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] A method for detecting a malfunction of a fuel delivery mechanism (16) in a tank system (11) for a fuel cell system (10) includes performing a start-up operation of the fuel cell system (10), during which fuel is guided from a fuel tank (12, 13, 14) through a fuel piping system (15), determining a refill value for refilling fuel into at least one fuel tank (12, 13, 14) through the fuel piping system (15) during the start-up operation, providing a reference refill value, performing a comparison between the determined refill value during the start-up operation and the provided reference refill value, 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 a gas 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 a tank system of a fuel cell system. 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. The 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 or alternatively for a gas system, is proposed, the tank system comprising a plurality of fuel tanks, a fuel piping system 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 system, the method comprising the following steps: - a starting operation is carried out, in particular of a fuel cell system or alternatively of a gas system, during which fuel is guided from the fuel tank through a fuel line system, a refill value for refilling fuel into at least one fuel tank through a fuel piping system during a starting operation is determined; - Reference and refill values ​​are provided, - a comparison is made between the refill value determined during the start-up operation and the provided reference refill value, 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 reliable estimates of possible fuel delivery system malfunctions can be derived in a relatively simple manner by reference to the refill values ​​during the starting operation. In particular, it has been recognized that certain malfunctions can be detected by reference to unusually high refills during secondary starting or secondary operation, in which the fuel tank is not filled at an intermediate time.

[0008] If all the discharge valves of the fuel tanks' discharge means comply with the permissible 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 effect, 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 ramp-up 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 predefined and / or predefinable reduced fuel mass flow, this can lead to a refill from one fuel tank to another. When such a refill is recognized, it can be assumed that a corresponding malfunction has occurred.

[0009] Furthermore, within the scope of the method, predefined measures can be initiated based on the detected and / or displayed malfunction, i.e., at least one predefined measure can be initiated upon detection of a malfunction or at least one malfunction. 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 with the fuel cell system.

[0010] 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. Measures can then be taken to avoid the malfunction at least in the future.

[0011] In the method according to the invention, the discharge means may have discharge valves that can all be electrically controlled simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. In particular, the individual discharge valves can be controlled in parallel for starting or during the start-up operation of the fuel cell system. Electrical control can be understood to mean that the discharge valves are controlled, if possible, to an open state for guiding fuel from the respective fuel tanks to the fuel piping system. The discharge valves can be understood to mean tank valves that are directly or substantially directly attached to the fuel tanks. A suitable extraction filter can be positioned in 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 system can be understood to mean that at least one malfunction can be detected and indicated with reference to the comparison or the comparison result. The comparison result can be evaluated accordingly for detecting and indicating a malfunction and / or can be taken into account in appropriate calculations. The method can be implemented in particular for detecting a malfunction of a fuel delivery mechanism in a fuel cell system of a vehicle, in particular during operation of the fuel cell system in the vehicle. The method can in principle be implemented in any gas system. The term fuel can be understood accordingly in general as a fluid or gas.

[0012] The method steps according to the invention do not have to be performed in the order described. Individual method steps can also be performed in a different order and / or simultaneously. Thus, for example, a reference refill value can be provided and / or calculated first, and only subsequently can the actual refill value be determined.

[0013] Within the scope of the comparison, a malfunction, in particular a clogging of the take-up filter, can be inferred, for example, when it is determined that the determined refill value is greater than the reference refill value by a predefined value. That is, a malfunction can be detected, for example, when it is recognized that the determined refill value is greater than a predefined maximum permissible refill value. Within the scope of the comparison, for example, the difference between the reference refill value and the determined refill value can be calculated. The corresponding difference between these refill values ​​can be compared with a predefined threshold value and / or with a reference difference. If the difference is greater than a predefined threshold value or a reference difference, a malfunction as described above can be inferred.

