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

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage system (1) for storing a fluid medium, preferably hydrogen, comprising at least one tank vessel (200) which has a cylindrical basic shape and has two hemispherical ends (202) for storing fluid medium, in particular hydrogen, wherein the tank vessel (200) comprises: a first shell element (10), which first shell element (10) forms a tank-vessel interior (201); a second shell element (12), which second shell element (12) surrounds the first shell element (10); an overwrap element (14), which overwrap element (14) surrounds the first shell element (10) and the second shell element (12); and a load-transfer element (18), which load-transfer element (18) is arranged at the ends (202) of the tank vessel (200). Furthermore, at least one sealing element (16) is arranged directly on the first shell element (10) at each of the ends (202) in the tank-vessel interior (201).

Description

[0001] R. 416458

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] Storage system for storing a fluid medium, preferably hydrogen, fuel cell system, hydrogen combustion engine system, fuel cell-powered vehicle, hydrogen-powered vehicle

[0005] The invention relates to a storage system for storing a fluid 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.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] Today's hydrogen tank systems for mobile applications typically consist of several tanks, often made of carbon fiber reinforced material. These are typically pressurized to a nominal hydrogen pressure of, for example, 350 bar or 900 bar. During filling, storage, or withdrawal of hydrogen in operation, temperatures below the freezing point of water (down to -40°C during withdrawal in a 700 bar system) can occur inside the tank.

[0008] The tank containers can also contain metallic materials, for example.

[0009] DE 10 2021 207 190 A1 describes, for example, such a hydrogen tank system for mobile applications with multiple tank containers.

[0010] Due to the typical bottleneck shape of the tank containers, the mechanical design leads to complex manufacturing and high costs. This poses potential challenges, particularly for the installation of the tank system in the underbody of a vehicle's chassis. R. 416458

[0011] - 2 -

[0012] Advantages of the invention

[0013] The storage system according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1 has the advantage of achieving a safe and durable storage system by means of a self-reinforcing sealing concept.

[0014] The storage system for storing a fluid medium, preferably hydrogen, comprises at least one tank container, cylindrical in its basic form and with two hemispherical ends, for storing the fluid medium, particularly hydrogen. The tank container includes a first shell element, which forms the interior of the tank container, and a second shell element, which surrounds the first shell element. Furthermore, the tank container includes a wrapping element, which surrounds both the first and second shell elements, and a force application element, which is arranged at the ends of the tank container. In addition, at least one sealing element is arranged directly on the first shell element at each end of the interior of the tank container.

[0015] This allows for a structurally simple sealing concept for differentially manufactured tanks. The self-reinforcing sealing concept ensures that, even under high pressures within the tank, radial forces are superimposed on the sealing surface, thus intrinsically preventing leaks.

[0016] In a first advantageous embodiment, the sealing element is provided that it is materially bonded to the first shell element, preferably by means of plastic welding or adhesive bonding. This allows the sealing element to be easily and firmly connected to the first shell element.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously provided that the sealing element is made of a material which is more flexible in the radial and circumferential directions than the first shell element, the second R. 416458

[0018] - 3 -

[0019] The sleeve element and the wrapping element are advantageously designed so that the sealing element is made of plastic.

[0020] In a further advantageous design, the sealing element is made of an elastomer. This means that expansions at the sealing element result in only minor forces within the sealing element itself, thus contributing to a long service life.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, the first casing element comprises metal, in particular aluminum. By selecting cost-effective materials, a storage system for fluid media can thus be achieved in a cost-saving manner.

[0022] In an advantageous further development, it is provided that the second shell element comprises a fiber composite material, in particular a carbon fiber composite material.

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

[0024] The described storage system is preferably suitable for use in a hydrogen combustion engine system for the provision of hydrogen.

[0025] The described storage system is preferably suitable for a fuel cell-powered vehicle for storing hydrogen for the operation of a fuel cell.

[0026] The described storage system is particularly suitable for use in a hydrogen-powered vehicle for the supply of hydrogen. R. 416458

[0027] - 4 -

[0028] Drawings

[0029] The drawing shows exemplary embodiments of a storage system according to the invention for storing a fluid medium, in particular hydrogen. It shows in

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a storage system according to the invention for storing a gaseous medium in a simplified schematic view.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a possible embodiment of the tank container of the storage system according to the invention from Fig. 1 in longitudinal section in an enlarged view.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a possible embodiment of the tank container of the storage system according to the invention from Fig. 1 in longitudinal section in an enlarged view.

