DE10102699A1 - Method and device for filling, cleaning and emptying large volume gas containers in particular lta aeronautical devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for filling large volume gas containers, in particular LTA aeronautical devices with a process gas, whereby the gas container (1) is first filled with an auxiliary gas, having a density greater than or less than the process gas, then the actual process gas for filling is introduced into the gas container (1), such that essentially no mixing with the auxiliary gas occurs. In the case where the process gas has a lower density than the auxiliary gas the process gas is introduced into the upper region (2) of the gas container (1) and the auxiliary gas, or a mixture of auxiliary gas and process gas is simultaneously bled from the lower region (18) of the gas container (1).; In the opposite case, where the process gas has higher density than the auxiliary gas, the process gas is introduced into the lower region (18) of the gas container (1) and the auxiliary gas or a mixture of the auxiliary gas and the process gas is simultaneously bled from the upper region (2) of the gas container (1). The process gas is stored in at least one pressurised gas reservoir (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) and/or in at least one low pressure storage device (43), such that a sufficient amount of process gas is available for a rapid filling of the gas container (1). The invention further relates to a method for cleaning and/or emptying large volume gas containers and a device, in particular for carrying out the above method.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for filling large-volume Gas containers, a process for cleaning gas in a large volume Contained process gas, a process for emptying with process gas filled large-volume gas containers and a device for filling, Rei nigen, and / or emptying a gas amount of a large volume gas container. Large-volume gas containers include in particular LTA aviation devices, d. H. Aircraft, e.g. B. balloons or airships in which at least 10% of the Flying or floating required lift due to static buoyancy - according to the Archimedes principle - is generated, d. H. through a process gas that lighter than the surrounding atmosphere, usually air. LTA stands for "Ligh ter than air ", so lighter than air. In contrast, with all other flights devices the buoyancy generated by dynamic buoyancy.

In the past few years, the forgotten airship has become topical again become, with an increasing number of gas balloon projects that are not to be confused with the so-called hot air balloons men were. LTA air devices filled with helium have been proposed conditions for a variety of uses, especially for the transport of heavy loads are to be used. Of course, such LTA Aviation equipment first with the gas that provides buoyancy, e.g. B. helium be filled. In the present patent application this is for the filling provided gas of the gas container referred to as process gas. Is more precise with Process gas is the gas or gas mixture designated after the completion of the Filling the gas container for the intended use of the gas container ters remains.

There are various modes of operation for LTA aircraft, including the one Normal operation and trial operation. In trial operation it can happen that  the LTA aircraft is not operating at the nominal payload, so the Buoyancy requirement is lower than in normal operation, normal operation. Provided As a rule, the payload is not replaced by ballast Requirement for lifting gas. In such a case, the operator has the choice of aviation either with a mixture of helium and air or another gas to operate mixture so that it has the desired lift for its own weight of the LTA aircraft, i.e. without a payload. In this context appears e.g. B. a mixture of helium, oxygen and air makes sense, in which the total oxygen content corresponds to approx. 21 vol .-%, which means that the air for men is breathable. After the trial operation, the process gas cleanliness must be of the LTA aircraft to the nominal purity for normal operation to create the necessary buoyancy. For this purpose, in usually pure process gas supplied while the process gas mixture abge sucks. Usually the process gas is so valuable that a subsequent cleaning of the process gas mixture appears reasonable.

In normal operation, after a certain operating time in the LTA Aviation equipment present process gas contaminants that a mine cause buoyancy. For example, contamination corresponds to Helium filling with a 5% share of air and 5% less buoyancy compared to a filling with almost 100% pure helium. Therefore the Pro Zegas filling of the LTA aircraft is cleaned at appropriate intervals become.

Corresponding maintenance work must also be carried out on the LTA aircraft, for which purpose the LTA aircraft must be emptied. In the case of small and medium-sized LTA aviation devices with up to 6,000 m ³ gas collection capacity, filling or refilling is usually carried out from gas cylinder transport vehicles, so-called "tube trailers". For large LTA aircraft with a gas capacity of well over 6,000 m ³ , z. B. 400,000 m ³ , it was previously impossible to set this amount of gas in a reasonably short time available. The considerable downtimes required for filling, cleaning and refilling the LTA aircraft, however, call into question the economics of this transport system.

A method for filling large-volume gas containers has already been especially of airships, with a process gas, proposed, in which the Gas containers first with an auxiliary gas that has a higher or lower density than the process gas has, is filled and then actually to be filled Process gas is so calmly introduced into the gas container that none substantial mixing with the auxiliary gas takes place, in the case of a lower Density of the process gas compared to the auxiliary gas the process gas in the upper loading Rich introduced the gas container and at the same time in the lower area of the gas extracted the auxiliary gas or a mixture of auxiliary gas and process gas vice versa in the case of a higher density of the process gas against above the auxiliary gas, the process gas in the lower region of the gas container brings and at the same time in the upper part of the gas container the auxiliary gas or A mixture of auxiliary gas and process gas is suctioned off.

Auxiliary gas is to be understood as the gas or gas mixture which over is filled in the gas container in order to z. B. the gas container in his Bring shape and z. B. to carry out pressure tests without doing most of the time to have to use more expensive process gas. Also in the case of LTA aircraft the auxiliary gas is usually air, which is available in sufficiently large quantities The process gas is not made available at short notice in any quantities that can. By filling with auxiliary gas and then displacing the Auxiliary gas with process gas ensures that the outer shell essentially remains dimensionally stable, d. that is, the sheath is subjected to less alternating loads because it is not drained off so that it can subsequently be filled with process gas. Finally, in the case of air as an auxiliary gas, people within the gas can work more while it is filled with air, without this being expensive Must wear breathing equipment.

Furthermore, a method for cleaning the gas in a large volume Contained process gas proposed, in which the process gas with a higher purity than the process gas already contained in the gas container is calmly placed in the gas container that no substantial mixing with the contaminated process gases located in the gas container, wherein in  In the case of contamination leading to an increase in the density of the process gas of the process gas, the process gas with a higher purity in the upper range introduced the gas container and at the same time in the lower region of the gas container ters contaminated process gas is sucked off, while vice versa in the case of a contamination of the pro leading to a lowering of the density of the process gas zeßgases, the process gas with the higher purity in the lower range of the gas introduced and at the same time in the upper area of the gas container cleaned process gas is sucked off.

Finally, a process for emptying process gas filled has already been made large-volume gas containers proposed, in which the process gas from the Gas container is sucked off and at the same time auxiliary gas with higher or lower Density as the process gas is so calmly introduced into the gas container that there is no substantial mixing with the process gas, in the case of a lower density of the process gas compared to the auxiliary gas in the process gas sucked off the upper area of the gas container and at the same time in the lower area the gas tank, the auxiliary gas is introduced, while vice versa in the case of a higher density of the process gas compared to the auxiliary gas the process gas in the bottom sucked ren area of the gas container and at the same time in the upper area of the Gas tank the auxiliary gas is introduced.

The for the filling of very large gas containers with a gas capacity of z. B. 400,000 m ^{3 of} required process gas is preferably, as suggested before, provided via high-pressure containers and / or liquid storage containers, since a direct supply via gas transport vehicles or via generating systems or pipelines is no longer economically feasible due to the high quantity currently required.

However, the previously proposed, above-mentioned methods have essential disadvantages. As stored under high pressure for filling the gas container Process gas used is used for the compression of the contaminated process gases has a compression factor of, for example, 8 MPa at a relative large compressor capacity in relation to the volume flow required. Farther the high-pressure storage tubes alternate with pure and impure process gas  operated what the possible available quality of the cleaned, respectively transported pure process gas in relation to the available purity min due to the fact that the geometric volume of the high pressure accumulator is always the same regardless of the degree of utilization. This applies in particular for the gas filling of the gas container with process gas. If the gas pressure store with a contaminated process gas with a purity of z. B. 10% fills and then emptied for cleaning, then again with pure Pro To be filled with gas, there is a process gas purity in the gas pressure accumulator at an operating pressure of z. B. 8 MPa in the filled state and one operation printing of z. B. 100 kPa in the emptied state, of a maximum of 98.9%. The only Possibility of using the containers emptied of impure process gas with respect to the finally use available purity of process gas high efficiency there is an additional evacuation of these containers under vacuum, after the contaminated process gas has been completely removed.

