Tank system, vehicle and procedure for refueling a tank system for storing hydrogen

Abstract

The invention presented relates to a tank system (101) for storing hydrogen. The presented tank system (101) comprises: - a number of pressure tanks (103), - an interface (107) to a cooling system (111), wherein each pressure tank (103) of the number of pressure tanks (103) is thermally coupled at least partially to a heat exchanger (109), and wherein the heat exchanger (109) is thermally coupled to the interface (107).

Description

[0001] The presented invention relates to a tank system, a vehicle and a method for refueling a tank system for storing hydrogen. State of the art

[0002] Hydrogen will play an increasingly important and larger role in the propulsion systems of the future. Hydrogen engines allow the use of familiar combustion engine technology and are also CO2-neutral if the hydrogen is produced using so-called "green electricity."

[0003] Fuel cell systems are also known that are used to power a vehicle.

[0004] Neither fuel cell systems nor hydrogen engines emit environmentally harmful exhaust gases.

[0005] However, there are still very few hydrogen filling stations and a refueling process to fill a tank system with hydrogen takes significantly longer than a refueling process to fill a tank system with gasoline or diesel.

[0006] Since the duration of a refueling process for filling a tank system with hydrogen depends on the temperature in the respective pressure tank and, consequently, also on the outside temperature, difficulties arise with regard to refueling times and the available infrastructure at hydrogen filling stations, particularly on hot days or in hot environments, as the respective pumps are occupied for long periods. Disclosure of the invention

[0007] Within the scope of the invention presented, a tank system, a vehicle, and a method for refueling a tank system for storing hydrogen are presented. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the respective subclaims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the operating method according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the fuel cell system according to the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made to each other.

[0008] The invention presented serves in particular to provide a possibility for time-efficient refueling of a tank system with hydrogen.

[0009] Thus, according to a first aspect of the invention presented, a tank system for storing hydrogen is presented.

[0010] The presented tank system comprises a number of pressure tanks and an interface to a cooling system, wherein respective pressure tanks of the number of pressure tanks are thermally coupled at least in regions to a heat exchanger, and wherein the heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the interface.

[0011] In the context of the invention presented, a pressure tank is understood to mean a container that is configured to store hydrogen under high pressure, i.e., under a multiple of atmospheric pressure and possibly temperatures below 0°C.

[0012] The invention presented is based on the principle that a respective pressure tank is thermally coupled, at least in part, to a heat exchanger, i.e., partially or completely surrounded or enclosed by a heat exchanger, such as an evaporator. Accordingly, a temperature in a respective pressure tank can be adjusted by introducing a tempered temperature control medium into the heat exchanger.

[0013] To provide tempered temperature control medium, the tank system presented includes an interface to a cooling system, such as an air conditioning system of a vehicle, an air conditioning system of a hydrogen filling station or a separate air conditioning system included in the tank system.

[0014] The interface provided according to the invention can, for example, comprise a valve by means of which a mass flow of temperature control medium through the heat exchanger can be adjusted. Accordingly, the interface can be used to control a process for cooling a respective pressure tank and to adjust a temperature at the respective pressure tank.

[0015] Accordingly, the tank system presented in conjunction with a cooling system can be used to cool a respective pressure tank, so that the amount of hydrogen that can be introduced into the tank system and, consequently, the range of a corresponding vehicle is maximized.

[0016] In particular, the proposed tank system decouples the tank system's capacity and the refueling time for filling or refueling the tank system from the ambient temperature. This means that, regardless of the ambient temperature, the proposed tank system can be filled within a fixed or known time. Accordingly, the waiting time of a vehicle comprising the tank system at a hydrogen filling station or hydrogen pump can be determined and, for example, communicated to other vehicles.

[0017] In particular, the proposed refueling system can use car-to-infrastructure communication to determine the capacity utilization at the nearest hydrogen refueling station. If the hydrogen refueling station has free pumps and the driver has sufficient time buffer, cooling of the pressurized tanks can be omitted, optimizing the energy efficiency of a corresponding vehicle.

[0018] It can be provided that respective pressure tanks of the number of pressure tanks comprise a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature in the respective pressure tank.

[0019] To control the interface of the proposed tank system, the temperature in a respective pressure tank can be determined using a temperature sensor in or on the pressure tank. Alternatively, the temperature in the pressure tank can be determined using a temperature sensor of a system supplied by the pressure tank, such as a hydrogen engine or a fuel cell system.

[0020] Accordingly, for example, in the event that a current temperature in a respective pressure tank is above a predetermined threshold value, a volume flow of temperature control medium can be passed through the heat exchanger provided according to the invention, for example by opening a valve of the interface of the presented tank system and / or activating a cooling system thermally coupled to the interface.

[0021] It may further be provided that the tank system comprises a cooling system that is thermally coupled to the interface.

[0022] A dedicated cooling system included in the tank system presented here enables the cooling of individual pressure tanks independently of the respective vehicle or hydrogen-supplied system. Accordingly, the tank system can operate safely and reliably thanks to its own cooling system, largely autonomously and independently of the vehicle or system's settings.