[0014] Furthermore, in the method according to the present invention, a pressure buildup gradient can be determined in the fuel piping system during start-up, and a refill value can be determined based on the pressure buildup gradient. The refill value can be reliably determined in a simple manner by referring to the pressure buildup gradient. Accordingly, an unusually high refill can be determined by referring to an excessively high pressure increase in the fuel piping system after the tank system or fuel cell system has been put into service. The pressure buildup gradient is preferably determined in a high-pressure piping section of the fuel piping system. The pressure buildup gradient is preferably determined in each case by measuring and evaluating the piping pressure over time in the fuel piping system. Thus, the determination of the pressure buildup gradient can be performed by a suitable measurement sensor device and a calculation unit connected to the measurement sensor device. The measurement sensor device can have at least one pressure sensor for determining the pressure buildup gradient. The determined pressure buildup gradient can be compared with a provided and / or calculated target pressure buildup gradient, and the refill value can be determined by referring to a comparison between the determined pressure buildup gradient and the provided target pressure buildup gradient. The comparison according to the present invention between the determined pressure-generation gradient and the provided target pressure-generation gradient is carried out, in particular, when no pressure generation is measured or when no pressure generation 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 to see whether the mass flow through the respective discharge valve was only effective for pressure generation in the high-pressure piping section. Providing a target pressure-generation gradient can be understood to mean that the target pressure-generation gradient is read from a memory and thereby provided for comparison, or that it is first calculated and then only provided for comparison. Providing can also be understood to mean determining and / or calculating the target pressure-generation gradient and subsequently providing it.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the following steps may be performed in the method: - Tank pressure is determined for each fuel tank during starting operation. -The fuel piping system determines the piping pressure. - a comparison of the tank pressure and the line pressure for each fuel tank is carried out; The refill value is determined based on the comparison performed. In this way, the refilling, and thus the 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, this can be checked and refined with reference to the determined pressure-generation gradient or with reference to the comparison with the target pressure-generation gradient described above. In particular, it is possible to determine in which tank a possible clogged take-off filter is located. However, such a determination and / or the associated calculations need only be carried out if there is a motivation for it based on the detection of a possible malfunction described above. In other words, if no indication of a malfunction is found with reference to the initial comparison, subsequent calculations for a more precise determination of the 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.

[0016] For further checking, the following steps are additionally or alternatively possible: - Tank pressure is determined for each fuel tank during starting operation. a comparison is made between the tank pressures determined in each of the fuel tanks, The refill value is determined based on the comparison performed.

[0017] Additionally or alternatively, the following steps are possible: -During the starting operation, the fuel level is determined in each fuel tank, a comparison is made between the fuel fill levels determined in each fuel tank, The refill value is determined based on the comparison performed.

[0018] In this way, malfunctions can be determined or checked with a particularly high degree of reliability and implemented.

[0019] Furthermore, in the method according to the invention, the discharge means each have a filter, and malfunctions related to the clogging level of the filter of at least one discharge means can be detected. That is, malfunctions can be detected based on or with reference to the comparison according to the invention, in particular by recognizing a clogged filter of the discharge means. A malfunction can be understood as a clogging level of the filter of at least one discharge means that exceeds a reference clogging level or exceeds a predefined and / or predefinable maximum permissible clogging level. If an excessively high clogging level is recognized, appropriate countermeasures can be initiated to take into account the problems that may result. In particular, operation of the fuel cell system or tank system can be prevented in which the fuel tank does not or cannot be emptied as desired or is no longer available for providing fuel as desired.

[0020] 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 mechanism, each having a discharge means for each fuel tank for controlledly conducting fuel from the fuel tanks through the fuel piping system. The tank system further comprises a control unit for performing a start-up operation of the fuel cell system, or alternatively a gas system, and for conducting fuel from the fuel tanks through the fuel piping system during the start-up operation, a determination unit for determining a refill value for refilling fuel into at least one fuel tank via the fuel piping system during the start-up operation, and a calculation unit for performing a comparison between the refill value determined during the start-up operation and a provided reference refill value and for detecting a malfunction of the fuel discharge mechanism 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 according to the present invention. The target pressure-generating gradient described above can be calculated by the calculation unit and / or read from a memory for comparison with the determined pressure-generating gradient. The calculation unit may be configured and arranged to calculate the target pressure-generating gradient in the manner described above. The tank system may be configured and arranged as part of a fuel cell system, which may be configured and arranged as part of a vehicle.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] The drawings each show, diagrammatically: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [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

[0027] Components having the same function or mode of operation are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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 mechanism 15 for guiding fuel from the fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14, and a fuel discharge mechanism 16 for controlling the fuel flow from the fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14 through the fuel piping mechanism 15. The fuel tanks 12, 13, and 14 are connected in parallel to each other through the fuel piping mechanism 15. The fuel discharge mechanism 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 carrying out the start-up operation of the fuel cell system 10 and for guiding fuel from the fuel tanks 12, 13, 14 through and into the fuel piping system 15. The control unit 20 is shown diagrammatically and may comprise a number of 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.

