CN104943304A

CN104943304A - Fuel tank

Info

Publication number: CN104943304A
Application number: CN201510088642.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 菲利普·马丁; 比约恩·克里埃尔
Original assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research SA
Current assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research SA
Priority date: 2009-06-08
Filing date: 2010-06-03
Publication date: 2015-09-30
Also published as: US20120074028A1; WO2010142593A1; CN102458798A; DE112010002355T5

Abstract

A fuel tank comprises a multilayer wall constituted at least of one layer based on a reinforced thermoplastic composition and of one inner layer, intended to be in contact with the fuel, based on a non-reinforced thermoplastic composition, wherein the thickness of the inner layer is at least 20% of that of the multilayer wall. The fuel tank is used as a fuel tank of a hybrid vehicle.

Description

Fuel tank

The division of the application of " fuel tank or the filler pipe for this storage tank " that the application is original applying number is 201080027986.1, the applying date, to be June 3, denomination of invention in 2010 be.

The present invention relates to a kind of fuel tank or a kind of filler pipe for this storage tank, and relate to their purposes as the tank/pipe in hybrid power engine vehicle.

Hybrid power engine typically refers to an internal combustion engine and a motor combination.

Existence general operating principle for hybrid power engine, this operating principle be according to model come service meter, also or operation of combustion engine or simultaneously run both.

One of these Specific Principles are as follows:

In the process of process segment (when being in static when vehicle), two engines are all closed;

When starting, be motor to arrange the motion of vehicle, until higher speed (25 or 30km/h);

When reaching higher speed, taken over by internal combustion engine;

When accelerating fast, two engines run simultaneously, and this makes it likely have equal with the engine of equal-wattage or even higher acceleration;

In deceleration and deboost phase, kinetic energy is used for battery charging (it should be noted that, this function all can not be used in current commercially available all hybrid power engines).

This principle causes this internal combustion engine to run consistently, and therefore cause the cleansing phase of canister (preventing the charcoal filter that fuel vapour is discharged into the atmosphere) normally not perform, because in the process of these cleansing phases, the air be optionally preheated is recycled through this canister to make this canister regenerate (namely, to make the fuel vapour desorption be attracted to wherein), allow this air to enter into engine to burn wherein afterwards.In addition, motor vehicle driven by mixed power, in order to reduce fuel consumption and toxic emission and develop, is more difficult to when not making engine performance deterioration like this or even may carry out engine management to burn from the fuel vapour of canister.

Therefore, usually the fuel tank of these engines is pressurizeed (typically reaching the pressure of about 300 to 400 millibars) to limit the load of canister, this is normally performed by the functional element be positioned at after these ventilation valves, and this element is called as FTIV (fuel tank isolating valve).This element comprises a safety valve (being calibrated the maximum working pressure (MWP) to this storage tank) and a kind of electronic-controlled installation, this storage tank can be made before injection to be in atmospheric pressure.Consequently, particularly when plastics storage tank, these storage tanks must have the mechanical strength of improvement compared with the fuel tank of the internal combustion engine of routine.

Current solution commercially comprises a kind of metal storage tank with large thickness, this considerably adds the weight of storage tank also because this increasing fuel consumption and toxic emission.

Other known solutions for above-mentioned stress problems may comprise: inside fortifier that these two walls link together by the wall thickness and/or use increasing plastics storage tanks (bar, separator, etc.), but these solutions usually create adverse effect for weight, reduce the swept volume of storage tank and add the cost of storage tank.Another solution can be as this storage tank provides multiple attachment pin (attachment stud) (or multiplely to touch point (kiss points), namely, the local solder joint of lower part wall and top wall), but this solution causes the swept volume of storage tank to reduce.

At patent US 5,020, another kind of solution is described in 687, this solution is a kind of fabric that strengthens to be attached on the outer wall of storage tank, this attachment is performed such: storage tank by extruding-manufacture process of blow molding in coated molded described fabric, before introducing parison in a mold, fabric is incorporated in mould, this storage tank will be obtained after this parison of blow molding.

