Tank system and method for servicing a tank system

Abstract

The invention relates to a tank system (100) for storing hydrogen, wherein the tank system (100) comprises: - a number of tanks (101), each tank (101) having a number of valves (103), and - a computing unit (105), wherein the computing unit (105) is configured to control corresponding valves (103) in order to adjust a flow of hydrogen out of the tank system (100), and wherein the computing unit (105) has an interface (107) to a user interface (109) and is configured, in response to a blocking command provided by the user interface (109), to switch to a servicing mode in which actuation of the valves (103) is prevented.

Description

[0001] R. 413453

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] title

[0005] The presented invention relates to a tank system, a method for maintaining a tank system and a vehicle.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] To supply consumers, such as fuel cell systems, with fuel, i.e., hydrogen-containing fluid, tank systems are typically used. These systems include a processing unit and a number of controllable valves. To supply hydrogen, a consumer sends a supply command to the respective tank system, whereupon the tank system's processing unit activates the corresponding valves, i.e., switches them to an open state.

[0008] Furthermore, the computing unit of a tank system is configured to perform diagnostic functions in order to detect and report a faulty condition of the tank system.

[0009] During maintenance or manufacturing of a tank system, situations may arise in which a leakage of hydrogen from the tank system must be prevented and the output of error messages is undesirable.

[0010] Disclosure of the invention

[0011] Within the scope of the presented invention, a tank system for storing hydrogen, a method for maintaining a tank system, and an R. 413453

[0012] - 2 -

[0013] The vehicle is presented. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the respective dependent claims, 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 method and the vehicle according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure regarding the individual aspects of the invention always refers to, or can refer to, each other.

[0014] The presented invention serves in particular to provide a means for the simple maintenance of a tank system for storing hydrogen.

[0015] Thus, according to a first aspect of the presented invention, a tank system for storing hydrogen is presented.

[0016] The presented tank system comprises a number of tanks, each tank comprising a number of valves and a computing unit, the computing unit being configured to control the respective valves to regulate a hydrogen flow out of the tank system, and the computing unit comprising an interface to a user interface and being configured to switch to a maintenance mode in response to a lock command provided by the user interface, in which control of the valves is prevented.

[0017] In the context of the presented invention, a computing unit is to be understood as a computer, a processor, a control unit or any other programmable circuit.

[0018] A valve in a tank system can be, for example, a pressure regulator, a tank valve and / or a shut-off valve.

[0019] The presented invention is based on a maintenance operation in which actuation of the tank system valves is prevented. To prevent actuation of the valves, for example, the computing unit in R. 413453 can be provided.

[0020] - 3 -

[0021] The maintenance operation overrides commands transmitted to the tank system to activate the valves or does not execute commands transmitted to the tank system to activate the valves. Accordingly, the maintenance operation prevents, in particular, the unintentional activation of the valves during maintenance, for example by a vehicle encompassing the tank system or another external system, such as a server, and enables safe work on the tank system.

[0022] To activate maintenance mode, the presented tank system includes an interface, such as a wireless or wired interface, to a user interface, such as a testing device, in particular a workshop tester or end-of-line tester. Accordingly, a technician can communicate between a user interface and the tank system via its interface to transmit a lock command to the tank system's processing unit and activate maintenance mode, or switch the maintenance mode to the "on" state.

[0023] It may also be provided that the computing unit is configured to prevent the valves from switching to an open or closed state during maintenance operation.

[0024] By preventing the valves from switching to an open or closed state, the current state of the tank system is safely maintained, allowing a technician to work on the tank system in its current state without the risk of hydrogen escaping from the tank system, for example, due to an unnoticed valve switching by an external unit such as a server or vehicle computer unit.

[0025] It may also be provided that the computing unit is configured to block the output of error messages during maintenance operation, in particular the execution of a diagnostic function for diagnosing the condition of the tank system. R. 413453

[0026] - 4 -

[0027] By blocking the output of error messages, a technician can work on the tank system or bring the tank system into states where an error message would normally be displayed, without the error messages being stored in the tank system's error memory or in the error memory of a higher-level system encompassing the tank system, such as a vehicle. Accordingly, blocking the output of error messages eliminates the effort required to delete such error messages. In particular, this can make access to the error memory of the higher-level system unnecessary for the technician, allowing the technician to service the tank system independently of access to the higher-level system.

[0028] It may also be provided that the interface is configured for communication with a test device.

[0029] An interface for communication with a testing device, such as a workshop tester or an end-of-line tester, can, for example, support a predefined communication protocol.

[0030] It may also be provided that the tank system includes a testing device configured to transmit the locking command to the computing unit in response to user input.

[0031] A test device, such as a workshop tester or an end-of-line tester, can contain a predefined set of control commands, for example, stored in memory or downloaded from a server. This set of commands transmits the lock command to the processing unit, activating maintenance mode. Therefore, a predefined test device can be converted or upgraded to one configured to transmit the lock command to the processing unit in response to user input, either by establishing a communication connection to a server or by loading the predefined command set onto the device.

[0032] It may still be provided that the computing unit is configured to R. 413453

[0033] - 5 - in response to an unlock command provided through the user interface, to terminate maintenance operations.

[0034] To end the maintenance operation, an unlock command is suitable, which, for example, sets the maintenance operation state to "off".

[0035] According to a second aspect, the presented invention relates to a method for maintaining a tank system.

