Cryotank device

Abstract

Cryotank device comprising a cylindrical inner container (1) for receiving a cryogenic medium, in particular hydrogen, and a cylindrical outer housing (2) surrounding the inner container (1), wherein an insulating vacuum space (3) is provided between the inner container (1) and the outer housing (2), characterized in that at least two plate heat exchangers (4) for heating the medium received in the inner container (1) are arranged at the end face outside the inner container (1), namely in the vacuum space (3) and / or outside the outer housing (2).

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a cryogenic tank device comprising an inner container for receiving a cryogenic medium, in particular hydrogen. State of the art

[0002] Cryogenic tank devices comprising a cylindrical inner container for storing hydrogen are known and are used in particular as mobile cryogenic tank systems, for example in motor vehicles. Such an essentially cylindrical cryogenic tank typically comprises a cylindrical inner container and a cylindrical outer casing, with an insulating vacuum space provided between the inner container and the outer casing. This vacuum space may contain a vacuum or, for example, an inert gas to achieve good thermal insulation.

[0003] The medium in such a cryogenic tank can be heated by a heat exchanger, for example, to maintain the pressure in the tank at a desired level even after filling or after medium has been withdrawn. For this purpose, a heat exchanger can be located inside the inner container of a cryogenic tank or outside the inner container.

[0004] A tube heat exchanger is typically used to heat the medium in a cryogenic tank. Such a tube heat exchanger is usually arranged longitudinally or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cryogenic tank. These tube heat exchangers require a relatively large amount of installation space, thus reducing the available inner tank volume and, at least when the heat exchanger is installed outside the inner tank, significantly reducing the overall length or width of the inner tank.

[0005] From US patent 2022 / 0325853A1, a device for supplying and storing fluids is known, comprising a cryogenic container for storing liquefied fluid of the double-walled and vacuum-insulated type, with an inner jacket that limits a storage volume of the liquefied fluid, and an outer jacket arranged around the inner jacket, wherein there is a vacuum thermal insulation gap between the inner and outer jackets;and a withdrawal circuit comprising an arrangement of one or more valves and a withdrawal line comprising a first upstream end connected to an upper part of the inner jacket and a second downstream end intended to be connected to a user element, wherein the withdrawal line comprises a first heating heat exchanger located outside the inner jacket and a second heating heat exchanger located inside the inner jacket, wherein the arrangement of one or more valves is configured to ensure the passage of a fluid flow circulating from the first end to the second end, wherein either the fluid flow enters the first heat exchanger and then the fluid flow enters the second heat exchanger, or the fluid flow enters the first heat exchanger without entering the second heat exchanger;and an inlet of the first heat exchanger, which receives the fluid flow coming from the first end, is located in the vacuum thermal insulation gap.

[0006] EP 3 021 032 A1 discloses a device for receiving a cryofluid, comprising a pressure vessel with a generally cylindrical shell and an end cap attached to an end face of the shell, and a heat exchanger connected to the pressure vessel for evaporating the cryofluid, wherein the heat exchanger is essentially rod-shaped and is normal to the cylindrical axis of the shell on the outside of the end cap and off-center to it.

[0007] From DE 199 34 457 A1 a method is known for regulating the tank pressure in a cryogenic tank containing a cold gas when a consumer main flow is withdrawn, wherein heated gas is passed through the cryogenic tank as a heating gas bypass flow regulated depending on the tank pressure through a pipeline, wherein the bypass flow and the main flow are supplied to a pressure regulating device which has a first adjustable throttle for the bypass flow and a second adjustable throttle for the main flow, wherein the throttles are coupled to each other in such a way that they are opened and closed in opposite directions depending on the tank pressure. Summary of the invention

[0008] It is an object of the invention to improve a cryogenic tank device of the type mentioned in this respect and in particular to provide a cryogenic tank device which, despite the possibility of sufficient heating of the medium in the tank, allows a large internal tank volume.

[0009] The problem is solved by a cryogenic tank device comprising a cylindrical inner container for holding a cryogenic medium, in particular hydrogen, and a cylindrical outer casing surrounding the inner container, wherein an insulating vacuum space is provided between the inner container and the outer casing, wherein at least two plate heat exchangers for heating the medium held in the inner container are arranged at the end face outside the inner container, namely in the vacuum space and / or outside the outer casing.

[0010] According to the invention, a substantially cylindrical cryogenic tank device with at least two heat exchangers arranged at the ends of the cylinder is used. Both heat exchangers are plate heat exchangers and thus essentially cuboid in shape. By using two plate heat exchangers to heat the medium instead of a single large, usually tubular or rod-shaped heat exchanger, the heating of the medium can be carried out more efficiently, and therefore a significantly smaller total volume is required for the two plate heat exchangers than would be required for a single large heat exchanger, in particular a tubular heat exchanger, with the same performance.Therefore, a smaller installation space is sufficient for the two plate heat exchangers, and the inner tank can be larger than usual if at least two plate heat exchangers are arranged outside the inner tank, especially if the plate heat exchangers are arranged at the front, and can be longer despite the same total installation space being available, thus providing more inner tank volume.

