DE102016213088A1 - Pressure tank system with pressure relief device - Google Patents

Abstract

The technology disclosed herein relates to a pressure vessel system for a motor vehicle. The pressure vessel system includes a pressure vessel for storing fuel and a pressure relief device. the pressure relief device can be triggered by pressure provided by an external pressure source. The pressure relief device is set up to at least partially relieve the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel system may include at least one pressure translator coupled to the external pressure source and the pressure relief device. Alternatively or additionally, the pressure vessel system may comprise at least one turbine and at least one reduction gear, which are coupled to the pressure relief device. The reduction gear or the pressure booster are adapted to operate the pressure relief device.

Description

Pressure vessels for motor vehicles, in which, for example, hydrogen is stored as fuel, must be relieved of pressure in the event of a vehicle fire so as not to give rise to a safety-critical situation. For this purpose, if necessary, at least a portion of the stored hydrogen is timely and targeted blown into the environment via a safety relief device, which is also referred to as a thermally-activated pressure relief device (= TPRD). Furthermore, pressure vessels i.d.R. Safety valves that reduce the pressure when the pressure in the pressure vessel to a value above a release pressure increases.

The wall or structure of a pressure vessel could also be damaged in an accident of the vehicle so far that while this tank can initially hold the fuel stored therein under high pressure, however, any salvage measures taken on the injured vehicle cause further minor damage could cause the tank structure, which then lead to failure of the pressure vessel and thus could endanger rescue or recovery forces. It would therefore be desirable to be able to relieve an existing accident in a motor vehicle in this existing pressure vessel from a safe distance, i. the fuel stored in the pressure vessel to be discharged in a simple and safe manner, at least partially from the pressure vessel. The same applies if the pressure vessel could have been damaged due to any external influence, which need not necessarily be an accident in the true sense. Even in such a case, it is advantageous if skilled workers (in addition to rescue or recovery forces, for example, motor vehicle mechanics, etc.) can dissipate the stored fuel in the pressure vessel in a simple and secure manner, at least partially from the pressure vessel.

From the going back to the applicant German patent applications with the application numbers DE 10 2016 206 192 and DE 10 2015 222 251 are already known devices for pressure relief. However, it may happen that emergency vehicles will soon be equipped without hydraulic pumps. Then an external pressure source for actuating a remote pressure relief would be omitted.

It is a preferred object of the technology disclosed herein to reduce or eliminate at least one disadvantage of the previously known solutions. In particular, it is an object of the technology disclosed herein to provide a highly available system for remote pressure relief, which requires little or no change to the already used for rescuing or Bergen equipment and preferably not or only slightly on cost, weight or space of the Motor vehicle effects. Other preferred objects may result from the beneficial effects of the technology disclosed herein. The object (s) is / are solved by the subject matter of claim 1. The dependent claims are preferred embodiments.

Emergency vehicles, in addition to hydraulic pumps, also have pneumatic devices for breathing air supply when used in hazardous atmospheres (such as smoke). The breathing gas is usually at a pressure of about 200 bar for a full compressed air cylinder. There are also special compressed air cylinders which are filled up to approx. 300 bar. This breathing gas pressure is reduced by a first pressure reducer at the bottle opening to a mean pressure of about 5 to 8 bar.

Then the pressure is released in a second stage in the regulator to ambient pressure. Such pneumatic equipment lead the emergency services of the fire department as a standard equipment regularly. The technology disclosed here is based on the idea to use these compressed air devices for breathing air supply for remote pressure relief of the pressure vessel system.

The technology disclosed herein relates to a pressurized container system (= compressed hydrogen storage system (= CHS system)) for a motor vehicle. The pressure vessel system is used to store under ambient conditions gaseous fuel. The pressure vessel system can be used for example in a motor vehicle, which is operated with compressed ("compressed natural gas" = CNG) or liquefied (LNG) natural gas or with hydrogen. Such a pressure vessel system comprises at least one pressure vessel. The pressure vessel may be, for example, a cryogenic pressure vessel (= CcH2) or a high-pressure gas vessel (= CGH2). High pressure gas containers are configured to store fuel substantially at ambient temperatures at a nominal operating pressure (also called nominal working pressure or NWP) of about 350 bar (= overpressure to atmospheric pressure), more preferably about 700 barg or more. A cryogenic pressure vessel is suitable to store the fuel at the aforementioned operating pressures even at temperatures well below the operating temperature of the motor vehicle.

