METHOD FOR DETECTING MALFUNCTION, TANK SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Abstract

To improve a method for detecting malfunctions in a tank system of a fuel cell system. [Solution] The present invention relates to a method for detecting a malfunction of a fuel delivery mechanism (16) in a tank system (11) for a fuel cell system (10), comprising the steps of: determining a transition from an expanded operation of the tank system (11) to a reduced operation in which the fuel mass flow rate from a fuel tank (12, 13, 14) of the tank system (11) is reduced; determining a pressure generation gradient in the fuel piping system (15) during the reduced operation after a defined time from the determined transition to the reduced operation; providing a target pressure generation gradient; performing a comparison between the determined pressure generation gradient during the reduced operation and the provided target pressure generation gradient; and detecting a malfunction of the fuel delivery mechanism (16) based on the comparison.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for detecting malfunctions, in particular in a fuel cell system, and in particular in a tank system of a fuel cell system, and further to a tank system in which or with which such a method can be implemented, a corresponding computer program product, and a computer-readable storage medium on which such a computer program product is stored. [Background technology]

[0002] Fuel cell systems typically have complex tank systems. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a system for storing fuel in a tank system for a vehicle, which includes a tubular tank container and a high-pressure fuel distributor with integrated control and safety technology. The tank container is made of metal and is modularly connected to the high-pressure fuel distributor with integrated control and safety technology to form a flexible geometry module.

[0003] During travelling operations, tank vessels should be protected as well as possible against mechanical and / or thermal loads such as vibration, braking, acceleration, etc. This also applies to the protection of tank vessels in the event of an accident. Furthermore, it is worth making efforts to constantly monitor the tank system in order to recognize any malfunctions that may occur in the tank system as early as possible. This is always a challenge when multiple tank vessels are used. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102017212485 Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention proposes solutions for improving known methods and systems for detecting malfunctions, in particular in tank systems of fuel cell systems. In particular, a method according to claim 1, a tank system according to claim 7, a computer program product according to claim 9, and a computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10 are proposed. Further embodiments of the invention are evident from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Here, features described in the context of the method are also valid in the context of the tank system according to the invention, the computer program product according to the invention, and the storage medium according to the invention, and vice versa, so that cross-reference is always made and / or can be made to the disclosures relating to the individual inventive aspects.

[0006] In a first aspect of the invention, a method for detecting a malfunction of a fuel delivery mechanism in a tank system, in particular for a fuel cell system, is proposed, the tank system comprising a plurality of fuel tanks, a fuel piping mechanism for conducting fuel from the fuel tanks, and fuel delivery mechanisms each having a delivery means for each fuel tank for conducting fuel in a controlled manner from the fuel tanks to the fuel piping mechanism, the method comprising the following steps: - determining a transition from an expanded operation of the tank system to a reduced operation in which the fuel mass flow rate from the fuel tank is reduced; determining a pressure generation gradient in the fuel piping system during reduced operation after a defined time from the determined transition to reduced operation; -Target pressure generation gradient is provided, A comparison is made between the pressure generation gradient determined during the reduced operation and the provided target pressure generation gradient, and -Based on the comparison, a malfunction of the fuel delivery mechanism is detected.

[0007] It has been found within the scope of the present invention that, by referring to the pressure generation gradient that can be determined during reduced-scale operation of the tank system, a well-founded estimation of a possible malfunction of the fuel delivery mechanism can be made in a relatively simple manner. If all delivery valves of the delivery means in the fuel tanks comply with the permitted pressure drop, a temporary pressure increase will occur when transitioning to a reduced fuel mass flow or consumer mass flow. That is, if only one fuel tank has a high valve throttling, this fuel tank will subsequently experience a higher tank pressure than the other fuel tanks during empty-running at a high fuel mass flow or during extended operation at an increased or relatively high fuel mass flow. In other words, the defective fuel tank will follow suit. If the tank system continues to operate at a sufficiently low or predetermined and / or predefinable reduced fuel mass flow, this can lead to refilling one fuel tank into the other. As a result, after the usual short pressure rise to the tank pressure level of the minimum tank pressure, a subsequent, or even longer, and thus generally larger, pressure rise may occur in the fuel piping system, i.e., due to refilling. By recognizing such a pressure rise, a refill and the corresponding malfunction in the form of an asymmetric tank emptying can be inferred. To detect a malfunction, in particular, a second pressure rise that is larger and / or longer than the first pressure rise is recognized and used for comparison with the pressure buildup gradient determined during reduced operation.

