DE102015222978A1 - Vehicle and method for operating a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to provide a vehicle which is simple in construction and energy-efficient, it is proposed that the vehicle includes: a drive motor for driving the vehicle; a battery device for storing electrical energy; a fuel cell device for providing electrical energy; a thermal device for cooling the fuel cell device, wherein the thermal device for heat transfer comprises a heat transfer medium; a heat storage device which is formed by a storage container for receiving serving as a heat storage medium heat transfer medium.

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle and a method for operating a vehicle. Such a vehicle is in particular a ground-based vehicle, for example a motor vehicle and / or a rail vehicle. In particular, it can be provided that the vehicle is a commercial vehicle, for example a baggage tug for transporting luggage at an airport.

Vehicles, in particular those with a heat storage device, as well as generally different concepts for the operation of fuel cells are known, for example, from the following publications: DE 101 07 596 B4 ; DE 102 58 707 A1 ; DE 103 49 630 A1 ,

The present invention has for its object to provide a vehicle which is simple in construction and energy-efficient operable.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which comprises the following:
a drive motor for driving the vehicle;
a battery device for storing electrical energy;
a fuel cell device for providing electrical energy;
a thermal device for cooling the fuel cell device, wherein the thermal device for heat transfer comprises a heat transfer medium;
a heat storage device which is formed by a storage container for receiving serving as a heat storage medium heat transfer medium.

By virtue of the fact that the vehicle comprises a heat storage device by means of which heat can be stored in a heat transfer medium serving as a heat storage medium, the heat produced during operation of the motor vehicle, in particular during operation of the fuel cell device, can preferably be stored simply and efficiently for later use.

It may be favorable if a vehicle interior of the vehicle can be heated by means of the thermal device.

In particular, provision may be made for heat to be used from the fuel cell device for heating the vehicle interior, for example by supplying heat transfer medium heated in the fuel cell device to a heat exchanger for heating air to be supplied from the vehicle interior. It can be provided that the supply of heat transfer medium from the fuel cell device to the heat exchanger for heating air to be supplied from the vehicle interior takes place at least approximately without a time delay or taking into account a temporary storage with a time delay.

The thermal device and the heat storage device preferably together comprise a single medium circuit for the heat transfer medium.

It can be provided that the heat transfer medium optionally a heat exchanger for heating the vehicle interior (heat exchanger for heating air to be supplied from the vehicle interior) and / or a cooler for delivering excess heat to a vehicle environment and / or a heat exchanger for removing heat from the fuel cell device and / or the storage container can be fed.

In one embodiment of the invention can be provided that the heat transfer medium can be guided in a medium circuit. In particular, it can be provided that the heat transfer medium can be fed in succession to any of the abovementioned components of the vehicle or, alternatively, by means of one or more bypass lines to one or more of the components.

The vehicle, in particular the thermal device, preferably comprises one or more valves in order to be able to selectively control and / or regulate to which component of the vehicle the heat transfer medium can be supplied or is supplied. Preferably, furthermore, a volume flow and / or mass flow of the heat transfer medium to be supplied to the respective component can be controlled and / or regulated.

It can be provided that a control device of the vehicle is provided for the control and / or regulation. This control device is preferably designed and set up to perform the described steps and / or functions.

It can be provided that the heat transfer medium is or comprises a liquid. For example, it may be provided that the heat transfer medium is a water-glycol mixture.

The heat transfer medium is preferably liquid over the entire operating range of the vehicle. In particular, it can be provided that the heat transfer medium at least between about -20 ° C and about + 50 ° C, preferably at least between about -40 ° C and + 80 ° C, in liquid state.

Preferably, the heat transfer medium is formed and / or chosen so that only sensitive heat can be stored and / or stored by the heat transfer medium during operation of the vehicle.

The drive motor of the vehicle is preferably an electric motor.

It can be provided that the vehicle comprises an electrical heating element for heating a vehicle interior. By means of the electric heating element of the vehicle interior is preferably heated using electrical energy from the fuel cell device and / or the battery device.

In particular, the electric heating element can be used for heating the vehicle interior to heat the vehicle interior when the heat stored by means of the heat storage device for heating the vehicle interior is no longer sufficient or the achievement of perceived as comfortable interior temperature is to be accelerated.