The compressors required for the compression preferably have a ver relatively small capacity in terms of volume flow compared to volu flow rates that are necessary for filling the gas container. The increase the relatively modest capacity would lead to enormously expensive compressors, where both the electrical power requirement in compressor operation is extreme would be high and in particular the peak power consumption for starting the comm is correspondingly large and therefore also incurs corresponding costs gently.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of a method for To provide filling, cleaning and / or emptying of gas containers, Filled, cleaned and / or emptied in a very short time with the very large gas container can be and which is particularly economical while avoiding a ho hen energy consumption and in particular a high peak power consumption can be carried out.

Furthermore, the object of the present invention is a device for filling, cleaning and / or emptying a gas volume of a large volume Gas container, in particular for performing at least one of the methods  for filling, cleaning and / or emptying a gas volume of a large volume To create a gas container.

These tasks are solved by claims 1, 2, 3 and 17, respectively.

The present invention has a number of significant advantages. Thereby, that the process gas in at least one low pressure storage device between is stored, there is a sufficient amount of process gas for rapid filling of the gas container provided. This at least one low-pressure chip chereinrichtung allows the inclusion of a sufficient amount of gas for loading filling of large-volume gas containers, in particular LTA air devices, the Zwi Storage of contaminated process gas during the filling process of the gas container and then expediently by means of a gas cleaner supply system cleaned and back to a storage as cleaned process gas is carried out and a corresponding emptying of large-volume gasbe hold, the need for high-compression compressors, which together a corresponding current and current peak with the overall process need consumption, avoided in relation to the total available capacity can be.

When cleaning the contaminated process gas contained in the gas container at least one low-pressure storage device and additionally at least one Gas pressure accumulator or at least one liquid gas storage used, of which in each case at least one low-pressure storage device or at least one gas Accumulator is filled with contaminated process gas, while at least a gas pressure accumulator and / or at least one liquid gas accumulator and / or at least one low-pressure storage device clean or cleaned process gas is removed to fill the gas container.

In the process for emptying process gas, the process gas is at least a gas pressure accumulator and / or in at least one low pressure accumulator direction and / or after liquefaction in at least one liquid gas storage stored.  

The process gas with such a low flow is particularly advantageous introduced speed that turbulent mixing as low as possible remains or is almost completely avoided. This reduces the mixing zone between auxiliary gas and process gas, so that a correspondingly smaller amount of contaminated process gas during the filling process or cleaning process.

Also in the process of emptying the large volume filled with process gas The auxiliary gas becomes gas container with such a low flow rate introduced that turbulent mixing is kept as low as possible. Here too there is the advantage of the smallest possible mixed gas zone between Process gas and auxiliary gas when emptying the gas container.

The method according to the invention can be used advantageously in particular for gas containers with a gas volume of more than 20,000 m ³ . When filling such gas containers, the process gas is preferably introduced into the gas container in about 10 to 1000 hours with a volume flow of at least 500 m ³ _n / h. When cleaning the process gas contained in the gas container, the cleaned process gas is advantageously introduced into the gas container with a volume flow of at least 500 m ³ _n / h and contaminated process gas is suctioned off.

Furthermore, an auxiliary gas is advantageously used in principle, the one has higher or lower density than the process gas, the difference of Density of auxiliary gas and process gas is preferably at least 15%. in the especially when filling or emptying LTA aircraft is used as auxiliary gas a gas or gas mixture with the same or higher density than air is used. in the In the simplest case, the auxiliary gas consists of air. The gas is expediently container is completely filled with the auxiliary gas during the first filling before the Pro zeßgas is introduced.

A gas or gas is advantageously used as the process gas for LTA aircraft mixture with lower density than air, especially helium, hydrogen or a Helium-hydrogen mixture used.  

Furthermore, in the method according to the invention, this is advantageously carried out in min least a low-pressure storage device and / or in the gas pressure stores intermediate stored contaminated process gas by means of adsorption, rectification and / or selective membrane permeation and purified as a purified process gas again in the low pressure storage device and / or in the gas pressure stores and / or stored in at least one liquefied gas storage after liquefaction and / or the gas container directly after the cleaning process fed.

Adsorption means that preferably at least one com component of a supplied gas mixture on flowed or flowed through Surfaces of certain bodies, mostly under an overpressure, preferably on sticks (= adsorbs), while at least one other component of this supplied gas mixture preferably not adsorbed on these surfaces, but, apart from the loss of pressure and relatively small amounts, the adsorb if necessary, unhindered z. B. by a bed of such Body flows through. As soon as the major part of the existing surface surface, ideally the entire surface, a bed of bodies with moles is occupied, the reverse process is initiated, the so-called Desorption, d. that is, by increasing the temperature and / or by lowering it of the pressure, the adsorbed gas molecules with an opposite Gas stream of "preferably not adsorbed gas species is" purged ". This process is repeated cyclically.

With rectification, the fractional distillation, i.e. H. a multi-stage distilla tion understood. In general, the rectification of gases becomes very deep Temperatures required, as a distillation only when presenting an intermediate phase Sengemisches (liquid / gaseous) is possible at all. Therefore, one will enter cooling gas mixture to the boiling temperature before it is separated can. Essentially, the driving effect of distillation is based on the fact that the equilibrium concentration of substance mixtures in the liquid and in the differs gaseous phase, so that in this case there is a concentration cases there. This flows in a vertical rectification column Gas mixture gradually upwards, while the liquid mixture gradually  flows down, the material flows in each stage, even if it is z. B. in the case of bulk fillings are theoretical stages, are in contact. closing Lich you get a relatively pure gas at the top of the column, i.e. at the top, in the bottom of the column, i.e. below, a relatively pure liquid. Under It may be necessary to use several rectification columns under different conditions Press to finally get the desired clean for each component to receive.

Selective membrane permeation means the following. By a porö se membrane wall, e.g. B. a hollow fiber membrane, diffuses due to the so-called Knudsen diffusion and due to a pressure difference between the Membrane walls at least one component of a gas mixture preferably through the membrane wall, usually also the "permeate" preferably at least one other component of a gas mixture does not diffuse through the wall, mostly also the "retentate".

The total volume of all low-pressure storage devices is advantageously at least 10% of the volume of the gas container at the respective location.

After filling the gas container, the gas is of great advantage either from the upper area of the gas container using at least one Vo Lumen delivery device via at least one line in the lower area promoted the gas container and introduced into the surrounding gas. This The process step can also be reversed if the gas is introduced at the bottom and is thus brought into the upper area. This makes one significant allows increased mixing of the gas in the gas container. Because already Past experience with large airships runs the risk that segregated zones such as air in the lower area and helium in the upper area Area of the airship by the different specific weight and by induced flows of the different gas mixture fractions to be uncontrolled weight distribution in the airship. For example "sloshing" the heavier air into an area of the airship, for example in the bow area, which causes it to sink and the rear area to move upwards moved.  

Due to the mixing or homogenization of the gas or the ver Different gases in the gas container can cause such "sloshing" of heavier gas quantities are avoided.

The process gas or the mixture of process gas and Auxiliary gas can be heated with a heater so that the outer shell of the gas container ters within the permissible operating temperature range. That he warmed gas can perform various functions. In particular, can Snow accumulating on the outer shell due to the heating of the helium or defrosting ice. The heating power can be measured in this way and adjusted or regulated that the temperature of the wrapping material permissible operating temperature does not exceed. On the other hand, through the Hei tion and appropriate regulation to ensure that the temperature of the Envelope material does not fall below the permissible operating temperature.

Furthermore, the process gas or the mixture advantageously becomes process gas and auxiliary gas cooled with a cooling unit, so that the outer shell of the Gasbe container is within the permissible operating temperature range and ge if necessary, condensed water collected and pumped out that can. This can be done, for example, in ballast tanks of the airship the airship will not be too light, or, conversely, take place outdoors to lift to gain during the flight or to cut the gas during maintenance condition; finally, buoyancy can also be affected by cooling (decreased). The cooling capacity can be dimensioned and adjusted in this way or be regulated that the temperature of the casing material the permissible loading drive temperature does not fall below or exceed.

