Trailer with a high-pressure tank for transporting a gaseous and / or liquid fuel, system comprising trailer and towing vehicle, method for refueling the high-pressure tank and control device

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a trailer for transporting cargo and for towing by a towing vehicle with a high-pressure tank for transporting a gaseous and / or liquid fuel for the towing vehicle, as well as a system consisting of a trailer and a towing vehicle. State of the art

[0002] German patent DE 100 19 221 A1 discloses an additional tank system which can be retrofitted to diesel vehicles with minimal effort.

[0003] EP 1 391 599 A1 describes a system with a fuel tank and a distribution system.

[0004] DE 10 2011 056921 A1 describes a commercial vehicle trailer for road vehicles with a vehicle frame and a chassis, wherein the vehicle frame has a storage device below the loading platform.

[0005] DE 10 2013 110203 A1 describes a tank module for a vehicle trailer with a gas tank.

[0006] WO 2010 / 077187 A1 describes a trailer for a vehicle with a tank attached to the trailer. Disclosure of the invention

[0007] Against this background, the approach presented here introduces a trailer for transporting cargo and for towing by a vehicle, comprising at least one high-pressure tank for transporting gaseous and / or liquid fuel for the vehicle. The trailer is designed to supply the gaseous and / or liquid fuel to the high-pressure tank of the vehicle's drive unit during operation. This has the advantage that the range of the vehicle can be increased depending on the number of high-pressure tanks carried and / or the volume of the high-pressure tank(s).Furthermore, the high-pressure tank has a sensor that detects a measured value representing the fill level of the high-pressure tank. A control unit can be arranged on the towing vehicle or is arranged on the trailer. This control unit is connected to the sensor via a signal and has a communication interface for establishing a signal connection to the nearest filling station. The control unit (50) also includes a processing unit (52) which compares sensor data (P) with a previously set threshold value stored in a memory unit (53).

[0008] This is particularly advantageous when the refueling infrastructure for the fuel carried and used by the towing vehicle to power its drive unit is poorly developed and large distances between individual refueling stations need to be bridged.

[0009] A trailer, in this context, can be understood as a vehicle without its own propulsion, equipped with a device for carrying goods to be transported and a coupling for attaching it to a towing vehicle. The device for carrying goods to be transported can, for example, be designed as a loading platform. A towing vehicle can be understood as a vehicle pulling a vehicle combination or articulated lorry. In particular, the towing vehicle can be a passenger car, a truck, or a semi-trailer truck.

[0010] A high-pressure tank can be understood as a tank capable of storing gaseous and / or liquid fuel at a pressure of 350 bar, preferably 700 bar, and particularly preferably 1000 bar. The high-pressure tank can, for example, be designed as a cylindrical pressure tank. It can have a length of, for example, approximately 6.5 m and an inner diameter of approximately 0.4 m. The high-pressure tank can be oriented or arranged either longitudinally or transversely to one of the longest sides of the trailer. Furthermore, the fuel can also be stored in the high-pressure tank at normal pressure. This can be the case, in particular, with conventional motor fuels such as gasoline or diesel.

[0011] By positioning the high-pressure tank below the trailer's loading platform, the usable loading area is not reduced by the tank's volume. Instead, the high-pressure tank can at least partially fill an otherwise difficult-to-use space within the trailer. Furthermore, this advantageously shifts the trailer's center of gravity downwards, closer to the road.

[0012] It is advantageous to position the high-pressure tank between two axles of the trailer and / or between two tires of the trailer. This allows for optimal use of the trailer's installation space. Furthermore, this type of arrangement makes the high-pressure tank easily accessible, which simplifies maintenance work.

[0013] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the high-pressure tank is designed to hold gaseous and / or liquid hydrogen. This allows the trailer to carry an environmentally friendly fuel that can be used, for example, in a fuel cell with the addition of oxygen from the trailer's ambient air to generate electrical energy.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the trailer may be provided with a pressure reducer for adjusting the fuel pressure in the high-pressure tank to the fuel pressure in a low-pressure hose connection for supplying the fuel to the drive unit of the towing vehicle. This allows the fuel to be effectively adapted to the specifications of the towing vehicle's drive unit.

