DE102017209352A1 - Means of transport and method of use of a gas station for receiving gaseous traction energy carriers - Google Patents

Abstract

A means of transportation and a method for using a gas station (1) to receive a traction energy carrier (14) by a means of locomotion (10) are proposed. The method comprises the steps of: - identifying the filling station (1) - automatically adjusting a state parameter of a pressure vessel of the vehicle to be refueled (10) with a property of the identified gas station (1) in data form and adjusting a use of traction energy by the means of locomotion (10 ) on the way to the gas station (1) depending on a result of the reconciliation.

Description

The technology disclosed herein relates to a means of transportation (eg, a car, a van, a truck, an air and / or water vehicle) and a method of using a traction energy absorbing means (hereinafter simply referred to as a "gas station") in which deviating from the SAE-J2601 standard, without compromising the economy and / or safety of the refueling process or means of transport.

In the search for alternatives for fossil fuels different ways are currently being pursued. One of these approaches is based on the use of gaseous traction energy carriers (e.g., hydrogen, natural gas, etc.) which are carried under high pressure into a pressure vessel in the vehicle and converted into traction energy in an internal combustion engine or fuel cell. For refueling infrastructure of gas stations different designs and procedures are known. One of these complies with the SAE J2601 protocol. In addition, however, there are also forklift stations, home fueling facilities, 350 bar uncooled H2 filling stations and overflow systems from H2 sources with 300 to 500 from H2 sources with 300 to 500 (or higher) storage pressure known, which is not the SAE-J2601 Protocol.

While functional safety and the benefits of using the SAE-J2601 protocol are beyond dispute, the use of refueling capabilities other than this protocol may allow for greater mobility of appropriately equipped vehicles. However, temperatures in the pressure vessel may occur without corresponding safety precautions, for which the pressure vessel is not designed. In other words, the heat generated during the compression of the gaseous tractional energy carrier may exceed a permissible upper limit, unless care is taken that the resulting heat is dissipated in time from the refueled pressure vessel.

It is a preferred object of the technology disclosed herein to reduce or eliminate at least one disadvantage of the previously known solutions. 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 the independent claims. The dependent claims are preferred embodiments.

According to a first aspect, a method for using a device or location for receiving a traction energy carrier by a means of transport is proposed, the device being referred to below as a "filling station". It can be a commercial or private facility. Alternatively, it may belong to a fleet operator whose fleet is designed to use the provided traction energy carrier. To avoid an inadmissible increase in temperature in the pressure vessel of the means of transport, the gas station is first identified. In other words, the gas station is selected from a plurality of gas stations and at least considered for a refueling operation of the pressure vessel of the means of transportation. Subsequently, a state parameter of the pressure vessel of the transportation means to be refueled is automatically adjusted to a characteristic which the identified filling station has. The state parameter may include, for example, a temperature and / or pressure. For example, an ambient temperature of the means of locomotion can also be determined as the state parameter. The property of the identified gas station can be determined, for example, in data form. In other words, the property can be detected and interpreted by the vehicle, for example as a wireless message, as a machine-readable code, or the like. The property can in particular describe the type and preparation of the offered traction energy carrier. The treatment may, for example, describe a temperature and / or pressure and / or other properties essential to the refueling process. Subsequently, a use of traction energy of the gas station by the means of transport on the way to the gas station is adjusted depending on a result of the adjustment. In particular, a reduction per trajectory of required traction energy can be introduced so as not to bring the state parameter into a value range that is not permitted for a refueling process. For example, it can be avoided that the pressure in the pressure vessel drops such that a refueling of the pressure vessel would generate too much heat of compression and thus bring the pressure vessel into an inadmissible temperature range. In order to adapt the use of traction energy by the means of locomotion, for example, a consumer can be automatically switched to another operating state or the driving behavior, in particular the longitudinal guidance, adapted. In particular, in individual cases (eg in hybrid vehicles), the selection of which traction energy carrier is used for advancing, decide whether the pressure vessel on reaching the gas station has state parameters, which best possible absorption of a traction energy from the Guarantee gas station. In other words, a restriction of the operating range of the vehicles with pressure tank / pressure vessel is proposed depending on the expected fueling technology. For example, in response to vehicle-infrastructure communication, navigation data, customer behavior and, in particular, user input, a need to adjust the use of the tractional energy carrier or to use traction energy may be automatically recognized as meaning that the pressure vessel is deflated only to the extent that subsequent refueling (eg at a forklift filling station) with uncooled hydrogen, which is compressed to 350 bar, the compression energy up to the maximum attainable refueling pressure (depending on the respective gas station) the permissible system limits (eg 85 ° C) are not exceeded. The identification of the gas station can be done for example via location sensors in conjunction with a database (remote or in the vehicle). In particular, country-specific variants of means of locomotion can be realized by the technology disclosed here. In France, for example, an extensive network of 350 bar petrol stations has been set up. In China, no 700 bar type Ziff. 4 containers used. Should the user nevertheless continue to empty the pressure vessel and be at one of the refueling stations mentioned here, the refueling path, for example, can not be released in response to the result of the adjustment. In this case, for example, the fuel filler flap can not be unlocked and / or a corresponding indication can be output to the user. Alternatively, when recognizing one of the aforementioned gas station other than the SAE-J2601, the user could be allowed to empty the pressure vessel, but at the same time he would be informed that refueling at the respective gas station should be carried out separately. In other words, the refueling can be divided into two steps. In the first step, for example, refueling is carried out on a first predefined quantity of traction energy carrier and / or on a predefined limit temperature and / or on a predefined limit pressure (eg 250 bar). Then, when the pressure is reached (or earlier) or when the temperature is reached (refueled by the vehicle visually and / or acoustically, possibly with a certain reaction time), refueling is interrupted. In a second step, after a predefined cooling time (for example determined or fixed by the vehicle), the fueling can be continued until the final pressure of the pressure limit made available by the filling station.