[0008] Accordingly, determining the pressure-building gradient in the fuel piping system during reduced operation after a defined time, for example after the discharge means have been electronically controlled, can be understood to mean that the pressure-building gradient during reduced operation is determined at a predefined time, a predefinable time and / or simply at a time after a first small pressure rise. Reduced operation can be understood as operation of the tank system in which the fuel mass flow rate is sufficiently small so that the above-described refilling can occur. As already mentioned above, reduced operation is understood in particular to be operation in which a fuel mass flow rate occurs that is lower than during expanded operation, in particular by a predefined or predefinable value.

[0009] Based on or with reference to the inventive comparison, a malfunction can be detected, in particular in the form of a clogged removal filter of the discharge means being recognized. A malfunction can be understood accordingly as a degree of clogging of at least one removal filter of the discharge means exceeding a reference degree of clogging or exceeding a predetermined and / or predefinable maximum permissible degree of clogging. If an excessively high degree of clogging is recognized, appropriate countermeasures can be initiated to take into account the problems that may result. In particular, an operation of the fuel cell system or tank system in which the fuel tank is not emptied as desired or cannot be emptied as desired or is not available for providing fuel as desired can be prevented. Furthermore, with reference to the comparison and / or the malfunction, a refilling of one tank of the tank system and / or a refilling of several tanks of the tank system can be estimated.

[0010] Furthermore, within the scope of the method, predefined measures can be initiated based on the detected and / or displayed malfunction and / or knowledge regarding refilling. That is, at least one predefined measure can be initiated when a malfunction or at least one malfunction is detected. Measures can be understood as the output of an optical and / or acoustic warning signal. The warning signal can be output acoustically and / or optically perceptible to a user of the tank system and / or fuel cell system, for example, as a driver of a vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system.

[0011] A malfunction can be detected and subsequently indicated. The indication of a malfunction can be understood as the output of a warning signal as described above. The indication of a malfunction can further be understood as the generation of a warning signal that is stored in a memory and can be read out by specialist personnel, for example, when inspecting the tank system. With reference to the read-out warning signal, estimates can be drawn about a malfunction that may have occurred or that is still occurring, for example, about refilling. Measures can then be taken to avoid the malfunction at least in the future.

[0012] In the method according to the invention, the discharge means can have discharge valves which can all be electrically controlled simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, in particular the individual discharge valves can be controlled in parallel during start-up of the fuel cell system or during operation of the fuel cell system.

[0013] The pressure buildup gradient is preferably determined in the high-pressure piping section of the fuel piping system. The pressure buildup gradient is preferably determined in each case by pressure measurement and pressure evaluation of the piping pressure over time in the fuel piping system. The determination of the pressure buildup gradient can therefore be carried out by a suitable measurement sensor device and a calculation unit in signal communication with the measurement sensor device. The measurement sensor device can have at least one pressure sensor for determining the pressure buildup gradient.

[0014] The inventive comparison between the determined pressure build-up gradient and the provided target pressure build-up gradient is carried out in particular when no pressure build-up is measured or can be detected by measurement in the medium-pressure piping section of the fuel piping system, where the gas pressure is at least on average lower than in the high-pressure piping section. In this way, the tightness of the pressure controller in the fuel piping system can be checked as to whether the mass flow through the respective outlet valve was only effective for pressure build-up in the high-pressure piping section.

[0015] Providing a target pressure-generating gradient can be understood to mean that the target pressure-generating gradient can be read from a memory and thereby provided for comparison, or can be first calculated and only then provided for comparison, i.e. providing can also be understood to mean determining and / or calculating the target pressure-generating gradient and subsequently providing it.