But this solution has following several defect:

In fact, this fabric only creates the enhancing of local in the position that it is attached;

From long-term angle, fuel vapour through the diffusion of this tank wall may cause the problem of expansion or even fabric to the viscosity loss in tank wall, therefore make enhancing effect reduce;

Due to used technology, with regard to the thickness of fiber and/or the geometry of mould, there is multiple restriction;

And it is last: the fortifier of this type is costly.

Therefore a theme of the present invention is a kind of fuel tank or the filler pipe for this storage tank, and it has good long-term mechanical strength and can not have these defects above-mentioned.

Based on the thought of the plastics composite of a kind of enhancing of use, i.e. a kind of plastics, wherein disperse/mix (such as: in the molten state of plastics, use an extruder) there is a kind of fortifier (specifically a kind of fibre strengthening thing), this itself is known, but in the internal layer (internal layer namely come in contact with fuel) of multilayer storage tank, do not use so a kind of composition, and (if appropriate) only uses in this skin and/or in an intermediate layer.In fact, the applicant observes, when the internal layer of storage tank comprises a kind of fortifier (being specially: when comprising fiber when it), the impact strength of these storage tanks is largely reduced to a kind of degree and makes them no longer by these standards of motor vehicle manufacturers defined.On the other hand, providing the internal layer of a non-reinforcing, this internal layer has sufficient thickness, and (value of this thickness depends on the composition of described layer, but this thickness is as general as at least 20% or 30% or even 40% of relative thickness) under condition, no longer observe this reduction, and be even more preferably: even can observe a kind of substantial improvement in some cases.

Therefore the present invention relates to a kind of fuel tank or the filler pipe for this storage tank, this fuel tank or filler pipe comprise a compound wall, this compound wall at least by based on the thermoplastic compounds strengthened one deck and be intended to contact with fuel and an internal layer based on a kind of thermoplastic compounds of non-reinforcing is formed.

Fuel expection for tank/pipe according to the present invention can be gasoline, diesel oil, bio-fuel etc., and can have the alcohol content of 0 to 100%.

Statement " storage tank or pipe " is interpreted as referring to any storage tank or pipe that obtain by carrying out molded or coextrusion at least two above-mentioned layers.

May be used for manufacturing and can have any character according to the storage tank of finite length of the present invention or a kind of moulding process of pipe, as long as it comprises the mould that use one can determine this storage tank maybe shape of this pipe.This moulding process can such as be undertaken by being incorporated in mould by the thermoplastic of gel from a kind of preformed or directly.

This moulding process can also operate with a kind of blow molding particularly and be associated.It can also be followed by a follow-up number of assembling steps, especially by welding.If this moulding process carries out from a kind of preformed, then this preformed specifically can be obtained by coextrusion or common injection.

Used by coextrusion-blow molding molded, by injecting altogether-welding molded or by hot-forming molded and obtain very good result.Preferably, this multilayer storage tank or pipe are produced by coextrusion-blow molding (blow moulding, blowing).When the latter, likely use a kind of continuous extruding technology or a kind of all technology built up extruding technology or a kind of order extruding technology, those of ordinary skill in the art is known.

This term " thermoplastic " is interpreted as representing any thermoplastic polymer, comprises thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and also has their blend.Term " polymer " " be construed as represent homopolymers and copolymer (particularly binary or the copolymer of ternary) the two, such as, random copolymer, linear block copolymers, other block copolymer and graft copolymers etc.

The plastics of the plastics of this internal layer and this enhancement layer (and being preferably) can have identical character.When fuel tank, this is polyolefin normally.Term " polyolefin " is interpreted as referring to any olefin homo, anyly comprises the copolymer of at least two kinds of different alkene and any copolymer comprising the multiple unit derived from alkene of by weight at least 50%.Several polyolefin can also be used in the blend.More particularly, except the polyolefin of pure (virgin), this blend can also comprise a kind of blend of the polyolefin of the regeneration of a certain ratio or the multiple regeneration resin of a certain ratio, and this blend results from (i) and to grind the clout that the different phase manufacturing this multilayer storage tank or pipe obtains and/or (ii) regenerates the fuel tank terminated service life and process.This blend can also comprise a kind of plant origin polyolefin or from the reproducible source of another kind (biomaterial).