[0030] Furthermore, the tank system 11 comprises a determination unit 21 for determining a refill value for refilling fuel into the at least one fuel tank 12, 13, 14 via the fuel piping system 15 during a starting operation. To this end, the determination unit 21 comprises a further pressure sensor for determining the piping pressure in the fuel piping system 15 at a predefined time after the discharge means have been electrically controlled during the starting operation, and in particular for determining the pressure build-up gradient.

[0031] 2, one component of the control unit 20 is a calculation unit 22 for performing a comparison between a refill value determined during the starting operation and a provided reference refill value and for detecting a malfunction of the fuel delivery mechanism 16 based on the comparison. Furthermore, the calculation unit 22 may be configured to perform a comparison between a pressure generation gradient determined during the starting operation and a provided target pressure generation gradient in order to determine the refill value.

[0032] 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.

[0033] The above-described method for detecting a malfunction of the fuel delivery mechanism 16 is described in connection with the flowchart shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, this method allows for detecting whether the fuel delivery mechanism 16 has a malfunction, in particular in the form of at least one clogged extraction filter. For this purpose, in step S1, a start-up operation of the fuel cell system 10 is performed, during which fuel is guided from the fuel tanks 12, 13, 14 through or into the fuel piping system 15. In a second step S2, a refill value is determined for refilling fuel into at least one fuel tank 12, 13, 14 via the fuel piping system 15 during the start-up operation. For this purpose, a pressure-generation gradient is determined during the start-up operation by the determining device 21 in the fuel piping system 15, and the refill value or the corresponding refill degree is determined with reference to the determined pressure-generation gradient. In a third step S3, which does not necessarily have to be performed after the second step S2, a reference refill value is provided. In a fourth step S4, a comparison is performed between the refill value determined during the start-up operation and the provided reference refill value. In a fifth step S5, a malfunction of the fuel delivery mechanism 16 is detected based on the comparison and is embodied or displayed as a corresponding error signal, i.e., 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 mechanism 16.

[0034] 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 also be omitted. If the pressure sensor 25 is present, the following steps can be further performed to detect a malfunction: the tank pressure in each fuel tank 12, 13, 14 is determined during the starting operation; the 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 a refill value is determined based on the comparison. Alternatively or additionally, the following steps can be performed: the tank pressure in each fuel tank is determined during the starting operation, a comparison is made between the determined tank pressures of the fuel tanks, and a refill value is determined based on the comparison. Additionally, alternatively or additionally, the following steps may be performed: during the starting operation, the fuel fill level of each fuel tank is determined, a comparison is made between the determined fuel fill levels of the fuel tanks, and a refill value is determined based on the comparison. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 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: - a starting operation is carried out, during which fuel is guided from the fuel tank (12, 13, 14) through the fuel piping system (15); - a refill value is determined for the refilling of fuel into at least one of said fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) through said fuel piping system (15) during a starting operation; - Reference and refill values ​​are provided, a comparison is carried out between the refill value determined during the start-up operation and a reference refill value provided; and - based on said comparison, a malfunction of said fuel delivery mechanism (16) is detected; A method characterized by:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a pressure build-up gradient in the fuel piping system (15) during a starting operation and determining a refill value based on the pressure build-up gradient.

3. - the tank pressure is determined in each of said fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) during the starting operation; - the line pressure is determined in the fuel line system (15), a comparison is carried out between the tank pressure of each of said fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) and the line pressure; - the refill value is determined based on the comparison performed, 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

4. - determining the tank pressure in each of said fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) during the starting operation; a comparison is carried out between the tank pressures determined in each of the fuel tanks (12, 13, 14), - the refill value is determined based on the comparison performed, 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the

5. - determining the fuel fill level in each of said fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) during the starting operation, a comparison is carried out between the fuel filling levels determined in each of said fuel tanks (12, 13, 14), - the refill value is determined based on the comparison performed, 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are connected to a first electrode.

6. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the discharge means (17, 18, 19) each have an extraction filter, and a malfunction related to the degree of clogging of the extraction filter of at least one of the discharge means (17, 18, 19) is detected.

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 control unit (20) for carrying out the start-up operation of the fuel cell system (10) and for guiding fuel from the fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) through the fuel piping system (15) in the process; a determination unit (21) for determining a refill value for refilling fuel into at least one of said fuel tanks (12, 13, 14) via said fuel line system (15) during a starting operation; a calculation unit (22) for carrying out a comparison between a refill value determined during the starting operation and a reference refill value provided, and for detecting a malfunction of the fuel delivery mechanism (16) on the basis of said comparison; A tank system comprising:

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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