[0016] The discharge valves may be understood to mean tank valves that are directly or substantially directly mounted on the fuel tank. A suitable extraction filter may be positioned at each discharge valve. The discharge valves and the extraction filter preferably constitute the main and / or sole components of the respective discharge means. The fuel tanks are preferably understood to mean hydrogen tanks. Comparison-based detection and possible indication of a malfunction of the fuel discharge mechanism may be understood to mean that at least one malfunction can be detected and indicated with reference to the comparison or the comparison result. That is, the comparison result can be evaluated accordingly for the detection and indication of the malfunction and / or taken into account in appropriate calculations. The method can be implemented in particular to detect a malfunction of a fuel discharge mechanism in a fuel cell system of a vehicle, especially during operation of the fuel cell system in the vehicle. However, the method should not be considered limited to implementation in fuel cell systems. Thus, for example, malfunctions can also be detected in fuel or gas discharge mechanisms in tank systems for other gas systems. Accordingly, in this context, fuel can be understood to mean, in principle, any combustible gas.

[0017] The method steps according to the present invention do not have to be performed in the order described. The individual method steps can also be performed in a different order and / or simultaneously. Thus, for example, a target pressure-developing gradient can be provided and / or calculated first, and only subsequently can the actual pressure-developing gradient be determined.

[0018] Within the framework of the comparison, for example, if it is determined that the determined pressure-generating gradient is smaller than the target pressure-generating gradient by a predefined value, a malfunction, in particular a clogged removal filter, can be inferred. Within the framework of the comparison, for example, the difference between the target pressure-generating gradient and the determined pressure-generating gradient or between the individual values ​​of the gradient or value progression can be calculated. These differences can be compared with predefined threshold values ​​and / or reference differences. If the difference is greater than the predefined threshold value or the reference difference, a malfunction as described above can be inferred.

[0019] In one embodiment, the method may include the following steps: - Tank pressure is determined for each fuel tank during reduced operation, -The fuel piping system determines the piping pressure, A comparison is made between the tank pressure and the line pressure of each fuel tank; - based on a comparison between the tank pressure and the line pressure of the respective fuel tank, a malfunction of at least one specific fuel tank and / or at least one specific discharge means is detected. In this way, a malfunction can be determined with particularly high reliability and / or the actual presence of a malfunction can be easily checked. If a malfunction, such as a clogged take-off filter, is suspected based on the above-mentioned second or relatively long pressure rise in the fuel piping system, this can be checked and refined. In particular, it is possible to determine which tank a possible clogged take-off filter is located in. However, such a determination and / or the associated calculations need only be carried out if there is a reason for doing so based on the detection of a possible malfunction described above. In other words, if no indication of a malfunction is found based on the initial comparison, subsequent calculations for determining a more precise cause of the error can be omitted. In this way, the method can be carried out with low computational capacity and, therefore, with a corresponding energy saving.

[0020] For further checks, the following steps are possible in addition or alternatively: - Tank pressure is determined for each fuel tank during reduced operation, a comparison is made between the tank pressures determined in each of the fuel tanks; and - based on a comparison between the respectively determined tank pressures of the fuel tanks, a malfunction of at least one specific fuel tank and / or at least one specific delivery means is detected.

[0021] Additionally or alternatively, the following steps are possible: -The fuel fill level is determined in each fuel tank during reduced operation, a comparison is carried out between the fuel fill levels respectively determined in the fuel tanks, and - based on a comparison between the respectively determined fuel filling levels of the fuel tanks, a malfunction of at least one particular fuel tank and / or at least one particular delivery means is detected.

[0022] In this way, malfunctions can be determined or checked with a particularly high degree of reliability. Furthermore, the time defined by the method according to the invention can be determined as a function of the line pressure of the fuel line system and / or as a function of the change in mass reduction when switching to reduced operation. In this way, an optimal time or a corresponding time can be defined for determining the pressure buildup gradient and can thus be used to perform a correspondingly well-founded comparison.