Furthermore, the respective gas is advantageously introduced into the surrounding gas with at least one free jet, the angle α of the exiting tendency gas of the emerging free jet between 10 ° and 90 ° above the exit surface of the respective free jet, and at least a free jet in the exit plane has such a mass flow that in the direction of flow of at least this free jet in the area in which the  local process gas concentration of the mean process gas concentration of the total corresponds to the container, one from the mass flow of the free jet and the mas suction of the surrounding gas resulting speed of min at least 0.1 m / s in the central longitudinal axis of the free jet in question.

In this context it should be noted that with a free jet the Flow of a fluid is referred to, in the case of a gas, initially kana lized and through a pipe outlet opening or a nozzle into a free or ge closed environment, e.g. B. the gas container, exits, in the case of a ge the enclosed volume of the gas container least corresponds to the volume that in a period of one hour in the Gas container has flowed in and / or returned (recirculated).

As already explained above, the present invention comprises a device for Filling, cleaning and / or emptying a gas volume of a large volume gas container, in particular LTA aircraft, and also serves in particular for Carrying out at least one of the methods described above. The device has a gas container which has an upper region and a lower region has, and has at least one feed line or at least one feed tion channel for process gas for the supply of process gas in the upper or lower area, at least one supply channel for the supply of auxiliary gas in the upper or lower area, at least one discharge channel for discharge of pure and / or contaminated process gas and / or auxiliary gas from the upper one or lower area of the gas container and at least one gas pressure accumulator and / or at least one low-pressure storage device which is suitable for the two storage serve a sufficient amount of process gas, while still a cleaning device for cleaning the contaminated process gas is seen, and wherein at least one gas delivery device is provided.

The low-pressure storage device is advantageously of membrane construction an at least double-layer membrane, at least one Outer shell and at least one gas cell or at least one ballonet hen that is inside the outer shell and for receiving the  pure or contaminated process gas or an auxiliary gas, in particular air, serves.

It is advantageous between the at least one gas cell or between the at least one ballonet and the outer shell at least one space, by a blower device with auxiliary gas, in particular air or with pure or contaminated process gas can be filled, especially around the internal pressure of the Low pressure storage device and thus regulate its dimensional stability.

Furthermore, the volume of the at least one gas cell or of the at least one balloon variable, the volumes of the gas cell or the balloon and the air space between the gas cell or balloon and Au the outer shell are essentially constant.

It is also advantageous that in the presence of several gas cells or ballonets in the gas cells or ballonets within an outer shell by means of separating devices, such as partitions, cross-tensioned cables, ropes or networks from each other are separate that the gas cells or ballonets do not interfere with each other can. In this way, an optimal spread of the gas cells or ballonets becomes one created on the other hand and wear of the gas cells or ballonets largely prevented by rubbing against each other.

In an alternative embodiment, the low-pressure storage device and / or the gas container is formed from an at least single-layer membrane be, with an internal membrane suspended in the area of the equator is such that it is dependent on the degree of filling of process gas and Auxiliary gas each up or on the inner wall of the outer shell the inner wall of the outer shell and the bottom can lay down or can take a position in between, the sum of the volumes of Process gas and auxiliary gas is substantially constant, and being one of the gas spaces can be filled with gas, in particular air, by the blower device.  

It is ensured that each low-pressure storage device by a fan is supplied, with a blower also several or all low pressure accumulators can supply directions.

The flow rate of the Pro is advantageous at at least any point zeßgases and / or the contaminated process gas and / or the auxiliary gas with at least one ultrasonic measuring device can be detected. This allows you to be independent of the density of the gas or gas mixture flowing through determine which flow rates have already flowed.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention advantageously points to the standard tion of the flow measurement in the area of the respective measuring point Pressure measuring device and / or a temperature measuring device and / or at least to determine the actual content of process gas a component measuring device, such as an oxygen measuring device for implied determination of the helium content in a helium / air mixture, in Be range of the respective measuring point, provided.

These devices can be used to normalize the flow measurement conditions in order to balance the gas quantities charged and withdrawn Degree of filling and the average purity of the process gas in the gas container or in a Determine low pressure storage device or in a gas pressure storage can, in turn, for the most efficient process management in particular which represent important process parameters with regard to cleaning.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention advantageously has a process gas homogenization with which an essentially homogeneous mixing of the various gas components in the gas container.

The homogenization device advantageously has at least one gas outlet opening, which is formed from at least one nozzle, the nozzle so is formed that at least one free jet from a nozzle opening in a Ge speed of at least 0.1 m / s results in a distance that at the on the location of the homogenization device the distance between the floor area  of the gas container or the ceiling area of the gas container and the location the actual concentration of the averaged process gas concentration in the Ge total volume, but no more than 90% of the distance between the installation location of the Ho mogenization device and the wall in the direction of each Free jet corresponds.

The homogenization device can be used to homogenize the gas mixture concentration after filling the container in order to the undesirable differences in density between the areas different Reduce or eliminate composition within the container.

According to the invention, the device has a heater and / or a cooling unit which can preferably be integrated in the homogenization device, or can be outside of it, the heating and / or the Cooling unit are designed so that they do not contain any substances in regular operation any state of matter in the homogenizer or in the gas Emit containers directly or indirectly.

Furthermore, the outer shell of the low-pressure storage device is advantageously for discharging electrostatic charges and / or electrical currents with a Grid surrounded by metal.

It is advantageous to have a shut-off device between the gas container and the environment and in provided within a frame or a sleeve which is used for gas-tight sealing serves the outside of the gas container.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention has a special connection or Loading device on. The channel-shaped line for process gas and / or Auxiliary gas is while largely maintaining the nominal cross-sectional area flexibly and freely stored so that possible movements of the gas container arise when filling, emptying and / or cleaning the process gas be compared that the stresses in the material of the outer shell of the Gasbe are within the permissible operating range and so that the required th volume flows can be displayed.  

Furthermore, the free storage of the supply or discharge line is advantageous trained at least one cable, which has at least one at least deflected at least one rail leading role to at least one counterweight becomes. This makes a particularly simple suspension device for the feed or Drain line reached.

Alternatively, the free storage of the supply or discharge line can be achieved by means of at least a spring, which has at least one roller leading on a rail is stored.

It is also advantageous that the supply or discharge line for the corresponding gas with a filler cap via a tightly closing detachable connection with the or discharge line is connected, and the filler cap in turn with the frame or the sleeve is tightly connected.

The filling scoop is advantageously made of an at least single-layer membrane assembled and preferably foldable.

Furthermore, the filling scoop of the device according to the invention has a reinforcement kungseinrichtung, such as a metal ring or metal spiral ring, so that in Vorlie The filler cap remains essentially dimensionally stable due to negative pressure.

A support grid is advantageously provided in the frame or the sleeve where the filler cap can be removed.

Furthermore, a rain or watertight closing lid is advantageous provided that by means of a closure device, for. B. a screw cap or a bayonet lock, each with a frame or a sleeve ver is bound.

Further details, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent derive from the following description of exemplary embodiments under Be access to the drawings. It shows:  

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an inventive device for filling, cleaning and / or emptying of a large gas container in a schematic representation;

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the low pressure accumulator from FIG. 1;

3a shows a further embodiment of the low-pressure accumulator with an additional membrane at the equator in a first operating position.

Fig. 3b shows an embodiment like that of Fig. 3a, but in a different operating position;

3c shows an embodiment as that of Figure 3a and 3b, but as derunm processing in a different operating condition of the low pressure spoke pure Rich..;

Figure 4 is an illustration of the distribution of various gases in the Großvo lumigen gas container.

Figure 5a is a schematic representation of a homogenizer in a gas tank or a low pressure accumulator.

