Storage system for storing a gaseous medium, preferably hydrogen, fuel cell system, hydrogen combustion engine system, fuel cell-powered vehicle, hydrogen-powered vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage system (1) for storing a gaseous medium, preferably hydrogen, wherein the storage system comprises: a plurality of tank containers (2) having a longitudinal axis (42), a first medium collector block (4), and a second medium collector block (6). On each of the tank containers (2), one end (15) opens into the first medium collector block (4) and another end (16) opens into the second medium collector block (6), and the ends are fixed and sealed therein. In addition, the storage system (1) has at least one tie rod element (10) which is made of the same material as the tank containers (2).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Storage system for storing a gaseous medium, preferably hydrogen, fuel cell system, hydrogen combustion engine system, fuel cell-powered vehicle, hydrogen-powered vehicle

[0003] The invention relates to a storage system for storing a gaseous medium, for example hydrogen. This is used, for example, in vehicles with fuel cell propulsion or in vehicles with a hydrogen combustion engine as a drive system.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] Today's hydrogen tank systems for mobile applications typically consist of at least one tank, which is made, for example, of a carbon fiber reinforced material. This is typically pressurized with hydrogen at a nominal pressure of, for example, 350 bar or 900 bar.

[0006] The tank containers can also contain metallic materials, for example.

[0007] DE 10 2017 212 485 A1 describes a device for storing compressed fluids, in particular hydrogen, which serve as fuel for a vehicle, wherein the device has at least two tubular tank modules, which are made of steel, for example.

[0008] Due to the typical bottleneck shape of the tank containers, the mechanical design leads to complicated manufacturing and high costs. This poses potential challenges, particularly for the installation of the tank system in the underbody of a vehicle's chassis. Advantages of the invention

[0009] The device according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1 has the advantage that, through the constructive design of the storage system and its individual components, optimal use of the available installation space, for example of a vehicle, and a reduction of possible load forces on the storage system can be achieved.

[0010] The storage system for a gaseous medium, preferably hydrogen, comprises several tanks with a longitudinal axis, a first medium collector block, and a second medium collector block. Furthermore, one end of each tank opens into the first medium collector block and the other end into the second medium collector block, where they are fixed and sealed. The storage system includes at least one tie rod element. Moreover, the tie rod element is made of the same material as the tanks.

[0011] In a structurally simple manner, axial loads can be reduced by fixing the ends of the tank containers in the first and second media collector blocks. These loads are absorbed by at least one tie rod element. Furthermore, the tie rod element is made of the same material as the tank containers to minimize potential material-related thermal expansion.

[0012] In a first advantageous embodiment, the tie rod element and the tank containers are designed to comprise fiber bundles. Advantageously, the tie rod element within the respective tank container is also designed as a fiber bundle. This avoids introducing additional load forces into the storage system and results in an improved structural design for the entire storage system.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously provided that the tie rod element between the first medium collector block and the second medium collector block is tensioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tank containers.

[0014] In a further advantageous design, it is provided that the tie rod element is wrapped around the tank containers, the first media collector block and the second media collector block.

[0015] In an advantageous further development, it is provided that the tie rod element is designed as a sheath element and surrounds the tank containers, the first medium collector block and the second medium collector block.

[0016] Due to the different design of the tie rod element in the storage system, it is possible to achieve low load forces on the storage system depending on the installation space.

[0017] In a further advantageous design, the tank containers are tubular in shape. Advantageously, the tank containers have different pipe diameters d, d' and / or different pipe lengths I, l'. This ensures optimal use of the available installation space and achieves optimal structural design of the tank containers with regard to thermal and mechanical stresses on the individual components.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously provided that additional medium collector blocks are arranged in the storage system. This allows mechanical and / or thermal stresses within the storage system to be further minimized.

[0019] In an advantageous further development, it is provided that the first medium collector block and / or the second medium collector block is cuboid in shape, wherein the first medium collector block and the second medium collector block have a height H, h, a width B, b and a depth T, t, which depth T, t is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tank containers.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously provided that the tank containers, together with the first and second medium collector blocks, have a rectangular cross-section. This allows for simple installation of the entire storage system, for example, in the underbody of a vehicle chassis, while simultaneously minimizing the complexity of the storage system's design. Furthermore, this allows, for example, the chassis of a battery-powered vehicle to also be used for a vehicle powered by hydrogen.

