A tank system, and a method for inspecting the separation valve in the tank system.

Abstract

[Solution] A method for inspecting a switchable isolation valve of a valve device connecting a tank container to a piping system includes controlling the isolation valve to switch the extraction path of the valve device connecting the piping system and the tank container from a closed position in which the isolation valve closes the extraction path to an open position in which the isolation valve opens the extraction path, detecting a pressure transition in a tank side area of ​​the extraction path extending between the tank container and the isolation valve, determining whether the pressure transition detected after controlling the isolation valve includes a pressure drop, and outputting an error signal if it is determined that the pressure transition detected after controlling the isolation valve does not include a pressure drop.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tank system, particularly for storing gaseous fuels such as hydrogen and for supplying gaseous fuels to a consumer device system, and to a method for inspecting isolation valves in a tank system.

Background Art

[0002] Hydrogen and other gaseous fuels can be used in mobile applications, particularly in road vehicles, to operate drive units. This includes not only the operation of fuel cells but also the operation of internal combustion engines or other heat engines. In stationary applications, gaseous fuels can also be preferably used for energy generation. Usually, for this purpose, the gas is stored in a tank system having one or more tank containers and is supplied to a consumer device system such as a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine via a piping system connected to the one or more tank containers.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a supply system for a fuel cell in which a plurality of tanks are each connected in parallel to a piping system for supplying to the fuel cell via extraction pipes. Each extraction pipe is provided with a switchable isolation valve for connecting or separating each tank from the piping system. When the system starts, in order to increase the pressure of the piping system, only one of the isolation valves is first opened, and subsequently the remaining valves are opened. This is suitable for the purpose of reducing valve wear by reducing the pressure difference between the tank and the high-pressure piping system at the time when the remaining valves are opened.

[0004] Generally, in order to enhance operational reliability, it is desirable for the isolation valve to open reliably when the system starts. This applies to both a system having only one tank container and a system having a plurality of tank containers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 7,367,349B2 [Overview of the Initiative]

[0006] Against this background, the present invention provides a method having the constituent elements of claim 1, and a tank system having the constituent elements of claim 8.

[0007] In a first aspect of the present invention, a method is intended for inspecting a switchable separation valve in a valve device connecting a tank container to a piping system, wherein a gas is stored in the tank container at a first pressure, and a second pressure lower than the first pressure is generated in the piping system. The method includes controlling the separation valve to switch the outlet path of the valve device connecting the piping system and the tank container from a closed position where the separation valve closes the outlet path to an open position where the separation valve opens the outlet path; detecting a pressure transition in the tank-side section of the outlet path extending between the tank container and the separation valve; determining whether a pressure drop is included in the pressure transition detected after the control of the separation valve; and outputting an error signal if it is determined that a pressure drop is not included in the pressure transition detected after the control of the separation valve.

[0008] In a second aspect of the present invention, the tank system includes at least one tank container for storing a gas, particularly hydrogen; a piping system for supplying it to a consumption device system, such as a fuel cell or a heat engine; a valve device having a switchable separation valve located in the extraction path that connects the tank container and the piping system and is switchable between a closed position for closing the extraction path and an open position for opening the extraction path; a pressure sensor connected to a tank-side section of the extraction path extending between the tank container and the separation valve and set up to detect pressure in the tank-side section of the extraction path; and a control device signal-connected to the valve device and the pressure sensor and set up to instruct the tank system to perform each step of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

[0009] The underlying concept of this invention is to detect pressure changes on the tank side of the separation valve and evaluate them after the valve has been controlled. Before the separation valve opens, the piping system generates a pressure lower than that inside the tank container, and consequently, lower than that on the tank side of the separation valve. Therefore, opening the separation valve leads to a temporary pressure drop on the tank side. That is, when the separation valve switches from the closed position to the open position, an undershoot occurs in the pressure change in the tank-side section of the valve device's outlet path. Such a temporary pressure drop can be determined or detected by the control device using the pressure signal supplied from the pressure sensor. If such a pressure drop is confirmed, the appropriate opening of each separation valve can be estimated. If no pressure drop is detected, it can be inferred that the separation valve has not switched from the closed position to the open position as a result of the control.

