Safety device for controlling a vehicle which can be operated using synthetic fuel

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety device (100) and a safety method (400) for controlling a vehicle (300) which can be operated using synthetic fuel. The safety device (100) comprises: a sensor assembly (110) which is arranged and designed so as to detect if a fuel filled into a tank (200) of the vehicle (300) is a synthetic fuel or a conventional fuel on the basis of one or more compounds of the fuel; and a controller (120) which is designed to output a stop command in order to prevent a starting and / or stopping process of an engine of the vehicle (300) on the basis of a detected conventional fuel, wherein the engine is to be operated using synthetic fuel.

Description

[0001] Safety device for controlling a synthetic fuel-powered

[0002] vehicle

[0003] The invention relates to a safety device for controlling a vehicle that can be operated with synthetic fuel, a tank and a vehicle with such a safety device.

[0004] There are different types of vehicle engines, some of which require different fuels. It's often the case that an engine can only be operated with a specific fuel, such as diesel or gasoline.

[0005] The latest developments in the field of fuels include synthetic fuels, which could replace existing fuels, especially fossil ones. These could thus reduce fossil fuel consumption. Furthermore, they could be more environmentally friendly, making the operation of vehicles with synthetic fuels desirable.

[0006] It can be assumed that, at least temporarily, there are or will be engines that can be operated with both synthetic and conventional fuels. Recent legislative developments indicate that the future intention is for engines to be operated exclusively with synthetic fuels, provided they can use both conventional and synthetic fuels. Therefore, a technical solution is needed to control and / or implement such future or existing regulations.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety device, a tank for a vehicle, a vehicle, a safety method, and a computer program product which improve one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a safety device and a safety method with which possible damage to the engine when operating with an incorrect fuel and / or an intentional or unintentional violation of such regulations can be prevented at an early stage. According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by a safety device for controlling a vehicle that can be and / or is to be operated with synthetic fuel. The vehicle can comprise an engine that can be operated using one or more synthetic and conventional fuels.The device comprises a sensor arrangement arranged and configured to determine a fuel filled into a tank of the vehicle as a synthetic or conventional fuel based on one or more, in particular volatile (gaseous) and / or liquid, compounds of the fuel. The device further comprises a controller configured to output a stop command to prevent the vehicle's engine from starting and / or stopping based on the determined conventional fuel, wherein the engine is to be operated using synthetic fuel.

[0008] The sensor arrangement can be or comprise a gas sensor arrangement and / or a liquid sensor arrangement. The gas sensor arrangement can comprise one or more gas sensors designed to determine volatile compounds of the fuel. Accordingly, the gas sensors can determine gases. The liquid sensor arrangement can comprise one or more liquid sensors designed to determine liquid compounds of the fuel. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor arrangement can comprise one or more combined sensors designed to determine liquid and volatile compounds of the fuel. Liquid sensors can advantageously be arranged in the tank, the intake manifold, and / or the exhaust manifold such that they are in contact with the liquid fuel.Consequently, the liquid sensors can be arranged below a predetermined maximum fill level and / or on a bottom surface of the tank, intake manifold, and / or exhaust manifold. Gas sensors can advantageously be arranged in the tank, intake manifold, and / or exhaust manifold such that they are located above a liquid phase or level of the fuel or a fluid flow of the fuel to determine the volatile compounds. By means of the proposed safety device, the presence of a conventional fuel in the tank, during supply of the fuel to the engine via the intake manifold, and / or after combustion by the vehicle's engine in the exhaust manifold can be detected, and the engine can be switched off or not started.As a result, incorrect refueling with conventional fuel instead of synthetic fuel can be detected and prevented in a timely manner, especially before the conventional fuel is consumed. This makes it possible, for example, to comply with legal regulations and protect the user or driver from violating them. Newer gas sensors that have only recently become available, particularly the laser spectroscopy gas sensors mentioned below, allow for the cost-effective manufacture and use of such gas sensors. Previous gas sensors were and are significantly more expensive to manufacture and use.