FIG. 5b shows an alternative embodiment of the homogenization device for illustrating FIG. 5a;

Fig. 5c in a schematic view an enlarged view of the homo gnenisiereinrichtung of Fig. 5b;

FIG. 5d shows a top view of the homogenization device from FIG. 5c;

FIG. 5e shows an alternative embodiment of the homogenization device to the embodiment according to FIG. 5c;

FIG. 5f shows a top view of the homogenization device from FIG. 5e; FIG.

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a feed device of the gas container;

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of a loading device similar to Fig. 6, but with an alternative feed and discharge channel suspension.

In the figures, the same elements of the device have the same reference numerals designated.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1, in which a complete system or device for filling, cleaning and emptying large-volume gas containers 1 is shown in a schematic manner. The gas container 1 can, for example, be an LTA aviation device, the gas capacity of the gas container 1 being, for example, 400,000 m ³ _n .

The gas container 1 has an outer shell 51 which, for example, has the shape of an airship. In an upper region 2 of the gas container, a gas distribution device 52 is preferably provided before, which can be fed via a line 3 ge. The gas distribution device 52 also serves to extract gas from the gas container 1 , so that the line 3 has both the function of a supply line and a discharge line and is channel-shaped.

In the gas container 1 there is also a lower area 18 , in which a gas distribution device 54 is preferably provided before, which is connected to a line 19 in which gas can be supplied and removed.

In the gas container 1 , in particular in the case of LTA aviation devices, a ballonet 56 can also be provided, which is connected via a line 57 to the exterior of the gas container 1 . Through line 57 or a corresponding opening (not shown), for example, air can be introduced into ballonet 56 via a suitable blower device (not shown). The function of the ballonet 56 is described in more detail below.

The device according to the invention also has gas stores 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 and 9 , which are helium pressure stores in the special embodiment of the present invention. The gas stores 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 and 9 are used to hold pressurized filling gas for the gas container 1 and are sized or numbered so that they have a sufficient storage volume for filling the large-volume gas container.

The device according to the invention can furthermore have one or more mobile liquid gas containers 10 and one or more stationary liquid gas containers 70 . The liquefied gas, for example helium or hydrogen, is then evaporated via an evaporator 11 and is passed on via a gas line 72 and a line 12 in the direction of the gas container 1 .

The process of filling the gas container is first described below ben.

It is used in the present case as process gas helium and as auxiliary gas air. Before the LTA aircraft (gas container 1 ) is filled with helium, it is first completely filled with air. For this purpose, air is sucked in at A and introduced into the gas container 1 via lines 20 d, 20 b via one or more air blowers 21 and via lines 20 c, 26 a, 26 , 20 and 19 . Only after the gas container 1 has been completely filled with air is helium introduced into the LTA aviation device via one or more internal, as shown in FIG. 1, or external gas distribution device (s) 52 . At the same time, the air is withdrawn from the gas container 1 via one or more gas distribution device (s) 54 and the lines 19 , 20 , 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 27 , 27 a by means of one or more Ge blowers 21 and via the opening B derived into the open. With this method it is ensured that the gas container 1 always remains filled to a controlled extent, and changes in tension in the casing 51 of the gas container can be minimized.

To fill the gas container 1 with helium, the necessary amount of helium gas must first be made available. For this purpose, gas pressure accumulators 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 and 9 , which are designed as helium pressure accumulators, and optionally liquid gas storage device (s) ( 10 , 70 ) and / or low pressure storage device (s) ( 43 ) are provided, which are gradually filled with helium which is delivered by means of helium transport vehicles.

For the delivery of the helium, trucks are preferably provided in the present exemplary embodiment which have mobile liquid helium containers 10 with a capacity of 40,000 liters (11,000 US gallons). With each delivery, the liquid helium container 10 is emptied and the liquid helium is passed through an evaporator 11 , whereupon the gaseous helium is fed by means of lines 12 , 13 , 13 a, 13 b, 23 a to compressors 14 which pressurize the gaseous helium Compress at least 500 kPa. With a delivery volume flow of at least 100 m ³ _n / h, the gaseous helium is supplied by means of a line 15 , 15 a, 15 b, 15 c to compressors 16 which further compress the helium to a pressure of at least 1 MPa. Finally, the highly compressed helium is fed via a line 17 a and 17 and via line 17 b, 17 c, 17 d, 17 e and 17 f to the respective helium pressure accumulator 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 and 9 , depending on whether the respective helium pressure accumulator still has free capacity.

Alternatively, helium can be delivered in gas bottle transport vehicles, so-called "tube trailers" 28 , which usually have a delivery pressure of 20 to 30 MPa. The helium is then throttled via a line 34 and, if necessary, via a pressure reducer 29 to the pressure level of the line 17 behind it, and the helium is supplied to one of the helium pressure accumulators 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 or 9 in accordance with the purity class supplied, which is still above has a free capacity for the delivered cleanliness class. As soon as the pressure from the gas bottle transport vehicle 28 corresponds to the pressure in the pressure line, the valve is switched over, so that the helium is then led via lines 34 and 32 and a pressure control valve 33 upstream of the compressor 16 . Each of the helium pressure accumulators has a gas capacity of at least 5,000 m ³ _n . The helium gas is stored in the helium pressure accumulator at a nominal operating pressure of at least 1 MPa. To fill the gas container 1 with a gas capacity of 400,000 m ³ _n , the helium pressure accumulators 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 and 9 must be sufficiently filled with helium so that the filling can take place quickly. If necessary, the helium pressure accumulator can also be supplemented by liquid helium containers and / or gas bottle transport vehicles. Thus, at least one flues, as to Fig. 1 seen sigheliumcontainer or container 70 which contains the liquid helium, which stands for the filling of the gas container 1 is available.

While the helium pressure reservoir can be filled from liquid helium containers or containers 10 or 70 or gas bottle transport vehicles 28 over a longer period of time, the helium pressure reservoir 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 required for filling the gas is immediately available after the helium pressure reservoir is filled Available.

Via supply lines 4 , 13 b, 13 and 3 , the helium from the helium pressure accumulators 5 , 6 , 7 and 8 is supplied to the gas distribution device 52 , which is arranged in the upper region 2 of the gas container 1 inside or outside it. The gas distribution device 52 can consist, for example, of sieve tubes which cover approximately 40% of the upper height of the gas container. Alternatively, a number of circular filling openings can also be provided. About the Gasver sub-device 52 , the helium is calmly introduced into the gas container 1 . Care is taken to ensure that there is little or no turbulent gas flow inside the gas container. At the same time via a gas distribution device 54 located in the gas container 1 gas, namely auxiliary gas, pro zeßgas or a gas mixture auxiliary gas process gas is withdrawn from the mixing zone from the lower region 18 of the gas container 1 , whereby care is also taken to ensure that there is none or only if possible there is too little turbulence in the gas volume of the LTA aircraft and this remains inflated to the full. The amount of gas withdrawn via the gas distribution device 54 is replaced by the amount of helium introduced by the gas distribution device 52 without a substantial mixing of the supplied helium with the gas in the gas container 1 occurring. Withdrawn gas quantities, which predominantly contain air or air-helium mixtures which, owing to the low helium concentration, cannot be passed through a gas purification system 24 , are sub-device 18 , the lines 19 , 20 , 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 27 and 27 a by means of the air blower 21 and blown through the opening B into the atmosphere.

Withdrawn gas quantities which contain a sufficient helium concentration for a gas cleaning process are fed via lines 35 , 35 a, 35 b, 35 c and 37 to a low-pressure storage device 43 , either from the gas distribution device 54 via lines 19 , 20 , 20 a, 20 b, 20 c and 27 are fed to line 35 , or are withdrawn via gas distribution device 52 and are thus fed via line 3 , 13 a, 20 , 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 22 and 27 to line 35 become. Both the blower 21 and the blower 36 serve as the transport conveyor.

The low-pressure storage device 43 also serves as an intermediate storage device for the respective gas, in particular the process gas to be cleaned, which is passed on for cleaning from the low-pressure storage device 43 via lines 37 , 40 , 35 a with the aid of the blower 36 and via the lines 35 b, 41 , 26 , 20 , 22 , 22 a, 23 a to the compressor 14 and via the lines 23 b, 23 c, 25 b and 25 of the gas cleaning device 24 is supplied.