[0015] It is also advantageous if the trailer has at least one primary interface for drawing fuel from the high-pressure tank and / or at least one secondary interface for filling the high-pressure tank with fuel. This allows the high-pressure tank to continue supplying fuel to the towing vehicle's drive unit via the primary interface while the high-pressure tank is being refueled via the secondary interface. Alternatively, the primary interface can also be designed for filling the high-pressure tank.

[0016] Furthermore, the approach presented here introduces a system with a trailer, particularly one of the preceding descriptions, and a towing vehicle, wherein a drive unit of the towing vehicle is powered by fuel stored in a high-pressure tank in the trailer during operation of the towing vehicle. This has the advantage that the range of the towing vehicle can be increased and it is no longer necessary to stop, for example, to pump fuel from the high-pressure tank in the trailer to the towing vehicle's own fuel tank.

[0017] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the system's drive unit includes a fuel cell for providing electrical energy and an electric motor for converting that electrical energy into mechanical energy. This allows for a particularly environmentally friendly and resource-efficient transport system.

[0018] Furthermore, a non-inventive method for refueling a high-pressure tank in a system, particularly according to a previously described system, is described. The method comprises the steps of determining the fuel level in the high-pressure tank using a level sensor, checking whether the determined level is less than or equal to an adjustable threshold value using a control device, establishing a communication connection with a filling station via a communication interface to provide a quantity of fuel to be refueled if the check step is successful, and docking with a refueling station for, in particular, automatic refueling of the high-pressure tank. The docking step can, for example, be performed automatically by a docking device.

[0019] In addition to the advantages described above, the process offers the benefit of largely automating the refueling process. This minimizes the risk of personal injury, particularly with gaseous and / or liquid fuels that are dispensed or stored under high pressure in a high-pressure tank. Furthermore, a largely automated refueling process also saves time.

[0020] The aforementioned advantages also apply accordingly to a tax institution with the means to carry out the procedure. Exemplary embodiments of the invention

[0021] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.

[0022] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a system consisting of a trailer for transporting cargo and for towing by a towing vehicle with longitudinally arranged high-pressure tanks and a towing vehicle in a side view and a top view, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an alternative system consisting of a trailer with transversely arranged high-pressure tanks and a towing vehicle in a side view, Fig. 3 a flowchart of a method for refueling a high-pressure tank in a system consisting of a trailer and a towing vehicle, and Fig. 4 a schematic representation of a control device for carrying out the method.

[0023] In Fig. 1 A system 1 consisting of a trailer 10 and a tractor unit 30 is shown. The tractor unit 30 is designed as a semi-trailer truck 30, and the trailer 10 as a semi-trailer 10. The semi-trailer truck 30 has its own high-pressure fuel tank 31, which supplies fuel to the tractor unit's drive unit. The vehicle's own high-pressure fuel tank 31 has a capacity that allows emergency operation of the tractor unit's drive unit 30, for example, to reach the next refueling station without the semi-trailer 10. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tractor unit's drive unit comprises a fuel cell 32 and an electric motor 33. The electric motor 33 is supplied with electrical energy by the fuel cell 32. The fuel cell 32 is supplied with hydrogen or methane, as well as oxygen present in the ambient air of the tractor unit 30, from the vehicle's own high-pressure fuel tank 31.

[0024] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the semi-trailer truck 30 can have an internal combustion engine as a drive unit, which is supplied with fuel present in gaseous and / or liquid form in the vehicle's own high-pressure tank 31. The internal combustion engine can, for example, be designed as a gas engine, which is powered, for example, by natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, wood gas, biogas, landfill gas, mine gas, blast furnace gas or hydrogen.