Preferably, this polyolefin is a kind of polyethylene.Very good result has been obtained by a kind of high density polyethylene (HDPE) (HDPE).

These plastics composites can comprise multiple conventional additives, as provide one (or more) stabilizing agent, lubricant, pigment and other " filler ", but one or more additives of internal layer do not have and strengthen effect and/or exist to make them not have a value of significantly impact to its mechanical property.

Term " enhancing " is construed as, in the context of the present invention, represent and comprise a mixture of a kind of fortifier or multiple fortifier, this or these fortifiers be in dispersion state (being namely in the form of " dissociate " particle mix with plastics, with as contrary in particle (fiber) that is knitting or that be wound around in weaving fiber or felt), be in and make it have the remarkable value affected for the mechanical property of composition.In this stage, differentiation should be made between (i) microcosmic filler/fortifier and (ii) nano-filled thing, for microcosmic filler/fortifier, the remarkable impact on these characteristics is obtained with high fill level (being typically greater than 10%), and for nano-filled thing, obtain the huge change for these characteristics with the strengthening of only a few percent.

Generally, these are fibre strengthening thing (carbon fiber, natural fiber, glass fibre etc.), beading (such as glass beading, beading hollow generally) or small pieces (such as, talcum, clay, imvite, vermiculite, expanded graphite, Graphene).They are fiber preferably.Certainly, except having except those fortifiers of significantly impact for the mechanical property of composition, it has been generally acknowledged that powder (carbon black, chalk, talcum, barium sulfate etc.) is not the fortifier within background of the present invention.In the context of the present invention, glass fibre and particularly shortly give good result with long glass fibre.For short fiber, good result has been obtained by dispersion, in HDPE, fiber (being specifically equipped with a kind of sizing agent and/or a kind of compatilizer, as PE-g-MAH) based on E type glass has the diameter between 10 and 20 μm and the initial length between 2 and 8mm.

According to a preferred variant, select glass fibre as reinforce, this reinforce is combined (preferably equably with a value particularly, usually by carrying out mixing to produce masterbatch pellet in an extruder) in an intermediate layer and very specifically in the layer produced by grinding as described above, this value is the 10%-50% contrast meter of the gross weight of this mixture (by weight with) or even 20%-40%, and the content of about 30% provides good result usually.

In fact, the applicant blow molding gone out to have between the internal layer of about 45% relative thickness (gross thickness relative to wall) and these 2 layers of pure PE outer field with 20% relative thickness accordingly based on pure HDPE ( 4261AG, density is 0.945g/cm ³and there is the HLMI of 6g/10min (190 DEG C/21.6kg)) the bottle being in single layer structure, and based on same HDPE but comprise one deck industry again abrasive, the bottle of 6 layers of storage tank as limited above.Applicant changes the content of glass fibre and in the latter end of this description, presents the characteristic observed accordingly in the table in several test.

Concrete, when it comprises at least one based on poly layer, preferably also comprise a barrier layer according to storage tank of the present invention and/or be preferably subject to a kind of surface treatment (such as: a kind of fluorination or a kind of sulfonation to its internal layer).Preferably, it comprises a barrier layer of being made up of a kind of thermoplastic equally, and this barrier layer is the non-reinforcing internal layer of storage tank, an intermediate layer also or between internal layer and enhancement layer normally.

Under the background of this variant of the present invention, operable barrier resin may have for any character known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, as long as its be a kind of molding technique with discussing polymer compatible mutually or copolymer.It can also be a kind of mixture of different blocking resin.In these operable trees refer to, be referred to polyamide or copolyamide or random ethylene/vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer especially.