[0023] It can further be provided that the tank system comprises a computing unit which is configured to control a cooling system thermally coupled to the interface in order to set a temperature in a respective pressure tank of the number of pressure tanks.

[0024] In the context of the invention presented, a computing unit is understood to mean a computer, a processor, a control unit or any other programmable circuit.

[0025] The computing unit of the presented tank system can, for example, communicate with a computing unit of a system comprising the tank system in order to activate or deactivate a cooling system connected to the interface of the tank system.

[0026] For this purpose, the computing unit can determine a need for cooling a respective pressure tank by, for example, comparing a fill level and a temperature of the pressure tank with correspondingly predetermined target values, so that, for example, in the event that a fill level of the pressure tank is below a predetermined fill level threshold and a temperature in the pressure tank is above a predetermined temperature threshold, the cooling system is activated to cool the pressure tank, in particular to cool it to a predetermined target temperature and, as a result, to prepare it for a refueling process.

[0027] As an alternative to automatic activation or control, a process for cooling a particular pressure tank can also be started or controlled manually by a user. For this purpose, the user can, for example, directly adjust the interface via a controller or indirectly provide control commands for controlling the interface via the processing unit.

[0028] Furthermore, it can be provided that the computing unit is configured to communicate with a communication unit of at least one hydrogen filling station and to query data on a capacity utilization of the at least one hydrogen filling station and / or to control a cooling system of a respective hydrogen filling station.

[0029] By communicating with a hydrogen filling station, it is possible to predict the time at which a refueling process will take place, so that a respective pressure tank can be prepared in good time for the refueling process by cooling it.

[0030] Furthermore, to determine whether a refueling process will take place or is expected, vehicle data, such as route information, can be evaluated in order to evaluate user behavior, for example using a machine learner.

[0031] In the event that a respective hydrogen filling station includes a cooling system, this cooling system can be thermally coupled to the tank system via its interface during refueling, so that the energy required to control the temperature of the pressure tank is obtained from the hydrogen filling station and a control system of the hydrogen filling station can monitor or control all refueling parameters, namely filling time, filling pressure and also tank temperature.

[0032] The pressure tanks of the tank system presented can be thermally insulated from the environment, for example by means of a layer of insulating foam, so that they can be cooled particularly efficiently.

[0033] According to a second aspect, the presented invention relates to a vehicle.

[0034] The presented vehicle includes a possible design of the presented tank system.

[0035] Thanks to the tank system presented, the vehicle presented can be refueled with a large amount of hydrogen and has a correspondingly long range.

[0036] It can be provided that the vehicle comprises a cooling system for controlling the temperature of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the cooling system is thermally coupled to the interface of the tank system.

[0037] By using a cooling system already present on the vehicle, an additional cooling system can be eliminated, thus optimizing the vehicle's weight and fuel consumption. For example, the cooling system can be designed with a power reserve that allows for maximum cooling of the passenger compartment and additional cooling of the fuel tank system.

[0038] It may further be provided that the vehicle comprises a computing unit configured to control the interface of the tank system and / or the cooling system in order to set a temperature in a respective pressure tank of the number of pressure tanks.

[0039] By using a vehicle's processing unit to control the tank system interface, the interface can be controlled depending on the vehicle's state. For this purpose, for example, the vehicle's position, its route, the temperature in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and / or the temperature in a pressure tank of the tank system can be evaluated to determine whether the interface should be controlled to cool the pressure tank.

[0040] It can further be provided that the computing unit is configured to control the interface of the tank system and / or the cooling system depending on a fill level of the tank system and / or a position of the vehicle.

[0041] For example, the interface can be activated automatically without the need for a vehicle driver to intervene if a specified tank level is reached and a hydrogen filling station is located within a specified radius of a vehicle position.

[0042] It can further be provided that the computing unit is configured to output a dialog for controlling the interface and / or the cooling system on an output unit, wherein the dialog comprises at least a first control element for activating cooling of the number of pressure tanks and a second control element for rejecting cooling of the number of pressure tanks.

[0043] To verify or confirm a prediction about the next refueling, a driver can be asked via a user interface, such as a human-machine interface (HMI), whether they would like to refuel at the next hydrogen refueling station. The driver can respond yes / no and initiate or prevent the interface from being activated.

[0044] According to a third aspect, the presented invention relates to a method for refueling a tank system for storing hydrogen.

[0045] The presented method comprises determining a temperature in at least one pressure tank of a possible embodiment of the presented tank system, activating a cooling system thermally coupled to the tank system in the event that the temperature in the at least one pressure tank is above a predetermined threshold value, and refueling the tank system.

[0046] The tank system presented is used in particular to carry out the presented process.

[0047] Advantages described in detail for the tank system for storing hydrogen according to the first aspect of the invention apply equally to the vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention and the method for refueling a tank system for storing hydrogen according to the third aspect of the invention.

