the check valve. The body of the check valve is constructed as a single piece or as a plurality of interconnected parts. Preferably, the plurality of main parts of the body are screwed together. The body of the check valve is preferably made of austenitic stainless steel to advantageously suit the use of the check valve for hydrogen. Austenitic stainless steel is preferred due to its sufficient resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. Preferably, the connections of the body parts each have at least one sealing element. The check valve includes a flow passage that preferably guides hydrogen through the check valve from the inlet port to the outlet port. Thus, the flow passage interconnects the inlet and outlet ports for fluid exchange. Between the inlet and outlet ports and within the flow passage, a piston provides the function of the check valve: opening and closing the flow passage relative to a sealing seat of the body. The sealing seat is constructed as a part of the body of the check valve and / or as a separate device for the check valve. The sealing seat is preferably fixed to and / or arranged on the body. The piston is movable between an open position and a closed position. The movement of the piston is preferably guided by a piston retainer. A piston spring applies a force to the piston toward the closed position. Therefore, the check valve is preferably configured to be closed under normal conditions. The inlet and outlet ports preferably include securing devices for attaching the check valve to a high-pressure system, distributor, hydrogen line, and / or any type of fitting. The flow passage is arranged to at least partially surround the piston, preferably entirely outside the piston. A piston retainer is configured to be fixed to the inside of the check valve body. Thus, the piston retainer is fixed within the flow passage of the check valve. The piston retainer at least partially holds the piston and provides a reaction force to the piston spring force for pressing the piston into the closed position. The piston retainer is preferably stably fixed in the check valve so that piston movement between the open and closed positions is configured to open and close the flow passage relative to the piston retainer and therefore relative to the body. The piston retainer is preferably configured to be fixed to the body on the side of the piston retainer facing the outlet port of the body. Here, the piston retainer is preferably configured such that the piston can move between the fixed position of the piston retainer and the sealing seat to open and close the check valve.

[0008] This type of check valve is particularly advantageous because it allows gas, especially hydrogen, to flow advantageously through its flow passage, thus enabling high flow rates to be achieved in a particularly simple manner. The check valve according to the invention requires very little space and / or provides a flow passage with a large volume and / or diameter for increasing the flow of gas, especially hydrogen.

[0009] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, a check valve is provided, wherein a piston spring is at least partially arranged within a piston retainer, and / or wherein the piston is at least partially guided by the piston retainer. As described above, the piston retainer is fixed to the body. Furthermore, the piston retainer is preferably partially arranged within the piston for guiding the movement of the piston on the piston retainer. A particularly advantageous configuration of the check valve includes a piston spring simultaneously arranged in both the piston retainer and the piston. In other words, the piston spring is preferably at least partially encapsulated by the piston retainer and the piston. A check valve constructed in this way is particularly advantageous because the configuration of the piston and / or piston retainer allows gas, especially hydrogen, to flow advantageously through the flow passage of the check valve, thus enabling high flow rates to be achieved through the check valve in a particularly simple manner.

[0010] According to an advantageous construction of the invention, a check valve is proposed, wherein the check valve includes a filter device arranged within a body, wherein the filter device is fixed to the body by a fixing device, and / or wherein the filter device is arranged between the inlet port and the sealing seat. Check valves with a fixed and / or included filter device are particularly advantageous because the gas flow entering the H2 high-pressure system from the filling infrastructure is filtered by the filter device. The filter device preferably provides the lowest possible flow resistance to the gas flow. The filter device preferably provides a pressure loss of 20 bar, especially 15 bar or less. The filter device is mounted in or includes its own body, which can be fixed to the body of the check valve. Check valves constructed in this way are particularly advantageous because the filter device advantageously allows gas, especially hydrogen, to flow filtered through the flow passage of the check valve, thus enabling high flow rates to be achieved through the check valve in a particularly simple manner.