Term " polyamide " be interpreted as referring to based on an amide units any homopolymers, comprise any copolymer of at least two kinds of different amide units and comprise any copolymer of the multiple unit derived from acid amides of by weight at least 50%.These amide units under this definition are rings by opening a ring type polyamide or what obtained by the polycondensation of dicarboxylic acids and diamines is inessential.Several polyamide can also use as a kind of blend.Example as operable polyamide can be mentioned (non-limiting): PA-6, PA-11, PA-12 and n-mXD6 (polyarylamide).PA-6 is normally preferred.

Favourable result has been obtained in following situation, wherein, this stop resin is EVOH and particularly between 2 layers of HDPE, (normally inserts the two-layer adhesive based on PE by 2 interfaces at EVOH/HDPE) to have an intermediate barrier layers based on EVOH.In following situation, also obtain favourable result, wherein, stopped that resin is the polyarylamide of a kind of n-mXD6 type of the internal layer forming this structure.

Comprise some additive stopping that this layer of resin can also comprise those of ordinary skill in the art and know, these additives can be or can not be polymer class, as stabilizing agent, lubricant etc.

Preferably, this layer comprising this stop resin is made up of stop resin substantially.

Usually (and when having HDPE and EVOH or HDPE and polyamide occasionally), this stop resin and the thermoplasticity resin of other layers of tank/pipe are not compatible mutually.Therefore, generally speaking, at least one deck or even two layers of adhesive is provided between one that contacts with it on barrier layer or 2 other layers.Alternatively or additionally, a kind of adhesive compatible mutually with this thermoplastic resin can be mixed with this resin.

Preferably, adhesive discussed above comprises the polyolefin of at least one functionalization.

This statement " polyolefin of functionalization " is interpreted as referring to except derived from any polyolefin also comprising multiple functional monomer unit except the unit of alkene.These functional monomer unit can be combined in polyolefin, are combined in main chain or are combined in side chain.They can also directly be combined in the skeleton of described main main chain and side chain, such as, by one or more functional monomer and this or these olefinic monomer being carried out copolymerization or can one or more functional monomer being caused after manufacturing polyolefin to be grafted on described chain.In this case, the polyolefinic blend of polyolefin/functionalization especially can be produced by reactive processing in gelling step included in the method manufacturing this storage tank or pipe in one single step.

In this variant of the present invention, these functional monomer unit are from carboxylic acid, dicarboxylic acids and select corresponding to the acid anhydrides of described dicarboxylic acids.Therefore, these unit are normally obtained by the copolymerization of at least one unsaturated monomer or grafting with these same functional groups.As the example of operable monomer, it is especially mentioned that acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid anhydride and itaconic anhydride.Preferably, these functional monomer unit result from copolymerization or the grafting of maleic anhydride.

The polyolefin of therefore described functionalization be for the ordinary skill in the art know and be commercially available.

Under polyolefin is a kind of poly situation, particularly advantageously the polyolefin of functionalization is made to become a kind of polyethylene by maleic anhydride (PE-g-MAH) grafting, that is, these functional monomer unit obtain on maleic anhydride graft to polyethylene.

Can advantageously comprise one or more layer additionally according to multilayer storage tank of the present invention or pipe, this additionally one or more layer comprises a kind of regenerated plastics, preferably as an intermediate layer (that is, the one decks between 2 other layers).

Statement " regenerated plastics " is interpreted as referring to the plastics being ground by one the clout obtained in the different phase manufacturing hollow body (specifically according to tank/pipe of the present invention) or obtain by grinding this type objects terminated service life.

