Fuel conducting device for conducting a fuel, fuel cell assembly, and watercraft
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023706312
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-11-04
- Filing Date
- 2023-02-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-10
AI Technical Summary
The storage and transport of fuels like hydrogen and methanol pose risks due to high vapor pressure and low boiling points, leading to potential mechanical failures in storage and transport devices, and existing methods involving inert gases like nitrogen are costly and complex.
A fuel guiding device with a core line and a jacket space filled with a liquid medium, such as water, which is conveyed using a pump and controlled by a pressure-measuring and control device to ensure safe and efficient routing of fuels without the need for continuous inert gas flushing.
This solution allows for safe and efficient routing of fuels without complex flushing processes, eliminating the need for additional operating fluids and reducing the risk of mechanical failures, while enabling partially or fully automated operation and emergency shutdowns.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] Fuel guide device for guiding a fuel, fuel cell arrangement and watercraft
[0003] The invention relates to a fuel guide device for guiding a particularly gaseous fuel, in particular hydrogen or a particularly liquid fuel, in particular methanol, a fuel cell arrangement with such a fuel guide device and a watercraft with such a fuel guide device and / or such a fuel cell arrangement.
[0004] A gaseous fuel, especially hydrogen, or a liquid fuel, especially methanol, can have a high vapor pressure and a low boiling point. Due to the high vapor pressure, storage and transport of the gaseous or liquid fuel, particularly additional heating of a storage device or transport device, can lead to mechanical failure of the integrity of the storage device or transport device, which can result in damage.
[0005] The classification society DNV describes two basic processes for transporting gaseous or liquid fuels, particularly those with a low flash point, such as hydrogen or methanol. A double-walled line is typically used. Such a line has a core line and a fillable jacket space, or alternatively a purgeable jacket line. The gaseous or liquid fuel is carried in the core line. Depending on the process chosen, the jacket space is filled with an inert gas, particularly nitrogen, or the jacket line is purged with air. Filling with inert gas, particularly nitrogen, is expensive and complex, as it requires not only a gas-compatible filling system but also inert gas, particularly nitrogen, as a fuel. Furthermore, the gas-tightness of the entire system must be ensured and continuously monitored.While air purging eliminates the need for an inert gas, particularly nitrogen, it does require a purging device that continuously purges the sheathed line. This is energy-intensive and expensive. It would therefore be desirable to be able to easily and safely convey a gaseous or liquid fuel without a complex purging process and without the provision of an additional operating fluid, particularly an inert gas, particularly nitrogen.
[0006] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a fuel guide device for guiding a fuel, in particular a gaseous or liquid fuel, a fuel cell arrangement with such a fuel guide device, and a watercraft with such a fuel guide device and / or such a fuel cell arrangement, wherein the disadvantages mentioned are reduced, preferably do not occur.
[0007] The object is achieved by providing the present technical teaching, in particular the teaching of the independent claims as well as the preferred embodiments disclosed in the dependent claims and the description.
[0008] The object is achieved in particular by providing a fuel conducting device for conducting a fuel, in particular a gaseous or liquid fuel. The fuel conducting device has a line and a conveying device. The line has a core line and a jacket space surrounding the core line. The core line is designed to conduct the fuel. The jacket space is designed to be filled with a liquid jacket space medium. The conveying device is fluidically connected to the jacket space. The conveying device is designed to convey the liquid jacket space medium into the jacket space, in particular to fill the jacket space with the liquid jacket space medium, in particular to fill it completely. In this way, the fuel, in particular a gaseous or liquid fuel, can advantageously be conveyed simply and safely.Berner advantageously dispenses with a flushing device for the permanent, energy-intensive and voluminous flushing of the sheathed pipe.
[0009] In the context of the present technical teaching, a gaseous fuel is understood to mean in particular a fuel which is gaseous at 25 °C and 1013 mbar, in particular with a low melting point, in particular in accordance with SOLAS Regulation II-2 / 4.2.
[0010] In the context of the present technical teaching, a liquid fuel is understood in particular to mean a fuel that is liquid at 25 °C and 1013 mbar, in particular with a low melting point, in particular according to SOLAS Regulation II-2 / 4.2. In particular, the gaseous fuel is hydrogen. In particular, the liquid fuel is methanol.