[0011] Further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0012] Preferably, the at least two plate heat exchangers are arranged at the end face within the vacuum chamber. According to another embodiment, the at least two plate heat exchangers are arranged at the end face outside the outer casing. According to another embodiment, at least one of the plate heat exchangers is arranged at the end face within the vacuum chamber and at least one of the plate heat exchangers is arranged at the end face outside the outer casing.

[0013] Preferably, at least one of the two plate heat exchangers, preferably both plate heat exchangers, is inclined along at least one axis of the respective plate heat exchanger, preferably along at least two axes, and particularly preferably along all three axes of the plate heat exchanger, relative to the longitudinal center axis of the inner vessel. This means that each axis is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the inner vessel. Such an inclined orientation of the plate heat exchangers allows for a particularly space-saving installation. For example, pipes can be positioned more easily and in a more space-efficient manner near the plate heat exchangers.

[0014] Preferably, the two plate heat exchangers have different volumes. For example, a larger plate heat exchanger can be arranged in the vacuum chamber and a smaller plate heat exchanger outside the outer casing, or vice versa. Alternatively, both plate heat exchangers of different volumes can be arranged on the same end face or on different end faces outside the inner container, in the vacuum chamber, or outside the outer casing. According to another embodiment, both plate heat exchangers can have the same volume but different dimensions, or the same dimensions.

[0015] In general, the two plate heat exchangers can be arranged on the same end face or on different end faces, i.e., on opposite end faces, outside the inner container, in the vacuum space or outside the outer casing. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic three-dimensional cutaway representation of a cryogenic tank device according to the invention in a first embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic three-dimensional cutaway representation of a cryogenic tank device according to the invention in a second embodiment. Detailed description of the invention

[0017] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a cryogenic tank device according to the invention. The cryogenic tank device is shown in section along the longitudinal center axis.

[0018] The cryogenic tank device comprises a cylindrical inner container 1 for receiving a cryogenic medium, in particular hydrogen, and a cylindrical outer casing 2 surrounding the inner container 1, wherein an insulating vacuum space 3 is provided between the inner container 1 and the outer casing 2.

[0019] Two plate heat exchangers 4, for heating the medium contained in the inner container 1, are arranged at the front outside the inner container 1, namely in the vacuum space 3.

[0020] In this arrangement, one of the plate heat exchangers 4 is arranged in the vacuum chamber 3 and one of the plate heat exchangers 4 is arranged outside the outer casing 2.

[0021] Both plate heat exchangers 4 have a cuboid shape. Both plate heat exchangers 4 are oriented obliquely in all three of their axes relative to the longitudinal center axis of the inner vessel 1, i.e., they are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the inner vessel 1.

[0022] The two plate heat exchangers 4 have the same volume and, in the illustrated design, also the same dimensions in all three dimensions.

[0023] The two plate heat exchangers 4 are arranged on the same end face outside the inner container 1.

[0024] In the embodiment of a cryogenic tank device according to Fig. 2. Both plate heat exchangers 4 are arranged in the vacuum chamber 3, i.e., inside the vacuum housing or outer housing 2. The two plate heat exchangers 4 are located on the same end face outside the inner container 1, namely in the same end-face vacuum chamber 3. The two plate heat exchangers 4 have different sizes and volumes. Both plate heat exchangers 4 have a cuboid shape. Both plate heat exchangers 4 are oriented obliquely along all three of their axes with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the inner container 1. Reference symbol list 1 inner container 2 outer casings 3 Vacuum space 4 plate heat exchangers

Claims

[1] Cryogenic tank device, comprising a cylindrical inner container (1) for receiving a cryogenic medium, in particular hydrogen, and a cylindrical outer housing (2) surrounding the inner container (1), wherein an insulating vacuum space (3) is arranged between the inner container (1) and the outer housing (2), characterized by that at least two plate heat exchangers (4) for heating the medium accommodated in the inner container (1) are arranged on the front side outside the inner container (1), namely in the vacuum space (3) and / or outside the outer housing (2). [2] Cryogenic tank device according to claim 1, characterized bythat the at least two plate heat exchangers (4) are arranged in the vacuum space (3) or that the at least two plate heat exchangers (4) are arranged outside the outer housing (2) or that at least one of the plate heat exchangers (4) is arranged in the vacuum space (3) and at least one of the plate heat exchangers (4) is arranged outside the outer housing (2). [3] Cryotank device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one of the two plate heat exchangers (4), preferably both plate heat exchangers (4), is oblique to the longitudinal center axis of the inner container (1) in at least one axis, preferably in at least two axes, particularly preferably in all three axes, i.e. neither parallel nor normal to the longitudinal center axis of the inner container (1). [4] Cryotank device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the two plate heat exchangers (4) have different volumes. [5] Cryotank device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the two plate heat exchangers (4) are arranged on the same end face outside the inner container (1).

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