Heating device and liquid container

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating device (10) for heating at least one first valve (18) of a liquid container (12), in particular a water separator (14), comprising at least one heating element (16) for heating the at least one first valve (18), and a heating element housing (22) with a cavity (24) and a housing cover (20) for closing the cavity (24) of the heating element housing (22), wherein the at least one heating element (16) is arranged in the cavity (24) of the heating element housing (22) and wherein the heating element housing (22) is connected to the housing cover (20) in a media-tight manner, wherein the heating element housing (22) and / or the housing cover (20) has a valve section (26), wherein the valve section (26) is designed to arrange the heating element housing (22) at least sectionally on the at least one first valve (18) of the liquid container (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a heating device with the features of independent claim 1 and a liquid container with the features of independent claim 7.

[0002] In the prior art, an electrically or water-cooled heater (>90W) is used below a filter to thaw the connection between the separator container and the drain valves at temperatures below 0°C if it is covered with ice. This ensures immediate operational readiness for draining liquids from the separator container at cold temperatures. Since the heater is positioned below the filter for assembly reasons, the installation space must correspond to the size of the heater. Therefore, a certain amount of energy is always required to thaw this volume and create unobstructed access to the drain valves.

[0003] This performance is severely limited by the power output (< 10W) ​​of their control units, or the time required to achieve the desired temperature is so short that extremely high heating power (250-400 W) is required. The materials used, e.g., plastics, have a poor thermal conductivity and therefore cannot meet the requirements, or can only do so poorly.

[0004] Furthermore, these heating devices are located in the valve seat and are therefore difficult to access. This is a disadvantage if the heating element of the device fails and needs to be replaced.

[0005] A heating device with the features of independent claim 1 and a liquid container with the features of independent claim 7 are proposed. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the heating device according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the liquid container according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure regarding the individual aspects of the invention always refers to each other.

[0006] A first aspect of the invention is a heating device for heating at least one first valve of a liquid container, in particular a water separator, comprising at least one heating element for heating the at least one first valve, and a heating element housing with a cavity and a housing cover for closing the cavity of the heating element housing.

[0007] In this arrangement, at least one heating element is arranged within the cavity of the heating element housing. Simultaneously, the heating element housing is connected to the housing cover in a media-tight manner. The heating element housing and / or the housing cover has a valve section, the valve section being designed to connect the heating element housing, at least partially, to the at least one valve of the liquid container.

[0008] A connector is provided for supplying power to the heating elements. The connector is routed through a plug opening in the heating element housing into the cavity. The plug opening and the connector are fluid-tight.

[0009] Such a heating device enables optimal heat transfer into the valve seat of at least one first valve.

[0010] The heating device is mounted on the outside of at least one valve of a liquid container. This allows the heating device's position to be flexibly adjusted to the ambient conditions. It is also possible to reposition the heating device itself during the heating process. Such a heating device increases the flexibility when heating or thawing the liquid in a valve of a liquid container.

[0011] The heating device can be easily replaced, as it is located on the side and therefore easily accessible, as already mentioned.

[0012] Within the scope of the invention, it can be advantageous to provide a spring element in the cavity to press a heating surface of the at least one heating element in the cavity against a heating surface of the cavity.

[0013] The spring element thus serves to fix the position of at least one heating element within the cavity of the heating element housing. A heating surface of the at least one heating element rests directly against the heating surface of the cavity, enabling direct heat transfer from the heating element to the heating element housing and thus directly to the area of ​​application. At the same time, the spring element ensures that the position of the heating element within the cavity remains fixed even during handling, for example, when mounting the heating device onto at least one valve of a liquid container.

[0014] Within the scope of the invention, it is conceivable that a heat-conducting medium is provided in the cavity, wherein the heat-conducting medium surrounds the at least one heating element at least partially, in particular completely.

[0015] The thermal conductivity further optimizes heat transfer from the heating element, via the heating element housing, to the first valve (or at least one valve), in order to defrost or heat the liquid within the first valve. Depending on the application, the cavity can be at least partially or completely filled by the heating element and the thermal conductivity. The latter is particularly advantageous in cold regions, as neither liquid nor air is present in the cavity. Thus, there is no heat sink within the heating device to affect heat transfer, either within the heating element housing or from the housing to the first valve (or at least one valve).

[0016] Within the scope of the invention, it may be provided that the at least one heating element comprises a PTC element and / or a thermally conductive plastic.

[0017] These materials are particularly effective in generating heat to defrost the liquid located in the area of ​​at least one first valve.

