Hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle

Abstract

The present application relates to a hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle (1) having a chassis (2), a reservoir (5) configured to contain pressurized hydrogen, a hydrogen-powered fuel-injected internal combustion engine (4) comprising a common rail for feeding hydrogen to a plurality of injectors (41), a duct (7) for feeding hydrogen from the reservoir (5) to the common rail (6), a catalytic combustion chamber (13) for burning hydrogen under flameless conditions, an additional duct (14) selectively connecting the common rail (6) with said catalytic combustion chamber (13), and a discharge duct (17) for evacuating combustion products from the catalytic combustion chamber (13). The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle of the present application is able to prevent hydrogen from evaporating into the environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle.

[0002] Specifically, a tracked vehicle includes a chassis; a storage tank configured to contain pressurized hydrogen; a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine including a plurality of injectors and a common track for supplying hydrogen to the injectors; and a pipeline for supplying hydrogen from the storage tank to the common track. Background Technology

[0003] From an environmental sustainability perspective, using hydrogen as a fuel for internal combustion engines looks very attractive because the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen produces water, especially water vapor.

[0004] Typically, the combustion-supporting agent is air, which is 78% nitrogen, so the combustion products also include nitrogen oxides, more commonly known as NOx.

[0005] However, hydrogen-powered vehicles will be more sustainable than current gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines, because current NOx reduction technologies can be applied to hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines.

[0006] These prospects make the application of hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines attractive in the field of tracked vehicles used in primitive areas, such as snowplows and tracked vehicles for vegetation management.

[0007] However, very few vehicles are equipped with hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines, and they are mainly experimental vehicles.

[0008] The deployment of such vehicles is very limited for several reasons: poor hydrogen production and distribution at refueling stations, and the high flammability of hydrogen, which necessitates the implementation of safety measures for hydrogen storage devices and hydrogen distribution on vehicles.

[0009] In fact, hydrogen is very light and volatile, making it difficult to accumulate and actually quite easy to disperse. Therefore, to prevent hydrogen leakage, sealed containers should be used to prevent the gradual release of the gas into the environment.

[0010] Sealed containers are relatively heavy, which limits the use of hydrogen in motor vehicles, but the extra weight does not pose a problem for tracked vehicles.

[0011] In any case, given the fact that the pipes connecting the reservoir to the engine are filled with hydrogen when the engine is off, when assessing whether hydrogen vehicles can be parked in indoor garages, the issue of the inevitable release of hydrogen over time, resulting in the emission of combustible gases into the environment, must be considered. Utility Model Content

[0012] The purpose of this invention is to manufacture a tracked vehicle that does not have the disadvantages of existing technologies.

[0013] According to this utility model, a hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle has been manufactured, the tracked vehicle comprising:

[0014] Chassis;

[0015] A storage container configured to hold pressurized hydrogen gas;

[0016] A hydrogen-powered fuel injection internal combustion engine, including a common track for supplying hydrogen to multiple injectors;

[0017] Pipelines are used to supply hydrogen from the storage tank to the common rail.

[0018] Catalytic combustion chamber, used for burning hydrogen under flameless conditions;

[0019] Additional piping selectively connects the common track to the catalytic combustion chamber; and

[0020] An exhaust pipe is used to vent combustion products from the catalytic combustion chamber.

[0021] Furthermore, the hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle includes a pressure-reducing valve arranged along the pipeline to reduce pressure and selectively interrupt the flow of hydrogen along the pipeline.

[0022] Furthermore, the hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle includes a regulating shut-off valve arranged along an additional pipeline to selectively interrupt the flow of hydrogen from the common track to the catalytic combustion chamber.

[0023] Furthermore, the hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle includes sensors arranged along the emission duct and configured to output signals relating to the presence and / or passage of combustion products along the emission duct.

[0024] Furthermore, the catalytic combustion chamber can be selectively heated and is made of titanium coated with platinum oxide.

[0025] Furthermore, the hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle includes a control unit with a user interface and configured to control the internal combustion engine and the hydrogen supplied to the internal combustion engine and the catalytic combustion chamber based on the operation of the internal combustion engine.

[0026] Furthermore, the control unit is configured to calculate an additional signal based on the signal to indicate the possibility of placing the tracked vehicle in an enclosed environment or to rule out the possibility of placing the tracked vehicle in an enclosed environment.