[0009] The stop command can specify a predetermined time period during which starting the engine is not possible and / or prevented. In particular, the engine can be disabled by means of the stop command. After the predetermined time period has elapsed, the driver can attempt to start the engine again. The safety device can then again determine the fuel composition and prevent the engine from starting if the composition indicates a conventional fuel. Alternatively, if no conventional fuel composition is determined, the engine can be started.

[0010] A conventional fuel can be a mineral oil product. A conventional fuel can be gasoline or petrol. A synthetic fuel can be an e-fuel. Synthetic fuels can differ from conventional fuels (diesel, gasoline, kerosene, etc.) in their manufacturing process and, as a result, in their altered chemical structure. A characteristic of synthetic fuels can be the replacement of petroleum as a raw material source.

[0011] The volatile compounds can be removed by at least partial evaporation of the

[0012] Fuel in the tank, the intake manifold, and / or the exhaust manifold of the vehicle, or the tank. Alternatively or additionally, the volatile compounds may be formed during the combustion of the fuel in the engine. The liquid compounds may be contained in the fuel in a liquid state.

[0013] The stop command can be issued to a vehicle control unit and / or directly to the engine and / or an engine control unit.

[0014] The sensor arrangement can be configured to determine whether the fuel is a synthetic or conventional fuel based on one or more volatile and / or liquid compounds of the fuel. The compounds can, in particular, characterize one or more conventional fuels.

[0015] The sensor arrangement may comprise a first sensor that can be arranged and / or is arranged within the tank.

[0016] The first sensor can be arranged and / or located above a maximum fill level of the tank. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for determining volatile compounds in the fuel, since the first sensor is arranged above the liquid fuel. The first sensor can, in particular, be a gas sensor. Alternatively, the first sensor can be a liquid sensor or a combined sensor. The liquid sensor or the combined sensor can be arranged below the maximum fill level.

[0017] The sensor arrangement may comprise a second sensor that is and / or can be arranged within the intake manifold of the engine. The second sensor may be designed as a gas or liquid sensor or a combined sensor. The intake manifold may be designed to conduct fuel from the tank to the engine and / or to suck it in from the tank. In the form of a gas sensor, the second sensor may be and / or can be arranged above a fluid flow, in particular a fuel flow, within the intake manifold. In the form of a liquid sensor and / or combined sensor, the second sensor may be and / or can be arranged in the intake manifold in such a way that it can be brought into contact with the fluid flow. Accordingly, the second sensor may be arranged on a bottom surface of the intake manifold.

[0018] The sensor arrangement may comprise a third sensor that is and / or can be arranged within an exhaust manifold of the engine. The exhaust manifold may, in particular, divert the resulting fuel components to the outside after the fuel has been burned by the engine. The third sensor may be in the form of a gas sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the third sensor may be a liquid sensor and / or a combined sensor.

[0019] When arranged within the intake and / or exhaust manifold, the second and / or third sensors can be configured as gas sensors and preferably located on an upper surface of the intake and / or exhaust manifold, so that vaporizing ascending compounds can be detected. An arrangement on a floor surface opposite the upper surface is not preferable, since the liquid phase of the fuel is present there. Accordingly, the second and / or third sensors can be configured as liquid sensors and / or combined sensors, since these can detect liquid compounds and thus be in contact with the liquid phase of the fuel.

[0020] The sensor arrangement may comprise a plurality of such first, second, and / or third sensors. The above and following descriptions of the individual first, second, and third sensors may apply to the additional first, second, and third sensors.

[0021] The compounds can be characteristic of one or more synthetic or one or more conventional fuels. For example, e-gasoline or synthetic gasoline does not emit benzene or sulfur compounds as volatile compounds, so the detection of benzene can be used to infer the presence of a conventional fuel.