[0048] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes exemplary embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. Drawings

[0049] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a possible design of the presented vehicle with a possible design of the presented tank system, Fig. 2 a possible design of the presented procedure. Description of the embodiments

[0050] In Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 includes a tank system 101 with a number of pressure tanks 103 for storing hydrogen.

[0051] The tank system 101 serves to supply a drive, such as a hydrogen engine or a fuel cell system of the vehicle 100, with hydrogen.

[0052] A heat exchanger 109 in the form of an evaporator is thermally coupled to a cooling system 111 of the vehicle 100 via an interface 107 in the form of a proportional valve, so that the pressure tanks 103 can be cooled by the cooling system 111 in order to be refueled with a particularly large amount of hydrogen particularly quickly. For this purpose, the cooling system 111 can be activated in preparation for a refueling process and remain activated for the entire duration of the refueling process.

[0053] To minimize heat input into the pressure tanks 103, they are surrounded by thermal insulation 113.

[0054] Via a heat exchanger 115, the cooling system 111 can also be used to cool an interior of the vehicle 100, so that the cooling system 111 has a dual function, namely to cool the pressure tanks 103 and to cool the interior.

[0055] In Fig. 2 shows a method 200 for refueling the tank system 101.

[0056] The method 200 comprises a determination step 201 in which a temperature in a pressure tank 103 of the tank system 101 is determined. For this purpose, for example, a value determined by a temperature sensor arranged in or on one of the pressure tanks 103 can be determined.

[0057] The method 200 comprises an activation step 203 in which the cooling system 111 thermally coupled to the tank system 101 is activated in the event that the temperature in the pressure tank 103 is above a predetermined threshold value, and a refueling step 205 in which the tank system 101 is refueled.

[0058] The cooling system 111, for example, remains activated for the entire refueling step 205.

[0059] In addition to the determination step 201, the method 200 may optionally comprise an enabling step 207 in which an enabling condition is checked and, depending on a result of the determination step 201, the activation step 203 is enabled or disabled.

[0060] The release condition can, for example, include a state of the vehicle 100 and / or a state of a hydrogen refueling station provided for refueling the tank system 101, so that the activation step 203 is enabled or disabled depending on a state of the vehicle 100, such as a position of the vehicle 100, and / or a state of the hydrogen refueling station, such as a utilization of the hydrogen refueling station. In particular, a key figure quantifying a utilization of the hydrogen refueling station can be compared with a hydrogen refueling station threshold, so that if the key figure is greater than the hydrogen refueling station threshold, the activation step 203 is enabled.

Claims

[1] Tank system (101) for storing hydrogen, wherein the tank system (101) comprises: - a number of pressure tanks (103), - an interface (107) to a cooling system (111), wherein respective pressure tanks (103) of the number of pressure tanks (103) are thermally coupled at least in regions to a heat exchanger (109), and wherein the heat exchanger (109) is thermally coupled to the interface (107). [2] Tank system (101) according to claim 1, characterized by that respective pressure tanks (103) of the number of pressure tanks (103) comprise a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature in the respective pressure tank (103). [3] Tank system (101) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the tank system (101) comprises a cooling system which is thermally coupled to the interface (107). [4] Tank system (101) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the tank system (101) comprises a computing unit configured to control a cooling system (111) thermally coupled to the interface (107) in order to adjust a temperature in a respective pressure tank (103) of the number of pressure tanks (103). [5] Tank system (101) according to claim 4, characterized by that the computing unit is configured to communicate with a communication unit of at least one hydrogen filling station and to query data on a capacity utilization of the at least one hydrogen filling station and / or to control a cooling system of a respective hydrogen filling station. [6] Vehicle (100), wherein the vehicle (100) comprises a tank system (101) according to one of claims 1 to 5. [7] Vehicle (100) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the vehicle (100) comprises a cooling system (111) for tempering a passenger compartment of the vehicle (100), wherein the cooling system (111) is thermally coupled to the interface (107) of the tank system (101). [8] Vehicle (100) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by in that the vehicle (100) comprises a computing unit configured to control the interface (107) of the tank system (101) and / or the cooling system (111) in order to adjust a temperature in a respective pressure tank (103) of the number of pressure tanks (103). [9] Vehicle (100) according to claim 8, characterized by in that the computing unit is configured to control the interface (107) of the tank system (101) and / or the cooling system (111) depending on a fill level of the tank system (101) and / or a position of the vehicle (100). [10] Vehicle (100) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by , that the computing unit is configured to output a dialog for controlling the interface (107) and / or the cooling system (111) on an output unit, wherein the dialogue comprises at least a first control element for activating cooling of the number of pressure tanks (103) and a second control element for rejecting cooling of the number of pressure tanks (103). [11] Method (200) for refueling a tank system (101) for storing hydrogen, the method (200) comprising: - Determining (201) a temperature in at least one pressure tank (103) of a tank system (101) according to one of claims 1 to 5, - activating (203) a cooling system (111) thermally coupled to the tank system (101) in the event that the temperature in the at least one pressure tank (103) is above a predetermined threshold value, - Refueling (205) of the tank system (101).

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