[0021] The described storage system is preferably suitable for use in a fuel cell system for storing hydrogen for the operation of a fuel cell.

[0022] The described storage system is preferably suitable for use in a hydrogen combustion engine system for the provision of hydrogen.

[0023] The described storage system is preferably suitable for a fuel cell-powered vehicle for storing hydrogen for the operation of a fuel cell.

[0024] The described storage system is particularly suitable for supplying hydrogen in a hydrogen-powered vehicle. Drawings

[0025] The drawing shows exemplary embodiments of a storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen. It shows in

[0026] Fig. 1a shows a possible embodiment of a storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium in a schematic view.

[0027] Fig. 1b shows a further possible embodiment of a storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium in a schematic view.

[0028] Fig. 1c shows an exemplary tank container of the storage system according to the invention from Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b in a schematic view,

[0029] Fig. 2 shows another possible embodiment of a storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium in a schematic view.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows the embodiment from Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b of the storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium with a possible design of the tie rod element in longitudinal section.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows the embodiment from Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b of the storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium with a possible design of the tie rod element in longitudinal section.

[0032] Fig. 5 shows the embodiment from Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b of the storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium with a possible design of the tie rod element in longitudinal section.

[0033] Fig. 6 shows the embodiment from Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b of the storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium with a possible configuration of the tie rod element in longitudinal section; Fig. 7 shows a hydrogen-powered vehicle with a storage system according to the invention in a simplified schematic view.

[0034] Fig. 8 shows a hydrogen-powered vehicle with a fuel cell system or a hydrogen combustion engine system with a storage system according to the invention in a simplified schematic view.

[0035] Description of the exemplary implementations

[0036] Fig. 1a shows a possible embodiment of a storage system 1 according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, for a consumer system 31, such as a fuel cell system 70 or a hydrogen combustion engine system 71 (see Fig. 8), in a schematic view. The storage system 1 has several tank containers 2 with a longitudinal axis 42. Furthermore, the storage system 1 has a first medium collector block 4 and a second medium collector block 6. One end 15 of each tank container 2 opens into the first medium collector block 4 and another end 16 of each tank container 2 opens into the second medium collector block 6, the tank containers 2 being fixed and sealed therein. The storage system 1 also has a tie rod element 10, which is made of the same material as the tank containers 2. The tank container 2 is typically made of a fiber-reinforced plastic.These can be, for example, carbon fibers. In another embodiment, they consist of stretched polyethylene (PE) fibers coated with thermoplastic polymer.

[0037] The first medium collector block 4 and the second medium collector block 6 are cuboid in shape, each having a height H, h, a width B, b, and a depth T, t, which depth T, t is parallel to the longitudinal axis 42 of the tank containers 2. The tank containers 2, together with the first medium collector block 4 and the second medium collector block 6, have a rectangular cross-section. In alternative embodiments, the first medium collector block 4 and / or the second medium collector block 6 can have other geometric configurations. Figure 1 shows a further possible embodiment of a storage system 1 according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, in a schematic view. It essentially corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figure 1a.They differ only in the number and arrangement of the tank containers 2 between the first medium collector block 4 and the second medium collector block 6. Figure 1 shows an exemplary tank container 2 of the storage system 1 according to the invention from Figure 1a or Figure 1b in a schematic view. The tank containers 2 are tubular and have pipe diameters d, d' and pipe lengths I, l'. The pipe diameters d, d' of the tank containers 2 can be different (d*d') or the same (d=d'). Likewise, the pipe lengths I, l' can be different (l*l') or the same (l=l'). Figure 1 shows another possible embodiment of a storage system 1 according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium in a schematic view. It essentially corresponds to the embodiment from Figure 1.