[0025] The semi-trailer 10 has a cargo space 11 with a loading platform 11a, which can be used for transporting goods. Several high-pressure tanks 12 are arranged below the cargo space 11 and the loading platform 11a, and these are fluidically connected to each other via lines 13. The high-pressure tanks 12 are designed to be filled with gaseous and / or liquid fuel, in particular hydrogen. The fuel, especially the hydrogen, is used to operate the fuel cell 32 of the tractor unit 30 in order to increase its range. In this embodiment of the invention, the high-pressure tanks 12 have a cylindrical shape, with one longitudinal axis of the high-pressure tanks 12 being arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The high-pressure tanks can be arranged, in particular, between axles 14a, 14b of the semi-trailer 10. Furthermore, the high-pressure tanks can be arranged between tires 15a, 15b of the semi-trailer 10.

[0026] The high-pressure tanks 12 can, for example, have a length of approximately 6.5 m and an inner diameter of approximately 0.4 m. With a volume of approximately 815 l per high-pressure tank 12, four high-pressure tanks 12 arranged under the semi-trailer 10 result in a total storage volume of approximately 3280 l. At a pressure of approximately 700 bar, approximately 180 kg of hydrogen can be stored. This amount of hydrogen is sufficient to equip the system 1, consisting of the tractor unit 30 and semi-trailer 30, with a fully utilized permissible gross vehicle weight of approximately 40 t, with a range of approximately 2200 km. At a pressure of approximately 350 bar, the range of the system 1 would still correspond to approximately 1100 km.

[0027] The semi-trailer 10 also has a first interface 16, which is fluidly connected to the high-pressure tank 12 and through which the fuel cell 32 of the tractor unit 30 can be supplied with hydrogen. The fuel cell 32 can be directly fluidly connected to interface 16. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle's own high-pressure tank 31 can be fluidly connected to interface 16.

[0028] Furthermore, the trailer 10 can have a pressure reducer 17 with which the pressure of the hydrogen in the high-pressure tank 12 can be adjusted to an operating pressure of the fuel cell 32.

[0029] Furthermore, the trailer 10 has a second interface 18 through which the high-pressure tank 12 can be filled. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, several of the high-pressure tanks 12 can have their own second interface 18 for refueling or filling.

[0030] Furthermore, the high-pressure tanks 12 have a sensor 19 that detects a measured value representing the fill level of the high-pressure tanks 12. Preferably, the sensor 19 is designed as a pressure sensor.

[0031] Furthermore, system 1 includes a control unit 50, which can be located on either the tractor unit 30 or the semi-trailer 10. The control unit 50 is connected to the sensor 19 via a signal connection. The control unit 50 is described in the following section. Fig. 4 explained in more detail.

[0032] In Fig. 2 is an alternative embodiment of system 1 from Fig. 1 shown. The difference to system 1 from Fig. 1 consists in the arrangement of the high-pressure tanks 12. Here, the high-pressure tanks 12 are arranged with their longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0033] The high-pressure tanks 12 can, for example, have a length of approximately 2 m and an inner diameter of approximately 0.4 m. With a volume of approximately 250 l per high-pressure tank 12, the total storage volume of approximately 3250 l is achieved when the tanks 13 are located under the semi-trailer 10 between axles 14a, 14b, and two further high-pressure tanks 12 are arranged behind axle 14c. This volume is similar to that shown in the example in Fig. 1 At a pressure of approximately 700 bar, about 180 kg of hydrogen can be stored. This amount of hydrogen is sufficient to power System 1, consisting of a 30-ton tractor unit and a 30-ton semi-trailer, with a maximum permissible gross weight of approximately 40 tons, providing a range of approximately 2200 km. At a pressure of approximately 350 bar, the range of System 1 would still be approximately 1100 km.