In one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the volume and / or the mass of the heat transfer medium storable or stored in the storage container as heat storage medium is at least five times, preferably at least ten times, the volume and / or the mass used to operate the vehicle without the storage tank would be required.

The volume and / or mass required or would be required to operate the vehicle without the storage vessel is that volume and / or mass that is used in a conventional radiator circuit to cool the fuel cell device by dissipating heat to the vehicle interior and / or vehicle environment would be provided. Usually, the volume in this case is at most about 10 liters, for example at most about 5 liters.

The total volume of the heat transfer medium when using a heat storage device according to the invention, however, is preferably at least about 30 l, in particular at least about 50 l, for example at least about 100 l.

Preferably, the total volume of the heat transfer medium when using a heat storage device according to the invention is at least about twice, preferably at least about three times, for example at least about five times, that volume which in a conventional cooler circuit for cooling the fuel cell device by heat emission to the vehicle interior and / or the vehicle environment would be provided.

The thermal device preferably comprises a plurality of heat exchangers.

In particular, it can be provided that a heat exchanger is arranged in the fuel cell device and / or associated with the fuel cell device in order to be able to transfer waste heat from the fuel cell device to the heat transfer medium and to be able to discharge it from the fuel cell device. This heat exchanger may for example be a liquid-liquid heat exchanger. Furthermore, it can be provided that this heat exchanger is formed by integrated cooling channels in the fuel cell device, which can be flowed through by the heat transfer medium.

Another heat exchanger, in particular for heating the vehicle interior, is preferably an air-liquid heat exchanger.

Furthermore, a heat exchanger for emitting heat to the vehicle environment is preferably provided. This heat exchanger is preferably an air-liquid heat exchanger.

The present invention further relates to a method of operating a vehicle.

The invention is in this respect the task of providing a method by which a vehicle is easy and energy efficient operable. This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for operating a vehicle, in particular a vehicle according to the invention, the method comprising:
Providing electrical energy and heat by means of a fuel cell device;
Absorption of the heat by means of a heat transfer medium;
Storage of the heat in a storage container by supplying the heated heat transfer medium to the storage container and / or by storing the heated heat transfer medium in the storage container.

The method according to the invention preferably has one or more of the features and / or advantages described in connection with the vehicle according to the invention.

Preferably, the method according to the invention can be carried out on the vehicle according to the invention.

Furthermore, the vehicle according to the invention is preferably suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Preferably, the heat stored in the heat transfer medium for preconditioning of the vehicle, in particular the vehicle interior and / or the fuel cell device, usable, in particular before the vehicle is put into operation, i. set in motion, will.

In particular, the preconditioning takes place before the fuel cell device and / or the drive motor is put into operation.

In one embodiment of the invention can be provided that the vehicle is selectively operable in a fuel operation and in battery operation. In the fuel operation, electric power required for driving the vehicle is provided by the fuel cell device using fuel. In battery operation, electrical energy previously stored in a battery device is provided for driving the vehicle.

Heat generated in fuel operation is preferably stored for later use thereof in battery operation, in particular by heating the heat transfer medium arranged in the storage container and / or to be supplied to the storage container.

The heat transfer medium arranged in the storage tank is preferably heated by supplying heated and / or heated heat transfer medium to the storage tank and removing cooler heat transfer medium from the storage tank.

However, it may also be provided that two storage containers are provided, wherein one of the storage tank heated heat transfer medium is supplied to store heat and at the same cooler fluid carrier medium is removed from the other storage tank, for example, to the first storage tank supplied heat transfer medium, which then from a Circuit of the thermal device has been removed to replace.

It may be provided that in the battery operation, the arranged in the storage tank heated heat transfer medium is fed to a heat exchanger for heating a vehicle interior of the vehicle. In this way, in particular electrical energy can be saved, which would otherwise have to be used for heating the vehicle interior by means of the electric heating element.

It can be advantageous if, prior to starting and / or starting the fuel cell device, the heated heat transfer medium arranged in the storage tank is fed to a heat exchanger of the fuel cell device. In this way, in particular, a cold start of the fuel cell device can be simplified and / or optimized by utilizing the heat stored in the storage container. The fuel cell device is thereby preheated in particular in order to avoid unwanted operation of the fuel cell device at low temperatures, which can lead to high wear and / or damage to the fuel cell device.