[0011] In the context of the present technical teaching, a liquid jacket space medium is understood in particular to mean a medium that is liquid at 25 °C and 1013 mbar.
[0012] In particular, the liquid shell medium is water.
[0013] The core line is defined in particular by a first wall that separates the core line from the casing space. The casing space is defined in particular by the first wall and by a second wall, a wall surrounding the core line, in particular a casing tube.
[0014] The conveying device is in particular a pump, in particular a flow pump or a displacement pump.
[0015] The jacket space, in particular, has a vent opening. The vent opening is, in particular, designed to allow a gas, in particular air, contained in the jacket space to escape from the jacket space during the conveyance of the liquid jacket space medium into the jacket space. The vent opening is, in particular, designed to be closed, in particular to be closed after the gas, in particular the air, has escaped from the jacket space. In particular, the jacket space has a plurality of vent openings.
[0016] According to a further development of the invention, the fuel guide device comprises a shut-off device. The shut-off device is configured to selectively shut off a fluidic connection between the delivery device and the jacket space in a shut-off state or to release it in a release state. Thus, after filling the jacket space, it can advantageously be ensured that the jacket space medium remains in the jacket space—without further operation of the delivery device—and, in particular, that a predetermined pressure is maintained.
[0017] The shut-off device is, in particular, a shut-off valve or a shut-off cock. The shut-off device has, in particular, a drive that is configured to shut off or release the shut-off device. According to a further development of the invention, the fuel guide device has a storage collection device for the liquid jacket space medium. The storage collection device is fluidically connected to the conveying device in such a way that the liquid jacket space medium is conveyed from the
[0018] The reservoir collection device can be used to convey the fluid into the shell chamber. This advantageously allows the shell chamber medium required to fill the shell chamber to be provided particularly easily.
[0019] The storage device is in particular a tank or a container.
[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the fuel conducting device comprises a pressure measuring device and a control device. The pressure measuring device is configured to detect an actual pressure in the jacket space. The control device is operatively connected to the conveying device, the pressure measuring device, and the shut-off device and is configured to switch the conveying device, depending on the actual pressure, between a conveying state in which the conveying device conveys the jacket space medium, and a rest state in which the conveying device is switched off, and to switch the shut-off device between the release state and the shut-off state. The control device advantageously makes it possible to operate the fuel conducting device partially or fully automatically.
[0021] In particular, the pressure measuring device is arranged on the fuel guide device to detect the actual pressure in the jacket space. In particular, the actual pressure is a momentary actual pressure in the jacket space.
[0022] The fact that the control device is configured to switch the conveying device and the shut-off device depending on the actual pressure means, in the context of the present technical specification, in particular that the control device is configured to detect the actual pressure, to compare it with at least one predetermined target pressure threshold value and, based on the comparison, to switch the conveying device and the shut-off device between the respectively assigned states.
[0023] According to a further development of the invention, the control device is additionally configured to switch the shut-off device to the release state and / or the delivery device to the delivery state depending on the actual pressure in a start state, to switch the shut-off device to the shut-off state and the delivery device to the idle state in a stop state, and to switch off a system supplied with fuel via the fuel guide device in an emergency shutdown state. In this way, partially or fully automated monitoring of the actual pressure is advantageously possible during operation of the fuel guide device. Furthermore, it is advantageously possible for the fuel guide device to be operated in different operating modes.Furthermore, the system can advantageously be shut down partially or fully automatically in an emergency situation, particularly in the event of a fuel leak, so that damage is avoided.
[0024] In particular, the start state is a state in which the system operatively connected to the fuel supply device is or is intended to be switched on. In particular, in the start state, the actual pressure is lower than a first predetermined target pressure threshold. In particular, in the start state, the delivery device conveys the jacket space medium into the jacket space until the actual pressure reaches or exceeds the first predetermined target pressure threshold. If the actual pressure reaches or exceeds the first predetermined target pressure threshold, the control device switches, in particular, to the hold state.
[0025] In particular, the first predetermined target pressure threshold is greater than a predetermined or actual pressure value of the fuel in the core line. This prevents fuel from escaping from the core line into the shell space.