In this variant, fortifier can be combined in this or these regenerated plastics layer.In order to do like this, it is exactly enough for from above-mentioned abrasive material, collecting these particles and they being mixed mutually with a kind of pellet comprising the masterbatch of filler and be then transported to by this mixture in an extruder of above-mentioned coextrusion-blow molding equipment.Alternatively, can by these again abrasive material for the production of a kind of masterbatch with desired fortifier composition.This variant is preferred, because it can make these abrasive materials be easily reused as much as possible.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of multilayer storage tank according to the present invention or pipe, this multilayer storage tank or pipe comprise 6 layers: based on an internal layer (I) of the HDPE of non-reinforcing, first adhesive phase (A1) being preferably based on PE-g-MAH, the layer (B) comprising a kind of barrier resin (being preferably EVOH), second adhesive phase (A2) being preferably based on PE-g-MAH, the layer (R) based on regenerating resin comprising a kind of fortifier (being preferably glass fibre) and a skin (E) based on HDPE.

In this embodiment, advantageously make the Relative distribution of thickness following (for the gross thickness of 1 to 10mm or even 3 to 7mm; Usually near 6mm): I:30%-50%, A1:1%-3%, B:1%-3%, A2:1%-3%, R:30%-60%, E:5%-20%.Advantageously use following structure (within several to percentage): the % number each in these layer of I/A1/B/A2/R/E being accounted for accordingly to general thickness is 39/2/2/2/45/10.

According to a specific embodiment, this layer of E (with atmosphere) comprises a kind of compound based on carbon black, for the object of carrying out protecting for UV radiation.

Also advantageously, the sandwich construction with 2 or 3 layers comprises: an adhesive phase of (interior) layer based on n-MXD6, a layer based on the HDPE (optionally comprising adhesive) strengthened and optional (if this HDPE layer does not comprise any adhesive).

The invention still further relates to as described above, as the purposes of a kind of tank/pipe of the fuel tank of motor vehicle driven by mixed power.This tank/pipe also can be used in conventional vehicles, wherein, obtained this humidification can be utilized to avoid using metal tape, prevent the creep of the lower part wall of storage tank when these metal tapes are used for generally on the bottom that storage tank is secured to vehicle body.

It should also be noted that, the humidification obtained by theme of the present invention can be known with other the use of fortifier combine, these fortifiers strips as mentioned above, attachment pin, inner fortifier (bar, separator), coated molded fabric etc., and the inside and outside fortifier of any other type.

The combination of the present invention and these known technologies makes it the size and/or the quantity that likely reduce attachment pin, inner fortifier (bar, separator), coated molded fabric etc.Therefore, make the minimize weight of final scheme and the swept volume of storage tank is maximized.

Claims

1. a fuel tank, comprise a kind of compound wall, this compound wall at least by based on the thermoplastic compounds strengthened a layer and be intended to contact with fuel and an internal layer based on a kind of thermoplastic compounds of non-reinforcing is formed, the thickness of wherein said internal layer is at least 20% of the thickness of described compound wall.

2. fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein, the thickness of described internal layer is at least 30% of the thickness of described compound wall.

3. fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein, the thickness of described internal layer is at least 40% of the thickness of described compound wall.

4. fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein, the thickness of described internal layer is 30% to 50% of the thickness of described compound wall.

5., according to the fuel tank one of Claims 1-4 Suo Shu, described fuel tank is molded by coextrusion-blow molding or common injection-welding and produces.

6. according to the fuel tank one of item Claims 1-4 Suo Shu, wherein, the thermoplastic compounds of described enhancing comprises the mixture of thermoplastic and a kind of fortifier or multiple fortifier, and described fortifier is in the state of dispersion, and its content is greater than 10%.

7. fuel tank according to claim 6, wherein, the content of described fortifier is 10%-50%, or 20%-40%.

8. fuel tank according to claim 6, wherein, described fortifier comprises: fiber, and described fiber comprises carbon fiber, natural fiber or glass fibre; Beading, described beading comprises glass beading or beading hollow generally; Or small pieces, described small pieces comprise talcum, clay, imvite, vermiculite, expanded graphite or Graphene.

9. fuel tank according to claim 8, wherein, described fortifier is the short glass fiber of dispersion, and its diameter is 10 μm-20 μm, and initial length is 2mm-8mm.

10. the fuel tank according to any one in above claim is as the purposes of the fuel tank of motor vehicle driven by mixed power.