[0010] One advantage of the present invention is that it can reliably identify a separation valve that has not been switched on.

[0011] Preferred embodiments and variations will become apparent from other dependent claims and from the description made with reference to the drawings.

[0012] In some embodiments, the control of the separator valve may be intended to include generating a first opening force to open the separator valve, and if it is determined that the pressure transition detected after the control of the separator valve does not include a pressure drop, the separator valve is controlled again with a second opening force higher than the first opening force, and the steps of detecting and determining the pressure transition are performed again. Accordingly, if it is confirmed that the separator valve does not open during the first control of the separator valve, the separator valve may be controlled again with an even higher opening force. This can further increase operational reliability, because being able to open the separator valve with an even higher opening force can keep the tank system fully functional.

[0013] In some embodiments, the output of an error signal may be intended only when it is determined again that the pressure transition detected after the separation valve is controlled again with a second opening force does not include a pressure drop. Optionally, a first error signal can be output if no pressure drop is detected in the pressure transition detected after the first control of the separation valve, and a second error signal can be output when it is determined again that the pressure transition detected after the separation valve is controlled again with a second opening force does not include a pressure drop.

[0014] In some embodiments, the isolation valve may be intended to be an electrically controllable, normally closed solenoid valve, where the generation of a first opening force includes energizing a first control current to the isolation valve, and the generation of a second opening force includes energizing a second control current higher than the first control current to the isolation valve.

[0015] In some embodiments, it may be intended that a release signal is output when it is determined that the pressure transition detected after control of the separation valve includes a pressure drop. For example, the output of a release signal may include the generation of a release message and the writing of the release message to a data storage device.

[0016] In some embodiments, multiple tank containers may be connected to a piping system via a plurality of valve devices, each having a switchable isolation valve, each isolation valve being controlled to switch from a closed position to an open position, the pressure transition in the tank-side section of the outlet path of each isolation valve being detected after the control of each isolation valve, a determination being made for each isolation valve as to whether or not a pressure drop is included in the pressure transition detected after the control of the isolation valve, and an error signal being output for each isolation valve as determined not to include a pressure drop in the pressure transition detected after the control of the isolation valve. In particular, with multiple tank containers, if one of the isolation valves does not open, it can lead to undesirable effects. On the one hand, the gas stored in the tank container whose isolation valve does not open cannot be used for the consumption device system. On the other hand, the tank containers may be emptied unevenly. If the isolation valve that did not open opens at a later time, for example when the system is newly started, this will lead to pressure compensation and / or replenishment of the other tank containers. Such situations can be reliably avoided by this method.

[0017] In some embodiments, the separation valves may be intended to be controlled sequentially or simultaneously.

[0018] In some embodiments, the determination of whether a pressure drop is included in the pressure transition detected after control of the separation valve may include determining the pressure gradient of the detected pressure transition, and it may be intended that a pressure drop is determined if the pressure gradient is less than zero within a predetermined time after control.

[0019] In some embodiments, the output of the error signal may be intended to include the generation of an error message and the writing of the error message to the data storage device. As an alternative or addition thereto, the output of the error signal may be intended to include the output of a warning signal to the user interface. For example, an optical signal can be output to a display device or a warning lamp of the user interface, or an acoustic or tactile signal can be output.

[0020] In some embodiments, the isolation valve may be configured as an electrically controllable normally closed solenoid valve.

[0021] In some embodiments, the tank system may be intended to have a plurality of tank containers connected to a piping system via a plurality of valve devices each having a switchable isolation valve.

[0022] The components and advantages disclosed herein in connection with one aspect of the invention are also disclosed for each of the other aspects.