[0034] In Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a procedure for refueling a high-pressure tank 12 in a system 1 consisting of a trailer and a towing vehicle. In a measurement step 101, the fuel level, in particular the hydrogen level, in the high-pressure tank 12 is detected. This is done, for example, by a sensor 19, which detects the internal pressure P of the fuel in the high-pressure tank 12, representing the fuel level, and transmits this signal to a control unit 50. Measurement step 101 can be performed automatically and repeatedly. Alternatively or additionally, measurement step 101 can be triggered by the driver of the semi-trailer truck 30. In a test step 102, it is checked whether the internal pressure P is less than or equal to a preset threshold value. If this is not the case, measurement step 101 can be repeated.If the internal pressure P is less than or equal to the preset threshold, a communication connection is established with the nearest filling station in communication step 103. During this step, data such as the weight and / or dimensions of the semi-trailer truck 30, the desired fuel quantity to be refueled, and / or specifications of the high-pressure tank 12 can be transmitted. This enables the filling station or its operator to prepare for refueling and provide the required quantity of fuel. Furthermore, required refueling parameters, such as a refueling pressure, can be preset. In a docking step 104, a second interface 18 of the semi-trailer 10 docks to a refueling unit for refueling the high-pressure tank 12 with the previously transmitted refueling parameters.The docking process can be automated, with the semi-trailer truck 30 approaching the filling station and the refueling unit automatically or manually establishing a secure connection with the high-pressure tank 12 via the second interface 18. Alternatively, the driver can manually connect the refueling unit to the second interface 18.

[0035] In Fig. 4Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a control unit 50 for carrying out the procedure for refueling a high-pressure tank 12 in a system 1. The control unit 50 has an interface 51 through which sensor data P, representing the fill level of a high-pressure tank 12 and detected by a sensor 19, are read in. Furthermore, the control unit 50 has a processing unit 52, which compares the sensor data P with a previously set threshold value stored in a memory unit 53. The control unit 50 also has a communication interface 54, with which the control unit 50 can, for example, establish a signal connection to a nearby filling station. This can be done via a wireless communication interface 54a, such as an antenna to establish a radio link.The control unit 50 can be embedded in a vehicle-specific bus system, such as a CAN bus, and may have further interfaces 55, 56 for receiving and / or sending data. The control unit 50 can be located either in or on the tractor unit 30 or in or on the semi-trailer 10.

Claims

1. Trailer (10) for transporting a cargo and for being towed by a tractor vehicle (30), having at least one high-pressure tank (12) for transporting a gaseous and / or liquid fuel for the tractor vehicle (30), wherein the trailer (10) is designed to provide the gaseous and / or liquid fuel in the high-pressure tank (12) to a drive unit (32, 33) of the tractor vehicle (30) during operation of the tractor vehicle (30), characterized in that the high-pressure tank (12) has a sensor (19) which detects a measurement value representing a filling level of the high-pressure tank (12), wherein a control device (50) can be arranged on the tractor vehicle (30) or is arranged on the trailer (10), which control device (50) is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the sensor (19), which control device (50) has a communication interface (54), with which communication interface (54) a signal-transmitting connection to a next filling station can be established, and which control device (50) has a computing unit (52), which computing unit (52) compares sensor data (P) with a previously set threshold value stored in a memory unit (53).

2. Trailer (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the high-pressure tank (12) is arranged below a loading surface (11a) of the trailer (10).

3. Trailer (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the high-pressure tank (12) is arranged between two axles (14a, 14b) of the trailer (10) and / or between two tyres (15a, 15b) of the trailer (10).

4. Trailer (10) according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the high-pressure tank (12) is designed to receive gaseous and / or liquid hydrogen.

5. Trailer (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trailer (10) has a pressure reducer (17) for equalizing a pressure of the fuel in the high-pressure tank (12) with a pressure of the fuel in a low-pressure hose connection for providing the fuel to the drive unit (32, 33) of the tractor vehicle (30).

6. Trailer (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trailer (10) has at least one first interface (16) for removing the fuel from the high-pressure tank (12) and / or at least one second interface (18) for filling the high-pressure tank (12) with fuel.

7. System (1) comprising a trailer (10) according to any of Claims 1 to 6 and comprising a tractor vehicle (30), characterized in that a drive unit (32, 33) of the tractor vehicle is powered by a fuel stored in a high-pressure tank (12) in the trailer (10) during operation of the tractor vehicle (30).

8. System (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the drive unit (32, 33) of the tractor vehicle (30) has a fuel cell (32) for providing electrical energy and an electric motor (33) for converting the electrical energy into mechanical energy.