In fuel operation of the fuel cell device, on the one hand, electrical energy is preferably provided for driving the vehicle by means of the drive motor. On the other hand, in fuel operation, electric power is provided for charging the battery device.

The fuel cell device is in particular a so-called on-board charging device.

The fuel cell device is preferably only cyclically in operation.

For example, in a designed as a baggage tractor commercial vehicle can be provided that the battery device comprises a plurality of lead batteries. These lead batteries preferably have a high weight, thereby increasing a traction performance of the baggage tractor. As a result, a driving force can preferably be transmitted without slippage to the road in order ultimately to be able to reliably pull the trailer to be pulled with the pieces of luggage thereon.

A commercial vehicle preferably comprises a vehicle cabin, which surrounds the vehicle interior of the vehicle.

For reasons of safety, in particular to avoid undesired window fitting, an interior heating system must preferably be provided. The interior heating is preferably formed by the thermal device and / or a component of the thermal device.

In particular, when designed as a baggage tractor commercial vehicle in cold outdoor conditions often alternately on the one hand outdoors and the other in a Baggage handling hall is on the way, it can come to Scheibenbeschlag. Here is an efficient interior heating, in particular by means of the thermal device and / or an electric heating element, for example, an electric PTC resistance heater, indispensable.

In particular, when the battery device includes lead acid batteries, they have high charging times due to the required high capacity. A stationary loading of lead batteries is then often economically critical. Preferably, therefore, the loading of the battery device during operation of the vehicle, in particular using the fuel cell device.

The heat storage device is preferably an enthalpy storage for intermediate storage of fuel cell waste heat.

Preferably, the heat stored in the heat storage is continuously or partially continuously, in particular as needed and / or time independently of the operation of the fuel cell device for heating the vehicle interior usable.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the heat stored in the heat accumulator can be used continuously or partially continuously, in particular as and when required, and / or independently of a driving operation of the vehicle for heating the vehicle interior and / or the fuel cell device. A significant influencing factor here can be the isolation of the storage tank of the heat storage device (the enthalpy storage). However, with conventional thermally-insulated storage containers, heat loss is preferably minimized in a simple manner.

The fact that the heat transfer medium is used for the storage of heat, there is preferably no exergy loss, which would result from a transfer of heat from the heat transfer medium to a separate heat storage medium.

The battery device may comprise one or more lithium-ion batteries as an alternative or in addition to one or more lead-acid batteries.

A storage capacity of the battery device is preferably at least about 5 kWh, for example 8 kWh.

A maximum electric power of the fuel cell device is preferably at least about 15 kW, more preferably at least about 20 kW.

Preferably, the fuel cell device is designed and / or chosen such that its thermal and / or electrical power is oversized for normal and / or regular operation of the vehicle. For example, it can be provided that the fuel cell device is oversized in terms of its thermal and / or electrical power by at least about 30%, for example at least about 50%, in particular at least about 100%.

Further preferred features and / or advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of an embodiment.

In the drawings show:

1 a schematic perspective view of a vehicle, which comprises a fuel cell device and a battery device for supplying an electric motor of the vehicle with electric energy and a heat storage device for storing fuel cell waste heat and a thermal device; and

2 an enlarged view of the thermal device of the vehicle 1 ,

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

One in the 1 and 2 illustrated embodiment of a whole with 100 designated vehicle is for example a motor vehicle 102 , In particular, the vehicle 100 a baggage carrier for transporting luggage to airports.

The vehicle 100 includes a drive motor 104 , which in particular as an electric motor 106 is trained.

Furthermore, the vehicle includes 100 a battery device 108 , by means of which electrical energy for driving the drive motor 104 is available.

In particular, the electrical energy from the battery device 108 by means of an inverter 110 of the vehicle 100 convertible, so that this for driving the drive motor 104 is usable.

The vehicle 100 further comprises a fuel cell device 112 , The fuel cell device 112 is used to generate electrical energy using fuel, such as hydrogen.

The fuel cell device 112 in particular serves to charge the battery device 108 ,

During operation of the fuel cell device 112 generates this heat, which from the fuel cell device 112 must be dissipated.

This includes the vehicle 100 a thermal device 114 ,

The thermal device 114 includes one or more heat exchangers 116 , a pump 118 and a medium circuit 120 ,

By means of the pump 118 is a heat transfer medium in the medium circuit 120 drivable, in particular to the one or more heat exchangers 116 feasible.