[0038] They differ in that, in the exemplary embodiment, a further medium collector block 8 is arranged. In alternative embodiments, further medium collector blocks can be arranged to further minimize the mechanical and / or thermal stresses within the storage system 1. Figure 11 or Figure 11b shows the exemplary embodiment of the storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium with a possible configuration of the tie rod element in longitudinal section. It shows, by way of example, a tank container 2 in section A. The tie rod element 10 is designed here as a fiber bundle in the tank container 2. The respective tank container 2 also comprises the same fiber bundles as the tie rod element 10.

[0039] Fig. 4 shows the embodiment from Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b of the storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium with a possible configuration of the tie rod element in longitudinal section. It shows, by way of example, a tank container 2 in section A. The tie rod element 10 is clamped here between the first medium collector block 4 and the second medium collector block 6 parallel to the longitudinal axis 42 of the tank container 2.

[0040] Fig. 5 shows the embodiment from Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b of the storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium with a possible configuration of the tie rod element in longitudinal section. It shows, by way of example, a tank container 2 in section A. The tie rod element 10 is wrapped around the tank container 2, the first medium collector block 4, and the second medium collector block 6.

[0041] Fig. 6 shows the embodiment from Fig. 1a or Fig. 1b of the storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium, with a possible configuration of the tie rod element in longitudinal section. It shows, by way of example, a tank container 2 in section A. The tie rod element 10 is designed here as a shell element and surrounds the tank containers 2, the first medium collector block 4, and the second medium collector block 6. In this way, the storage system 1 can be integrated into the underbody of a vehicle chassis in a structurally simple manner (see Fig. 7).

[0042] Figures 7 and 8 show, by way of example, a hydrogen-powered vehicle 73 with a fuel cell system 70, a fuel cell-powered vehicle 72, or a hydrogen combustion engine system 71 as a consumer system 31 with a storage system 1 according to the invention in a simplified schematic view. In Figure 7, the storage system 1 is integrated by way of example into the underbody of the chassis of a vehicle.

Claims

Claims 1. Storage system (1) for storing a gaseous medium, preferably hydrogen, comprising several tank containers (2) with a longitudinal axis (42), a first medium collector block (4) and a second medium collector block (6), wherein one end (15) of each tank container (2) opens into the first medium collector block (4) and another end (16) of the tank containers (2) opens into the second medium collector block (6) and is fixed and sealed therein, wherein the storage system (1) comprises at least one tie rod element (10), characterized in that the tie rod element (10) is made of the same material as the tank containers (2).

2. Storage system (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tie rod element (10) and the tank containers (2) comprise fiber bundles.

3. Storage system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tie rod element (10) in the respective tank container (2) is designed as a fiber bundle.

4. Storage system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tension anchor element (10) is tensioned between the first medium collector block (4) and the second medium collector block (6) parallel to the longitudinal axis (42) of the tank containers (2).

5. Storage system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tie rod element (10) is wrapped around the tank containers (2), the first media collector block (4) and the second media collector block (6).

6. Storage system (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tie rod element (10) is designed as a shell element and surrounds the tank containers (2), the first medium collector block (4) and the second medium collector block (6).

7. Storage system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank containers (2) are tubular in shape.

8. Storage system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tank containers (2) have different pipe diameters d, d' and / or different pipe lengths I, l'.

9. Storage system (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that further medium collector blocks (8) are arranged in the storage system (1).

10. Storage system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first medium collector block (4) and / or the second medium collector block (6) is cuboid in shape, wherein the first medium collector block (4) and the second medium collector block (6) have a height H, h, a width B, b and a depth T, t, which depth T, t is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis (42) of the tank containers (2).

11. Storage system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank containers (2) together with the first medium collector block (4) and the second medium collector block (6) have a rectangular shape in cross-section.

12. Fuel cell system (70) with a storage system (1) for storing hydrogen for the operation of a fuel cell according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Hydrogen combustion engine system (71) with a storage system (1) for providing hydrogen according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

14. Fuel cell powered vehicle (72) with a storage system (1) for storing hydrogen for the operation of a fuel cell according to one of claims 1 to 11.

15. Hydrogen-powered vehicle (73) with a storage system (1) for providing hydrogen according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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