[0023] Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of the drawings. The drawings show the following.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic piping diagram of a tank system based on an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a detailed view showing a valve device of a tank system based on an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a progress procedure of a method based on an embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] In each figure, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals represent the same components or components having the same function.

[0026] Figure 1 schematically shows a tank system 100 for supplying a gaseous fuel, such as hydrogen, to a consumption device system 200. The consumption device system 200 may be, for example, a fuel cell or a heat engine. The tank system 100 can be applied, for example, in a mobile application, such as in a vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0027] As illustrated in Figure 1, the tank system 100 comprises multiple tank containers 1, a piping system 2, multiple valve devices 3, and a control device 5. Optionally, a user interface 6 may also be provided. Figure 1 shows a tank system 100 with three tank containers 1 purely as an example. The tank system 100 may have only one tank container 1, or a different number of tank containers 1 than three. Furthermore, Figure 1 illustrates that each tank container 1 is provided with a valve device 3, through which each tank container 1 is connected to the piping system 2. Alternatively, multiple tank containers 1 may be connected to the piping system 2 via a common valve device 3.

[0028] Tank container 1 generally defines an internal volume and may be configured, for example, to store hydrogen under a rated pressure of up to 700 bar.

[0029] The piping system 2 may be a high-pressure piping system 2 connected to the consumption device system 200 via an optional medium-pressure piping system 7, which is shown only as a block symbol in Figure 1. As schematically shown in Figure 1, the tank 1 is connected in parallel to the piping system 2.

[0030] A valve device 3 is attached to each tank 1 and connects to the piping system 2. Figure 2 shows a schematic and significantly simplified example of the structure of the valve device 3. As shown in Figure 2, the valve device 3 has a first internal connection part 3A that connects to the internal volume of the tank 1 and an external connection part 3C that connects to the piping system 2. A second internal connection part 3B may be provided as an option. As shown in Figure 2, the valve device 3 has a switchable isolation valve 30 and a pressure sensor 4. A check valve 33 may be provided as an option. Similarly, as an option, the valve device 3 may have a temperature sensor 35, which is shown purely as an example in Figure 2.

[0031] The first internal connection section 3A and the external connection section 3C are connected to each other by an outlet path 31 in which a separation valve 30, for example in the form of an electrically switchable, normally closed solenoid valve, is located. The separation valve 30 divides the outlet path 31 into a tank-side section 31A extending between the first internal connection section 3A and the separation valve 30, and a piping-side section 31B extending between the separation valve 30 and the external connection section 3C. The separation valve 30 is switchable between a closed position and an open position. In Figure 2, the separation valve 30 is shown in the closed position. In this position, the separation valve closes the outlet path, that is, it blocks the fluid conduction connection between the tank-side and piping-side sections 31A and 31B of the outlet path 31, thereby preventing gas from the tank container 1 from flowing from the first internal connection section 3A to the external connection section 3C. In the open position, the separation valve 30 opens the extraction path, that is, it establishes a fluid connection between the tank side and the piping side areas 31A and 31B of the extraction path 31, allowing the gas from the tank container 1 to flow from the first internal connection part 3A to the external connection part 3C.

[0032] As further shown in Figure 2, the second internal connection 3B may be connected to the external connection 3C by a filling path 32. An optional check valve 33 is placed in the filling path 32 and is configured to allow flow only from the external connection 3C to the second internal connection 3B. If a pressure higher than that of the tank container 1 is generated in the piping system 2, gas from the piping system 2 can flow from the external connection 3C into the tank container 1 through the second internal connection 3B, even with the separation valve 30 closed.

[0033] As further shown in Figure 2, the pressure sensor 4 is connected to the tank-side area 31A of the extraction path 31. In this way, the pressure sensor 4 can detect the pressure in the tank-side area 31A of the extraction path 31.