[0022] The first, second, and / or third sensors can be configured to detect at least partially identical and / or different, particularly volatile and / or liquid, compounds. Accordingly, multiple sensors can be selected to detect a single compound in order to achieve greater accuracy in detecting this single compound. Alternatively, individual specialized sensors can be used, each of which detects a specific compound. Alternatively, one or more of the sensors can detect two or more compounds.

[0023] The sensor arrangement, in particular the gas sensor arrangement, can be a laser spectroscopy gas sensor arrangement. In particular, the first, second, and / or third sensors can each be a laser spectroscopy gas sensor.

[0024] Alternatively or additionally, the sensor arrangement can be a semiconductor sensor arrangement. In particular, the first, second, and / or third sensor can be a semiconductor sensor. The semiconductor sensors can be semiconductor gas sensors designed to determine volatile compounds of the fuel. Furthermore, the controller and / or the sensor arrangement or the gas sensor arrangement can use a machine learning algorithm that has been previously trained to determine odor fingerprints of the compounds. The semiconductor gas sensor arrangement, in particular the first, second, and / or third gas sensor, can comprise metal oxide and / or carbon nanotubes to determine the particularly volatile and / or liquid compounds.

[0025] The controller can further be configured to output an advisory signal to the vehicle and / or a driver of the vehicle based on the output of the stop command, wherein the advisory signal indicates that a conventional fuel has been determined. The advisory signal can be output visually, acoustically, and / or haptically. For outputting the advisory signal, the safety device and / or the vehicle can comprise an output unit configured to output the advisory signal visually, acoustically, and / or haptically. Alternatively or additionally, the advisory signal can be output via an on-board computer, a music system, and / or a display device of the vehicle. The safety device can be configured to communicate with one or more external units, for example the vehicle's control system. Communication can be wireless and / or wired.The safety device may comprise a communication unit designed to send and / or receive information, signals and / or commands.

[0026] The individual components of the safety device can be designed to communicate with each other via wired and / or wireless means.

[0027] The object is achieved according to a second aspect by a tank for a vehicle, comprising a safety device according to the first aspect.

[0028] According to a third aspect, the object is achieved by a vehicle with an engine that is to be operated with a synthetic fuel, comprising a safety device according to the first aspect and / or a tank according to the second aspect. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle can comprise a controller configured to execute the safety method and / or computer program product described below.

[0029] According to a fourth aspect, the object is achieved by a safety method for controlling a vehicle that can be and / or is to be operated with synthetic fuel. The method can be a computer-implemented method. The method comprises the steps:

[0030] - determining a fuel filled in a tank of the vehicle as a synthetic or conventional fuel based on one or more compounds of the fuel;

[0031] - issuing a stop command to prevent starting and / or stopping of an engine of the vehicle based on the determined conventional fuel, wherein the engine is to be operated using synthetic fuel.

[0032] Device features described with respect to the safety device according to the first aspect can be carried out as method steps of the safety method according to the fourth aspect and are therefore not repeated here.

[0033] According to a fifth aspect, the object is achieved by a computer program product comprising instructions that cause the safety device according to the first aspect to execute the method steps of the safety method according to the fourth aspect. Alternatively or additionally, the program may comprise instructions that cause a control system of the vehicle according to the third aspect with a safety device according to the first aspect and / or a tank according to the second aspect to execute the method steps of the safety method according to the fourth aspect.

[0034] Preferred embodiments are explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0035] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a safety device for a vehicle;

[0036] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a tank of the vehicle with a safety device;

[0037] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a vehicle with such a tank and such a safety device; and

[0038] Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a safety method for a vehicle.