[0018] A semiconductor with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) is a material whose electrical resistance increases with rising temperature. In PTC elements, the resistance of the material increases when heated, leading to a reduction in current flow. This property makes PTC elements self-regulating in certain applications. For this reason, PTC elements are used as self-regulating heating elements.

[0019] When used as heating elements, PTC materials offer a safety advantage. As the temperature increases, their resistance also increases, thus limiting the amount of current flowing through the element. This self-regulating behavior helps prevent overheating and potential hazards.

[0020] A thermally conductive plastic as a heating element refers to a special type of plastic used as a self-regulating heating element. This type of plastic contains fillers or additives that improve its thermal conductivity and enable it to function as a heating element.

[0021] Compared to conventional heating elements made of metal or other materials, thermally conductive plastics offer several advantages as heating elements. They are lighter, have better thermal insulation from the environment, and are less prone to overheating, as their thermal conductivity regulates the heating output.

[0022] It is also conceivable that two heating elements are provided, wherein the two heating elements are arranged next to each other or at an angle of 2° to 85°, preferably 5° to 70°, more preferably 10° to 60°, to each other.

[0023] The heating surface of the heating device can be increased by installing two heating elements. For this purpose, the heating elements can be arranged parallel to each other or at an angle to one another. Accordingly, the heating device can be largely adapted to the specific geometry of the area to be heated by the at least one first valve. As already mentioned, the heating surface is increased when the elements are arranged side by side.

[0024] Even when arranged at an angle to each other, the heating surface area increases, making it possible to position the heating elements so that they at least partially enclose a portion of the first valve. This increases flexibility in the design of the heating device and can lead to improved heating efficiency of the first valve during operation.

[0025] It is also conceivable that the heating element housing is made of a thermally conductive material, in particular a metal, preferably aluminum and / or steel. It is advantageous if the housing cover is also made of a thermally conductive material, and it is even more advantageous if the housing cover and the heating element housing are made of the same material.

[0026] The use of thermally conductive materials for the heating element housing leads to faster and better heat distribution, thus improving heat transfer from the heating device to the at least one first valve or to the material of the at least one first valve. It is particularly advantageous if the heating element housing is made of aluminum and / or steel, as these materials exhibit very high heat transfer properties.

[0027] A second aspect of the invention is a liquid container, in particular a water separator, comprising a main channel for supplying or discharging a liquid from the liquid container, and a first valve, wherein the first valve is arranged to adjust a mass flow of the liquid supplied or discharged from a first valve channel, the main channel at least partially transitioning into the first valve channel, and at least one first heating device according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the valve section of the at least one first heating device is arranged at least partially on the first valve. Advantages described for the heating device according to the first aspect of the invention apply equally to the liquid container according to the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

[0028] The first valve is usually part of a valve assembly. At the beginning of the valve assembly is the water separator. Its main function is to remove water from the gas flow. In many applications, such as compressed air systems or gas pipelines, it is important to remove moisture from the gas to prevent potential damage to downstream equipment or components.

[0029] The inlet valve is located directly after the water separator. This inlet valve regulates the gas flow into the valve area. It can be electrically, pneumatically, or manually controlled and allows for monitoring of the gas flow into the system.

[0030] The control unit is an essential component of the valve assembly. It can consist of electronic, pneumatic, or hydraulic components that control and monitor the valve's behavior. The control system can be automated and respond to sensors to regulate the gas flow as needed.

[0031] Depending on the requirements and complexity of the system, the valve block can contain several distribution valves. These distribution valves direct the gas in different directions to various branches or devices.

[0032] Shut-off valves are used to completely interrupt or regulate the gas flow. They can be operated manually or automatically and are essential for carrying out maintenance, shutting down parts of the system, or controlling the gas flow as needed.

[0033] In some applications, it may be necessary to regulate the gas pressure in the valve area. Pressure regulators or pressure reducers can be used for this purpose to ensure that the gas pressure remains within certain limits.

[0034] At the end of the valve section is the outlet valve. It regulates the gas flow from the valve section and directs it to the desired destinations or devices.

[0035] The first valve, at least, can be a shut-off valve, an inlet valve, or a distribution valve.

[0036] The system pressure in a cell, e.g., a cell of an electrochemical energy converter, pushes the resulting liquid, including the particles it contains, towards the shut-off valves. The selected heating geometry, in conjunction with the inclined hydrophobic filter fabric in the water separator or liquid reservoir, ensures that the majority of the liquid can flow away towards the sedimentation zones even without pressure after the stack is switched off.

[0037] The cell's various operating states—normal operation, purging just before shutdown, shutdown, and start-up—place different demands on the connection path between the filter and the valve. The interaction of system pressure, inclined filter surface, hydrophobic filter material, and suitable path heating (i.e., heating device) can significantly influence the overall energy consumption.