[0026] In particular, in the emergency shutdown state, the actual pressure is lower than a second predetermined target pressure threshold. In one embodiment, the first predetermined target pressure threshold and the second predetermined target pressure threshold are selected to be the same. In another embodiment, the first predetermined target pressure threshold and the second predetermined target pressure threshold are selected to be different. In particular, the second predetermined target pressure threshold is lower than the first predetermined target pressure threshold in order to provide a type of hysteresis for the holding state and to prevent switching too quickly. In particular, the control device switches to the emergency shutdown state when the actual pressure falls below the second predetermined target pressure threshold, thus in particular having a negative pressure gradient when exceeding the second predetermined target pressure threshold.In particular, the second predetermined target pressure threshold is lower than the first predetermined target pressure threshold and higher than the predetermined or actual pressure value of the fuel in the core line. This prevents fuel from escaping from the core line into the jacket space even in the event of a leak; instead, the jacket space medium enters the core line.
[0027] The object is also achieved by providing a fuel cell arrangement with at least one fuel cell and with a fuel guide device according to the invention or a fuel guide device according to one or more of the previously described embodiments. A supply connection of the at least one fuel cell is fluidically connected to the core line, such that fuel can be supplied to the at least one fuel cell through the core line for consumption in the at least one fuel cell. The at least one fuel cell is configured to convert the fuel into the jacket space medium, in particular as an electrochemical reaction product. A discharge connection of the at least one fuel cell is fluidically connected to the conveying device, such that the jacket space medium formed in the fuel cell can be conveyed into the jacket space.In connection with the fuel cell arrangement, the advantages already explained in connection with the fuel guide device arise in particular. Furthermore, an already existing and thus cost-neutral or at least inexpensive fuel cell product is advantageously used as the jacket space medium, thus eliminating the need for an additional and particularly expensive fuel.
[0028] According to a further development of the invention, the discharge connection is fluidically connected to the storage collection device, so that the outflowing jacket space medium can be directed into the storage collection device. This advantageously provides a buffer supply of the jacket space medium.
[0029] According to a further development of the invention, the control device is configured to shut down the at least one fuel cell in the emergency shutdown state. This advantageously ensures safe and partially or fully automated operation of the fuel cell. In particular, the fuel cell is protected from operating with excessively low fuel pressure and from the jacket space medium penetrating the supply connection via a leak in the core line.
[0030] In particular, the at least one fuel cell is shut down by the control device in the emergency shutdown state if, for example, the first wall is damaged and the core line thereby has an opening, so that the jacket space medium can flow from the jacket space through the opening into the core line. This results in, in particular, a reduction in the actual pressure in the jacket space to below the second predetermined target pressure threshold, so that the system operatively connected to the fuel guide device, in particular the fuel cell, is shut down.
[0031] The object is also achieved by providing a watercraft with a fuel guide device according to the invention or a fuel guide device according to one or more of the previously described embodiments and / or with at least one fuel cell arrangement according to the invention or a fuel cell arrangement according to one or more of the previously described embodiments. In connection with the watercraft, the advantages already explained in connection with the fuel guide device and the fuel cell arrangement are particularly advantageous.
[0032] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, the only one of which shows:
[0033] Figure is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a watercraft with a fuel cell arrangement and a fuel guide device.
[0034] The single figure shows an embodiment of a watercraft 1 with a fuel cell arrangement 2, which has a fuel guide device 3 and at least one fuel cell 5.
[0035] The fuel guide device 3 has a line 7 and a conveying device 9. The line 7 has a core line 7.1 and a jacket space 7.2 surrounding the core line 7.1. The core line 7.1 is designed to convey the fuel - represented by an arrow A. The jacket space 7.2 is designed to be filled with a liquid jacket space medium 11. The conveying device 9 is fluidly connected to the jacket space 7.2. The conveying device 9 is designed to convey the liquid jacket space medium 11 into the jacket space 7.2 and preferably to fill the jacket space 7.2 with the liquid jacket space medium 11, preferably to fill it completely.
[0036] The core line 7.1 is preferably limited by a first wall 13.1, which surrounds the core line
[0037] 7.1 from the jacket space 7.2. The jacket space 7.2 is preferably delimited by the first wall 13.1 and by a second wall 13.2, in particular a jacket tube. The conveying device 9 is preferably a pump, preferably a flow pump or a positive displacement pump.
