Tank enclosure

Abstract

The invention relates to a tank enclosure (100) having an interior (10) designed for accommodating at least one gas tank (11), the tank enclosure (100) having a number of lateral parts (14) which each partially delimit the interior (10) of the tank enclosure (100). According to the invention, the lateral parts (14) are made of a composite material.

Description

[0001] tank frame

[0002] Technological background

[0003] The present invention relates to a tank frame with an interior space which is designed to store at least one gas tank, wherein the tank frame has a plurality of side parts which each delimit the interior space of the tank frame in certain areas.

[0004] Tank racks of the type described above are known in the art and usually consist of hollow profiles connected to form a frame. The frame is clad with metal or steel sheets, which increases the stability of the tank rack and protects the interior, including the gas tanks stored therein, at least from direct ignition in the event of a fire.

[0005] However, tank racks of the known design have proven to be disadvantageous, particularly with regard to poor passive and / or active cooling performance, high weight, lack of damping, low crash safety and poor protection against high temperatures in the event of a fire.

[0006] Description of the invention: task, solution, advantages

[0007] Based on this, the object of the invention is to create a tank rack for gas tanks that eliminates the disadvantages of prior art tank racks. In particular, the aim is to create a tank rack that offers good passive and / or active cooling performance, is lightweight, has good damping properties, increases crash safety, and provides good protection against high temperatures in the event of a fire.

[0008] This object is achieved by the tank frame according to claim 1. According to the invention, the side parts are made of a composite material. A composite material is a material made of two or more bonded materials that has different material properties than its individual components. This results in significantly improved active and / or passive cooling performance, and the weight of the tank frame can be significantly reduced because composite materials offer greater stability with a comparatively lower specific weight. Furthermore, good damping is achieved, which relieves the pressure on the pressure-bearing connections, and the gas tanks are mounted in a largely crash-proof manner thanks to the high energy absorption capacity of the composite material.Finally, the use of composite material for the side panels has a positive effect on protecting the gas tanks from high temperatures in the event of a fire, because such composite materials have a better thermal insulation effect than pure metal or steel sheets.

[0009] Preferred embodiments are given below and in the subclaims.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one gas tank is designed as a hydrogen tank.

[0011] The tank rack, in combination with the gas tank, is preferably designed to supply fuel to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, a commercial vehicle, a truck, a bus, a train, a boat, or a tram. Alternatively, the tank rack, in combination with the gas tank, is designed to supply fuel to a mobile or stationary power generation system (generator).

[0012] The geometry of the gas tank is arbitrary, but according to an advantageous development of the invention, the gas tank is designed as a cylindrical gas bottle.

[0013] The tank rack preferably has a frame made up of several profiles, in particular several solid or hollow profiles, to which the side parts are attached. Such profiles are preferably made of a composite material, with the frame and the side parts preferably being made of the same composite material. Due to the stability of the composite material, the side parts can also be self-supporting in an alternative embodiment of the invention, so that the tank rack is designed without a frame. In this context, frame-free means that the tank rack has no profiles, in particular no solid or hollow profiles, to which the side parts are attached. Rather, in a frame-free design of the tank rack, the side parts are directly connected to one another.

[0014] The composite material is preferably a sandwich composite material with two cover plates and a rigid foam core arranged between them. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the cover plates are made of metal, in particular aluminum, and / or the rigid foam core is made of metal foam, in particular aluminum foam. Alternatively, fiber composite materials can also be used.

[0015] To improve the passive and / or active cooling performance of the side panels, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides for at least one of the side panels to have cooling fins on its inner and / or outer surface. Such cooling fins increase the surface area of ​​the side panels, allowing temperature differences to be effectively compensated. Furthermore, the stability of the side panels is increased by the cooling fins.

[0016] The side panels of the tank frame, in particular the side panels of a frameless tank frame, are preferably connected to each other detachably or permanently. In particular, the side panels of the tank frame are welded, glued, or screwed together.

[0017] The interior of the tank frame is preferably completely or at least partially enclosed by side panels.

[0018] To improve the active and / or passive cooling performance, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that at least one of the side panels has at least one tube designed to conduct a coolant. The tube is preferably embedded in the rigid foam core of the side panel. To achieve the largest possible cooling surface, the tube is preferably arranged in a meandering manner within the rigid foam core of the side panel. The tube has a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet that can be connected to a coolant pump of a coolant circuit. Water, in particular, can be used as the coolant.

