DE102016014929A1 - Tank for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tank (10) for a motor vehicle, having at least one receiving space (12) for receiving a medium of the motor vehicle, and having a conveying device (16) for conveying the medium from the receiving space (12), wherein the conveying device (16). a heating device, by means of which heat for at least partial melting in the receiving space (12) frozen medium (22) can be provided, wherein in the receiving space (12) at least one additionally provided in addition to the heater and a plurality of juxtaposed, at least partially spaced apart Webs (30) exhibiting Wärmeleitelement (32) is arranged, by means of which at least a portion of the heat provided by the heater while heating the Wärmeleitelements (32) receivable and in frozen medium (22) at least one along at least one of the webs (30) extending Channel (34, 36) for guiding liquid medium (38) ausbildbar i st.

Description

The invention relates to a tank for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such tanks for motor vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, are already well known from the general state of the art and in particular from production vehicle production. The tank has at least one receiving space for receiving a medium. The medium is, for example, a reducing agent, by means of which exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle can be de-embroidered. Under this Entsticken is to understand that in the exhaust gas possibly received nitrogen oxides are removed by means of the reducing agent from the exhaust gas. For this purpose, the reducing agent, for example, ammonia (NH ₃ ) ready, which can react in particular in the context of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust (NO _x ) to nitrogen (N ₂ ) and water (H ₂ O). Usually, the reducing agent is formed as a liquid, in particular as an aqueous urea solution.

The tank further comprises a conveyor for conveying the medium from the receiving space. For example, by means of the conveying device, the medium arranged in the receiving space can be conveyed from the receiving space to a metering device, by means of which the medium formed, for example, as a reducing agent can be introduced, in particular injected, into the exhaust gas. In this case, the conveyor has a heating device, by means of which heat for at least partial melting of frozen in the receiving space medium can be provided. In other words, the medium accommodated in the receiving space can freeze, especially at particularly low ambient temperatures. In this case, the conveying device is designed with the electrically operable heating device, for example, in order to thaw or melt at least part of the frozen medium.

Object of the present invention is to develop a tank of the type mentioned in such a way that a particularly advantageous operation of the conveyor can be ensured.

This object is achieved by a tank having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the remaining claims.

In order to further develop a tank of the type specified in the preamble of patent claim 1 such that a particularly advantageous operation of the conveyor can be ensured, especially in particularly low ambient temperatures, it is provided according to the invention that at least one additional heating element is provided in the receiving space Is arranged plurality of juxtaposed and at least partially spaced webs having heat conducting element. The heat-conducting element can absorb at least part of the heat provided by the heating device, whereby the heat-conducting element is heated. In this way, at least one channel extending along at least one of the webs can be formed by means of the heat-conducting element in the medium frozen in the receiving space, wherein liquid medium can be guided by means of the channel.

The invention is based in particular on the following knowledge: The conveying device, which is also referred to as a conveyor module, is equipped with the integrated into the conveyor heater, which is in particular electrically operable to a sufficient amount of the medium, in particular depending on one of Motor control provided requirement, thaw and, for example, to a particular designed as a metering metering device, by means of which, for example, as a reducing agent formed medium in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine can be introduced, in particular injectable, to be able to promote. The aforementioned engine control system is, for example, an electronic computing device, which is also referred to as a control device, wherein the internal combustion engine is operated, in particular controlled or regulated, by means of the engine control. It has been found that, due to design and / or construction space, under extreme environmental conditions, in particular at low outside temperatures, and / or in particular driving cycles of the motor vehicle, formation of a cavity in the area around the conveyor may occur.

The conveyor includes at least one pump for conveying the medium. The cavity is, for example, a cavity that is bounded by frozen in the receiving space medium, wherein in the cavity or in the cavity is no medium or only frozen medium. As a result of the formation of such a cavity around the conveyor around, there may be a pressure drop on the feed pump, so that the feed pump can promote no medium or an insufficiently small amount of the medium to the metering device.

It is conceivable to solve this problem by additional measures, which include, for example, heating elements and / or flat heating mats, which are installed in and / or on the tank. The problem described above can be solved in the tank according to the invention in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, since the heat-conducting element is used. For example, the respective web has a longitudinal extent, which runs in the installed position of the tank in the vehicle vertical direction or at least substantially parallel to the vehicle vertical direction. The heat-conducting element is formed, for example, as a fin having the plurality of preferably interconnected webs. It is conceivable that the heat conducting element on the conveyor, which is arranged in the receiving space and thus formed inside the tank, is mounted.

In other words, it is conceivable that the heat-conducting element is held on a housing of the conveyor and / or on a receiving space, in particular in the installed position in the vehicle vertical direction upwards, partially on the upper tank side limiting roof of the tank.