[0011] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, a check valve is provided, wherein the piston is configured as at least partially closed, and the flow passage is arranged to completely surround the piston. The closed piston configuration should preferably be understood relative to the flow passage. Due to this advantageous configuration of the check valve, the flow passage only surrounds the piston and / or does not pass through the piston, thus making the piston a closed piston. However, the piston is preferably configured to remain at least partially open and / or hollow, especially so that the aforementioned piston spring and / or piston retainer are at least partially arranged within the piston. The closed piston configuration makes it possible to achieve a particularly advantageous flow passage configuration and a high flow rate through the check valve. The closed piston configuration preferably allows for a large flow passage diameter, yet the check valve requires only a small space for the body. A check valve constructed in this way is particularly advantageous because the piston configuration allows gas, especially hydrogen, to flow advantageously through the flow passage of the check valve, thus enabling a high flow rate to be achieved through the check valve in a particularly simple manner.

[0012] According to an advantageous construction of the invention, a check valve is proposed, wherein the piston retainer includes at least one flow opening such that a flow passage at least partially extends through the piston retainer. Because the piston retainer is fixed to the inside of the body, the at least one flow opening advantageously provides an opening so that the flow passage can extend through the piston retainer. The piston retainer preferably includes a plurality of flow openings, wherein the flow openings are symmetrically spaced evenly on a circle and / or arranged around an axis of the piston retainer. The number and size of the flow openings within the piston retainer correspond to the flow volume allowed to pass through the piston retainer. Therefore, at least one flow opening of the piston retainer preferably has a size corresponding to at least 50%, preferably at least 70% or at least 85% of the area of ​​the piston retainer within the flow passage. A check valve constructed in this way is particularly advantageous because the construction of the piston retainer allows gas, especially hydrogen, to flow advantageously through the flow passage of the check valve, thus enabling high flow rates to be achieved through the check valve in a particularly simple manner.

[0013] According to an advantageous construction of the invention, a check valve is proposed, wherein the flow passage, particularly the inner diameter of the body and / or the outer diameter of the piston, is configured to enable a hydrogen flow rate of up to 250 g / s, particularly up to 275 g / s or up to 300 g / s, through the check valve. This high hydrogen flow rate of up to 250 g / s, particularly up to 275 g / s or up to 300 g / s, through the check valve is achieved, particularly throughout the entire flow passage of the check valve, through the advantageous construction of the flow passage, particularly the relatively large inner diameter of the body and / or the relatively small outer diameter of the piston. The check valve constructed in this way is particularly advantageous because the construction of the flow passage allows gas, particularly hydrogen, to flow advantageously through the flow passage of the check valve, thus enabling a high flow rate to be achieved through the check valve in a particularly simple manner.

[0014] According to an advantageous construction of the invention, a check valve is provided, wherein an inlet port is fixed to a body and / or the inlet port includes a sealing element, wherein the sealing element is at least partially arranged within a flow channel such that the sealing element can be radially pressed into a sealing region at least partially between the inlet port and the body due to pressure in the flow channel. The inlet port may preferably be fixed to the body, screwed together with it and / or integrally connected to it. The preferred sealing element of the inlet port and / or body seals the inlet port and the body. The sealing element is preferably arranged such that it is in pressure-distributed contact with the pressure of the flow channel. Thus, the sealing element is constructed such that it can be pressed into the sealing region between the inlet port and the body due to pressure in and / or within the flow channel to improve the sealing effect of the sealing element. The inlet port and / or body preferably includes a radially recessed cavity following the sealing element, into which the sealing element is pressed due to pressure in and / or within the flow channel to enhance the sealing effect of the sealing element. This type of check valve is particularly advantageous because the construction of the sealing element at the inlet allows for a favorable seal and the flow of gas, especially hydrogen, through the flow passage of the check valve, thus enabling high flow rates to be achieved through the check valve in a particularly simple manner.