The technology disclosed herein further comprises at least one pressure relief device for remote pressure relief of the pressure vessel to ambient pressure. The pressure relief device is not activated by the change in state of the motor vehicle itself. The term "not automatically activated" here means that the motor vehicle (in particular the pressure vessel system) is not designed to trigger the pressure relief device. In particular, the pressure relief device is not designed to trigger a pressure relief based on temperature changes and / or pressure vessel internal pressure changes. In particular, not to be regarded as pressure relief device are any pressure relief valves to avoid Überertankung.

Rather, the pressure relief device is designed to be triggered by an action of a person directly or indirectly. Of course, the person is not an accident causer indirectly causing the depressurization by the accident itself, but i.d.R. the vehicle driver, rescuer, berger, the accident cause after the accident event or another supporting force. A pressure relief device is in particular a device which is designed, directly or indirectly from a certain distance to the pressure vessel, for example at least from outside the motor vehicle, preferably from outside the danger zone (eg at least 2 m, at least 10 m, at least 100 m or at least 1) km) to be activated directly or indirectly.

The pressure relief device is directly or indirectly triggered by a pressure that is provided by an external pressure source. The external pressure source is a pressure source, which is not arranged in the motor vehicle, but which can be connected from the outside to the motor vehicle. In particular, this external pressure source is not a filling station which serves to refuel the at least one pressure vessel. The pressure source is preferably a mobile pressure source, preferably an air pressure source, and particularly preferably a compressed air cylinder, in particular of the respiratory apparatus disclosed here.

In particular, a pressure relief device may be formed as in the going back to the applicant German patent applications with the application numbers DE 10 2016 206 192 (there as "pressure relief device 100 "Designated) and DE 10 2015 222 251 (there as a "safety relief device 2 . 24 "Designated) is disclosed. The content of the patent applications with the application number DE 10 2016 206 192 regarding the pressure relief device disclosed therein 100 and the content of the patent applications with the application number DE 10 2015 222 251 with regard to the safety relief device disclosed therein 2 . 24 is incorporated herein by reference in this application or in the technology disclosed herein. It can therefore the pressure relief device 100 of the DE 10 2016 206 192 as a pressure relief device 240 (see. 1 to 3 ) and their remote pressure relief device 120 through the external pressure source 400 (see. 1 to 3 ) are actuated.

The technology disclosed herein further includes a pressure translator (also called a booster). A pressure booster is a free piston machine for changing from an input side working pressure to an output side working pressure. The at least one pressure booster is coupled to the external pressure source and to the pressure relief device. Appropriately, the pressure booster is fluidly connected to the pressure relief device and external pressure source. It is also conceivable that a mechanical coupling is provided on the output side. Preferably, the translator constitutes a media conversion. The compressed air is applied to the input side and another pressure fluid is used at the output side, e.g. a hydraulic fluid. Advantageously, the pressure relief device can thus be safely operated even by comparatively low pressures of the external pressure source, for example, the medium pressure of a respirator. The pressure booster thus represents an amplifier so that comparatively large forces or moments actuate the pressure relief device.

As an alternative to the translator, the pressure vessel system may include at least one turbine fluidly connected to the external pressure source. A turbine is a rotating fluid machine that converts the internal energy of a flowing fluid (eg breathing gas from a respirator) into mechanical energy, which it releases via its shaft. The at least one turbine is coupled to at least one reduction gear. A reduction gear is a transmission in which the input speed is greater than the output speed. The assist gear is arranged to operate the pressure relief device. For example, on the output side, a rack (or threaded spindle) may be provided, which in the DE 10 2016 206 192 pushes out shown remote release element. Furthermore, it can be provided that the reduction gear in the DE 10 2016 206 192 disclosed screw head 24 drives. The reduction gear also ensures that relatively high forces or moments actuate the pressure relief device.