[0023] Additionally, in the method according to the present invention, each method step can be performed only after a defined or definable transition time after the discharge means is opened. That is, the method can be implemented such that the opening of the discharge means is recognized, a transition time is waited, and then subsequent method steps are performed only after a defined or definable start time. In this way, it is possible to prevent malfunctions that are not actually malfunctions from being recognized. For example, if a vehicle with a tank system is exposed to the sun on one side for a relatively long time, tanks exposed to direct sunlight may heat up more than tanks in the shade. When the discharge means is controlled to open, these tanks initially experience different gas pressures, which then re-equilibrate over time. If the method according to the present invention were performed immediately, i.e., immediately after the discharge means is controlled, it may be impossible to distinguish between an undesired pressure buildup gradient due to a malfunction and the above-described pressure buildup gradient due to sunlight. The transition times may or may be defined or preset based on experience, with some safety margin, or may be defined depending on current operating and / or environmental parameters.

[0024] Furthermore, in the method according to the present invention, the temperature inside and / or on the surface of each fuel tank is determined, and the transition time can be defined or adjusted depending on the temperature determined inside and / or on the surface of each fuel tank. At least one temperature is determined, in particular, inside each fuel tank. With reference to the temperature inside and / or on the surface of the fuel tank, the transition time to be waited until the desired pressure balance or balance between the respective different tank pressures is achieved can be estimated with a relatively high degree of reliability. Nevertheless, in addition to the temperature inside and / or on the surface of each fuel tank, further information can also be taken into account to define the transition time.

[0025] Furthermore, in the method according to the present invention, the target pressure-generation gradient can be calculated as a function of the latest pipe pressure in the fuel pipe system and provided for comparison. In this way, the target pressure-generation gradient can be calculated as a function of the operating and / or functional state of the tank system. This allows the target pressure-generation gradient to be consistently provided relatively accurately under various operating and / or functional states of the fuel cell system. Calculating the target pressure-generation gradient as a function of the latest pipe pressure can be understood to mean that the latest pipe pressure is determined by a suitable sensor device and then the target pressure-generation gradient is calculated using the determined pipe pressure. The latest pipe pressure is determined, in particular, after the discharge means has been electronically controlled.

[0026] Additionally or alternatively, the target pressure generation gradient can be calculated based on the current temperature in the fuel piping system and provided for comparison. In this manner, the target pressure generation gradient can be consistently and relatively accurately provided under various operating and / or functional conditions of the fuel cell system.

[0027] Additionally, or alternatively, the target pressure-generating gradient can be calculated based on the most recent tank pressure before the electrical control of the discharge means, in particular the discharge valve. That is, the most recent tank pressure can be determined, in particular by a suitable sensor device, and then the electrical discharge valve can be controlled. The target pressure-generating gradient can then be calculated using the most recent tank pressure and provided or used for comparison. The calculations described herein are preferably performed by a computing unit, which may be part of a control device, in particular a vehicle control device. Nevertheless, the computing unit or a part of the computing unit can also be provided in a decentralized manner, for example in the cloud, and used to calculate the target pressure-generating gradient. The most recent tank pressure can be understood to mean a tank pressure determined as soon as possible before the electrical control of the discharge valve and / or as soon as possible after the start of operation of the fuel cell system. The most recent tank pressure can be calculated with reference to a line pressure determined during a previous operation of the fuel cell system, i.e., before the electrical control of the discharge valve in the next operation of the fuel cell system. The previous tank pressure can be determined by reference to the line pressure from the previous operation, and this can be corrected or modified for the calculation of the current tank pressure by reference to the temperature difference determined in the fuel tank between these two operations. In this way, the current tank pressure can be determined without a pressure sensor in the fuel tank. Furthermore, the pressure in each tank can be determined by a pressure sensor in each fuel tank. Furthermore, in the method according to the present invention, a target pressure generation gradient can be calculated and provided for comparison depending on the volume value of the volume of the fuel line system. This method is useful for calculating a target pressure generation gradient as accurately as possible or as close as possible to the desired ideal target pressure generation gradient. The volume value can correspond to the volume defined by the fuel line system. Preferably, the volume value corresponds to the volume of the high-pressure line section of the fuel line system.Experiments within the scope of the present invention have further shown that it is advantageous for the method to calculate a target pressure-generation gradient depending on the number of discharge valves and provide it for comparison. By referring to these system-specific parameters, the target pressure-generation gradient can also be calculated relatively accurately or as desired in a simple manner. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, the throttling behavior of the discharge valves can be determined and used to calculate the target pressure-generation gradient.