A heat exchanger 116 In this case, it preferably serves to absorb waste heat from the fuel cell device 112 ,

Preferably, a further heat exchanger is further 116 provided by means of which a vehicle interior 122 of the vehicle 100 is heated. In particular, this is done by means of the heat exchanger 116 Heat from one in the medium circuit 120 guided heat transfer medium transferable to air, which eventually the vehicle interior 122 can be supplied or is supplied.

How further 2 it can be seen, the thermal device 114 also one more as a cooler 124 trained heat exchanger 116 include. About this cooler 124 In particular, excess heat can be emitted to a vehicle environment.

The thermal device 114 preferably also includes one or more bypass lines 126 , By means of which the heat transfer medium if necessary to one or more heat exchangers 116 can be moved past, to ultimately only to those areas to transport heat to which it is actually needed.

One or more heating elements 128 the thermo device 114 , which are in particular controllable and / or controllable, are preferably used to distribute the heat transfer medium flow to the individual components of the thermal device 114 and / or the flow past it by means of the one or more bypass lines 126 ,

The vehicle 100 is operable in particular in a fuel operation. Here, fuel becomes in the fuel cell device 112 implemented to generate electrical energy. The resulting heat is transferred via the heat transfer medium into the medium circuit 120 guided while the fuel cell device 112 dissipated. In particular, the dissipated heat for heating the vehicle interior 122 be used.

The vehicle interior 122 is particularly heated when the fuel cell device 112 in operation.

When the fuel cell device 112 is not in operation and thus the battery device 108 for providing electrical energy for driving the drive motor 104 of the vehicle 100 is used, preferably by means of a heating element 130 electrical energy from the battery device 108 for heating the vehicle interior 122 be used. However, such use of the electric power reduces that for driving the vehicle 100 in the battery device 108 available electrical energy.

In the sense of the most energy-efficient operation of the vehicle 100 is thus another heat supply for the vehicle interior 122 desirable.

The vehicle 100 For this purpose, preferably comprises a heat storage device 132 which a storage container 134 includes.

The storage tank 134 serves in particular the inclusion of heat transfer medium, which thus serves as a heat storage medium.

In particular, the storage container 134 in the medium circuit 120 involved.

During operation of the fuel cell device 112 is preferably the entire in the medium circuit 120 heated heat transfer medium heated.

Preferably, in the medium circuit 120 including the storage container 134 available heat transfer medium amount considerably larger than this without the use of a storage container 134 the case would be.

By means of the heat transfer medium thus a large amount of heat can be stored sensitive by the entire heat transfer medium is heated or heated.

The fact that the heat transfer medium serves as a heat storage medium, an inefficient heat transfer from the heat transfer medium to a separate heat storage medium is unnecessary.

The during operation of the fuel cell device 112 generated heat can thus be stored particularly efficient, in order to ultimately heat in particular the vehicle interior 122 to be used when the fuel cell device 112 is no longer in operation.

By means of the heat storage device 132 In particular, it can be ensured that in the battery device 108 stored electrical energy as much as possible for driving the drive motor 104 is available.

The vehicle described above 100 is used for example as follows:
When a state of charge of the battery device 108 For example, is 30% and should be increased to 80%, so the fuel cell device 112 with an electrical power of about 20 kW for preferably about 20 minutes into operation. In this case, for example, 0.3 kg of hydrogen are consumed. The vehicle 100 can then based on the degree of charge of 80% of the battery device 108 be used for about 2 hours in battery electric mode before the load again falls below 30%.

In cold conditions, especially in a winter operation at, for example, about -10 ° C, is a heating of the vehicle interior 122 unavoidable, on the one hand, a comfortable environment for a driver of the vehicle 100 on the other hand to unwanted misting a disc of the vehicle 100 to prevent.

The heating of the vehicle interior 122 For example, by means of the heating element 130 done electrically. However, this reduces the period of time in which the battery device 108 to drive the vehicle 100 can be used before the load level falls below the limit of, for example, 30%.

Preferably, therefore, for heating the vehicle interior 122 Required heat by means of the heat storage device 132 provided.

The heat storage device 132 For this purpose, in particular comprises an enthalpy storage, which preferably by the filled with heat transfer medium storage tank 134 is formed.