[0034] The optional temperature sensor 35 may be part of the valve device 3, as shown purely as an example in Figure 2. Here, the temperature sensor 35 is positioned to be connected to the internal volume of the tank container 1. In this way, the temperature sensor 35 can measure the temperature inside the tank container 1.

[0035] The control device 5 is shown only as a block in Figure 1 and may be an electronic control device 5 in particular. The control device 5 may have, for example, a processor 50 and a data storage device 51. The processor 50 may be embodied as, for example, a CPU, FPGA, ASIC, etc. The data storage device 51 may be a non-volatile data storage device and may be, for example, flash memory, SD memory, hard disk, etc. The data storage device 51 is readable by the processor 50 and can store executable software that the processor 50 can use, for example, to instruct it to generate an output signal in the form of a control signal based on an input signal in the form of, for example, a measurement value. The control device 5 is signal-connected to the valve device 3 and its respective pressure sensors 4, for example, via a wired connection via a data bus such as a CAN bus or USB, or wirelessly via WiFi, Bluetooth®, etc.

[0036] In particular, the control device 5 may be configured to instruct the tank system 100 to perform method M to inspect the switchable separation valves 30 of each valve device 3. The procedure for performing method M to inspect the switchable separation valves 30 of each valve device 3 is schematically shown in Figure 3. Method M starts in an initial situation in which a gas such as hydrogen is stored in the tank container 1 at a first pressure, and a second pressure lower than the first pressure is generated in the piping system 2. At this time, the separation valves 30 are closed. Such an initial situation may occur, for example, before the start or activation of the consumption device system 200 connected to the tank system 100. In the following, method M will be explained using the tank system 100 described above.

[0037] In the first step M1, the control M1 of the separation valve 30 is performed by the control device 5, for example, by the control device outputting a control signal to the separation valve 30 to switch it from a closed position to an open position. The control signal can, in particular, instruct the generation of a first opening force to open the separation valve 30. If the separation valve 30 is configured as an electrically controllable normally closed solenoid valve, as illustrated in Figure 2, the generation of the first opening force may include energizing the separation valve 30 with a first control current. If multiple tank containers 1 are provided with multiple valve devices 3, as illustrated in Figure 1, the separation valves 30 of each different valve device 3 can be controlled sequentially or simultaneously.

[0038] In step M2, the pressure in the tank-side area 31A of the extraction path 31 is detected by the pressure sensor 4 in time steps. In this way, the control device 5 receives a pressure signal representing the pressure transition.

[0039] In step M3, the control device 5 determines whether the pressure transition detected after the control of the separation valve 30 (step M1) includes a pressure drop. In this way, the control device 5 evaluates the pressure signal detected after the control of the separation valve 30 and checks whether the pressure signal indicates a pressure drop, at least for a limited time. For example, the control device 5 can determine the pressure gradient of the detected pressure transition, and if the pressure gradient is lower than zero within a predetermined time after the control, a pressure drop is determined or detected.

[0040] In step M3, if it is determined that the pressure transition detected after control M1 of the separation valve 30 includes a pressure drop, as indicated by the symbol "+" in Figure 3, the method can proceed to step M5. The presence of a pressure drop indicates that each separation valve 30 was opened in response to the control (step M1). As a result of the pressure in the piping system 2 being lower than the pressure in the tank container 1, a pressure drop usually occurs in a limited time after the separation valve 30 is opened. In this way, the pressure transition includes a kind of undershoot.

[0041] In step M5, the control device 5 can output, for example, a release signal. This may include, for example, generating a release message and writing the release message to the data storage device 51.