After cleaning in the gas cleaning device 24 , the cleaned gas is fed via line 23 , line 23 a, the compressors 14 and from there via lines 15 , 15 a, 15 b, 15 c to the compressor 16 , from where it is supplied via the Lines 15 e, 17 a, 17 into a free pressure accumulator for pure helium, as one of the gas pressure accumulators 5 to 9 is supplied via one of the lines 17 b to 17 f.

In the course of the operation of an LTA aircraft, contamination of the process gas occurs, among other things, through diffusion processes, which causes an undesirable reduction in pressure. When a maximum air pollution, for example 5% in the helium filling of the LTA aircraft, which corresponds to a 5% reduction in buoyancy, is reached, the gas content of the LTA aircraft must be cleaned to, for example, at least 98% helium Helium is of sufficient purity from one of the helium pressure stores 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 or 9 with, for example, up to 40,000 m ³ _n / h via one of the corresponding lines 4 a to 4 e, lines 4 , 13 b, 13 and 3 and the gas distribution device 52 soothes in the upper region 2 of the gas container 1 and, at the same time, contaminated helium via the gas distribution device 54 in the lower region 18 of the gas container 1 and via the lines 19 , 20 , 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 27 , 35 and 37 abge sucks by means of the blower 21 and optionally the blower 36 and fed to the low pressure storage device 43 and stored there intermediate. If the blower 21 has a sufficient delivery capacity, the blower 36 can also be bypassed through the bypass line 40 .

As can further be seen from FIG. 1, there are usually shutoff valves 55 in the corresponding positions shown in FIG. 1 in the respective lines in order to enable a selective shutoff of a flow through this line or a desired opening of the flow through this line.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, a low-pressure storage device 43 is shown. Depending on the desired capacity of the entire device or system, several low-pressure storage devices 43 can also be provided, the low-pressure storage device 43 being described in more detail below.

However, in the event that the capacity of the Niederdruckspeicherein devices 43 is not fully sufficient, the helium pressure accumulator 5 to 9 via the corresponding lines and the compressors 14 and 16 are supplied to a corresponding, empty helium pressure accumulator and stored there. In such a case, that is, if the contaminated helium from the gas container 1 has a purity of, for example, approximately 95%, the total contamination in the helium pressure accumulator is not problematic since the contaminated helium has a purity of at least 95%, so that If the helium pressure accumulator is emptied later and refilled once at an operating pressure of, for example, 8 MPa, the resulting purity is, for example, 98.95 to 99.93% (the purity of the purified or pure helium during filling is, for example, 99 up to 99.999%).

For filling the gas container 1 of the LTA aircraft, helium pressure stores 5 to 9 are gradually emptied and preferably the low-pressure storage device 43 and, if appropriate, additionally one or more of the helium pressure stores 9 to 5 (preferably in this order) again with contaminated helium filled the gas tank 1 . In this way, the gas content of the gas container 1 can be completely replaced, so that at the end of the exchange process, the gas container 1 is completely filled with helium of sufficient purity, while the low-pressure storage device and, if appropriate, the helium storage are completely or partially filled with contaminated helium, at least at least one helium pressure accumulator remains empty. It can thus particularly advantageously be a quick exchange of the gas filling of the gas container 1 , and the actual cleaning of the helium at a later point in time, while the LTA aircraft is again in the intended operation.

To clean the helium, the contaminated helium is taken from the Niederdruckspei chereinrichtung 43 and optionally one or more of the Heliumdruckspei cher 5 to 9 , and supplied to the helium cleaning system 24 via the corresponding lines. The helium cleaning system is advantageously designed such that it can clean the helium from a degree of purity of at least 10% to at least 95% at a throughput of, for example, at least 100 m ³ _n / h. The helium cleaned in this way is fed via lines 23 and 23 a to the compressors 14 and further via lines 15 , 15 a, 15 b and 15 c to the compressors 16 , where the gas is compressed to a pressure of at least 1 MPa. The compressed gas is then fed via line 17 and the corresponding line 17 b to 17 f to one or more of the helium pressure accumulators 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 and 9 . In this way be drained gradually optionally filled with contaminated helium pressure accumulator 5 to 9, the purified helium in the helium purification plant 24 and the helium pressure accumulator 5 to 9 as the filled with purified helium. Since, due to the size of the various gas containers 1, on the one hand, and the different degrees of contamination of the helium, on the other hand, different gas exchange quantities are present during operation, missing pure helium is additionally supplied to the respective helium pressure accumulators subsequently, for example from a supplied liquid gas container 10 or the solid liquid gas container 70 .

If the gas content of the gas container 1 is to be completely emptied, for example for maintenance work, the helium is sucked out of the upper region 2 of the gas container 1 via the gas distribution device 52 and, at the same time, in the lower region 18 via the gas distribution device 54 auxiliary gas, in the opposite direction to the procedure described above Rule air, fed. The extracted helium is fed via the corresponding lines and the compressors 14 and 16 to the corresponding helium pressure accumulators and stored there temporarily.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, in which the possible stratification of the various gases in the gas container 1 shows the cross section of the gas container. As shown in FIG. 4, there are three areas in the gas container 1 . A region 65 represents the region of relatively low density gases, the region 66 represents a mixing region and the region 67 represents a region of gases of relatively high density. For the LTA aircraft described, the region 65 is therefore the region that contains helium is filled and the area 67 is the area which is filled with auxiliary gas, in particular air. The mixing area 66 thus comprises a gas mixture of helium and air.

Ideally, pure helium is filled in and out in the upper area for as long until the mixing area becomes full lig has moved down and is also vacuumed until one ent speaking measurement during suction only detects pure helium. This ide alfall, however, will not always be possible in practice, so that in ver different gases are available in different areas. As part of the before lying invention is proposed, even mixing, as well a homogenization of the various gas components. This will be explained in more detail below.

The various configurations of the low-pressure accumulator lines 43 according to the invention are described below with reference to FIGS . 1, 2 and 3a to 3c.

According to Fig. 1 43, the low pressure storage means on an outer shell 39 which forms a closed space. Within this space, which is enclosed by the outer shell 39 , there is a gas cell 38 which is connected to the line 37 via a corresponding connection and is therefore available for filling with corresponding gases.

The outer casing 39 of the low-pressure storage device 43 is designed according to the principle of an "air-inflated hall", ie there must be a corresponding internal pressure to unfold it so that this hall does not collapse. For this reason, an air intake opening C is provided, and a blower 42 draws air from the environment and transports it via a line 58 into the interior of the outer shell 39 , in which the gas cell 38 is also located.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the gas cell 38 thus contains the gas from the gas container 1 from above and is therefore located in the upper region 81 . The heavy gas, in particular air, is located in a lower region 82 , where the gas cell 38 automatically presses upward within the outer shell 39 due to the lifting force of the helium.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the low-pressure storage device 43 can also be designed so that there is at least one ballonet 38 a within the outer shell or outer shell 39 , which is connected to the line 58 and through this can be filled with outside air. Consequently, in the upper room and inside the outer shell according to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the corresponding gas from the gas container 1 for its intermediate storage and to maintain the air-hall effect, the ballonet 38 a is filled with air accordingly or at To of gases via line 37, the air in the ballonet 38 a is drained accordingly, so that a substantially constant internal pressure within the outer shell 39 is maintained.

In the following, reference is made to the alternative embodiment according to FIGS . 3a to 3c, which in turn relate to the low-pressure storage device 43 . As can be seen from these figures, a membrane 80 is provided within the outer shell 39 in the area of the equator 79 of this outer shell 39 and connected to the outer shell 39 , which, as can be seen particularly from FIG. 3c, clearly separates the upper space 81 and the lower space Room 82 forms.

The lower space 82 communicates with the ambient air via the line 58 , while the upper space 81 can be supplied with the gas from the gas container 1 via the line. In Fig. 3a, the state is shown in which there is almost no process gas or process gas-auxiliary gas mixture, so that the upper space 81 is almost emptied, and on the other hand, to maintain the air structure construction, the lower space 82 is expanded so far that the membrane 80 is in their highest position.