[0027] In this way, when the internal combustion engine stops, the mass of hydrogen that has leaked from the reservoir and is in the common rail can be vented, and such mass of hydrogen can be burned under flameless conditions.

[0028] In this configuration, the tracked vehicle includes a pressure-reducing valve arranged along the pipeline to reduce pressure and selectively interrupt the flow of hydrogen along the pipeline.

[0029] As is well known, hydrogen storage tanks consist of vessels that store hydrogen at pressures up to 700 bar. Therefore, the pressure must be reduced to 50 / 60 bar to supply the injector with its proper operating pressure.

[0030] When the internal combustion engine is not in use, the hydrogen supply must also be interrupted to prevent hydrogen from evaporating into the environment.

[0031] The tracked vehicle includes regulating shut-off valves arranged along an additional duct to selectively interrupt the flow of hydrogen from the common rail to the catalytic combustion chamber. In practice, the regulating shut-off valves open for a short period to allow the pressure in the common rail to drop to a predetermined level, thus protecting the injectors from pressure damage during prolonged periods of inactivity. Once the pressure threshold is reached, the valves close to prevent air from flowing into the common rail.

[0032] When the internal combustion engine is running, the regulating throttle valve is closed; when the internal combustion engine is stopped, the regulating throttle valve is opened to allow hydrogen to flow out and supply the catalytic combustion chamber until the residual hydrogen mass is completely purged.

[0033] In order to detect the duration of complete evacuation of residual hydrogen present in the duct and common track after the internal combustion engine is shut down, the tracked vehicle includes sensors arranged along the evacuation duct, which are configured to output signals associated with the presence and / or passage of combustion products along the evacuation duct.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the catalytic combustion chamber can be selectively heated and is made of titanium coated with platinum oxide.

[0035] Specifically, the supply and venting of residual hydrogen are managed by a control unit, which has a user interface and is configured to control the internal combustion engine and the hydrogen supplied to the internal combustion engine and the catalytic combustion chamber according to the operation of the internal combustion engine.

[0036] The control unit is configured to calculate additional signals based on the signals to indicate on the user interface the likelihood of placing the tracked vehicle in an enclosed environment or to rule out the likelihood of placing the tracked vehicle in an enclosed environment. In practice, signals acquired by sensors are compared to thresholds to determine whether hydrogen purging has been completed.

[0037] Another objective of this invention is to provide a control method for controlling hydrogen-powered tracked vehicles, which overcomes the shortcomings of existing technologies.

[0038] According to the present invention, a control method for controlling a hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle is provided, the method comprising:

[0039] When a hydrogen-powered fuel injection internal combustion engine is running, hydrogen is selectively supplied from the storage tank to the common track of the internal combustion engine.

[0040] Hydrogen is supplied from common track 6 to multiple injectors of internal combustion engine 4;

[0041] When the internal combustion engine stops, the supply of hydrogen to the public rail is interrupted.

[0042] After the internal combustion engine is shut down, hydrogen is selectively supplied from the common rail to the catalytic combustion chamber to burn the hydrogen under flameless conditions; and

[0043] Combustion products are vented from the catalytic combustion chamber along the exhaust pipe.

[0044] In this way, the dangers associated with the quality of residual hydrogen leaking from the storage tank are reduced.

[0045] The control method includes acquiring signals related to the presence of combustion products or their passage along an exhaust pipe to determine the completion of venting of residual hydrogen mass, and calculating additional signals based on said signals to indicate or rule out the possibility of a tracked vehicle being positioned in a closed environment. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle according to the present invention.

[0047] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are schematic diagrams of a tracked vehicle manufactured according to the present invention, with some parts omitted for clarity. Detailed Implementation

[0048] Refer to the attached diagram. Figure 1 Reference numeral 1 in the attached diagram generally indicates a tracked vehicle. The tracked vehicle 1 includes a chassis 2; two tracks 3; Figure 1 Only one track is shown schematically; a fuel-injected internal combustion engine 4 for powering the track 3; and a reservoir 5 configured to hold hydrogen. The internal combustion engine 4 is a four-cylinder engine in the illustrated case and is hydrogen-powered.

[0049] The internal combustion engine 4 includes multiple injectors 41 supplied by a common rail 6, in which hydrogen is at a pressure between 50 bar and 60 bar.

[0050] The common track 6 is connected to the storage tank 5 via the pipe 7, and the controlled pressure reducer 8 is arranged along the pipe.