[0038] The jacket space 7.2 preferably has a vent opening 12. The vent opening 12 is preferably configured to allow a gas, preferably air, contained in the jacket space 7.2 to escape from the jacket space 7.2 during the conveyance of the liquid jacket space medium 11 into the jacket space 7.2. The vent opening 12 is preferably configured to be sealed, preferably to be closed after the gas, preferably the air, has escaped from the jacket space 7.2. The jacket space 7.2 preferably has a plurality of vent openings 12.
[0039] Preferably, the fuel guide device 3 comprises a shut-off device 15. The shut-off device 15 is configured to selectively shut off a fluidic connection between the conveying device 9 and the casing space 7.2 in a shut-off state and to release it in a release state.
[0040] The shut-off device 15 is preferably a shut-off valve or a stopcock. The shut-off device 15 preferably has a drive 10 configured to shut off or release the shut-off device 15.
[0041] Preferably, the fuel guide device 3 comprises a storage collection device 17 for the liquid jacket space medium 11. The storage collection device 17 is fluidly connected to the conveying device 9 such that the liquid jacket space medium 11 can be conveyed by the conveying device 9 from the storage collection device 17 into the jacket space 7.2.
[0042] The storage collection device 17 is preferably a tank or a container.
[0043] Preferably, the fuel guide device 3 comprises a pressure measuring device 19 and a control device 21. The pressure measuring device 19 is configured to detect an actual pressure in the jacket space 7.2. The control device 21 is operatively connected to the delivery device 9, the pressure measuring device 19, and the shut-off device 15 and is configured to switch the delivery device 9, depending on the actual pressure, between a delivery state in which the delivery device 9 delivers the jacket space medium 11, and a rest state in which the delivery device 9 is switched off, and to switch the shut-off device 15 between the release state and the shut-off state.
[0044] Preferably, the pressure measuring device 19 is fluidically connected to the jacket space 7.2. Preferably, the actual pressure is a current actual pressure in the jacket space 7.2.
[0045] In particular, the control device 21 is configured to switch the shut-off device 15 to the release state and / or to switch the delivery device 9 to the delivery state depending on the actual pressure in a start state, to switch the shut-off device 15 to the shut-off state and to switch the delivery device 9 to the idle state in a hold state, and to switch off the fuel cell 5 operatively connected to the fuel guide device 3 in an emergency shutdown state.
[0046] The start state is preferably a state in which the fuel cell 5 is or is to be switched on. In the start state, the actual pressure is preferably lower than a first predetermined target pressure threshold. In the start state, the delivery device 9 preferably delivers the jacket space medium 11 into the jacket space 7.2 until the actual pressure reaches or exceeds the first predetermined target pressure threshold. If the actual pressure reaches or exceeds the first predetermined target pressure threshold, the control device preferably switches to the hold state.
[0047] Preferably, the first predetermined target pressure threshold is greater than a predetermined or actual pressure value of the fuel in the core line 7.1. This prevents fuel from escaping from the core line 7.1 into the jacket space 7.2.
[0048] Preferably, in the emergency shutdown state, the actual pressure is lower than a second predetermined target pressure threshold. In one embodiment, the first predetermined target pressure threshold and the second predetermined target pressure threshold are selected to be the same. In another embodiment, the first predetermined target pressure threshold and the second predetermined target pressure threshold are selected to be different. Preferably, the second predetermined target pressure threshold is lower than the first predetermined target pressure threshold in order to provide a type of hysteresis for the holding state and to prevent switching too quickly. Preferably, the control device 21 switches to the emergency shutdown state when the actual pressure falls below the second predetermined target pressure threshold, whereby it therefore preferably has a negative pressure gradient when passing over the second predetermined target pressure threshold.Preferably, the second predetermined target pressure threshold value is smaller than the first predetermined target pressure threshold value and greater than the predetermined or actual pressure value of the fuel in the core line 7.1. This prevents fuel from escaping from the core line 7.1 into the jacket space 7.2 even in the event of a leak; instead, the jacket space medium 11 enters the core line 7.1.