[0033] Fig. 4 shows a hydrogen-powered vehicle with a storage system according to the invention in a simplified schematic view,

[0034] Fig. 5 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. 1 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, such as a fuel cell system 70 or a hydrogen combustion engine system 71 (see Fig. 4 or Fig. 5), in a schematic view. The storage system 1 has several tank containers 200 which are received in a frame element 205. The storage system 1 has several tank containers 200 which are in this R. 416458

[0037] - 5 -

[0038] The design is incorporated into a frame element 205. In an alternative design, the storage system 1, for example, has only one tank container 200.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a possible embodiment of the storage system 100 according to the invention from Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the tank 200 in an enlarged view. The tank 200 is cylindrical in its basic form and has two hemispherical ends 202. Furthermore, the tank 200 has a first shell element 10, which forms a tank interior 201, and a second shell element 12, which surrounds the first shell element 10. The first shell element 10 is made of a metal, for example, aluminum. The second shell element 12 comprises a fiber composite material, in particular a carbon fiber composite material.

[0040] Furthermore, the tank 200 comprises a wrapping element 14 that surrounds the first shell element 10 and the second shell element 12. At each end 202 of the tank 200, it has a force introduction element 18 that can transfer the axial forces arising from the internal pressure into the wrapping element 14. The force introduction elements 18 are guided axially over an inner or outer diameter of the tank 200, which is designed in the basic shape of a tube. The internal pressure results in an axially acting force that displaces the force introduction elements 18 outwards towards the hemispherical ends 202, thereby tensioning the wrapping element 14.

[0041] To ensure the tightness of the tank 200, a sealing element 16 is arranged at each end 202 of the tank interior 201, directly adjacent to the first shell element 10. The sealing element 16 is bonded to the first shell element 10, for example by means of plastic welding or adhesive bonding. This minimizes relative movement caused by filling and emptying the tank 200 and reduces wear on the sealing surfaces.

[0042] In this embodiment, the sealing element 16 is made of plastic. Thus, the sealing element 16 is made of a material that is more flexible in the radial and circumferential directions than the first shell element 10, which R. 416458

[0043] - 6 - second shell element 12 and the wrapping element 14. The internal pressure in the tank 200 acts on the sealing element 16 and generates a radial force, which is redirected via the force introduction element 18 into the wrapping element 14 as a tension anchor. Due to the adapted design of the stiffness in the radial direction, the sealing element 16 tends to expand more than the surrounding structure. However, this is prevented by the surrounding structure, thus generating an additional radial sealing force on the sealing surface. In this embodiment, the fixed connection between the sealing element 16 and the first shell element 10 prevents any relative movement during the filling and emptying of the tank 200, thus minimizing wear on the sealing surface.

[0044] Fig. 3 shows another possible embodiment of the storage system 100 according to the invention from Fig. 1 in the area of ​​the tank container 200 in an enlarged view. The structure and function of this embodiment essentially correspond to the embodiment from Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the sealing element 16 is made of an elastomer. The sealing element 16 absorbs the relative movement of the tank container 200 as elongation and experiences an elongation amount AI, by which the wrapping element 14, acting as a tension anchor, elongates under axial load. In this way, the forces arising in the first shell element 10 and in the sealing element 16 itself due to the axial load are minimized.

[0045] Figures 4 and 5 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 with a storage system 1 according to the invention in a simplified schematic view. In Figure 4, the storage system 1 is integrated by way of example into the underbody of the chassis of a vehicle.

Claims

R. 416458 - 7 - Claims 1. Storage system (1) for storing a fluid medium, preferably hydrogen, comprising at least one tank container (200) in a basic cylindrical shape with two hemispherical ends (202) for storing fluid medium, in particular hydrogen, wherein the tank container (200) has a first shell element (10), which first shell element (10) forms a tank container interior (201), a second shell element (12), which second shell element (12) surrounds the first shell element (10), a wrapping element (14), which wrapping element (14) surrounds the first shell element (10) and the second shell element (12), and a force introduction element (18), which force introduction element (18) is arranged at the ends (202) of the tank container (200), wherein at least one sealing element (16) is located in the tank container interior (201) at each of the ends (202). is located directly on the first shell element (10).

2. Storage system (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sealing element (16) is materially bonded to the first shell element (10), preferably by means of plastic welding or sealing bonding.

3. Storage system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing element (16) is made of a material which is more flexible in the radial and circumferential direction than the first shell element (10), the second shell element 120 and the wrapping element (14).

4. Storage system (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the sealing element (16) is made of plastic.

5. Storage system (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the sealing element (16) is made of an elastomer.

6. Storage system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first casing element (10) comprises metal, in particular aluminium. R. 416458 - 8 - 7. Storage system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second shell element (12) comprises a fiber composite material, in particular a carbon fiber composite material.

8. 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 7.

9. Hydrogen combustion engine system (71) with a storage system (1) for providing hydrogen according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. 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 7.

11. Hydrogen-powered vehicle (73) with a storage system (1) for providing hydrogen according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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