[0028] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a tank system for a fuel cell system, comprising a plurality of fuel tanks, a fuel piping system for conducting fuel from the fuel tanks, and a fuel discharge system, each having a discharge means for each fuel tank for controlled fuel flow from the fuel tanks through the fuel piping system. The tank system further comprises a determination unit for determining a transition from an expanded operation of the tank system to a reduced operation in which the fuel mass flow rate from the fuel tank is reduced, and for determining a pressure generation gradient in the fuel piping system during the reduced operation after a defined time from the determined transition to the reduced operation, and a calculation unit for performing a comparison between the determined pressure generation gradient during the reduced operation and a provided target pressure generation gradient, and for detecting a malfunction of the fuel discharge system based on the comparison. Accordingly, the tank system according to the present invention provides the same advantages as those described in detail with respect to the method of the present invention. The tank system may further comprise a control unit for electrically controlling the discharge means and accordingly opening and closing the discharge means. The target pressure generation gradient can be calculated by the calculation unit and / or read from a memory for performing the comparison. The calculation unit may be configured and arranged to calculate the target pressure generation gradient in the manner described in detail above. The tank system may be configured and arranged as part of a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system may be configured and arranged as part of a vehicle.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the invention, a tank system is proposed that is configured and arranged to carry out the method as described above, i.e. the tank system may comprise suitable sensor devices, suitable calculation units and / or suitable actuators for carrying out the method.

[0030] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product including commands for causing the execution of the method steps according to the present invention in a tank system as described above. The present invention also relates to a computer-readable storage medium, in particular a non-volatile one, on which such a computer program product is stored. Accordingly, the computer program product and storage medium according to the present invention also provide the advantages described above.

[0031] The computer program product may be implemented as computer-readable instruction code in any suitable programming and / or machine language, such as, for example, JAVA, C++, C#, and / or Python. The computer program product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium, such as a data disk, a removable drive, a volatile or non-volatile memory, or an internal memory / processor. The instruction code may program a computer or other programmable device, such as a fuel cell system and / or a control device of a vehicle having a fuel cell system, to perform desired functions. Furthermore, the computer program product may be provided and / or be provided over a network, such as the Internet, from which it can be downloaded by a user as needed. The computer program product may be and / or be embodied not only in software, but also in one or more dedicated electronic circuits, i.e., in hardware, or in any hybrid form, i.e., in both software and hardware components.

[0032] Other ways of improving the invention will become apparent from the following description of various embodiments of the invention, which are diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings. Any of the features and / or advantages that appear from the claims, the detailed description or the drawings, including design details and spatial arrangements, may be part of the invention either alone or in various combinations.

[0033] The drawings each show, diagrammatically: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is a fuel cell system having a tank system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a tank system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] A storage medium having stored thereon a computer program product according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Components having the same function or mode of operation are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0036] 1 shows a fuel cell system 10 configured and arranged for mobile use in a vehicle. The fuel cell system 10 comprises a charging section 30 with a tank connection 35 in the form of a connecting pipe. The fuel cell system 10 further comprises a storage section 31 with a fuel piping arrangement 15, a fuel tank arrangement 38, and a valve 36 in the form of a shut-off or isolation valve. The fuel cell system 10 further comprises a supply section 32 with a pressure controller 37, through which fuel can be guided in a controlled manner from the storage section 31 to a fuel cell section 33 of the fuel cell system 10. Additionally, the fuel cell system 10 comprises an output section 34 capable of converting the current or voltage generated in the fuel cell section 33 into a drive power for the vehicle.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a tank system 11 for the fuel cell system 10 shown in FIG. 1. The tank system 11 shown in FIG. 2 includes three fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14, a fuel piping system 15 for guiding fuel from the fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14, and a fuel discharge system 16 for controlling the flow of fuel from the fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14 through or to the fuel piping system 15. The fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14 are connected in parallel to each other through the fuel piping system 15. The fuel discharge system 16 includes three discharge means 17, 18, and 19, one for each of the fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14. Each of the discharge means 17, 18, and 19 includes a discharge valve and an extraction filter (not shown in detail). Furthermore, a pressure sensor 25 is formed in each tank for determining the gas pressure of the respective fuel tank 12, 13, and 14. The tank system 11 further comprises a control unit 20 for electronically controlling the discharge means 17, 18, 19. The control unit 20 is shown diagrammatically and may comprise several components spaced apart from one another. The control unit 20 may comprise a control device, in particular in the form of a vehicle control device.