[0049] A supply connection 23 of the at least one fuel cell 5 is fluidically connected to the core line 7.1, so that - represented by the arrow A - fuel can be supplied to the at least one fuel cell 5 through the core line 7.1 for consumption in the at least one fuel cell 5. The at least one fuel cell 5 is configured to convert the fuel into the jacket space medium 11 as a preferably electrochemical reaction product. A discharge connection 25 of the at least one fuel cell 5 is fluidically connected, in particular via the supply collection device 17, to the conveying device 9, so that the jacket space medium 11 formed in the fuel cell 5 can be conveyed into the jacket space 7.2.
[0050] Preferably, the at least one fuel cell 5 is switched off by the control device 21 in the emergency shutdown state if, for example, the first wall 13.1 is damaged and the core line 7.1 thereby has an opening so that the jacket space medium 11 can flow from the jacket space 7.2 through the opening into the core line 7.1.
[0051] This is preferably followed by a reduction of the actual pressure in the jacket space 7.2 to below the second predetermined target pressure threshold value, so that the system operatively connected to the fuel guide device 3, here the fuel cell 5, is switched off.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. Fuel guide device (3) for guiding a fuel, comprising - a line (7) comprising a core line (7.1) and a jacket space (7.2) encompassing the core line (7.1), wherein the core line (7.1) is configured to conduct the fuel and wherein the jacket space (7.2) is configured to be filled with a liquid jacket space medium (11), and - a conveying device (9) which is fluidically connected to the jacket space (7.2), wherein the conveying device (9) is designed to convey the liquid jacket space medium (11) into the jacket space (7.2).
2. Fuel guide device (3) according to claim 1, with a shut-off device (15) which is designed to selectively shut off a fluidic connection between the conveying device (9) and the casing space (7.2) in a shut-off state or to release it in a release state.
3. Fuel guide device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, with - a storage device (17) for the liquid jacket space medium (11), wherein - the supply collection device (17) is fluidically connected to the conveying device (9) in such a way that the liquid jacket space medium (7.2) can be conveyed by the conveying device (9) from the supply collection device (17) into the jacket space (7.2).
4. Fuel guide device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, with - a pressure measuring device (19) which is arranged to detect an actual pressure in the jacket space (7.2), - a control device (21) which is operatively connected to the conveying device (9), the pressure measuring device (19) and the shut-off device (15) and is designed to determine, depending on the actual pressure o to switch the conveying device (9) between a conveying state in which the conveying device (9) conveys the jacket space medium (11) and a rest state in which the conveying device (9) is switched off, and to o switch the shut-off device (15) between the release state and the shut-off state.
5. Fuel guide device (3) according to claim 4, wherein the control device (21) is additionally configured to, depending on the actual pressure - in a start state, to switch the shut-off device (15) to the release state and / or to switch the conveying device (9) to the conveying state, - in a holding state, to switch the shut-off device (15) to the shut-off state and to switch the conveyor device (9) to the rest state, and to - in an emergency shutdown condition, to shut down a system supplied with the fuel which is operatively connected to the fuel guide device (3).
6. Fuel cell arrangement (2) with at least one fuel cell (5) and with a fuel guide device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein - a supply connection (23) of the at least one fuel cell (5) is fluidically connected to the core line (7.1), so that fuel can be supplied to the at least one fuel cell (5) through the core line (7.1) for consumption in the at least one fuel cell (5), wherein - the at least one fuel cell (5) is designed to convert the fuel into the jacket space medium (11), wherein - a discharge connection (25) of the at least one fuel cell (5) is fluidically connected to the conveying device (9) so that the jacket space medium (11) formed in the fuel cell (5) can be conveyed into the jacket space (7.2).
7. Fuel cell arrangement (2) according to claim 6, wherein the discharge connection (25) is fluidically connected to the storage collection device (17) so that the outflowing jacket space medium (11) can be guided into the storage collection device (17).
8. Fuel cell arrangement (2) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control device (21) is configured to switch off the at least one fuel cell (5) in the emergency shutdown state.
9. Watercraft (1), with - a fuel guide device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 5, and / or - a fuel cell arrangement (2) according to one of claims 6 to 8.