At least one check valve may be provided between the at least one motor vehicle-side coupling part and the pressure relief device. The check valve may be opened by the control unit in the event of an accident or fire of the motor vehicle detected by a control unit. Such a check valve ensures that unauthorized persons can not relieve pressure when no accident or fire has occurred.

Particularly preferably, at least two vehicle-side coupling parts are provided. The at least two coupling parts are provided at different locations of the motor vehicle. In particular, they are spaced such that the coupling parts are accessible from the outside from different directions and / or from different sides of the vehicle (right side of the vehicle, left side of the vehicle, vehicle floor, vehicle roof, etc.). Spaced in this context means that they are at least 50 cm apart, preferably at least 1 m or 2 m apart. The access may be provided directly in the outer skin of the vehicle body or in the underbody panel. Likewise, the at least one coupling part can be covered by a cover or flap, which can be disassembled relatively easily by the rescue force.

The technology disclosed herein further relates to a respirator with at least one pressure bottle. The breathing apparatus can be connected to at least one vehicle-side coupling part of a pressure tank system with remote pressure relief, in particular to the pressure tank system disclosed here. The respirator may be configured such that no pressure reducer is provided in the flow path between the compressed air cylinder and a respirator-side coupling part. As a pressure reducer here can be considered any component which lowers the pressure in the compressed air cylinders by at least 10% or 20%. In particular, no pressure reducer is provided, which lowers the cylinder pressure to a mean pressure of about 4-12 bar. This flow path can be realized, for example, by a separate connection on the shut-off valve of the compressed air cylinder to which a compressed air line is connected to the respiratory device-side coupling part. However, it can also be provided that no tank shut-off valve with integrated pressure reducer is provided at the bottle opening of the compressed air cylinder and, alternatively, either a pressure reducer or the compressed air line can be connected to the device-side coupling part.

The technology disclosed herein will now be explained with reference to the figures. Show it:

1 a schematic view of a first embodiment of the technology disclosed herein;

2 a schematic view of a second embodiment of the technology disclosed herein; and

3 a schematic view of a third embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.

In the 1 schematically a first embodiment of the pressure vessel system disclosed here is shown. The pressure vessel system comprises a pressure vessel 100 , The pressure vessel 100 can be designed as a cryogenic pressure vessel or as a high pressure gas container. A fluid conduit connects the interior of the pressure vessel 100 with a pressure relief device 240 , But that does not have to be this way. The pressure relief device 240 can also be integrated into an on-tank valve. In the pressure relief device 240 For example, a TPRD can also be integrated. That does not have to be that way. The pressure relief device 240 is here also pneumatically or hydraulically actuated. For this purpose, the pressure relief device 240 with an output of a pressure booster 242 fluidly connected. The entrance of the intensifier 242 is here with two vehicle-mounted coupling parts 246 connected. The pressure intensifier 242 is designed so that it is pressure-increasing. From the pressure on the input side of the intensifier 242 So results in a higher pressure on the output side of the pressure booster 242 , Preferably flows between the pressure booster 242 and the pressure relief device 240 a hydraulic fluid. On one of the vehicle-mounted coupling parts 246 Here is a breathing apparatus 400 a connection line 410 connected. The breathing apparatus 400 is a conventional breathing apparatus used by firefighters. The connection line 410 is downstream of the pressure reducer 405 connected or is connected to this one-piece. The breathing apparatus 400 further comprises a compressed air cylinder 440 , in the air under pressure (eg 200-300 bar) is stored. Furthermore, here is a check valve 244 provided, which is opened only when the controller detects an accident or fire.