[0039] In the figures, identical or essentially functionally identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0040] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a safety device 100 for a vehicle 300. The safety device 100 is designed to control the vehicle 300 operable with synthetic fuel. The safety device 100 comprises a sensor arrangement, here a gas sensor arrangement 110, which is arranged and designed to determine a fuel filled into a tank 200 of the vehicle 300 as a synthetic or conventional fuel based on one or more volatile compounds of the fuel. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor arrangement 110 can be designed to detect liquid compounds of the fuel. For this purpose, the sensor arrangement 110 can comprise a liquid sensor arrangement with one or more liquid sensors and / or one or more combined sensors. The liquid sensors are designed to detect liquid compounds of the fuel.The combined sensors are designed to detect liquid and volatile compounds in the fuel.

[0041] The safety device 100 further comprises a controller 120 configured to issue a stop command to prevent the starting and / or stopping of an engine of the vehicle 300 based on the determined conventional fuel, wherein the engine is to be operated using synthetic fuel. The engine is configured such that it can be operated with both synthetic fuel and conventional fuel. The proposed safety device 100 makes it possible to prevent the use, in particular the combustion, of conventional fuel.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a tank 200 of the vehicle 300 with a safety device 100. The gas sensor arrangement 100 comprises a first gas sensor 111, which is arranged within the tank 200. The first gas sensor 111 is arranged on a surface opposite a bottom surface of the tank 200. It should be noted that the first gas sensor 111 is advantageously arranged above a maximum fill level MF of the tank 200. The maximum fill level MF marks a maximum filling of the tank 200 with fuel. The fuel can be supplied to the tank 200 via a fuel line 210, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.

[0043] The tank 200 has a cuboid shape in Fig. 2, but can have other shapes and is not limited thereto. The fuel line 210 and an intake manifold 220 with valve 221 are also shown as examples. The valve 221 is optional, so the tank 200 can also be designed without the valve 221. The intake manifold 220 connects the tank 200 to the engine of the vehicle 300. Accordingly, fuel can be drawn into the engine from the tank 200 along the arrow shown.

[0044] The first gas sensor 111 is designed to determine volatile compounds of the fuel filled into the tank 200. For example, the first gas sensor 111 can be designed to detect benzene and sulfur compounds. Such benzene and sulfur compounds can result from conventional gasoline, whereas in e-gasoline such compounds do not evaporate and / or are not present. Accordingly, it may be sufficient for the first gas sensor 111 to be designed to detect volatile compounds of conventional fuels. Alternatively or additionally, the first gas sensor 111 can be designed to detect liquid compounds of the fuel, in particular of the conventional fuel. Accordingly, when determining benzene and / or sulfur compounds, the first gas sensor 111 can conclude that the fuel in the tank 200 is a conventional fuel.

[0045] The controller 120 of the safety device 100 is configured to then issue the stop command to the vehicle 300, so that the engine can be stopped while running or the stopped engine cannot be started. Accordingly, the use of conventional fuel can be prevented.

[0046] In addition or alternatively to the arrangement of the gas sensor arrangement 110 in Fig. 2, the gas sensor arrangement 110 may comprise a second and / or third gas sensor. Furthermore, the gas sensor arrangement 110 may comprise one or more first, second, and / or third such gas sensors.

[0047] The second gas sensor may be arranged within intake manifold 220, in particular such that it is arranged above a fluid flow, in particular a fuel fluid flow from the tank 200 through the intake manifold 220.

[0048] The third gas sensor may be located within the exhaust manifold of the vehicle 300. The first through third gas sensors may advantageously be laser spectroscopy gas sensors capable of optically determining volatile fuel compounds.

[0049] Particularly when the first to third sensors are designed as gas sensors, it is advantageous to arrange them above an expected liquid level of the fuel within the tank or respective manifold, since the evaporating volatile compounds rise.

[0050] Alternatively or in addition to the illustration shown in Fig. 2, the first, second, and / or third sensors may be or include liquid sensors and / or combined sensors. The liquid sensors and combined sensors may be arranged such that they are and / or come into contact with the liquid fuel, for example, during intake through the intake manifold. Accordingly, these sensors may be arranged below the maximum fill level MF and / or on a bottom surface of the tank 200. They may also be arranged within a fluid flow or the fuel flow in the intake manifold.