In Fig. 3b the other extreme filling of the outer shell 39 is shown, namely the maximum filling of the upper space 81 so that the diaphragm 80 is almost with gas via line 37, in its maximum downward position. In Fig. 3c, finally, a central position of the membrane is shown, that is in the spaces 81 and 82 is approximately the same amount of gas.

The configuration of the homogenization device 46 and the method according to the invention for homogenizing the various gas components will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5a to 5f.

The application of the homogenization device 46 is primarily the homogenization of the various gas components in the gas container 1 , but it may also be advantageous to homogenize the gas cell 38 in order to generate a constant contamination rate of the intermediate process gas prior to the appropriate cleaning.

The following embodiment relates to the homogenization of the mixture of auxiliary gas and process gas from large-volume LTA aircraft, for example se with a gas capacity of 400,000 m ³ _n after the filling process described above. The filling took place with helium, which was introduced from above via the gas distribution device 52 and by evacuating the air via the gas distribution device 54 , a gas distribution inside the gas container 1 was established, as is shown for example in FIG. 4. The airship is regularly operated in a range of, for example, 95 to 98% pure helium, that is, for corresponding load transport operations, a corresponding overall purity of the helium is necessary to achieve sufficient buoyancy.

In the case of test flights, however, the helium purity can be significantly lower, for example around 70%. Due to the high density difference between helium and air, stratification occurs temporarily, as a result of which the helicopter generally occupies the upper region of the gas container volume and a mixing zone 66 ( FIG. 4) is formed below it. If necessary, there is a corresponding zone with clean air underneath. This stratification will decrease over an indefinite period of time due to natural diffusion processes and possibly also natural convection, so that finally a relatively homogeneous mixture is present. However, it is to be expected that this mixing will take a very long time if it is only subject to the natural mixing processes. Therefore, it can occur with only partial mixing to large-wave gas movements, which can lead to the fact that the airship or the LTA aircraft has a very different distribution of lift force, for example, over its length. Depending on the anchorage of the airship or the LTA aircraft, this can lead to uncontrolled situations. If the LTA aircraft is attached to an anchor mast and the helium preferably flows into the stern area by such a movement, the airship may float with the stern upward. If the airship is tensioned lengthwise at several points in a hangar and the helium accumulates at one end due to the wave movement, it can happen that the guy ropes or belts tear in this area, with the corresponding negative consequence for the hall construction on the one hand and the airship on the other. When the airship is in flight, the airship can assume an uncontrollable angle of attack when the helium accumulates at one end due to this movement.

It is therefore proposed according to the invention that the helium concentration be as possible adjust homogeneously over the entire volume of the airship, which by means of homogenizing device according to the invention is accomplished.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 a, the gas located in the lower region 67 is fed from a lower region 67 via a line 44 and one or more blowers 45 to the homogenization device 46 and from there via at least one free jet 60 into the upper region 65 blown.

It is gradually achieved that a complete mixing of the respective gas components in the gas container 1 or the gas cell 38 is carried out.

In Fig. 5b, the mixing takes place in reverse sequence, namely, the gas is fed via line 44 and the homogenizer 46 is blown from the upper portion 65 in the lower portion 67.

In Fig. 5c in an enlarged view the homogenizing Fig invention. 5b. The blower 45 sucks in the gas via the line 44 and conveys it via a gas inlet opening 47 to the homogenization device 46 . As can be seen from FIG. 5d, this can be designed, for example, as a sleeve and has gas outlet openings 48 at its upper end.

The blower 45 ensures that the helium has a sufficient admission pressure so that the pressure difference required for the outflow from the gas outlet openings 48 can take place at the predetermined speed. The outlet openings have at least one interchangeable nozzle, which in turn consists of at least one opening which is designed in terms of size and angle of attack so that the desired mixing effect is achieved. The mixing occurs when the helium jet or air jet emerges through mass suction of the surrounding gas. There is a recirculation flow according to the free jet principle. The equivalent diameter for several nozzle openings is calculated using the following formula:

Wherein D _eq is equal to the equivalent diameter, A _tot equal to the total cross section of all the nozzle openings 48 is π, and the standard circuit number.

The equivalent diameter and the angle of the nozzle or the angle of attack of the nozzles are to be dimensioned so that at least one free jet 60 in the direction from the homogenising device 46 in the distance from the Homogenisierungsvor 46 at least one resulting from the free jet 60 gas velocity of 0.1 m / s that corresponds to twice the distance from the bottom of the airship to the concentration level of the mean helium concentration in the total volume, but at most 90% of the cross-sectional diameter of the airship, measured at the respective installation point of the respective homogenization device 46 .

In Figs. 5e and 5f is an alternative embodiment to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5c and 5d. The difference from the embodiment of Fig. 5c and 5d is that only one gas outlet opening 48 is opened with a free beam 60 and the other gas outlet openings were sealed with a 48 ge suitable means. Depending on the requirement, the other gas outlet openings 48 can also be opened.

As can be seen from FIG. 5e, there is an angle α of the exiting gas of the exiting free jet in relation to the exiting surface of the respective free jet, which in the example is 90 °. It can advantageously be in a range from 10 ° to 90 °.

As can be seen from FIGS. 5c and 5e, the homogenization device 46 has a heating device 49 and a cooling unit 50 . The heating device 49 can be, for example, an electrical resistance heater or a heating gas jet tube, which can be operated, for example, with propane. With the Heizvorrich device 49 , the gas can be additionally heated, whereby the heated gas can perform several functions. By heating the gas, for example helium, the density changes. As a result, the helium expands, so that the balloon volume of the balloon 56 decreases in order to keep the pressure inside the airship or the gas container 1 constant. This increases the overall lift of the airship. Furthermore, by heating the helium, snow or ice that may be accumulating on the outer shell 51 can be defrosted. The heating power is to be set or regulated so that the temperature of the shell material of the outer shell 51 does not exceed the permissible operating temperature. Conversely, in the event of excessive cold outside the casing 51 of the gas container 1, the temperature of the casing material can be brought to the minimum permissible operating temperature value by the heating.

With the optionally provided cooling unit 50 , the gas can be additionally cooled. The cooled gas can perform various functions. The cooling of the gas, for example the helium, changes its density, so that the helium contracts accordingly and the ballonet volume of the ballonet 56 increases in order to keep the pressure inside the gas container 1 constant. This reduces the lift of the airship, which z. B. can be used accordingly during a landing. Furthermore, by cooling the helium, any water vapor that may be present in the gas volume can be partially condensed out. This condensate can then be drained off or pumped out, if necessary, in ballast tanks of the airship, be it in the open air to gain lift during flight or be used to condition the gas. The cooling capacity is to be measured and adjusted or regulated so that the temperature of the casing material does not fall below the permissible operating temperature. Furthermore, one can ensure through cooling by appropriate regulation that the temperature of the shell material of the shell 51 of the gas container 1 does not rise above the permissible operating temperature.

In Figs. 6 and 7 for connection according to the invention or Beschic is further illustrated kung device. As already mentioned above, when filling, cleaning and / or emptying an LTA aircraft in a shipyard and in particular outdoors, movement of the airship can lead to impermissible forces being exerted on the feed and discharge line, for example 19 and 3 are what can either lead to failure of the lines or lead to damage to the outer shell 51 of the airship.

According to the invention, a frame or a sleeve 90 is therefore provided, which is located in the outer shell of the gas container 1 . A filler cap 93 is sealingly attached to this frame or sleeve 90 . The filler neck 93 is connected at its upper end to line 3 or 19 and sealed with a corresponding seal 99 .

The dash-dotted line 98 in FIGS. 6 and 7 shows the dividing line between the device for filling, cleaning and / or emptying large-volume gas containers and the gas container unit 1 itself. Accordingly, the filling unit 93 can be designed to be foldable so that it is not in use as far as can be folded up and inserted into the frame 90 . In order to prevent the filler neck from penetrating too far into the interior of the gas container, a support grid 100 can be provided within the space 90 on which the foldable filler neck 93 then comes to rest. In addition, a stiffening device, for example in the form of a metal ring or a metal spiral ring, can be provided in the filler neck 93 , which prevents the filler neck 93 from collapsing when there is negative pressure inside it.