[0019] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the side parts of the tank frame are designed as fire protection cladding.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one gas tank of the tank rack is replaceable or non-replaceable. In the case of a non-replaceable gas tank, the gas tank has connection options for an external filling device with which the gas tank can be filled, provided that it has been completely or at least partially emptied after its intended use. Alternatively, it is provided that the gas tank is removed from the tank rack after it has been completely or at least partially emptied and replaced with a new and filled gas tank. For this purpose, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tank rack has at least one side part for opening the interior, which side part is designed as a lid with which an opening for changing the at least one gas tank can be closed. The lid is detachably connected to the other side parts of the tank rack, in particular screwed.Alternatively, the lid can also be connected to one of the side parts with a hinge and can be closed on at least one other side part by means of a tension lock.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tank frame accommodates a fuel cell that is at least indirectly connected to the hydrogen tank. During intended use of the fuel cell and thus during energy generation, heat is generated, which can be dissipated in particular by a tank frame in which at least one of the side parts has, as already described, a pipe designed to guide a coolant. The arrangement of cooling fins on the inner and / or outer surfaces of the side parts also promotes the dissipation of heat generated from energy generation by the fuel cell. Finally, it is provided that the gas cylinders are stored in an upright or horizontal position with respect to their intended installation position.If the tank rack is designed in combination with the gas tank to supply fuel to a vehicle, the longitudinal axis of a gas cylinder extends parallel to the z-axis of a vehicle coordinate system when stored upright and parallel to the xy-plane of the vehicle coordinate system when stored horizontally. If the tank rack is designed in combination with the gas tank to supply fuel to a mobile or stationary power generation system, the longitudinal axis of a gas cylinder extends perpendicular to the earth's surface when stored upright and parallel to the earth's surface when stored horizontally.

[0022] Short description of the characters

[0023] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. They show:

[0024] Fig. 1 a tank rack in combination with several gas tanks in perspective view,

[0025] Fig. 2a-b different cross-sectional views of a tank frame in combination with several gas tanks,

[0026] Fig. 2c a cross-sectional view of a side part,

[0027] Fig. 3a, b different cross-sectional views of a side part,

[0028] Fig. 4a a first exploded view of a tank frame,

[0029] Fig. 4b is a cross-sectional view of a profile, and

[0030] Fig. 5 a second exploded view of a tank frame.

[0031] Detailed description of the characters

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a tank rack 100 with an interior 10 in which several gas tanks 11 are stored. In the illustrated embodiment, the gas tanks 11 are designed as hydrogen tanks 12 in the form of cylindrical gas cylinders 13. The tank rack 100 is cuboid-shaped and has six side parts 14 that delimit the interior 10 of the tank rack 100. Fixings (not shown) are provided within the tank rack 100 for secure storage of the gas tanks 11.

[0033] Fig. 2a shows a sectional side view of the tank rack 100 in combination with several gas tanks 11. Fig. 2b shows the tank rack 100 in combination with the gas tanks 11 along the cross-sectional plane AA. Fig. 2c shows a cross-sectional view of a side part 14 along the cross-sectional plane BB, which is made of a composite material. The composite material is designed as a sandwich composite material and has two cover plates 151, 152 and a rigid foam core 16 arranged between them. The cover plates 151, 152 are made of aluminum in the illustrated embodiment, and the rigid foam core 16 is made of aluminum foam in the illustrated embodiment.

[0034] Fig. 3a shows a cross-sectional view of a side part 14, with the cross-sectional plane extending through the rigid foam core 16 of the side part 14. A meandering tube 17 extends within the rigid foam core 16, which is designed to guide a coolant. For this purpose, the tube has a coolant inlet 18 and a coolant outlet 19. Both the coolant inlet 18 and the coolant outlet 19 are connectable to a coolant pump (not shown) of a coolant circuit (also not shown in full).

[0035] Fig. 3b shows the cross-sectional view along the cross-sectional plane CC. In this embodiment, cooling fins 20 are formed on one side of the side part 14, which promote heat dissipation from the composite material.