[0051] The internal combustion engine 4 also includes a supply line 9 for supplying air to each cylinder.

[0052] The storage device 5 includes a series of tanks 12 connected in parallel to the pipeline 7, configured to contain hydrogen at a pressure of 700 bar.

[0053] The tracked vehicle 1 includes a catalytic combustion chamber 13 for burning hydrogen under flameless conditions. The catalytic combustion chamber 13 is supported by a chassis 2 and connected to a common track 6 via a pipe 14, along which a regulating shut-off valve 15 is arranged. The catalytic combustion chamber 13 is connected to a supply line 16 to supply air at ambient pressure to the catalytic combustion chamber 13 and an exhaust pipe 17 to vent combustion products.

[0054] The tracked vehicle 1 includes a control unit 18, which has a user interface 19 and is configured to control the injector 41, the pressure reducing valve 8, the catalytic combustion chamber 13, and the regulating shut-off valve 15.

[0055] During use, when the internal combustion engine 4 stops, the pressure reducing valve 8 closes to prevent hydrogen from leaking from the reservoir 5, while the regulating shut-off valve 15 opens.

[0056] When the internal combustion engine 4 starts, the regulating throttle valve 15 closes while the pressure reducing valve opens to supply hydrogen at a pressure of approximately 60 bar to the common rail 6 and to supply the hydrogen in a cascade manner to the injector 41.

[0057] Hydrogen and oxygen contained in the air react in the combustion reaction and release energy, which the internal combustion engine converts into mechanical energy.

[0058] When the internal combustion engine 4 is stopped via the user interface 19, the pressure relief valve 8 closes and the catalytic combustion chamber 13 is activated. Subsequently, the regulating throttle valve 15 opens to release residual hydrogen present in the pipe 7 and the common track 6. Hydrogen is supplied to the catalytic combustion chamber 13, where it combines with air at ambient pressure to produce a flameless combustion reaction.

[0059] The catalytic combustion chamber 13 is activated by a resistor (not shown), and the preferred material for catalyzing the flameless combustion reaction is titanium coated with platinum oxide.

[0060] The products of flameless combustion are released into the atmosphere through exhaust pipe 17.

[0061] When combustion ends, the control unit 18 outputs a signal displayed on the user interface 19, indicating that the processing is complete and the tracked vehicle 1 can be positioned in the enclosed space.

[0062] In order to detect the end of the flameless combustion process, a sensor 20 arranged along the exhaust pipe 17 detects parameters related to the passage of hot flue gas, such as temperature or pressure, and compares them with reference parameters.

[0063] Obviously, changes can be made to this utility model without departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims.

[0064] This patent application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102024000016060, filed on July 11, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle, characterized in that, The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle (1) includes: Chassis (2); Storage unit (5) is configured to contain pressurized hydrogen gas; The hydrogen-powered fuel injection internal combustion engine (4) includes a common track for supplying hydrogen to multiple injectors (41); Pipeline (7) for supplying hydrogen from the storage tank (5) to the common track (6); Catalytic combustion chamber (13) is used to burn hydrogen under flameless conditions; An additional conduit (14) selectively connects the common track (6) to the catalytic combustion chamber (13); and An exhaust pipe (17) is used to vent combustion products from the catalytic combustion chamber (13).

2. The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle includes a pressure reducing valve (8) arranged along the pipe (7) to reduce pressure and selectively interrupt the flow of hydrogen along the pipe (7).

3. The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle includes a regulating shut-off valve (15) arranged along the additional pipeline to selectively interrupt the flow of hydrogen from the common track (6) to the catalytic combustion chamber (13).

4. The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle includes a sensor (20) arranged along the exhaust duct (17) and configured to output a signal relating to the presence and / or passage of the combustion products along the exhaust duct (17).

5. The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The catalytic combustion chamber (13) can be selectively heated and is made of titanium coated with platinum oxide.

6. The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that, The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle includes a control unit (18) having a user interface (19) and configured to control the internal combustion engine (4) and the hydrogen supplied to the internal combustion engine (4) and the catalytic combustion chamber according to the operation of the internal combustion engine (4).

7. The hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control unit (18) is configured to calculate an additional signal based on the signal to indicate the possibility of placing the hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle (1) in a closed environment or to rule out the possibility of placing the hydrogen-powered tracked vehicle (1) in a closed environment.

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