[0015] According to an advantageous construction of the invention, a check valve is provided, wherein an outlet port is fixed to the body and / or the outlet port includes a sealing element, wherein the sealing element is at least partially arranged within a flow channel such that the sealing element can be radially pressed into a sealing region at least partially between the outlet port and the body due to pressure in the flow channel. The outlet port may preferably be fixed to the body, screwed together with it, and / or integrally connected to it. The preferred sealing element of the outlet port and / or the body seals the inlet port and the body. The sealing element is preferably arranged such that it is in pressure-distributed contact with the pressure in the flow channel. Thus, the sealing element is constructed such that it can be pressed into the sealing region between the outlet port and the body due to pressure in and / or within the flow channel to improve the sealing effect of the sealing element. The outlet port and / or the body preferably includes a radially recessed cavity after the sealing element, into which the sealing element is pressed due to pressure in and / or within the flow channel to enhance the sealing effect of the sealing element. This type of check valve is particularly advantageous because the construction of the sealing element at the outlet port allows for a favorable seal of the check valve and the flow of gas, especially hydrogen, through the flow passage of the check valve, thus enabling high flow rates to be achieved through the check valve in a particularly simple manner.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the invention, a distributor for an H2 high-pressure system is disclosed. The distributor includes at least one check valve according to the first aspect. The described distributor possesses all the advantages already described for the check valve according to the first aspect of the invention. The check valve and the distributor are preferably interconnected, for example by thread, compression, and / or clamping, or constructed according to the next paragraph.

[0017] According to an advantageous construction of the invention, a distributor is proposed in which the body of the check valve and the body of the distributor are integrally constructed. In other words, the check valve, or at least the body of the check valve, is constructed as an integrated feature of the distributor. Thus, a distributor and check valve with minimal space requirements are provided. The distributor constructed in this way is particularly advantageous because the construction of the distributor and check valve, especially their combined bodies, enables the advantageous flow of gas, especially hydrogen, through the flow passage of the check valve into the distributor, thereby allowing high flow rates to be achieved through the check valve in a particularly simple manner. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The check valve for H2 high-pressure systems, and especially for distributors in H2 high-pressure systems, and the distributor according to the invention, are further explained below with the aid of the accompanying drawings. The drawings schematically illustrate: Figure 1 The check valve of the distributor with the H2 high-pressure system is shown in a side view. Figure 2 A side view shows a check valve with a filter assembly, and Figure 3 The different constructions of the piston retainer of the check valve are shown in perspective view and two axial views.

[0019] Features with the same function or the same functional principle are Figures 1 to 3 The same reference numerals are used for each of the attached figures. Detailed Implementation

[0020] exist Figure 1 The image shows a side view of a check valve 10 having a distributor 110 of a high-pressure system 100. The check valve 10 includes a body 20 integrally constructed with the body 112 of the distributor 110. The body 20 includes an inlet port 22 for connecting the check valve 10 to a filling infrastructure 150 and an outlet port 24 for connecting the check valve 10 to the high-pressure system 100. The body 20 includes a flow passage 26 that interconnects the inlet port 22 and the outlet port 24, wherein a piston 30 is arranged in the body 20 and movable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the flow passage 26 relative to a sealing seat 28 of the body 20. The piston 30 is shown in the closed position. The flow passage 26 is arranged around the piston 30. The check valve 10 also includes a piston retainer 32 with a piston spring 34, wherein the piston retainer 32 and the piston spring 34 are partially disposed within the piston 30, wherein the piston spring 34 is configured to press the piston 30 into a closed position, and wherein the piston retainer 32 is fixed to the inside of the body 20. The piston spring 34 is additionally partially disposed in the piston retainer 32, and the piston 30 is partially guided by the piston retainer 32. The piston 30 is configured as a partially closed piston, wherein the flow passage 26 is arranged to completely surround the piston 30. The piston retainer 32 includes a plurality of flow openings 33 for allowing the flow passage 26 to pass through the piston retainer 32. The flow passage 26, i.e., the inner diameter of the body 20 and the outer diameter of the piston 30, is configured such that a hydrogen flow rate of up to 300 g / s can be achieved through the check valve 10. The inlet port 22 is fixed to the body 20.