[0036] Fig. 4a shows a first exploded view of a tank rack 100, which has a frame 21 made of several profiles 22, which are also made of a composite material and welded together. The profiles 22 are designed as solid profiles 221 (Fig. 4b) or as hollow profiles 222 (Fig. 4c) and each have a rigid foam core 23, which is encased in a metal casing 24 (Fig. 4b). In the illustrated embodiment, the rigid foam core 23 is made of aluminum foam and the casing 24 is made of aluminum. The side parts 14 are connected to the frame 21 of the tank rack 100 in the assembled state. Independently of this, at least one of the side parts 14 can be designed as a lid, which, when opened, allows access into the interior 10 and thus replacement of the gas tanks (not shown in Fig. 4a).

[0037] Fig. 5 shows a second exploded view of a tank rack 100, which is frameless and in which the side parts 14 are self-supporting and connected to one another. Independently of this, at least one of the side parts 14 can be designed as a lid, which is detachably connected to the remaining side parts 14 and which, when opened, allows replacement of the gas tanks (not shown in Fig. 5).

[0038] List of reference symbols

[0039] 100 tank racks

[0040] 10 Interior

[0041] 11 Gas tank

[0042] 12 hydrogen tank

[0043] 13 gas bottles

[0044] 14 side panel

[0045] 151 Cover plate

[0046] 152 cover plate

[0047] 16 rigid foam core

[0048] 17 pipe

[0049] 18 Coolant inlet

[0050] 19 Coolant drain

[0051] 20 cooling fins

[0052] 21 frames

[0053] 22 Profile

[0054] 221 full profile

[0055] 222 hollow profile

[0056] 23 rigid foam core

[0057] 24 coats

Claims

Claims 1. Tank frame (100) with an interior space (10) which is designed to store at least one gas tank (11), wherein the tank frame (100) has a plurality of side parts (14) which each delimit the interior space (10) of the tank frame (100) in certain regions, characterized in that the side parts (14) are made of a composite material.

2. Tank frame (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one gas tank (11) is designed as a hydrogen tank (12).

3. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the tank frame (100) in combination with the gas tank (11) is designed to supply fuel to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, a commercial vehicle, a truck, a bus, a train, a boat or a tram.

4. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the tank frame (100) in combination with the gas tank (11) is designed to supply fuel to a mobile or stationary power generation plant.

5. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gas tank (11) is designed as a cylindrical gas bottle (13).

6. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a frame (21) made of several profiles (22), in particular of several solid profiles (221) or hollow profiles (222), to which the side parts (14) are fastened.

7. Tank frame (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the profiles (22) of the frame (21) are made of a composite material, wherein the frame (21) and the side parts (14) are preferably made of the same composite material.

8. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the side parts (14) are self-supporting and the tank frame (100) is frame-free.

9. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the composite material is a sandwich composite material with two cover plates (151, 152) and a rigid foam core (16) arranged therebetween.

10. Tank frame (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the cover plates (151, 152) consist of metal, in particular of aluminum, and / or the rigid foam core (16) consists of metal foam, in particular of aluminum foam.

11. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one of the side parts (14) has cooling fins (20) on its inner surface and / or its outer surface.

12. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the side parts (14) are detachably or non-detachably connected to one another.

13. Tank frame (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that the side parts (14) are welded, glued or screwed together.

14. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the interior (10) of the tank frame (100) is completely or partially enclosed by side parts (14).

15. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that at least one of the side parts (14) has at least one pipe (17) which is designed to guide a coolant.

16. Tank frame (100) according to claim 15, characterized in that the pipe is embedded in the rigid foam core (16) of the side part (14).

17. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the tube (17) is arranged in a meandering manner within the rigid foam core (16) of the side part (14).

18. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the pipe (17) has a coolant inlet (18) and a coolant outlet (19) which can be connected to a coolant pump of a coolant circuit.

19. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the side parts (14) are designed as fire protection cladding.

20. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the at least one gas tank (11) is replaceable or non-replaceable.

21. Tank frame (100) according to claim 20, characterized in that the tank frame (100) for opening the interior (10) has at least one side part (14) which is designed as a lid with which an opening for changing the at least one gas tank (11) can be closed.

22. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 2 to 21, characterized in that the tank frame (100) accommodates a fuel cell which can be connected at least indirectly to the hydrogen tank (12).

23. Tank frame (100) according to one of claims 5 to 22, characterized in that the gas cylinders (13) are stored upright or horizontally with respect to their intended installation position.

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