[0038] The tank system 11 further comprises a determination unit 21 with a further pressure sensor for determining a transition from the expanded operation of the tank system 11 to a reduced operation in which the fuel mass flow rate from the fuel tanks 12, 13, 14 is reduced, as well as for determining the line pressure and, in particular, for determining the pressure generation gradient in the fuel piping arrangement 15 during the reduced operation after a predefined time from the determined transition to the reduced operation. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, one component of the control unit 20 is a calculation unit 22 for carrying out a comparison between the determined pressure generation gradient during the reduced operation and a provided target pressure generation gradient and, based on the comparison, for detecting a malfunction of the fuel delivery arrangement 16, in particular in the form of a clogged delivery filter.

[0039] In Figure 3, a computer-readable non-volatile storage medium 24 is shown in the form of a memory stick, and has stored thereon a computer program product 23. The computer program product 23 contains commands that cause the tank system 11 shown in Figures 1 and 2 to perform the method subsequently described in relation to Figure 4.

[0040] The above-described method for detecting a malfunction of the fuel delivery system 16 is described in connection with the flowchart shown in FIG. 4. More precisely, this method allows for the detection of a malfunction in the fuel delivery system 16, in particular in the form of at least one clogged extraction filter, which would result in a tank refill. To this end, in a first step S1, the delivery means 17, 18, and 19 are first electrically controlled or energized in parallel to simultaneously open their respective delivery valves. In a second step S2, the fuel piping system 15 is checked by the determining device 21 for a reduced operation of the tank system 11, in particular a transition from an expanded operation to a reduced operation, in which the fuel mass flow rate from the fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14 is low enough that a detected refill of the fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14 can occur. The pressure buildup gradient in the fuel delivery system is determined after the determined transition or within a defined time period thereafter. In a third step S3, which does not necessarily have to be performed after the second step S2, a target pressure buildup gradient is provided. In the described embodiment, the target pressure generation gradient is calculated taking into account or utilizing the current pipe pressure determined in the fuel pipe system 15 and is subsequently provided accordingly. In a subsequent step S4, the calculation unit 22 performs a comparison between the determined pressure generation gradient and the calculated and provided target pressure generation gradient. In a fifth step S5, a malfunction of the fuel delivery system 16 is detected based on the comparison and a corresponding error signal is displayed with reference to the detected malfunction. In other words, with reference to the comparison, it is estimated whether a malfunction, in particular in the form of at least one clogged extraction filter, is occurring in the fuel delivery system 16.

