METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A TANKING DEVICE AND TANKING DEVICE FOR STORING A GAS-FORMED MEDIUM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for controlling a tank device and a tank device for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, for example for use in vehicles with fuel cell drive or in vehicles with a hydrogen combustion engine as drive.

[0002] State of the art DE 10 2014 000713 A1 shows a tank device according to the state of the art.

[0003] DE 10 2017 212 485 A1 describes a device for storing compressed fluids that serve as fuel for a vehicle, wherein the device comprises at least two tubular tank modules and at least one high-pressure fuel distributor with at least one integrated control and safety technology.

[0004] The safety precautions of such a facility require a large number of valves, which increases the complexity and cost of the entire gas storage system. Advantages of the invention

[0005] The method according to the invention and the tank device according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1 and claim 4 have the advantage that a structurally compact tank device is realized in a simple manner with simultaneous cost savings.

[0006] For the inventive method for controlling a tank device for storing a gaseous medium, at least two tank containers and a supply line connectable to the tank containers are provided, each tank container having at least one pressure-controlled control valve. Gaseous medium flows from the tank device into the supply line via the control valve toward a consumer system. The inventive method comprises the following step: simultaneous opening of the control valves of the tank containers at intervals of milliseconds during a supply to the consumer system, so that gaseous medium is directed from the tank device via the supply line toward the consumer system.

[0007] By opening the control valves almost simultaneously, i.e., at millisecond intervals, the required maximum mass flow for the tank device can be achieved without making the tank device, and in particular the cross-sections of the control valves, too large and expensive. The associated magnet assembly for controlling the control valves can also be designed in a compact manner. This allows for a compact and cost-effective tank device.

[0008] According to the invention, the interval between opening the control valves ranges from 1 millisecond to 20 milliseconds. This allows, for example, the load caused by the current flow on a control unit of the tank device to be minimized.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously provided that the tank device comprises a valve line connectable to the tank containers, in which valve line a central melt safety valve is arranged. The melt safety valve opens when a predetermined temperature threshold is exceeded, thus directing the gaseous medium from the tank containers via the valve line into the environment. This ensures that in the event of heat being introduced into the tank device, e.g., a fire, the gaseous medium is directed out of the tank containers, preventing them from bursting.

[0010] In an advantageous development, a control valve is arranged between each tank container and the valve line, which control valve controls a fluidic connection between the tank containers and the valve line. In this way, the gaseous medium can flow from the tank containers into the valve line or remain stored in the respective tank container by shutting off the control valve. The latter is particularly advantageous as a safety precaution, for example, in the event of a valve line rupture.

[0011] The tank device according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, comprises at least two tank containers and a supply line connectable to the tank containers. Each tank container comprises at least one pressure-controlled control valve, which control valve is arranged between the respective tank container and the supply line. The supply line is fluidly connected to a consumer system, wherein the tank device has a control unit configured to carry out the above-described method according to the invention. Thus, a tank device for storing a gaseous medium for various consumer systems can be realized in a structurally compact and cost-effective manner.

[0012] In an advantageous development, the control valve of the respective tank container is designed as a solenoid valve. This allows for simple control.

[0013] In an advantageous development, the tank containers are tubular. Advantageously, the tank containers comprise a carbon fiber-reinforced material.

[0014] Due to the geometry and suitable choice of tank containers, they can be easily adapted to the gaseous medium and, for example, to the chassis of a vehicle.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention provides a control unit configured to carry out the method according to the invention. Furthermore, a fuel cell system according to claim 9, a fuel cell-powered vehicle according to claim 10, and a hydrogen-powered vehicle according to claim 11 are also according to the invention.

[0016] The described tank device and the method controlling the tank device are preferably suitable in a fuel cell system for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, for the operation of a fuel cell.

[0017] In advantageous applications, the tank device and the method according to the invention can be used in vehicles with a fuel cell drive.

[0018] In advantageous applications, the tank device and the method according to the invention can be used in vehicles with a hydrogen drive, for example in a vehicle with a hydrogen combustion engine as the drive. drawing

[0019] The drawing shows an embodiment of a tank device with a method according to the invention for controlling the tank device. Fig. 1 a plan view of a possible embodiment of a tank device with a method according to the invention. Description of the embodiment

[0020] In the Fig.1 A top view of an embodiment of a tank device 1 according to the invention is shown. The tank device 1 has a plurality of tank containers 2 filled with a gaseous medium, for example, hydrogen. The tank containers 2 are tubular. Furthermore, the tank containers 2 comprise, for example, a carbon fiber-reinforced material.

[0021] Furthermore, each tank container 2 is connected at a first end via a branch 26 to a supply line 3, wherein a control valve 5 is arranged in the branch 26 of the supply line 3. Thus, each tank container 2 has a control valve 5, via which the gaseous medium can be discharged from the tank container 2 toward the supply line 3. The control valves 5 can be controlled, for example, by an electromagnet.

[0022] Furthermore, a pressure control valve 8, which is designed here as a solenoid valve, is arranged in the supply line 3. The pressure control valve 8 thus controls the hydrogen supply from the tank device 1 to a consumer system 40, for example, a fuel cell system or a hydrogen combustion system, with the aid of an electromagnet. The pressure control valve 8 also regulates the pressure of the gaseous medium, in particular by reducing the pressure of the gaseous medium for its provision to the consumer system 40.