In other words, this embodiment relates to a pressure vessel system to which one of the still accessible on-board pneumatic clutches 246 a breathing apparatus is connected. The function of the safety valve 244 is to unlock the pneumatic path only after detection of a critical event (eg accident or fire) to prevent "misuse". In the described concept, the triggering mechanism is via a pneumatic / hydraulic booster 242 operated. Also conceivable is the version with a pneumatic / pneumatic amplifier 242 , In this, the required for triggering higher pressure is generated by a pneumatic piston system. The low pressure acts on a large piston area. The resulting force is transferred to the high-pressure piston via a rod. The high pressure piston has a much smaller piston area As the low pressure piston and the resulting reaction pressure in the high pressure piston (high pressure) is much greater than the low pressure in the low pressure piston. The pneumatic / pneumatic amplifier 242 is dimensioned so that the high pressure to trigger the pressure relief device 240 sufficient.

The 2 shows another embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. Hereinafter, only the differences from the embodiment according to the 1 explained in more detail. Instead of a pressure intensifier 242 here becomes another amplifying device 242 ' disclosed. The reinforcing device 242 ' here includes a turbine 243 equipped with a reduction gear 241 is mechanically coupled. Now breathing gas out of the breathing apparatus 400 in the turbine 243 so drives the turbine 243 the reduction gear 241 at. On the output side of the reduction gear 241 causes the reduction gear 241 a movement that the pressure relief device 240 actuated. Between the transmission 241 and the pressure relief device 240 Any type of pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical coupling can be provided. Also this reinforcing device 242 ' allows comparatively high forces or moments for actuating the pressure relief device 240 ,

In other words, that shows 2 a pneumatic / mechanical release concept. The function essentially corresponds to the concept as in 1 shown. The difference lies in the conversion of the pneumatic energy into the release energy. In this concept, the pressure relief device is mechanically triggered. Those through the respiratory protective equipment 440 provided compressed air drives a pneumatic / mechanical converter 242 ' at. This example consists of a compressed air turbine 243 to a gearbox 241 is coupled.

The gear 241 converts the low torque with high speed of the turbine 243 in a high-torque, low-speed torque usable for the mechanical release mechanism. For example, a screw mechanism (not shown) operating the TPRD triggering mechanism may be operated via this torque 240 triggers. It can do that in the DE 10 2016 206 192 described remote trigger element 122 be triggered by the screw mechanism. It would also be conceivable triggering a cable or a hydraulic pump connected to the transmission 241 of the pneumatic / mechanical converter 242 ' is flanged. Further mechanical conversion systems of a torque in a longitudinal force to trigger the remote trigger element 122 are known.

Another embodiment is in 3 shown. The concept shown here differs from the embodiment of the 1 in the specific embodiment of the breathing apparatus 400 , The breathing apparatus 400 but is not on the pressure vessel system according to the 1 limited but can also be used for other pressure vessel systems with remote pressure relief, such as the pressure vessel system according to the 2 ,

In contrast to the previous embodiments, the embodiment of the 3 without pressure reducer 405 , The compressed air bottle 440 may for example have a pressure of about 200 to 300 bar. The compressed air bottle 440 is via the device coupling 430 directly to the connecting line 410 connected. The other end of the connection line 410 is to the vehicle-side coupling part 246 connected. The connection line 410 includes a manually switchable ball valve 420 , with which the compressed air connection between compressed air cylinder 440 and the vehicle-side coupling part 246 can be opened manually. Due to the high internal pressure of the compressed air cylinder 440 is to activate the trigger mechanism (eg via the remote trigger element 122 ) only a slight or no reinforcement by a pressure booster 242 or another reinforcing device 242 ' necessary. The triggering force is here by the pressure booster 242 generated. Optionally, there is still a Tankabsperrventil (not shown) directly on the head of the pressure bottle 440 , Furthermore, in the connecting line 410 still a pressure relief valve (not shown) to the opening of the clutches after the release of the pressure relief device 240 easier if they are still under pressure.