[0042] In step M3, if it is determined that the pressure transition detected after the control of the isolation valve 30 (step M1) does not include a pressure drop, as indicated by the symbol "-" in Figure 3, then method M proceeds directly to step M4, where the control device 5 outputs an error signal. The output of the error signal may include, for example, the generation of an error message and the writing of the error message to the data storage device 51. Alternatively or in addition, the control device 5 may output a warning signal to the user interface 6. For example, the user interface 6, which is only illustrated as a block in Figure 1, may have a display device or warning lamp that is instructed by the control device 5 to output an optical signal, or the user interface 6 may output an audible or tactile warning signal. The output of the error signal may be done for each isolation valve 30 in which it has been determined that the detected pressure transition after the control of each isolation valve 30 (step M1) does not include a pressure drop, for example, along with the index of each isolation valve.

[0043] Optionally, if step M3 determines that the pressure transition detected after the control of the separation valve 30 (step M1) does not include a pressure drop, method M can proceed to step M31. In step M31, the control device 5 can increase by 1 a value representing how many times the separation valve 30 has been controlled to switch from the closed position to the open position since the most recent closing of the separation valve 30. When the separation valve 30 is switched to the closed position, this value is set to zero.

[0044] In step M32, the control device 5 checks whether this value is smaller than a predetermined limit value. The limit value may be an integer between 2 and 10, for example. If, in step M32, it is confirmed that the value is smaller than the limit value, as indicated by the symbol "+" in Figure 3, the method can proceed again to step M1. In this case, the separator valve 30 is controlled again by the control device 5, and this new control of the separator valve 30 is performed by a second opening force that is higher than the first opening force. For example, generating the second opening force may include energizing the separator valve 30 with a second control current that is greater than the first control current. Subsequently, steps M2 and M3 are performed again as described above. In step M3, if it is confirmed that the pressure transition detected after the new control of the separator valve 30 by the second opening force includes a pressure drop (indicated by the symbol "+" in Figure 3), the method proceeds to step M5. Otherwise, that is, if it is confirmed that the pressure transition detected after the separation valve is controlled again by the second opening force does not include a pressure drop, proceed to steps M31 and M32. If it is confirmed in step M32 that the value is smaller than the limit value (symbol "+"), the process can proceed to steps M1 to M3, and optionally, the opening force can be further increased with each iteration. If it is confirmed in step M32 that the value has reached the limit value (symbol "-"), the process proceeds to step M4.

[0045] In other words, as an optional step, the output of the error signal in step M4 is performed only if it is determined at least once that the pressure transition detected after the separation valve is controlled again by the second opening force does not include a pressure drop.

[0046] Alternatively, if step M3 confirms that the pressure transition detected after the separation valve 30 is not affected by a pressure drop, step M4 can be executed each time, and steps M31 and M32 are also executed in addition. For example, if step M32 confirms that the value is smaller than the limit value, a first error signal can be output in step M4 each time. If step M32 confirms that the value has reached the limit value (symbol "-"), a second error signal can be output in step M4. The output of the first error signal may include, for example, the generation of an error message and writing to the data storage device 51, while the output of the second error signal may, as an alternative or addition, include the output of a warning signal in the user interface.

[0047] Although the present invention has been described above with examples of embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be modified in various ways. In particular, combinations of the above embodiments are also conceivable. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1 Tank container 2 Piping System 3 Valve device 6. User Interface 30 Separation valve 31 Extraction route 31A Tank side area 31B Piping side area 51 Data Storage Devices 100 Tank System 200 Consumer Device System M method M1 control M2 detection M3 judgment M4 output M5 Output

Claims

1. A method (M) for inspecting a switchable separation valve (30) of a valve device (3) connecting a tank container (1) to a piping system (2), wherein the tank container (1) stores gas at a first pressure, and the piping system (2) generates a second pressure lower than the first pressure, and the method (M) is performed as follows: The valve device (3) connecting the piping system (2) and the tank container (1) is controlled (M1) to switch the outlet path (31) of the separation valve (30) from a closed position where the separation valve (30) closes to an open position where the separation valve (30) opens the outlet path (31), The pressure changes in the tank-side section (31A) of the extraction path (31) extending between the tank container (1) and the separation valve (30) are detected (M2), It is determined (M3) whether or not a pressure drop is included in the pressure transition detected after the control (M1) of the separation valve (30), A method comprising: outputting an error signal (M4) when it is determined that the pressure transition detected after the control (M1) of the separation valve (30) does not include a pressure drop.