[0036] The presented method comprises transmitting a locking command to a computing unit of the tank system, activating a maintenance operation of the tank system in response to the locking command, whereby the actuation of valves of the tank system is prevented in the maintenance operation, transmitting an unlocking command to the computing unit and deactivating the maintenance operation in response to the unlocking command.

[0037] The presented method is particularly useful for adjusting the maintenance operation of the presented tank system.

[0038] According to a third aspect, the presented invention relates to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a possible embodiment of the presented tank system.

[0039] It may be provided that a computing unit of the tank system is configured to transmit a status of a maintenance operation of the tank system to the vehicle computing unit of the vehicle.

[0040] By transmitting the status of the tank system's maintenance operation to the vehicle's computer unit, a reaction by the vehicle to a potentially faulty state of the tank system while the maintenance operation is active can be prevented, thus preventing the entry of error messages into the vehicle's fault memory.

[0041] Advantages, detailed information on the hydrogen storage tank system R. 413453

[0042] - 6 - as described in the first aspect of the invention, apply equally to the method for maintaining a tank system according to the second aspect of the invention and to the vehicle according to the third aspect of the invention and vice versa.

[0043] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination.

[0044] Drawings

[0045] They each show schematically:

[0046] Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of the presented tank system in a possible embodiment of the presented vehicle, and

[0047] Figure 2 shows a possible embodiment of the presented method.

[0048] Description of the exemplary implementations

[0049] Figure 1 shows a tank system 100 for storing hydrogen.

[0050] The tank system 100 comprises a number of tanks 101, valves 103 and a computing unit 105.

[0051] The computing unit 105 is configured to control respective valves 103 in order to adjust a hydrogen flow from the tank system 100.

[0052] The computing unit 105 includes an interface 107 to a

[0053] User interface 109 and is configured to, in response to a lock command provided by user interface 109, enter an R. 413453

[0054] - 7 -

[0055] To switch to maintenance mode, in which the control of the valves 103 by the computing unit 105 is prevented.

[0056] Optionally, the tank system 100 includes a tester 111, which includes the user interface 109 and is configured to transmit the locking command to the computing unit 105 in response to user input.

[0057] The tank system 100 is part of a vehicle 200, which includes a fuel cell system 201 and a vehicle computing unit 203.

[0058] The fuel cell system 201 is supplied with hydrogen by the tank system 100. For this purpose, the vehicle control unit 203 can transmit a provision command to the control unit 105, which, under normal operating conditions, switches the valves 103 in response to the provision command so that hydrogen flows from the tanks 101 to the fuel cell system 201. If maintenance mode is activated, the control unit 105 prevents the valves 103 from switching so that hydrogen flows from the tanks 101 to the fuel cell system 201, or it does not execute the provision command.

[0059] Fig. 2 shows a method 300 for maintaining the tank system 100 according to Fig. 1.

[0060] The procedure 300 comprises a first transmission step 301, in which a locking command is transmitted to the computing unit 105 of the tank system 100, an activation step 303, in which a maintenance operation of the tank system 100 is activated in response to the locking command, whereby in the maintenance operation an actuation of the valves 103 of the tank system 100 is prevented.

[0061] Furthermore, the procedure 300 includes a second transmission step 305, in which an unlock command is transmitted to the computing unit 105, and a deactivation step 307, in which the maintenance operation is deactivated in response to the unlock command.

Claims

R. 413453 - 8 - Claims 1. Tank system (100) for storing hydrogen, wherein the tank system (100) comprises: a number of tanks (101), each tank (101) comprising a number of valves (103), a computing unit (105), wherein the computing unit (105) is configured to control respective valves (103) to regulate a hydrogen flow out of the tank system (100), and wherein the computing unit (105) comprises an interface (107) to a user interface (109) and is configured to switch to a maintenance mode in response to a lock command provided by the user interface (109), in which control of the valves (103) is prevented.

2. Tank system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the computing unit (105) is configured to prevent the valves (103) from switching to an open state or to a closed state during maintenance operation.

3. Tank system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the computing unit (105) is configured to block the output of error messages, in particular the execution of a diagnostic function for diagnosing a condition of the tank system (100), during maintenance operation. R. 413453 - 9 - 4. Tank system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interface (107) is configured for communication with a test device (111).

5. Tank system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank system (100) comprises a test device (111) which is configured to transmit the locking command to the computing unit (105) in response to a user input.

6. Tank system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computing unit (105) is configured to output a maintenance operation status.

7. Tank system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computing unit (105) is configured to terminate the maintenance operation in response to an unlock command provided by the user interface (109).

8. Method (300) for maintaining a tank system (100), wherein the method (300) comprises: Transmitting (301) a locking command to a computing unit (105) of the tank system (100), Activating (303) a maintenance operation of the tank system (100) in response to the locking command, whereby in the maintenance operation an actuation of valves (103) of the tank system (100) is prevented, Transmitting (305) an unlock command to the computing unit (105), disabling (307) the maintenance operation in response to the unlock command. R. 413453 - 10 - 9. Vehicle (200), wherein the vehicle (200) comprises a vehicle computing unit (203) and a tank system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Vehicle (200) according to claim 9, characterized in that a computing unit (201) of the tank system (100) is configured to transmit a maintenance operation status of the tank system (100) to the vehicle computing unit (203) of the vehicle (200).

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