When the filler cap is not in use, it rests on the support grid 100 and a cover 92 is provided at the upper end of the frame 90 and is used for rainproof or waterproof cover of the frame 90 on the outside of the gas container 1 , the cover 92 is formed accordingly aerodynamically.

For the gas-tight closure of the gas in the gas container 1 , for example the helium, a shut-off device 91 is also provided, which is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in the open position.

To track the flexibly designed line 3 or 19 , it is suspended via at least one cable 95 and at least one roller 101 with at least one counterweight 96 . The two rollers 101 , in the example of FIG. 6, are guided on a rail 102 , so that when the gas container 1 is moved laterally, the lines 3 and 19 can be adjusted accordingly by moving the rollers 101 .

In Fig. 7 the cable pull mechanism with counterweight is replaced by a corresponding spring 103 . Otherwise, the embodiment of FIG. 7 corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 6.

In summary, the following advantages in particular can be listed.  

With the help of the low-pressure storage device 43 , a particularly advantageous intermediate storage of gas from the gas container 1 is made possible, which after filling the gas container 1 , while it is again in operation, can be cleaned accordingly via the cleaning device 24 without this contaminated gas first being over High compression compressors would have to be highly compressed and would have to be temporarily stored in high-pressure storage media with a correspondingly expensive expenditure of energy.

With the help of the homogenization device according to the invention, the Possibility of homogenizing the different gas components in the gas container allows. It is expressly pointed out that the Homogeni sierungsvorrichtung as a separate element in a gas container, in particular in an LTA aircraft can be installed and regardless of the total th filling, cleaning and emptying device, as described above, realized can be.

This also has the advantages of cooling and heating the gas components in the gas container 1 .

Claims (37)