2. The method according to claim 1 (M), wherein the control (M1) of the separation valve (30) includes generating a first opening force to open the separation valve (30), and if it is determined that the pressure transition detected after the control (M1) of the separation valve (30) does not include a pressure drop, the separation valve (30) is controlled again (M1) with a second opening force higher than the first opening force, the steps of detecting (M2) and determining (M3) the pressure transition are performed again, and the output of an error signal (M4) is performed only if it is determined again that the pressure transition detected after the renewed control of the separation valve with the second opening force does not include a pressure drop.

3. The method according to claim 2 (M), wherein the separation valve (30) is configured as an electrically controllable, normally closed solenoid valve, the generation of the first opening force includes supplying a first control current to the separation valve (30), and the generation of the second opening force includes supplying a second control current higher than the first control current to the separation valve (30).

4. The method according to claim 1 (M), further comprising the output of a release signal (M5) when it is determined that a pressure drop is included in the pressure transition detected after the control (M1) of the separation valve (30).

5. The method according to claim 2 (M), further comprising the output of a release signal (M5) when it is determined that a pressure drop is included in the pressure transition detected after the control (M1) of the separation valve (30).

6. The method according to claim 3 (M), further comprising the output of a release signal (M5) when it is determined that a pressure drop is included in the pressure transition detected after the control (M1) of the separation valve (30).

7. The method according to claim 1 (M), wherein a plurality of tank containers (1) are connected to the piping system (2) via a plurality of valve devices (3) each having a switchable separation valve (30), each separation valve (30) is controlled to switch from a closed position to an open position, the pressure transition in the tank-side area (31A) of the outlet path (31) of each separation valve (30) is detected after the control of each separation valve (30), a determination (M3) is made for each separation valve (30) as to whether or not a pressure drop is included in the pressure transition detected after the control (M1) of the separation valve (30), and an error signal (M4) is output for each separation valve (30) in which it is determined that a pressure drop is not included in the respective pressure transition detected after the control (M1) of each separation valve (30).

8. The method according to claim 7 (M), wherein the separation valve (30) is controlled sequentially or simultaneously.

9. The method according to claim 1 (M), wherein the output of an error signal (M4) includes generating an error message and writing the error message to a data storage device (51), and / or outputting a warning signal to a user interface (6).

10. In the tank system (100), A tank container (1) for storing gas, A piping system (2) for supplying to the consumption device system (200), A valve device (3) having an outlet path (31) connecting the tank container (1) and the piping system (2), and a switchable separation valve (30) located in the outlet path (31) that is switchable between a closed position that closes the outlet path (31) and an open position that opens the outlet path (31), A pressure sensor (4) is connected to the tank-side section (31A) of the extraction path (31) that extends between the tank container (1) and the separation valve (30), and is set up to detect pressure in the tank-side section (31A) of the extraction path (31), A tank system comprising a valve device (3) and a control device (5) which is signal-connected to the pressure sensor (4) and set up to instruct the tank system (100) to perform each step (M) of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The tank system according to claim 10, wherein the tank container (1) stores hydrogen as the gas.

12. The tank system (100) according to claim 10, wherein the separation valve (30) is configured as an electrically controllable, normally closed solenoid valve.

13. The tank system (100) according to claim 10, wherein the tank system (100) has a plurality of tank containers (1) connected to the piping system (2) via a plurality of valve devices (3) each having a switchable separation valve (30).

14. The tank system (100) according to claim 12, wherein the tank system (100) has a plurality of tank containers (1) connected to the piping system (2) via a plurality of valve devices (3) each having a switchable separation valve (30).

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