Depending on the means of the heat storage device 132 stored amount of heat and depending on the actual heating demand, it may be necessary that the heating element 130 is switched on at least when a degree of loading of the heat storage device 132 with heat no longer for the heating of the vehicle interior 122 sufficient.

In addition, the heating element 130 be used to a regeneration phase of the enthalpy storage (re-storing heat) after starting the fuel cell device 112 to bridge.

By using the heat storage device 132 can the required average heating power of the electric heating element 130 preferably reduced by about 50%.

For example, already the use of a storage container 134 with a storage volume of 60 l and a corresponding increase in the medium circuit 120 guided heat transfer medium volume flow sufficient to provide a useful thermal energy of 16 kWh. This can in particular for short-term heating of the vehicle interior 122 be up to 25 ° C. Compared to the conventional design of a vehicle 100 without a heat storage device 132 this means about a doubling of the available heating energy.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

 vehicle

102

 motor vehicle

104

 drive motor

106

 electric motor

108

 battery device

110

 inverter

112

 fuel cell device

114

 thermal device

116

 Heat exchanger

118

 pump

120

 Medium circuit

122

 Vehicle interior

124

 cooler

126

 bypass line

128

Valve

130

 heating element

132

 Heat storage device

134

 storage container

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10107596 B4 [0002]
• DE 10258707 A1 [0002]
• DE 10349630 A1 [0002]

Claims (12)

Vehicle ( 100 ), in particular motor vehicle ( 102 ), comprising: - a drive motor ( 104 ) for driving the vehicle ( 100 ); A battery device ( 108 ) for storing electrical energy; A fuel cell device ( 112 ) for the provision of electrical energy; A thermal device ( 114 ) for cooling the fuel cell device ( 112 ), wherein the thermal device ( 114 ) comprises a heat transfer medium for heat transfer; A heat storage device ( 132 ) passing through a storage tank ( 134 ) is formed for receiving serving as a heat storage medium heat transfer medium. Vehicle ( 100 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that a vehicle interior ( 122 ) of the vehicle ( 100 ) by means of the thermal device ( 114 ) is heated. Vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the thermal device ( 114 ) and the heat storage device ( 132 ) a single medium circuit ( 120 ) for the heat transfer medium. Vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the heat transfer medium optionally a heat exchanger ( 116 ) for heating the vehicle interior ( 122 ) and / or a cooler ( 124 ) for the release of excess heat to a vehicle environment and / or a heat exchanger ( 116 ) for removing heat from the fuel cell device ( 112 ) and / or the storage container ( 134 ) can be fed. Vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heat transfer medium is a liquid, in particular a water-glycol mixture. Vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drive motor ( 104 ) an electric motor ( 106 ). Vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the volume and / or the mass of the heat storage medium in the storage container ( 134 ) storable or stored heat transfer medium is at least five times, preferably at least ten times, the volume and / or the mass, which for the operation of the vehicle ( 100 ) without the storage tank ( 134 ) would be required. Method for operating a vehicle ( 100 ), comprising: - providing electrical energy and heat by means of a fuel cell device ( 112 ); - Recording the heat by means of a heat transfer medium; - Storage of heat in a storage tank ( 134 ) by supplying the heated heat transfer medium to the storage container ( 134 ) and / or by storing the heated heat transfer medium in the storage container ( 134 ). Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the vehicle ( 100 ) is selectively operable in a fuel operation and in a battery operation, wherein in the fuel operation one for driving the vehicle ( 100 ) required electrical energy by means of the fuel cell device ( 112 ) is provided using fuel and wherein in the battery operation previously in a battery device ( 108 ) stored electric power for driving the vehicle ( 100 ) provided. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that stored in the fuel operation heat for later use of the same is stored in battery mode by the in the storage container ( 134 ) and / or the storage container ( 134 ) to be supplied heat transfer medium is heated. Method according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that in the battery operation in the storage container ( 134 ) arranged heated heat transfer medium a heat exchanger ( 116 ) for heating a vehicle interior ( 122 ) of the vehicle ( 100 ) is supplied. Method according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that prior to starting and / or starting the fuel cell device ( 112 ) in the storage tank ( 134 ) arranged heated heat transfer medium a heat exchanger ( 116 ) of the fuel cell device ( 112 ) is supplied.

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