Tank system and sensor holder

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tank system (100) for storing a fluid. The tank system (100) comprises: - a plurality of tanks (101), - a plurality of pressure sensors (103), each comprising a plurality of electronic components (107), - a plurality of heating elements (105), and - a plurality of tank system components (109), wherein the at least one tank system component (109) is fluidically coupled to a pressure sensor (103), and the pressure sensor (103) is thermally coupled to a heating element (105) which is designed to heat the pressure sensor (103) to a temperature above a predetermined threshold value.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title and sensor recording

[0003] The presented invention relates to a tank system and a sensor holder.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] During operation of a motor vehicle with compressed gas tanks, the gas temperature in the compressed gas tanks cools down as the gas is removed from the compressed gas tanks.

[0006] In cold ambient temperatures, the gas temperature in a compressed gas tank can fall below -40°C.

[0007] Pressure sensors are a component of every gas tank system, for example, for determining the gas level of a compressed gas tank. Pressure sensors can be installed at various locations within the gas tank system, for example, in a tank valve of a compressed gas tank or in a distribution pipe.

[0008] However, known pressure sensors for automotive applications are only approved for a temperature range of -40°C. This minimum temperature is limited, particularly due to the integrated electronic circuits (ASICs) built into a pressure sensor.

[0009] Disclosure of the invention

[0010] Within the scope of the invention presented, a tank system and a sensor mount are presented. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the respective subclaims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the tank system according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the sensor mount according to the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made to each other.

[0011] The invention presented serves in particular to provide a possibility for the robust operation of a pressure sensor in a tank system at temperatures below -40°C.

[0012] Thus, according to a first aspect of the invention presented, a tank system for storing a fluid is presented.

[0013] The presented tank system comprises a number of tanks, a number of pressure sensors, each comprising a number of electronic components, a number of heating elements, and a number of tank system components, wherein at least one tank system component is fluidly coupled to a pressure sensor and the pressure sensor is thermally coupled to a heating element, and wherein the heating element is configured to heat the pressure sensor to a temperature greater than a predetermined threshold value.

[0014] In the context of the invention presented, a tank system component of the tank system presented is to be understood as meaning in particular a line, a tank valve, a distributor pipe, a pressure reducer and / or a sealing plug or “end plug”.

[0015] To prevent the operation of a pressure sensor, in particular of electronic components of the pressure sensor, outside of a permissible temperature range, especially at fluid temperatures below a critical threshold of, for example, -40°C, and thus ensure robust operation of the tank system presented, the invention provides a heating element that is thermally coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to heat the pressure sensor. For thermal coupling with the pressure sensor, the heating element can be arranged in close proximity to the pressure sensor.

[0016] In particular, the heating element can be thermally coupled to the pressure sensor via a highly thermally conductive material. For this purpose, the heating element can, for example, be embedded in the same material as the pressure sensor.

[0017] For example, the pressure sensor and the heating element can be incorporated into a base body of a tank system component. For this purpose, the base body can comprise a pressure sensor recess or bore, into which the pressure sensor engages and is secured in a fixed position, as well as a heating element recess or bore, into which the heating element engages and is secured in a fixed position. As a result, the pressure sensor and the heating element are thermally coupled via a material forming the base body, in particular a metal.

[0018] It can be provided that the at least one tank system component comprises a sensor receptacle in which the pressure sensor and the heating element are arranged.

[0019] A sensor mount can, for example, be made of a thermally highly conductive material, particularly a metal, and serves to accommodate the pressure sensor and the heating element, as well as for mechanical coupling to the tank system component. Accordingly, the sensor mount can include an interface for engaging a mating interface of the tank system component.

[0020] Accordingly, it can be provided that the sensor holder is an element that can be reversibly connected to the at least one tank system component.

[0021] In the context of the present invention, "reversibly connectable to a tank system component" means a connection that can be established and then released or undone. For example, the sensor receptacle can be inserted into a first bore or recess provided in the tank system component and can adapt this first recess, i.e., enlarge or taper it, for example, to accommodate a respective pressure sensor on the tank system component.

[0022] In particular, a sensor receptacle connectable to the tank system component may comprise a measuring bore through which a pressure sensor mounted in the sensor receptacle comes into contact with a fluid flowing through the tank system component, so that the pressure sensor can measure a pressure present in the tank system component.

[0023] It can further be provided that the sensor receptacle is designed as an integral part of the at least one tank system component.

[0024] As an integral component, the sensor holder can be incorporated into a base body of the tank system component, for example, inserted as a prefabricated component or milled into the base body.

[0025] It can further be provided that the heating element comprises a heating wire and / or a heating element with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC element).

[0026] Heating wires can be integrated directly into a respective sensor holder as flat and energy-efficient elements.

[0027] PTC elements have proven to be particularly robust and powerful heating elements.

[0028] It can further be provided that the tank system comprises a temperature sensor, and the heating element is electrically coupled to a processing unit configured to regulate the heating power of the heating element such that a temperature determined by the temperature sensor is heated to a predetermined temperature. By regulating the temperature to a predetermined temperature, operation of the pressure sensor at excessively low or impermissible temperatures can be reliably prevented.

[0029] It can further be provided that the tank system comprises a temperature sensor, and the heating element comprises electronics that are configured to activate the heating element when a temperature determined by the temperature sensor is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and to deactivate the heating element when a temperature determined by the temperature sensor is greater than a deactivation threshold value.

[0030] Threshold-based activation and deactivation of the heating element ensures particularly energy-efficient operation of the proposed tank system. For this purpose, the electronics can include a switch, particularly a thermal switch.