[0021] exist Figure 2The image shows a side view of a check valve 10 with a filter assembly 40. The check valve 10 includes a body 20 constructed of three parts screwed together. The body 20 includes an inlet port 22 for connecting the check valve 10 to a filling infrastructure 150 and an outlet port 24 for connecting the check valve 10 to a high-pressure system 100. The body 20 includes a flow passage 26 that interconnects the inlet port 22 and the outlet port 24, wherein a piston 30 is arranged within the body 20 and movable between an open and closed position to open and close the flow passage 26 relative to a sealing seat 28 of the body 20. The piston 30 is shown in the closed position. The flow passage 26 is arranged around the piston 30. The check valve 10 also includes a piston retainer 32 with a piston spring 34, wherein the piston retainer 32 and the piston spring 34 are partially disposed within the piston 30, wherein the piston spring 34 is configured to press the piston 30 into a closed position, and wherein the piston retainer 32 is fixed to the inside of the body 20. The check valve 10 also includes a filter device 40, wherein the filter device 40 is disposed within the body 20, wherein the filter device 40 is fixed to the body 20 by a fixing device 42, and wherein the filter device 40 is disposed between the inlet port 22 and the sealing seat 28. The inlet port 22 is fixed to the body 20 and includes a sealing element 23. The sealing element 23 is partially disposed within a flow passage 26 such that the sealing element 23 can be radially pressed into a sealing region between the inlet port 22 and the body 20 due to pressure in the flow passage 26.

[0022] exist Figure 3 The diagram shows a perspective view and two axial views of different configurations of the piston retainer 32. The piston retainer 32 includes flow openings 33 of varying numbers and sizes, so that the flow passage 26 can pass at least partially through the piston retainer 32. The piston retainer 30 includes a hollow shaft for guiding the piston (not shown) on the outer side and partially accommodating the piston spring (not shown) on the inner side.

Claims

1. A check valve (10) for an H2 high-pressure system (100), particularly for a distributor (110) of the H2 high-pressure system (100), wherein, The check valve (10) includes a body (20) having an inlet port (22) for connecting the check valve (10) to a filling infrastructure (150) and an outlet port (24) for connecting the check valve (10) to a high-pressure system (100). The body (20) includes a flow passage (26) that connects the inlet port (22) and the outlet port (24) to each other for fluid exchange. A piston (30) is arranged within the body (20) and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The flow passage (26) is opened and closed for the sealing seat (28) of the body (20), wherein the flow passage (26) is arranged to at least partially surround the piston (30), and the check valve further includes a piston retainer (32) having a piston spring (34), wherein the piston retainer (32) and the piston spring (34) are arranged at least partially within the piston, wherein the piston spring (34) is configured to press the piston (30) into a closed position, wherein the piston retainer (32) is fixed to the inside of the body (20).

2. The check valve (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The piston spring (34) is at least partially disposed within the piston retainer (32), and / or the piston (30) is at least partially guided by the piston retainer (32).

3. The check valve (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The check valve (10) includes a filter device (40), wherein the filter device (40) is disposed within the body (20), wherein the filter device (40) is fixed to the body (20) by a fixing device (42) of the filter device (40), and / or wherein the filter device (40) is disposed between the inlet port (22) and the sealing seat (28).

4. The check valve (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The piston (30) is configured as a piston that is at least partially closed, wherein the flow channel (26) is arranged to completely surround the piston (30).

5. The check valve (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The piston retainer (32) includes at least one flow opening (33) so that the flow passage (26) can pass through the piston retainer (32) at least partially.

6. The check valve (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The flow channel (26), in particular the inner diameter of the body (20) and / or the outer diameter of the piston (30) are configured such that a hydrogen flow of up to 250 g / s, particularly up to 275 g / s or up to 300 g / s, can be achieved through the check valve (10).

7. The check valve (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The inlet interface (22) is fixed to the body (20) and / or the inlet interface (22) includes a sealing element (23), wherein the sealing element (23) is at least partially arranged within the flow channel (26) such that the sealing element (23) can be radially pressed into a sealing area at least partially between the inlet interface (22) and the body (20) due to the pressure in the flow channel (26).

8. The check valve (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The outlet interface (24) is fixed to the body (20) and / or the outlet interface (24) includes a sealing element (25), wherein the sealing element (25) is at least partially arranged within the flow channel (26) such that the sealing element (25) can be radially pressed into the sealing area at least partially between the outlet interface (24) and the body (20) due to the pressure in the flow channel (26).

9. A distributor (110) for an H2 high-voltage system (100), wherein, The distributor (110) includes at least one check valve (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. The distributor (110) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The body (20) of the check valve (10) and the body (112) of the distributor (110) are constructed as a single unit.

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