Tank system and sensor holder

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tank system (100) for storing a fluid. The tank system (100) comprises: - a number of tanks (101), - a number of pressure sensors (103), each comprising a number of electronic components (107), - a number of heating elements (105), and - a number of tank system components (109), wherein the at least one tank system component (109) is fluidly coupled to a pressure sensor (103) and the pressure sensor (103) is thermally coupled to a heating element (105) configured to heat the pressure sensor (103) to a temperature greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Description

The present invention relates to a tank system and a sensor receptacle.Prior ArtDuring operation of a motor vehicle with compressed gas tanks, the gas temperature in the compressed gas tanks cools down by the removal of the gas from the compressed gas tanks.In the case of cold ambient temperatures, the gas temperature in a compressed gas tank may fall below a temperature of -40° C.Pressure sensors are part of each gas tank system, for example for determining the gas fill level of a compressed gas tank. Pressure sensors can be installed at various positions in the gas tank system, for example in a tank valve of a respective compressed gas tank or a distributor pipe.Known pressure sensors for automotive applications are, however, only permitted for a temperature range up to a minimum of -40° C. In this case, the minimum temperature is limited in particular on the basis of integrated electronic circuits (ASICs) installed in a pressure sensor.Disclosure of the InventionWithin the scope of the present invention, a tank system and a sensor receptacle are provided. Further features and details of the invention are evident from the respective dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Features and details which are described in connection with the tank system according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the sensor receptacle according to the invention and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure reference is or can always be made reciprocally to the individual aspects of the invention.The present invention is used in particular to provide a possibility for robust operation of a pressure sensor in a tank system at temperatures below -40° C.Thus, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a tank system for storing a fluid is provided.The presented tank system comprises a number of tanks, a number of pressure sensors, each comprising a number of electronic components, a number of heating elements, and a number of tank system components, wherein at least one tank system component is fluidically coupled to a pressure sensor and the pressure sensor is thermally coupled to a heating element, and wherein the heating element is configured to heat the pressure sensor to a temperature greater than a predefined threshold value.In the context of the present invention, a tank system component of the presented tank system is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a line, a tank valve, a distributor pipe, a pressure reducer and / or a closure plug or "end plug".In order to prevent operation of a pressure sensor, in particular of electronic components of the pressure sensor, outside a permissible temperature range, in particular at fluid temperatures below a critical threshold value of, for example, -40° C., and to accordingly ensure robust operation of the presented tank system, a heating element is provided according to the invention, which is thermally coupled to the pressure sensor and is configured to heat the pressure sensor.For thermal coupling to the pressure sensor, the heating element can be arranged in the spatial vicinity of the pressure sensor.In particular, the heating element can be thermally coupled to the pressure sensor via a material having good thermal conductivity. For this purpose, the heating element can be introduced, for example, into the same material as the pressure sensor.For example, the pressure sensor and the heating element can be introduced into a base body of a tank system component. For this purpose, the base body can comprise a pressure sensor recess or pressure sensor bore, into which the pressure sensor engages and is secured in a positionally fixed manner there, and a heating element recess or a heating element bore, into which the heating element engages and is secured in a positionally fixed manner there. As a result, the pressure sensor and the heating element are thermally coupled via a material forming the base body, in particular a metal.It can be provided that the at least one tank system component comprises a sensor receptacle in which the pressure sensor and the heating element are arranged.A sensor receptacle can consist, for example, of a material with good thermal conductivity, in particular a metal, and serves to receive the pressure sensor and the heating element and also for mechanical coupling to the tank system component. Accordingly, the sensor receptacle can comprise an interface for engaging in a mating interface of the tank system component.Accordingly, it can be provided that the sensor receptacle is an element that can be reversibly connected to the at least one tank system component.In the context of the present invention, reversibly connectable to a tank system component is to be understood as meaning a connection which can be provided and released or reversed again.For example, the sensor receptacle can be introduced into a first bore or recess provided in the tank system component, and this first recess can be adapted, i.e. enlarged or narrowed, for example, in order to arrange a respective pressure sensor on the tank system component.In particular, a sensor receptacle connectable to the tank system component can comprise a measurement bore through which a pressure sensor mounted in the sensor receptacle comes into contact with a fluid flowing through the tank system component, so that the pressure sensor can measure a pressure present in the tank system component.It can furthermore be provided that the sensor receptacle is formed as an integral component of the at least one tank system component.As an integral component, the sensor receptacle can be introduced, for example, into a base body of the tank system component, for example, inserted as a prefabricated component or milled into the base body.It can furthermore be provided that the heating element comprises a heating wire and / or a heating element with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC element).Heating wires can be integrated directly into a respective sensor receptacle as flat and energy-efficient elements.PTC elements have proven to be particularly robust and powerful heating elements.It can furthermore be provided that the tank system comprises a temperature sensor and the heating element is electrically coupled to a computing unit which is configured to regulate a heating power of the heating element in such a way that a temperature determined by the temperature sensor heats up to a predefined temperature.By regulating to a predefined temperature, operation of the pressure sensor at excessively low or impermissible temperatures can be reliably prevented.It can furthermore be provided that the tank system comprises a temperature sensor and the heating element comprises electronics which are configured to activate the heating element if a temperature determined by the temperature sensor is less than or equal to the predefined threshold value and to deactivate the heating element if a temperature determined by the temperature sensor is greater than a deactivation threshold value.A threshold-based activation and deactivation of the heating element brings about particularly energy-efficient operation of the presented tank system. For this purpose, the electronics can comprise, for example, a switch, in particular a thermal switch.According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a sensor receptacle for a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in a tank system component of a tank system, the sensor receptacle comprising an interface which is configured to mechanically couple the sensor receptacle to a mating interface of the tank system component, and comprising a recess which is configured to receive a pressure sensor and to secure it in a positionally fixed manner.In particular, the sensor receptacle presented can be introduced, for example screwed, into a respective tank system component in order to upgrade the tank system component or equip it with a pressure sensor.In this case, the sensor receptacle can have, for example, a receptacle which differs from a receptacle of the tank system component in terms of its cross section, with the result that, for example, a pressure sensor having a larger or smaller cross section than the receptacle of the tank system component can be arranged on the tank system component.It can furthermore be provided that the sensor receptacle comprises a heating element which is configured to increase a pressure sensor arranged in the receptacle to a temperature greater than a predefined threshold value.An existing tank system can be upgraded to the proposed tank system by a heating element integrated into the sensor receptacle, and operation of a pressure sensor arranged in the sensor receptacle in an impermissible temperature range can be prevented.Accordingly, it can also be provided that the sensor receptacle comprises a pressure sensor and / or a temperature sensor, so that regulation or control of the heating element can be carried out by components arranged in the sensor receptacle.Advantages described in detail with respect to the tank system for storing a fluid according to the first aspect apply equally to the sensor receptacle for a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in a tank system component according to the second aspect of the invention.Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary 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.DRAWINGThe following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a possible configuration of the presented tank system, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a possible configuration of the presented sensor receptacle.DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSReferring now to FIG. 1, a tank system 100 for storing a fluid is shown.The tank system 100 comprises a plurality of tanks 101, a pressure sensor 103, a heating element 105 and a tank system component 109 in the form of, for example, a distributor pipe.An electronic component 107 in the form of an ASIC circuit is arranged in the pressure sensor 103.The pressure sensor 103 is arranged in a bore 111 of a base body of the tank system component 109.The heating element 105 is arranged in a bore 113 of a base body of the tank system component 109.The heating element 105 is configured to heat the pressure sensor 103 to a temperature greater than a predetermined threshold to prevent operation of the pressure sensor 103 outside a predetermined temperature range.The tanks 101 are, for example. Compressed gas tanks, in particular for storing fuel, for example. Hydrogen for a fuel cell system.Via a measuring bore 115, the pressure sensor 103 is in fluid-conducting contact with a fluid flowing out of the tanks 101 via lines 117, so that the pressure sensor 103 can measure a pressure in the lines 117 and, as a result, in the tanks 101.By activating, in particular using regulation, the heating element 105, a temperature of the pressure sensor 103 can be adjusted, so that damage to the electronic components 107 is reliably avoided.In FIG. 2, a sensor receptacle 200 is shown, which comprises an interface 201 configured to mechanically couple the sensor receptacle 200 to a mating interface 203 of a tank system component 205.Furthermore, the sensor receptacle 200 comprises a recess 207 which is configured to receive a pressure sensor 103 and to secure it in a positionally fixed manner.Furthermore, the sensor receptacle 200 comprises a bore 209 for receiving a heating element 105, such that the heating element 105 is thermally directly coupled to the pressure sensor 103 via a main body 211 of the sensor receptacle 200.Via an expansion bore 213, a measurement bore 215 of the tank system component 205 is coupled to the pressure sensor 103 in a fluid-conducting manner.