The heat-conducting element is formed for example from a plastic, wherein the heat-conducting element is produced for example by injection molding. The plastic is preferably a thermally conductive plastic so as to be able to absorb and distribute at least the part of the heat provided by the heating device particularly well. In other words, the heat absorbed can be distributed particularly advantageously over or in the heat-conducting element. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the heat-conducting element is formed from another thermally conductive material, in particular from a metallic material, wherein the material should be suitable for use in the medium formed, for example, as a reducing agent for de-stoking exhaust gas.

Preferably, the heat-conducting element is designed such that it has the largest possible surface in relation to its size. In this case, the heat-conducting element, for example, the shape of a comb or is formed like a comb.

The aforementioned housing forms, for example, a module pot in which the conveying device (conveying module) or its pump as well as optionally the heating device are accommodated. In this case, the heat-conducting element is for example verlier- and ice pressure safe mounted on the module pot. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the heat-conducting element on a tank top, in particular on the roof, loser- and ice pressure safe mounted.

In particular, it is possible for the channel to be formed by means of the heat-conducting element in such a way that the channel extends through the frozen medium delimiting the previously described cavity so that the channel opens into the cavity at one end and into a portion of the receiving space at the other end Subregion is disposed on a side facing away from the cavity of the frozen medium. If the channel has been formed in the manner described and then, for example, liquid medium is refilled into the tank, in particular into the said subregion, the liquid medium can flow from the subregion through the channel into the cavity and thus to the conveying device. As a result, the liquid medium which has flowed to the conveying device can be conveyed out of the receiving space to the metering device by means of the conveying device, so that a supply of the metering device with a sufficiently large amount of medium can be ensured even under extreme conditions.

To realize this, it is provided that the heat-conducting element in the installation position of the tank in the motor vehicle projects beyond a maximum level of the medium. The tank takes its installation position in fully manufactured state of the motor vehicle. The maximum level of the medium is established when the tank is filled to the maximum with the medium or when a maximum permitted amount of medium is filled in the at least one receiving space of the tank, then freezes the medium and its maximum expected extent taken in the frozen state Has. High levels of the medium in the at least one receiving space of the tank can be present in particular after taking over a new vehicle or frequently replenished motor vehicles, such as rental vehicles from rental car companies such as the company SIXT and others.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or in the figures alone can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or in isolation, without the scope of To leave invention.

The drawing shows in:

1 a schematic perspective view of a tank according to the invention for a motor vehicle;

2 a fragmentary schematic sectional view of the tank; and

3 a schematic perspective view of a conveyor of the tank.

In the figures, the same or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

1 shows in a schematic perspective view of a whole 10 designated tank for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has an internal combustion engine, by means of which the motor vehicle can be driven. The internal combustion engine is designed for example as a diesel engine. The internal combustion engine has at least one combustion chamber, which is designed, for example, as a cylinder. During a fired operation of the internal combustion engine, combustion processes take place in the cylinder (combustion chamber), resulting in exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine.

The internal combustion engine in this case has an exhaust gas tract through which the exhaust gas can flow, by means of which the exhaust gas is discharged from the combustion chamber. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust gas aftertreatment device which is arranged in the exhaust tract and has, for example, at least one SCR catalytic converter (SCR-selective catalytic reduction). By means of the SCR catalyst, the exhaust gas can be deesterified with the aid of a reducing agent. This is to be understood as meaning that nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) possibly contained in the exhaust gas can be at least partially removed from the exhaust gas. For this purpose, the exhaust aftertreatment device comprises at least one metering device, not shown in the figures, which is designed, for example, as a metering valve or has at least one metering valve.

Said reducing agent is a medium formed as a liquid, which is preferably formed as an aqueous urea solution. In synopsis with 2 it is recognizable that the tank 10 a recording room 12 for receiving the reducing agent. This is the recording room 12 for example, by a housing 14 of the tank 10 limited, the housing 14 for example, is formed from a plastic.

The Tank 10 further includes an in 3 shown in a schematic perspective view and in the receiving space 12 recorded conveyor 16 , which is also referred to as a conveyor module. The conveyor 16 has at least one housing 18 on, which is formed for example of a plastic. Furthermore, the conveyor comprises 16 at least one not visible in the figures and in the housing 18 recorded feed pump, by means of which the reducing agent from the receiving space 12 can be promoted to the metering device. By means of the metering device, the reducing agent conveyed to the metering device can be introduced into the exhaust gas, in particular injected. In particular, it is provided that the reducing agent can be introduced, in particular injected, into the exhaust gas by means of the metering device on a point arranged in the flow direction of the exhaust gas through the exhaust gas tract upstream of the SCR catalytic converter. The exhaust gas and the reducing agent received in the exhaust gas flow to the and in particular through the SCR catalyst. The reducing agent may provide ammonia (NH ₃ ). In the SCR catalyst, the ammonia can react with the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas to nitrogen and water in the context of the SCR, which is effected or supported by means of the SCR catalyst.