[0031] According to a second aspect, the presented invention relates to a sensor receptacle for a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in a tank system component of a tank system, wherein the sensor receptacle comprises an interface configured to mechanically couple the sensor receptacle to a mating interface of the tank system component, and comprises a recess configured to receive a pressure sensor and secure it in a fixed position.

[0032] In particular, the sensor holder presented can be inserted into a respective tank system component, e.g. screwed in, in order to upgrade the tank system component or to equip it with a pressure sensor.

[0033] The sensor receptacle can, for example, have a receptacle that differs in its cross-section from a receptacle of the tank system component, so that, for example, a pressure sensor with a larger or smaller cross-section than the receptacle of the tank system component can be arranged on the tank system component. It can further be provided that the sensor receptacle comprises a heating element configured to raise a pressure sensor arranged in the receptacle to a temperature greater than a predetermined threshold value.

[0034] By means of a heating element integrated into the sensor holder, an existing tank system can be upgraded to the tank system presented and the operation of a pressure sensor arranged in the sensor holder in an inadmissible temperature range can be prevented.

[0035] Accordingly, it can further be provided that the sensor receptacle comprises a pressure sensor and / or a temperature sensor, so that the heating element can be regulated or controlled by components arranged in the sensor receptacle.

[0036] Advantages described in detail for the tank system for storing a fluid according to the first aspect equally apply to the sensor receptacle for a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in a tank system component according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0037] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes exemplary embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination.

[0038] drawing

[0039] They show:

[0040] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a possible design of the tank system presented, and

[0041] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of the sensor holder presented. Description of the embodiments

[0042] Figure 1 shows a tank system 100 for storing a fluid

[0043] The tank system 100 comprises several tanks 101, a pressure sensor 103, a heating element 105 and a tank system component 109 in the form of, for example, a distribution pipe.

[0044] An electronic component 107 in the form of an AS IC circuit is arranged in the pressure sensor 103.

[0045] The pressure sensor 103 is arranged in a bore 111 of a base body of the tank system component 109.

[0046] The heating element 105 is arranged in a bore 113 of a base body of the tank system component 109.

[0047] The heating element 105 is configured to heat the pressure sensor 103 to a temperature greater than a predetermined threshold to prevent operation of the pressure sensor 103 outside a predetermined temperature range.

[0048] The tanks 101 are, for example, compressed gas tanks, in particular for storing fuel, e.g. hydrogen, for a fuel cell system.

[0049] Via a measuring bore 115, the pressure sensor 103 is in fluid-conducting contact with a fluid flowing from the tanks 101 via lines 117, so that the pressure sensor 103 can measure a pressure in the lines 117 and, consequently, in the tanks 101.

[0050] By activating the heating element 105, in particular using a control system, a temperature of the pressure sensor 103 can be adjusted, thus reliably preventing damage to the electronic components 107. Figure 2 shows a sensor receptacle 200 comprising an interface 201 configured to mechanically couple the sensor receptacle 200 to a mating interface 203 of a tank system component 205.

[0051] Furthermore, the sensor receptacle 200 comprises a recess 207 which is configured to receive a pressure sensor 103 and to secure it in position.

[0052] Furthermore, the sensor holder 200 comprises a bore 209 for receiving a heating element 105, so that the heating element 105 is thermally directly coupled to the pressure sensor 103 via a base body 211 of the sensor holder 200. A measuring bore 215 of the

[0053] Tank system component 205 is fluidly coupled to the pressure sensor 103.

Claims

Claims 1. Tank system (100) for storing a fluid, wherein the tank system (100) comprises: a number of tanks (101), a number of pressure sensors (103), each comprising a number of electronic components (107), a number of heating elements (105), and a number of tank system components (109), wherein at least one tank system component (109) is fluidly coupled to a pressure sensor (103) and the pressure sensor (103) is thermally coupled to a heating element (105), wherein the heating element (105) is configured to heat the pressure sensor (103) to a temperature greater than a predetermined threshold value.

2. Tank system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one tank system component (109) comprises a sensor receptacle (200) in which the pressure sensor (103) and the heating element (105) are arranged.

3. Tank system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor receptacle (200) is an element that can be reversibly connected to the at least one tank system component (109).

4. Tank system (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the sensor receptacle (200) is designed as an integral part of the at least one tank system component (109).

5. Tank system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating element (105) comprises a heating wire and / or a heating element with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC element).

6. Tank system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank system (100) comprises a temperature sensor, and the heating element (105) is electrically coupled to a computing unit which is configured to regulate a heating power of the heating element (105) such that a temperature determined by the temperature sensor increases to a predetermined temperature 7. Tank system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tank system (100) comprises a temperature sensor, and the heating element (105) comprises electronics which are configured to activate the heating element (105) when a temperature determined by the temperature sensor is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and to deactivate the heating element (105) when a temperature determined by the temperature sensor is greater than a deactivation threshold value.

8. Sensor receptacle (200) for a pressure sensor (103) for measuring a pressure in a tank system component (109) of a tank system (100), wherein the sensor receptacle (200) comprises: an interface (201) configured to mechanically couple the sensor receptacle (200) to a mating interface (203) of the tank system component (109), a recess (207) configured to receive a pressure sensor (103) and to secure it in a fixed position.

9. Sensor holder (200) according to claim 8, characterized in that that the sensor receptacle (200) comprises a heating element (105) which is configured to heat a pressure sensor (103) arranged in the recess (207) to a temperature greater than a predetermined threshold value.

10. Sensor receptacle (200) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the sensor receptacle (200) comprises a pressure sensor (103) and / or a temperature sensor.

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