Claims

A tank system (100) for storing a fluid, the tank system (100) comprising: - a number of tanks (101), - a number of pressure sensors (103) each comprising a number of electronic components (107), - a number of heating elements (105), and - a number of tank system components (109), wherein at least one tank system component (109) is fluidly coupled to a pressure sensor (103) and the pressure sensor (103) is thermally coupled to a heating element (105), wherein the heating element (105) is configured to heat the pressure sensor (103) to a temperature greater than a predetermined threshold value.Tank system (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one tank system component (109) comprises a sensor receptacle (200), in which the pressure sensor (103) and the heating element (105) are arranged.Tank system (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sensor receptacle (200) is an element which can be reversibly connected to the at least one tank system component (109).Tank system (100) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the sensor receptacle (200) is formed as an integral constituent part of the at least one tank system component (109).Tank system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating element (105) comprises a heating wire and / or a heating element with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC element).Tank system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank system (100) comprises a temperature sensor, and the heating element (105) is electrically coupled to a computing unit which is configured to regulate a heating power of the heating element (105) in such a way that a temperature determined by the temperature sensor increases to a predefined temperature.The tank system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tank system (100) comprises a temperature sensor, and the heating element (105) comprises electronics configured to activate the heating element (105) when a temperature determined by the temperature sensor is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and to deactivate the heating element (105) when a temperature determined by the temperature sensor is greater than a deactivation threshold value.Sensor receptacle (200) for a pressure sensor (103) for measuring a pressure in a tank system component (109) of a tank system (100), wherein the sensor receptacle (200) comprises: - an interface (201), which is configured to mechanically couple the sensor receptacle (200) to a mating interface (203) of the tank system component (109), - a recess (207), which is configured to receive a pressure sensor (103) and to secure it in a positionally fixed manner.Sensor receptacle (200) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the sensor receptacle (200) comprises a heating element (105) which is configured to heat a pressure sensor (103) arranged in the recess (207) to a temperature greater than a predefined threshold value.Sensor receptacle (200) according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the sensor receptacle (200) comprises a pressure sensor (103) and / or a temperature sensor.

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