[0038] Depending on the requirements profile of the electrochemical energy converter, condensate quantities (depending on the operating mode of the cells or the cell stack of an electrochemical energy converter) of more than 25 ml can occur, which are then located in the liquid collector in the event of shutdown.

[0039] To achieve extremely short defrosting times, the volume to be defrosted is minimized, and heat conduction from the heat generator towards the filter and valve seat is prevented by a highly conductive thermal paste. Furthermore, the valve seat of at least the first valve is optimized using a highly thermally conductive material (e.g., aluminum, steel).

[0040] Within the scope of the invention, it is optionally possible that a second valve is provided, wherein at least a second heating device is provided, so that each valve is assigned a heating device.

[0041] This is particularly advantageous because different media can now be supplied or discharged. The second valve can be a shut-off valve, an inlet valve, or a distribution valve.

[0042] Accordingly, both the first valve and the second valve can be equipped with a heating device to ensure that the valve or the respective valve channels and the main channel can be thawed.

[0043] Furthermore, it may be provided within the scope of the invention that a second valve is provided, wherein the valve section of the first heating device is arranged at the first valve and the second valve.

[0044] In a further embodiment, a second valve can be provided, in which case the valve section of the first heating device is designed such that this heating device is arranged on both the first and the second valve. For this purpose, the heating device has a larger heating surface, for example, by means of two heating elements arranged side by side. This combination is advantageous for smaller valve units for liquid containers, since then only one mounting area is required to accommodate the valve section of the first bracket.

[0045] With regard to the present invention, it is conceivable that the heating surface of the cavity of the first heating device and / or the second heating device is arranged parallel or at an angle of 2° to 85°, preferably 5° to 80°, more preferably 10° to 70°, to a cross-sectional area of ​​the main channel.

[0046] The heating surface of the heating element housing cavity can be arranged arbitrarily. However, it has been shown that improved defrosting of the main channel of the liquid container can be ensured if these heating surfaces are arranged parallel or at an angle of 2° to 85° to the cross-sectional area of ​​the main channel.

[0047] For example, it is conceivable that the heating surface of the first heating element is arranged parallel to the surface and the heating surface of the second heating element at an angle. In this case, the heat input from the heating device occurs from different directions, ensuring defrosting in any case.

[0048] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the first heating device and / or the second heating device and the first valve and / or the second valve are detachably connected to each other.

[0049] This allows for easy replacement of the first heating element and / or the second heating element in the event of a defect. In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the first heating element and / or the second heating element can be snapped, slid, or screwed into a mounting area of ​​the first valve and / or the second valve by means of its valve section.

[0050] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which several embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. The invention is illustrated in the following figures: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a first heating device in a cross-section, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a second heating device in a cross-section, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a section of a liquid container with a heating device in a cross-section, and Fig. 4 A schematic representation of a section of a liquid container with two heating devices in a top view.

[0051] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a heating device 10 for heating at least one first valve 18 of a liquid container 12, in particular a water separator 14. Each heating device 10 has at least one heating element 16 for heating the at least one first valve 18, and a heating element housing 22 with a cavity 24 and a housing cover 20 for closing the cavity 24 of the heating element housing 22.

[0052] In this arrangement, at least one heating element 16 is arranged in the cavity 24 of the heating element housing 22. The heating element housing 22 is connected to the housing cover 20 in a media-tight manner, so that no liquid can enter the cavity 24 of the heating element housing 22.

[0053] The heating element housing 22 and / or the housing cover 20 have a valve section 26, wherein the valve section 26 is designed to arrange the heating element housing 22 at least sectionally on the at least one first valve 18 of the liquid reservoir 12.

[0054] For positional fixation, a spring element 28 is provided in the cavity 24 to press a heating surface 30 of the at least one heating element 16 in the cavity 24 against a heating surface 32 of the cavity 24.

[0055] Additionally, the cavity 24 of the heating element housing 22 is both the Fig. 1 as well as the Fig. 2 completely filled with a thermal conducting medium 34, so that the thermal conducting medium 34 completely surrounds at least one heating element 16.

[0056] PTC elements are used as heating elements 16 here, as these are self-regulating. These are in Fig. 1 a heating element 16 and in Fig. 2 Two heating elements 16 are provided. Instead of the PTC element, heating elements 16 made of a thermally conductive plastic can also be used.

[0057] The two heating elements 16 of the Fig. The two heating elements are arranged side by side, i.e., parallel to each other. It is also conceivable to arrange the two heating elements 16 at an angle of 2° to 85° to each other. The heating element housing 22 is designed accordingly for this purpose.