In this case, the conveyor 16 one not visible in the figures and, for example, in the housing 18 recorded heating device, which is electrically operated, for example. This means that the heater can provide heat by means of electrical current supplied to the heater. By means of this heat provided by the heater can be at least a part of in the receiving space 12 absorbed, frozen reducing agent melted and thus thawed. In other words, prevail in the environment of the motor vehicle, for example, particularly low temperatures, it can in the recording room 12 Freeze absorbed reducing agents. By means of the heat provided by the heating device, at least part of the frozen reducing agent can be melted.

In unfavorable conditions, it may be due to the freezing of the reducing agent to the formation of an in 2 recognizable cavity 20 come by which in 2 hatched, frozen reducing agent 22 is limited and around the conveyor 16 herumerstreckt. If, for example, liquid reducing agent is initially present in the cavity 20 , this can be initially in the cavity 20 located, liquid reducing agent by means of the conveyor 16 be promoted to the metering device. This takes one in the cavity 20 absorbed amount of liquid reducing agent, until, for example, no liquid reducing agent in the cavity 20 more is recorded. Then there is a pressure drop or pressure drop on the feed pump.

Out 1 it is recognizable that the tank 10 , in particular that the housing 14 , one filler pipe 24 comprising, via which liquid reducing agent in the receiving space 12 can be filled. Through the frozen reducing agent 22 which is the cavity 20 limited, however, for example, is the filler neck 24 from the conveyor 16 separated. This is the case, for example, as one on one of the conveyor 16 and the cavity 20 opposite side 26 of the frozen reducing agent 22 arranged subarea 27 of the recording room 12 through the frozen reducing agent 22 from the cavity 20 and thus of the conveyor 16 is separated, with the filler neck 24 , in particular a filling channel 28 of the filler neck 24 , in the subarea 27 empties. Liquid reducing agent, which over the filler neck 24 in the recording room 12 is refilled or refilled, the filling channel 28 flow through and - if in the recording room 12 no reducing agent is frozen - in the receiving space 12 and in particular to the conveyor 16 stream. Now, however, the subarea 27 and thus the filler neck 24 through the frozen reducing agent 22 from the conveyor 16 can be separated, the liquid, the filling channel 28 flowing through and over the filling channel 28 in the subarea 27 Although inflowing liquid reducing agent in the subarea 27 but not further to the conveyor 16 or in the cavity 20 flow, but remains in the subarea 27 , The over the filling channel 28 filled, liquid reducing agent is namely by the frozen reducing agent 22 from the cavity 20 and thus of the conveyor 16 kept away, so then when in the cavity 20 no liquid reducing agent is added anymore and over the filler neck 24 liquid reducing agent is refilled, no liquid reducing agent more by means of the conveyor 16 can be promoted to the metering device.

Furthermore, in 1 and 2 an acoustic cone provided by an ultrasonic sensor 29 recognizable, wherein the ultrasonic sensor or the cone of sound 29 is used for level detection. Under the level detection is to be understood that in the context of level detection in the receiving space 12 recorded amount of, in particular liquid, reducing agent is determined.

In order to provide a particularly advantageous operation of the conveyor even in unfavorable conditions in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner 16 and thus to be able to realize the exhaust gas aftertreatment device as a whole is in the receiving space 12 at least one provided in addition to the heater and a plurality of juxtaposed, at least partially spaced apart and preferably interconnected webs 30 having and in the present comb-like or comb-shaped Wärmeleitelement 32 arranged, by means of which at least a part of the heat provided by the heating device with heating of the heat-conducting element 32 receivable and in the frozen reducing agent 22 at least one along at least one of the webs 30 extending channel 34 for guiding liquid reducing agent 36 can be trained. Out 3 it can be seen that the heat-conducting element 32 for example, on the housing 18 is arranged.

By means of the heat provided by the heater during its operation, for example, the housing 18 heated. In particular, the heat-conducting element contacts 32 the housing 18 so that at least part of the heat, in particular over the housing 18 , to the heat-conducting element 32 can go over. The heat-conducting element 32 is formed of a thermally conductive material, so that of the heat conducting element 32 absorbed heat at least substantially uniformly over or in the heat conducting element 32 distributed.

In 2 is a level 35 of the frozen reducing agent 22 illustrated. At the level 35 it is preferably a maximum level and thus a maximum level of the in the receiving space 12 absorbed, in particular frozen, reducing agent. It can be seen that the heat-conducting element 32 the preferably maximum level 35 , in particular in the frozen state of the reducing agent, surmounted, so that the heat-conducting element 32 from the conveyor 16 in the subarea 27 extends and thus the frozen reducing agent 22 penetrates, especially even when the reducing agent is at its maximum level 35 or level is frozen while ..