1. A method for filling large-volume gas containers, in particular LTA aircraft, with a process gas, the gas container ( 1 ) being filled with an auxiliary gas which has a higher or lower density than the process gas, and then actually filling the de Process gas is so calmly introduced into the gas container ( 1 ) that there is no substantial mixing with the auxiliary gas, the process gas being introduced into the upper region ( 2 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) and simultaneously into the lower region in the case of a lower density of the process gas than the auxiliary gas Area ( 18 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) the auxiliary gas or a mixture of auxiliary gas and process gas is suctioned off, while conversely, in the case of a higher density of the process gas compared to the auxiliary gas, the process gas is introduced into the lower region ( 18 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) and at the same time in upper area ( 2 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) the auxiliary gas or a mixture isch is sucked out of auxiliary gas and process gas, and wherein the process gas is temporarily stored in at least one gas pressure accumulator ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) and / or in at least one low-pressure accumulator device ( 43 ), so that sufficient for rapid filling of the gas container Process gas quantities are available. 2. Process for cleaning the process gas contained in a large-volume gas container, in particular LTA aviation device, the process gas having a higher purity than the process gas already contained in the gas container being so calmly introduced into the gas container ( 1 ) that no essential mixture is created with the contaminated process gas located in the gas container ( 1 ), the process gas with the higher purity being introduced into the upper region ( 2 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) and simultaneously into the lower region () in the event of contamination of the process gas leading to an increase in density of the process gas 18 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) contaminated process gas is sucked off, whereas, conversely, in the event of contamination of the process gas leading to a lowering of the density of the process gas, the process gas with the higher purity is introduced into the lower region ( 18 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) and simultaneously into the upper region ( 2 ) the gas container older contaminated process gas is sucked off, and wherein when cleaning the contaminated process gas contained in the gas container ( 1 ) at least one low-pressure storage device ( 43 ) and additionally at least one gas pressure storage device ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 28 ) or at least one liquid gas storage device ( 10 , 70 ), of which at least one low pressure storage device ( 43 ) or at least one gas pressure storage device ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 28 ) is filled with contaminated process gas, while at least one other gas pressure storage device ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 28 ) and / or at least one liquid gas storage ( 10 , 70 ) pure or cleaned process gas for filling the gas container ( 1 ) is removed. 3. Process for emptying large-volume gas containers filled with process gas, in particular LTA aircraft, the process gas being sucked out of the gas container ( 1 ) and, at the same time, auxiliary gas with a higher or lower density than the process gas so calmed into the gas container ( 1 ) is brought that no substantial mixing with the process gas follows, whereby in the case of a lower density of the process gas compared to the auxiliary gas, the process gas in the upper region ( 2 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) is sucked off and at the same time in the lower region ( 18 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) the auxiliary gas is introduced, while, conversely, in the case of a higher density of the process gas compared to the auxiliary gas, the process gas in the lower region ( 18 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) is suctioned off and at the same time the auxiliary gas is introduced in the upper region ( 2 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) is, and the Pro zeßgas in at least one gas pressure accumulator ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) and / or it is temporarily stored in at least one low pressure storage device ( 43 ) and / or after Ver liquidation in at least one liquid gas storage device ( 10 , 70 ) and / or in at least one low pressure storage device ( 43 ). 4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pro zeßgas introduced with such a low flow rate is that turbulent mixing remains as low as possible. 5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the auxiliary gas with  such a low flow rate is introduced that a turbulent mixing is kept as low as possible. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that gas containers ( 1 ) with a gas volume of more than 20,000 m ³ are used. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that when filling the gas container ( 1 ) the process gas with a volume flow of at least 500 m ³ _n / h is introduced into the gas container ( 1 ). 8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that when cleaning the process gas contained in the gas container ( 1 ), the process gas with the higher purity with a volume flow of at least 500 m ³ _n / h in the Gasbe container ( 1 ) is introduced. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a difference between the densities of the auxiliary gas and the process gas of at least 15%. 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that as a process gas, a gas or gas mixture with a lower density than air, ins special helium, hydrogen or a helium-hydrogen mixture is set, while a gas or gas mixture with the same or higher density than air, especially air, is used. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in at least one low-pressure storage device ( 43 ) and / or in the gas pressure stores ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) intermediate contaminated process gas by means of adsorption, rectification or selective membrane permeation is cleaned and stored as purified process gas in at least one low-pressure storage device ( 43 ) and / or in the gas pressure accumulators ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) and / or after liquefaction in at least one liquid gas accumulator ( 10 , 70 ). 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the total volume of all low-pressure storage devices ( 43 ) at the respective location is at least 10% of the volume of the gas container ( 1 ). 13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that following the filling of the gas container ( 1 ), the gas either from the upper region ( 2 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) by means of at least one volume delivery device ( 45 ) via at least one Line ( 44 ) is conveyed into the lower region ( 18 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) and introduced into the surrounding gas or vice versa from the lower into the upper region. 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the process gas or the mixture of process gas and auxiliary gas with a heater ( 49 ) it is heated so that the outer shell of the gas container ( 1 ) is within the permissible operating temperature range. 15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the pro zeßgas or the mixture of process gas and auxiliary gas with a Kühlag gregat ( 50 ) is cooled so that the outer shell of the gas container ( 1 ) is within the permissible operating temperature range and condensed water can be collected and pumped out. 16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the introduction of the respective gas into the surrounding gas with at least one free jet ( 60 ), wherein the angle (α) of the exiting gas of the exiting free jet between 10 ° and 90 ° in relation to the exit surface of the respective free jet and at least one free jet in the exit plane has such a mass flow that in the flow direction of at least this free jet in the area in which the local process gas concentration of the mean process gas concentration of the entire container ( 1 ) corresponds to a speed resulting from the mass flow of the free jet and the mass suction of the surrounding gas of at least 0.1 m / s in the central longitudinal axis of the free jet in question. 17. Device for filling, cleaning and / or emptying a gas amount of a large-volume gas container, in particular LTA aircraft, in particular for carrying out at least one of the methods according to one of claims 1 to 16, with a gas container ( 1 ) having an upper region ( 2 ) and has a lower region ( 18 ), at least one feed channel for process gas ( 3 , 4 , 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, 4 e, 13 , 13 b; 4 , 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, 4 e, 13 , 13 a, 13 b, 19 , 22 ; 19 , 20 , 26 , 35 a, 35 b, 37 , 40 , 41 ; 3 , 13 a, 20 , 22 , 26 , 35 a, 35 b, 37 , 40 , 36 , 41 ) for the supply of process gas in the upper or lower loading area ( 2 or 18 ), at least one supply channel ( 3 , 4 , 4 a, 4 b, 4 c , 4 d, 4 e, 13 , 13 b; 4 , 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, 4 e, 13 , 13 a, 13 b, 19 , 22 ; 19 , 20 , 26 , 35 a, 35 b, 37 , 40 , 41 ; 3 , 13 a, 20 , 22 , 26 , 35 a, 35 b, 37 , 40 , 36 , 41 ; 19 , 20 , 20 b, 20 c, 20 d, 26 , 26 a; 3 , 13 a, 20 , 20 b, 20 c, 20 d, 22 , 2 6 , 26 a) for the supply of auxiliary gas in the upper ( 2 ) or lower area ( 18 ), at least one discharge channel ( 3 , 13 a, 20 , 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 22 a, 27 , 27 a; 3 , 13 a, 20 , 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 22 a, 27 , 35 , 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 37 ; 3 , 13 a, 15 , 15 a, 15 b, 15 c, 15 d, 15 e, 17 , 17 a, 17 b, 17 c, 17 d, 17 e, 17 f, 22 a, 23 a, 23 b , 23 c; 19 , 20 , 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 22 , 22 a, 27 , 27 a; 19 , 20 , 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 22 , 22 a, 27 , 35 , 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 37 ; 19 , 15 , 15 a, 15 b, 15 c, 15 d, 15 e, 17 , 17 a, 17 b, 17 c, 17 d, 17 e, 17 f, 22 , 22 a, 23 a, 23 b, 23 c) for leading pure and / or contaminated process gas and / or auxiliary gas from the upper or lower region ( 2 or 18 ) of the gas container ( 1 ), and with at least one gas pressure accumulator ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) and / or at least one low-pressure storage device ( 43 ) which are used for the intermediate storage of a sufficient amount of process gas, a cleaning device ( 24 ) for cleaning contaminated process gas also being provided, and at least one gas delivery device ( 14 , 16 , 21 , 36 ) is provided. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the low pressure storage device ( 43 ) is constructed in membrane construction from an at least double-shell membrane, at least one outer shell ( 39 ) and at least one gas cell ( 38 ) or at least one balloon ( 38 a) is provided which is located within the outer shell ( 39 ) and serves to receive the pure or contaminated process gas or an auxiliary gas, in particular air. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that at least one space ( 81 , 82 ) is formed between the at least one gas cell ( 38 ) or between at least one ballonet ( 38 a) and the outer shell ( 39 ), which by a blower device ( 42 ) can be filled with auxiliary gas, in particular air, or with pure or contaminated process gas, in particular in order to regulate the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage device and thus its shape stability. 20. The apparatus of claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the volume of the at least one gas cell ( 38 ) or the at least one ballonet ( 38 a) is variable, the volumes of the gas cell ( 38 ) or the ballonet ( 38 a ) and the air space between gas cell ( 38 ) or Ballo nice ( 38 a) and outer shell ( 39 ) taken together are essentially constant. 21. Device according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that in the presence of several gas cells ( 38 ) or ballonets ( 38 a) within an outer shell ( 39 ) the gas cells or ballonets by means of Trenneinrichtun conditions such as partitions, cross-tensioned cables, Ropes or nets are separated from each other so that the gas cells or ballonets cannot interfere with each other. 22. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the low-pressure storage device ( 43 ) and / or the gas container ( 1 ) is formed from a least single-layer membrane ( 39 ), an inner membrane ( 80 ) which in the region of the equator ( 79 ) is suspended, so it is fen fen that depending on the degree of filling of process gas and auxiliary gas each on the inner wall of the outer shell upwards or on the inner wall of the outer shell and the bottom down or create a layer in between, the sum of the volumes of process gas and auxiliary gas being substantially constant, and that one of the gas spaces ( 81 , 82 ) can be filled with gas, in particular special air, by a blower device ( 42 ). 23. The device according to one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that that at least anywhere the flow rate of the process gases and / or the contaminated process gas and / or the auxiliary gas at least one ultrasonic measuring device is detected. 24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that for normalization of the flow measurement in the area of the respective measuring point Pressure measurement and / or a temperature measurement is carried out and / or that for Determining the actual process gas content of a component Measuring device, such as an oxygen meter, in the area of respective measuring point is attached. 25. Device according to one of claims 17 to 24, characterized in that it has a process gas homogenization device ( 46 ). 26. The apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the homogenizing device ( 46 ) has at least one gas outlet opening ( 48 ) which is formed from at least one nozzle, the nozzle being formed so that at least one free jet ( 60 ) a nozzle opening at a speed of at least 0.1 m / s results in a distance which, at the installation location of the homogenizing device ( 46 ), the distance between the bottom region ( 18 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) or the ceiling region ( 2 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) and corresponds to the location of the actual concentration of the averaged process gas concentration in the total volume, but at most 90% of the distance between the installation location of the homogenizing device ( 46 ) and the wall in the direction of the respective free jet ( 60 ). 27. The apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that it has a heating ( 49 ) and / or a cooling unit ( 50 ) which can be integrated in the homogenizing device ( 46 ) or can be located outside of it, the heating ( 49 ) and / or the cooling unit ( 50 ) are designed such that they emit no substances of any aggregate state in the homogenization device ( 46 ) or in the gas container ( 1 ) directly or indirectly in regular operation. 28. Device according to one of claims 17 to 27, characterized in that for the discharge of electrostatic charges and / or electrical currents, the outer shell ( 39 ) of the low-pressure storage device ( 43 ) is surrounded by a metal mesh grid. 29. Device according to one of claims 17 to 28, characterized in that a shut-off device ( 91 ) between the gas container ( 1 ) and the environment and within a frame or a sleeve ( 90 ) is provided, which for gas-tight sealing of the gas container serves outside. 30. The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that the channel-shaped supply and discharge line ( 3 , 19 ) is designed to be largely flexible and freely stored while largely maintaining the nominal cross-sectional area, so that possible movements of the gas container ( 1 ) during filling , Emptying and / or cleaning of the process gas occur, so that the stresses in the material of the outer shell ( 51 ) of the gas container ( 1 ) are within the permissible operating range. 31. The device according to claim 30, characterized in that the free position tion of the feed or discharge line by means of at least one cable ( 95 ) it follows, the at least one on at least one rail ( 102 ) guide the roller ( 101 ) on at least a counterweight ( 96 ) is deflected. 32. Apparatus according to claim 30, characterized in that the free position tion of the supply or discharge line is carried out by means of at least one spring ( 103 ) which is mounted on at least one roller ( 101 ) leading on at least one rail ( 102 ). 33. Device according to one of claims 29 to 32, characterized in that the feed or discharge line ( 3 , 19 ) is connected to a filler neck ( 93 ) via a tightly closing detachable connection ( 99 ), and the filler neck ( 93 ) is in turn tightly connected to the frame or the sleeve ( 90 ). 34. Apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the filling scoop ( 93 ) is made up of an at least single-layer membrane and can preferably be folded together. 35. Apparatus according to claim 33 or 34, characterized in that the filler neck ( 93 ) is equipped with a reinforcing device, such as a metal ring or metal spiral ring, so that the filler neck ( 93 ) remains substantially dimensionally stable in the presence of a negative pressure. 36. Device according to one of claims 29 to 35, characterized in that a support grid ( 100 ) is provided in the frame or the sleeve ( 90 ) on which the filler neck ( 93 ) can be placed. 37. Device according to one of claims 29 to 36, characterized in that a rain or watertight closing lid ( 92 ) is connected by a locking device to the frame ( 90 ), wherein its outer contour can be aerodynamically favorable.