[0058] For optimal heat transfer, the heating element housing 22 and the housing cover 20 are made of a thermally conductive material; in this case, the material is predominantly aluminum.

[0059] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a section of a liquid container 12, in this case in the form of a water separator 14. The water separator 14 has a main channel 36 for supplying or discharging a liquid from the liquid container 12, and a first valve 18 as well as a heating device 10. Fig. 3 or two heating devices 10 in Fig. 4. The first valve 18 is arranged to adjust the mass flow of liquid supplied or discharged from a first valve channel 38, wherein the main channel 36 at least partially transitions into the first valve channel 38.

[0060] The respective heating devices 10 are according to one of the embodiments of the Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. In this configuration, the valve section 26 of the at least one first heating device 10 is arranged at least partially on the first valve 18. To enable quick replacement in the event of a defect in the heating devices 10, the heating device 10 is detachably connected to the first valve 18 via the valve section 26. For this purpose, the first valve 18 has a mounting section corresponding to the valve section 26, into which the valve section 26 is inserted.

[0061] The exemplary embodiment according to Fig. Figure 4 provides for a second valve 40. A second heating device 10 is provided, so that each valve is assigned a heating device 10.

[0062] In this case, a heating device 10 with at least two heating elements 16, such as in the following, would be conceivable. Fig. 2 shown, wherein the valve section 26 of the first heating device 10 can be arranged on the first valve 18 and the second valve 40.

[0063] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the heating surface 32 of the cavity 24 of the first heating device 10 is arranged at an angle α of 2° to 85° to both a cross-sectional area of ​​the main channel 36 and to a cross-sectional area of ​​the valve channel.

[0064] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the heating surface 32 of the cavity 24 of the first heating device 10 and the heating surface 32 of the second heating device 10 are arranged parallel to a cross-sectional area of ​​the respective valve channels 38 and thus at an angle α of 2° to 85° to a cross-sectional area of ​​the main channel 36.

Claims

[1] Heating device (10) for heating at least one first valve (18) of a liquid container (12), in particular a water separator (14), comprising at least one heating element (16) for heating the at least one first valve (18), and a heating element housing (22) with a cavity (24) and a housing cover (20) for closing the cavity (24) of the heating element housing (22), wherein the at least one heating element (16) is arranged in the cavity (24) of the heating element housing (22) and wherein the heating element housing (22) is connected to the housing cover (20) in a media-tight manner, wherein the heating element housing (22) and / or the housing cover (20) has a valve section (26), wherein the valve section (26) is designed to arrange the heating element housing (22) at least in sections on the at least one first valve (18) of the liquid container (12). [2] Heating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized bythat a spring element (28) is provided in the cavity (24) in order to press a heating surface (30) of the at least one heating element (16) in the cavity (24) against a heating surface (32) of the cavity (24). [3] Heating device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that a heat-conducting medium (34) is provided in the cavity (24), wherein the heat-conducting medium (34) surrounds the at least one heating element (16) at least partially, in particular completely. [4] Heating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one heating element (16) comprises a PTC element and / or a heat-conducting plastic. [5] Heating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that two heating elements (16) are provided, wherein the two heating elements (16) are arranged next to one another or at an angle (β) of 2° to 85°, preferably 5° to 70°, more preferably 10° to 60°, to one another. [6] Heating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heating element housing (22) is made of a heat-conducting material, in particular a metal, preferably aluminum and / or steel. [7] Liquid container (12), in particular water separator (14), comprising: a main channel (36) for supplying or discharging a liquid from the liquid container (12), and a first valve (18), wherein the first valve (18) is arranged to adjust a supplied or discharged mass flow of the liquid from a first valve channel (38), wherein the main channel (36) merges at least partially into the first valve channel (38), and at least one first heating device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve section (26) of the at least one first heating device (10) is arranged at least in sections on the first valve (18). [8] Liquid container (12) according to claim 7, characterized by that a second valve (40) is provided, wherein at least one second heating device (10) is provided, so that each valve is assigned a heating device (10). [9] Liquid container (12) according to claim 7, characterized by that a second valve (40) is provided, wherein the valve section (26) of the first heating device (10) is arranged on the first valve (18) and the second valve (40). [10] Liquid container (12) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by that the heating surface (32) of the cavity (24) of the first heating device (10) and / or the second heating device (10) is arranged parallel or at an angle (α) of 2° to 85°, preferably 5° to 80°, more preferably 10° to 70°, to a cross-sectional area of ​​the main channel (36). [11] Liquid container (12) according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized bythat the first heating device (10) and / or the second heating device (10) and the first valve (18) and / or the second valve (40) are detachably connected to one another.

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