Due to the fact that the heat-conducting element 32 receives at least a portion of the heat provided by the heater and thereby heated, forms around at least one of the webs 30 around and thus along the at least one bridge 30 the channel 34 out, which - because the at least one bridge 30 the frozen reducing agent 22 permeates - the frozen reducing agent 22 penetrates. Out 2 It can be seen that in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, two channels 34 and 36 train in the manner described. Because the channels 34 and 36 the frozen reducing agent 22 penetrate, extend the channels 34 and 36 from the cavity 20 to the subarea 27 or vice versa. In other words, the respective channel opens 34 respectively 36 on the one hand into the cavity 20 and on the other hand into the subarea 27 , Is then in the manner described on the filler neck 24 or via the filling channel 28 liquid reducing agent in the tank 10 , in particular the subarea 27 , filled, the liquid reducing agent, the respective channel 34 respectively 36 flow through and thereby of the sub-area 27 into the cavity 20 and thus to the conveyor 16 stream. This liquid, from the subarea 27 through the channels 34 and 36 into the cavity 20 flowing liquid reducing agent is in 2 With 38 designated.

By this filling of liquid reducing agent can in the cavity 20 and thus at the conveyor 16 a sufficiently high amount of liquid reducing agent are provided in order to ensure a supply of the metering device with a sufficient amount of liquid reducing agent can. In other words, the use of the Wärmeleitelements 32 a simple and cost-effective way to increase the availability and robustness of the exhaust aftertreatment device compared to conventional exhaust aftertreatment devices.

Now, for example, by a software application solution, the formation of the cavity 20 and a related, repeatedly occurring pressure build-up error on the housing 18 detected received pump, at least one optical and / or acoustic and / or haptic signal is output, for example, in the interior of the motor vehicle, by means of which the driver of the motor vehicle is requested to the tank 10 to refuel with liquid reducing agent, that is, liquid reducing agent via the filler neck 24 in the recording room 12 , in particular the subarea 27 to fill up.

The over the heater in the heating mode permanently in the example designed as a fin heat conduction 32 initiated heat energy ensures a local melting of the heat-conducting element 32 surrounding, frozen reducing agent 22 , This is - as described - on at least one of the webs 30 a circulating channel 34 respectively 36 Approved. This particular channel 34 respectively 36 now ensures that the refilled, liquid reducing agent, inter alia, in the cavity 20 and thus directly to the conveyor 16 can flow. This allows a pressure build-up on the feed pump.

The solution described in the figures could also be designed as a cost-effective cold-land version of the designed as a reducing agent tank tanks with appropriate assembly-compatible design 10 or the conveyor module can be used. Furthermore, would be with appropriate construction of the tank 10 a retrofit solution in case of need conceivable. A fundamental transfer of the applicability of the illustrated in the figure solution to other containers for storing and promoting freeze-endangered media such as reservoirs, mop water tanks or water tank for water injection to heat engines may be possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

tank

12

accommodation space

14

casing

16

Conveyor

18

casing

20

cavity

22

frozen reducing agent

24

filler pipe

26

page

27

subregion

28

filling channel

29

sound Beam

30

web

32

thermally conductive element

34

channel

35

level

36

channel

38

liquid reducing agent

Claims (4)

Tank ( 10 ) for a motor vehicle, having at least one receiving space ( 12 ) for receiving a medium of the motor vehicle, and with a conveyor ( 16 ) for conveying the medium from the receiving space ( 12 ), the conveyor ( 16 ) has a heating device, by means of which heat for at least partial melting of in the receiving space ( 12 ) frozen medium ( 22 ), characterized in that in the receiving space ( 12 ) at least one in addition to the heating device provided and a plurality of juxtaposed, at least partially spaced webs ( 30 ) having Wärmeleitelement ( 32 ) is arranged, by means of which at least a part of the heat provided by the heating device by heating the heat-conducting element ( 32 ) and in frozen medium ( 22 ) at least one along at least one of the webs ( 30 ) extending channel ( 34 . 36 ) for guiding liquid medium ( 38 ) can be formed. Tank ( 10 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat-conducting element ( 32 ) on a housing ( 18 ) of the conveyor ( 16 ) and / or at one the receiving space ( 12 ) partially delimiting roof of the tank ( 10 ) is held. Tank ( 10 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the respective web ( 30 ) an in Installation position of the tank ( 10 ) has in the vehicle vertical direction extending longitudinal extent. Tank ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat-conducting element ( 32 ) is formed of a plastic or a metallic material.

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