[0051] Fig. 3 shows a vehicle 300 with such a safety device 100 and such a tank 200.

[0052] Fig. 4 shows a safety method 400 for controlling a synthetic fuel vehicle 300, comprising the steps:

[0053] - determining 410 a fuel filled into a tank 200 of the vehicle 300 as a synthetic or conventional fuel based on one or more compounds of the fuel;

[0054] - Issuing 420 a stop command to prevent starting and / or stopping an engine of the vehicle 300 based on the determined conventional fuel, wherein the engine is to be operated using synthetic fuel. The safety device 100 and / or the vehicle 300 may each comprise one or more processors and / or one or more memories. The method 400 may be stored in the memory as a computer program product, wherein the computer program product comprises instructions that cause the safety device 100 to execute the method steps 410, 420.

[0055] Reference symbol

[0056] 100 safety device

[0057] 110 Gas sensor arrangement

[0058] 111 first gas sensor

[0059] 120 Control

[0060] 200 tanks

[0061] 210 Fuel line

[0062] 220 intake manifold

[0063] 221 Valve

[0064] MF Maximum fill level

[0065] 300 vehicles

[0066] 400 security procedures

[0067] 410 Determining a fuel filled into a vehicle tank as synthetic or conventional fuel

[0068] 420 Issuing a stop command to prevent a motor from starting and / or stopping

Claims

Patent claims 1 . A safety device (100) for controlling a vehicle (300) operable with synthetic fuel, comprising: a sensor arrangement (110) arranged and configured to determine a fuel filled in a tank (200) of the vehicle (300) as synthetic or conventional fuel based on one or more compounds of the fuel; a controller (120) configured to output a stop command to prevent starting and / or stopping of an engine of the vehicle (300) based on the determined conventional fuel, wherein the engine is to be operated using synthetic fuel.

2. Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement (110) is designed to determine the fuel as a synthetic or conventional fuel based on one or more volatile and / or liquid compounds of the fuel.

3. Device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor arrangement (110) comprises a first sensor which can be arranged within the tank (200).

4. Device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the first sensor can be arranged above a maximum fill level (MF) of the tank (200), wherein the first sensor is in particular a gas sensor.

5. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (110) comprises a second sensor which can be arranged within an intake manifold of the engine.

6. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (110) comprises a third sensor which can be arranged within an exhaust manifold of the engine.

7. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compounds are characteristic of the one or more synthetic or the one or more conventional fuels.

8. Device (100) according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the first, second and / or third sensors are designed to determine at least partially identical and / or different connections.

9. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (110) comprises or is a laser spectroscopy gas sensor arrangement, wherein in particular the first, second and / or third sensor are a laser spectroscopy gas sensor.

10. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (110) comprises or is a semiconductor gas sensor arrangement, wherein in particular the first, second and / or third sensor are a semiconductor gas sensor.

11. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller (120) is further configured to output an indication signal to the vehicle (300) and / or a driver of the vehicle (300) based on the output of the stop command, the indication signal indicating that a conventional fuel has been determined.

12. Tank (200) for a vehicle (300), comprising a safety device (100) according to one of the preceding claims.

13. A vehicle (300) having an engine to be operated with a synthetic fuel, comprising a safety device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and / or a tank (200) according to claim 12.

14. A safety method (400) for controlling a synthetic fuel vehicle (300), comprising the steps of: Determining (410) a fuel filled in a tank (200) of the vehicle (300) as a synthetic or conventional fuel based on one or more compounds of the fuel; Issuing (420) a stop command for preventing starting and / or stopping of an engine of the vehicle (300) based on the determined conventional fuel, wherein the engine is to be operated using synthetic fuel.

15. A computer program product comprising instructions that cause the security device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11 to carry out the method steps according to claim 14.

Images