[0041] The present invention allows for further construction principles beyond the illustrated embodiment, i.e., the present invention should not be considered limited to the example described in connection with the drawings. In particular, the pressure sensor 25 in each fuel tank 12, 13, 14 could be omitted. If the pressure sensor 25 is present, the following steps can be further performed to detect a malfunction: during reduced operation, a tank pressure is determined in each fuel tank 12, 13, 14; a line pressure is determined in the fuel line system 15; a comparison is made between the tank pressure and the line pressure in each fuel tank 12, 13, 14; and based on the comparison between the tank pressure and the line pressure in each fuel tank 12, 13, 14, a malfunction of at least one specific fuel tank 12, 13, 14 and / or at least one specific discharge means 17, 18, 19 is detected. Alternatively or additionally, the following steps may be performed: a tank pressure of each fuel tank 12, 13, 14 is determined during reduced operation, a comparison is made between the determined tank pressures of the fuel tanks 12, 13, 14, and a malfunction of at least one specific fuel tank 12, 13, 14 and / or at least one specific discharge means 17, 18, 19 is detected based on the comparison between the determined tank pressures of the fuel tanks 12, 13, 14. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, the following steps may be performed: a fuel fill level of each fuel tank 12, 13, 14 is determined during reduced operation, a comparison is made between the determined fuel fill levels of the fuel tanks 12, 13, 14, and a malfunction of at least one specific fuel tank 12, 13, 14 and / or at least one specific discharge means 17, 18, 19 is detected based on the comparison between the determined fuel fill levels of the fuel tanks 12, 13, 14. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 10. Fuel Cell System 11 Tank System 12, 13, 14 Fuel tank 15 Fuel piping mechanism 16 Fuel discharge mechanism 17,18,19 Discharge means 21 Judgment Unit 22 Computational Units 23 Computer Program Products 24 Computer-readable storage medium

Claims

1. 1. A method for detecting a malfunction of a fuel delivery mechanism (16) in a tank system (11), particularly for a fuel cell system (10), said tank system (11) having a plurality of fuel tanks (12, 13, 14), a fuel piping system (15) for conducting fuel from said fuel tanks (12, 13, 14), and a fuel delivery mechanism (16) having respective delivery means (17, 18, 19) for each of said fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) for conducting fuel in a controlled manner through said fuel piping system (15), comprising: - determining a transition from an expanded operation of the tank system (11) to a reduced operation in which the fuel mass flow rate from the fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) is reduced; - determining a pressure generation gradient in said fuel piping system (15) during reduced operation after a defined time from the determined transition to reduced operation; - a target pressure generation gradient is provided; a comparison is made between the pressure generation gradient determined during the reduced operation and the provided target pressure generation gradient; and - based on said comparison, a malfunction of said fuel delivery mechanism (16) is detected; A method characterized by:

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defined time is determined depending on the piping pressure of the fuel piping system (15) and / or depending on the change in mass loss when transitioning to reduced operation.

3. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method step is carried out only after a defined or definable transition time from the opening of the discharge means (17, 18, 19).

4. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the temperature inside and / or on the surface of each of the fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) is determined and the transition time is defined depending on the temperature determined inside and / or on the surface of each of the fuel tanks (12, 13, 14).

5. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target pressure generation gradient is calculated as a function of the current pipe pressure in the fuel pipe system (15) and is provided for comparison.

6. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target pressure generation gradient is calculated as a function of the current temperature in the fuel piping system (15) and is provided for comparison.

7. A tank system (11) for a fuel cell system (10), comprising: a plurality of fuel tanks (12, 13, 14); a fuel piping arrangement (15) for conducting fuel from the fuel tanks (12, 13, 14); and a fuel discharge arrangement (16) having discharge means (17, 18, 19) for each of the fuel tanks (12, 13, 14), respectively, for conducting fuel from the fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) through the fuel piping arrangement (15) in a controlled manner, - a determination unit (21) for determining a transition from an expanded operation of the tank system (11) to a reduced operation in which the fuel mass flow rate from the fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) is reduced, and for determining a pressure generation gradient in the fuel piping system (15) during the reduced operation after a defined time from the determined transition to the reduced operation; and a tank system, characterized in that it has a calculation unit (22) for carrying out a comparison between the pressure generation gradient determined during reduced operation and a provided target pressure generation gradient, and for detecting a malfunction of the fuel delivery mechanism (16) on the basis of said comparison.

8. A tank system (11) according to claim 7, configured and arranged to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A computer program product (23) comprising commands for causing each of the method steps according to any one of claims 1 to 6 to be performed on the tank system (11) according to any one of claims 7 to 8.

10. A computer-readable storage medium (24) having stored thereon the computer program product according to claim 9.

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