[0023] Furthermore, in an alternative arrangement, each tank container 2 is connected at a different end 24 to a valve line 6, wherein a further control valve 50 is arranged between each individual tank container 2 and the valve line 6. In the normal operating state, the further control valves 50 are also open, so that a connection is opened between the interior of the tank container 2 and the valve line 6. A central melt safety valve 10 is arranged in the valve line 6. The melt safety valve 10 is normally closed and only opens in the event of a fire or when a predetermined temperature threshold of, for example, 105°C is exceeded, so that the hydrogen from the tank containers 2 can be discharged into an environment 30 via the valve line 6 and a possible explosion of the tank containers 2 due to excessive pressure is prevented.

[0024] The control valves 5, 50 are each arranged at the ends 22, 24 of the tank containers 2, so that in the event of an accident of the tank device 1 or a rupture of the first line 3 and / or the valve line 6, the control valves 5, 50 close and the gaseous medium cannot escape from the tank container 2.

[0025] Furthermore, the tank device 1 comprises a control unit 80, which is connected to the control valves 5, 50 and the melt safety valve 10. The control unit 80 also has an interface to a control unit (not shown) of the consumer system 40.

[0026] If a gaseous medium, for example hydrogen, is to be supplied to the consumer system 40, all control valves 5 of the tank containers 2 are controlled and opened simultaneously at intervals of milliseconds via the respective electromagnet of the respective control valve 5 by means of the control unit 80, and the gaseous medium is guided from the tank device 1 via the supply line 3 towards the consumer system 40. This means that the control valves 5 are opened one after the other at intervals of 1 millisecond to 20 milliseconds. This makes it possible to realize small geometric dimensions of the control valve cross-sections despite, for example, maximum mass flow. Furthermore, a fuel cell system can be supplied with fuel, for example hydrogen, as the consumer system 40.

[0027] Furthermore, the tank device 1 and the method mentioned therefor are also suitable for a fuel cell-powered vehicle for providing the fuel, for example hydrogen, or in a hydrogen-powered vehicle for providing hydrogen.

Claims

1. Method for actuating a tank device (1) for storing a gaseous medium, having at least two tank containers (2) and a supply line (3) which is connectable to the tank containers (2), wherein each tank container (2) has at least one pressure-controlled pilot valve (5) by way of which pilot valve (5) gaseous medium flows from the tank device (1) into the supply line (3) in the direction of a consumer system (40), characterized by the following steps: a. simultaneous opening of the pilot valves (5) of the tank containers (2) at a spacing of milliseconds during a supply of the consumer system (40), so that gaseous medium from the tank device (1) is directed via the supply line (3) towards the consumer system (40), wherein the spacing between the opening of the pilot valves (5) is in a range from 1 millisecond to 20 milliseconds.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tank device (1) comprises a valve line (6) which is connectable to the tank containers (2), and in which valve line (6) is disposed a central melt safety valve (10), which melt safety valve (10) opens when a predetermined temperature threshold is exceeded, thus directing the gaseous medium from the tank containers (2) by way of the valve line (6) into an environment (30).

3. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that disposed between the respective tank containers (2) and the valve line (6) is in each case a pilot valve (50) by way of which pilot valve (50) a fluidic connection between the tank containers (2) and the valve line (6) is controlled.

4. Tank device (1) for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, having at least two tank containers (2) and a supply line (3) which is connectable to the tank containers (2), wherein each tank container (2) comprises at least one pressure-controlled pilot valve (5), which pilot valve (5) is disposed between the respective tank container (2) and the supply line (3), and wherein the supply line (3) is fluidically connected to a consumer system (40), wherein the tank device (1) has a control apparatus (80), which control apparatus (80) is specified to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

5. Tank device (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the pilot valve (5) of the respective tank container (2) is designed as a solenoid valve.

6. Tank device (1) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the tank containers (2) are designed to be tubular in shape.

7. Tank device (1) according to Claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the tank container (2) comprises a carbon fibre-reinforced material.

8. Control apparatus (80) which is specified to carry out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 3.

9. Fuel cell system having a tank device (1) for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, wherein the tank device (1) has at least two tank containers (2) and a supply line (3) which is connectable to the tank containers (2), wherein each tank container (2) has at least one pressure-controlled pilot valve (5), by way of which pilot valve (5) gaseous medium flows from the tank device (1) into the supply line (3) in the direction of a consumer system (40), wherein the tank device (1) is actuated by the method according to one of Claims 1 to 3.

10. Fuel cell-powered vehicle having a tank device (1) for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, wherein the tank device (1) has at least two tank containers (2) and a supply line (3) which is connectable to the tank containers (2), wherein each tank container (2) has at least one pressure-controlled pilot valve (5), by way of which pilot valve (5) gaseous medium flows from the tank device (1) into the supply line (3) in the direction of a consumer system (40), which tank device (1) is actuated by the method according to one of Claims 1 to 3.

11. Hydrogen-powered vehicle having a tank device (1) for storing hydrogen, wherein the tank device (1) has at least two tank containers (2) and a supply line (3) which is connectable to the tank containers (2), wherein each tank container (2) has at least one pressure-controlled pilot valve (5), by way of which pilot valve (5) gaseous medium flows from the tank device (1) into the supply line (3) in the direction of a consumer system (40), which tank device (1) is actuated by the method according to one of Claims 1 to 3.