The technology disclosed here can ensure that rescue and rescue forces can perform a quick and safe pressure relief depending on the situation. There is then no danger from the pressure vessel 100 out. The further procedure with recovery and rescue of injured and vehicle can be carried out by conventional methods without further restriction. There are no additional protective measures required. Furthermore, salvagers and rescue workers can automatically trigger the pressure relief in a thermal event, without having to rely on the function of the TPRD system or to wait. Supply of the pressure relief device 240 done from the outside. This means that the system can not activate itself incorrectly. For an abusive activation you need a respiratory protective equipment 400 , whereby another barrier exists. Furthermore, the motor vehicle must have previously detected a critical event (eg accident or fire), so that the check valve 244 the Pneumatic line releases. Respiratory protective equipment (or the associated pressure cylinders 440 ) are an integral part of all rescue vehicles (fire brigade, THW, ambulance, etc.) and are therefore highly likely with the rescue vehicle at the accident site available. The remote pressure relief can be operated from a safe distance via a correspondingly long pneumatic line. Simple, robust pneumatic technology is used, which has a low probability of failure. For the use of this technology, only a few new components are necessary, so that costs, space and / or weight of the motor vehicle change only slightly.

For the sake of legibility, the term "at least one" has been omitted for simplicity. If a feature of the technology disclosed herein is singularly described (eg, the / a pressure vessel, the / a pressure relief device, the / a pressure wave, the / a pressure booster, the / a turbine, the / a reduction gear, the / Compressed air cylinder, the / a coupling part, the / a pressure reducer, etc.) should be at the same time also with their plurality disclosed (eg the at least one pressure vessel, the at least one pressure relief device, the at least one pressure source, the at least one pressure booster, the at least one turbine , the at least one reduction gear, the at least one compressed air cylinder, the at least one coupling part, the at least one pressure reducer, etc.).

The foregoing description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention. Various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention and its equivalents.

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 102016206192 [0003, 0011, 0011, 0011, 0013, 0013, 0025]
• DE 102015222251 [0003, 0011, 0011]

Claims (7)

Pressure vessel system for a motor vehicle, comprising: - at least one pressure vessel ( 100 ) for storing fuel; At least one pressure relief device ( 240 ) from an external source of pressure ( 400 ) is triggered, the pressure relief device ( 240 ) is arranged, at least partially the pressure vessel ( 100 ) to relieve; and - at least one pressure booster ( 242 ) connected to the external pressure source ( 400 ) and the pressure relief device ( 240 ) is coupled; the pressure intensifier ( 242 ), the pressure relief device ( 240 ). Pressure vessel system for a motor vehicle, comprising: - at least one pressure vessel ( 100 ) for storing fuel; At least one pressure relief device ( 240 ) from an external source of pressure ( 400 ) is triggered, the pressure relief device ( 240 ) is arranged, at least partially the pressure vessel ( 100 ) to relieve; At least one turbine ( 243 ) connected to the external pressure source ( 400 ) is fluidly connected; and - at least one reduction gear ( 241 ) connected to the turbine ( 243 ) and coupled to the pressure relief device; the reduction gear ( 241 ), the pressure relief device ( 240 ). Pressure vessel system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the external pressure source ( 400 ) a compressed air cylinder ( 440 ) of a breathing apparatus ( 400 ). Pressure vessel system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein between at least one vehicle-side coupling part and the pressure relief device ( 240 ) a check valve ( 244 ), which is opened in the event of an accident or fire of the vehicle.  Pressure vessel system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two vehicle-side coupling parts, which are arranged at different locations of the motor vehicle spaced from each other. Respiratory Equipment ( 400 ) with at least one compressed air cylinder ( 440 ), whereby the breathing apparatus ( 400 ) to at least one vehicle-side coupling part ( 246 ) of a pressure vessel system for remote pressure relief, in particular a pressure vessel system according to one of the preceding claims, can be connected. Respiratory Equipment ( 400 ) according to claim 6, wherein the breathing apparatus ( 400 ) is configured so that in the flow path between the compressed air cylinder ( 440 ) and a respirator-side coupling part no pressure reducer ( 405 ) is provided.

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