Preferably, u.U. it is decided that releasing an energy supply from the gas station to the means of transportation via a refueling path (also "filler neck, tank tube") within the vehicle will not be released depending on a result of the adjustment. For example, the fuel filler flap, which covers the filler neck, can be locked or unlocked by an electric motor, in order to prevent the user from initiating a process-technically unfavorable, in particular unsafe, refueling process. Of course, if necessary, alternatively or additionally, other means can prevent a supply of traction energy carriers of the gas station in the pressure vessel of the means of transport.

To identify the gas station, data from environment sensors of the means of locomotion can be read out so that the station can be identified on the basis of the data of the environment sensors. For example, machine-readable panels or markings may be arranged in the area of the filling station, by means of which the means of locomotion can obtain information on the stored energy form / the available refueling technologies. Already the logo / trademark at the gas station may be used to determine or even exclude a certain suitability of traction energy carriers for the means of transport. Alternatively or additionally, a geographical position of the means of locomotion can be determined sensory, in particular automatically, for example satellite-based, and compared with an entry in a database. If the entry in the database can be attested to a suitability for traction energy carriers at the location of the nearby filling station, the comparison of the state parameter with the characteristic of the identified position ("filling station") can be considered successful. Alternatively or additionally, wireless communication data may be received as a "vehicle to infrastructure" via a wireless communication network (eg, terrestrial mobile communication network, mobile internet) or directly from the gas station by the transportation means. By means of such bidirectional wireless communication, the means of locomotion can send current state parameters of the pressure vessel to the filling station, which can then judge a refueling technology which it masters as suitable for the means of transportation and send back a corresponding result to the means of locomotion. Alternatively or additionally, the aforementioned adjustment can also be made by the means of locomotion, which learns via the wireless communication data the (updated) provided by the gas station Traktionsenergieträger and refueling technologies. Alternatively or additionally, a user behavior, in particular a user input, can serve to identify the gas station. In particular, the user input can be a Select a selection of a (eg future to be approached gas station). The data set associated with the filling station can then be taken from the offered traction energy carrier form and refueling technology or corresponding data can be requested via the wireless communication described above.

The traction energy carrier, which can be accommodated particularly reliably and conveniently due to the technology disclosed here, can in particular be hydrogen stored in gaseous form. In contrast to cryogenic hydrogen, it is possible to maintain energy at a favorable cost and to deliver it to the user / means of transportation in a cost-effective manner. In particular, the hydrogen can be delivered at a temperature above -50 ° C to the means of locomotion.

Adjusting the use of the tractional energy carrier in the means of locomotion may include a maximum allowable internal temperature of the pressure vessel of the locomotion means for the traction energy carrier. In other words, it can be calculated on the basis of the properties of the gas station, which internal tank pressure or which internal temperature of the pressure vessel is adjusted when receiving traction energy in the pressure vessel of the means of transport. By limiting the traction energy carrier to be removed until reaching the filling station, the interior pressure in the pressure vessel and / or the internal temperature of the pressure vessel can be influenced in such a way that the use of the traction energy carrier provided by the filling station is optimally prepared.

If the above-described adaptation of the use of traction energy on the way to the gas station can no longer ensure sufficient state parameters, a time-divided and alternatively or additionally time-extended refueling process can be set automatically in response to the balancing of the properties. In other words, it can be automatically ensured that the heat introduced into the pressure vessel during the refueling operation can be dissipated sufficiently, so that a predefined maximum temperature for the pressure vessel of the means of transportation is not exceeded. Prolonged refueling may require refueling with a low pressure drop. However, it has the advantage that the user does not have to repeatedly connect his means of transport with a corresponding gas pump. Of course, a two-part printing process may also have more than one break and may ensure the availability of the dispenser to other customers during the break or pauses while the vehicle is waiting at another position for heat dissipation of the pressure vessel.

In the pressure vessel of the means of locomotion, a sensor can be arranged, via which information about the condition parameters of the pressure vessel are determined, in response to which the duration of the break and / or the position of the break is determined with respect to the refueling units of the two-part refueling operation. Alternatively or additionally, a predefined memory value / a reference of the means of locomotion can also be used, which can also be stored, for example, as a function and / or map. From the stored value, the means of locomotion can determine how long the break has to take if, in view of the current state parameter of the tank system, traction energy is absorbed by the identified filling station.

In order to provide the findings, which has collected the means of transportation in the course of the above-described method via the gas station, to other potential customers of the gas station, the property of the identified gas station can be transmitted to a database, from where the property for access by additional users and / or means of transport is provided. In other words, it can be ensured by the above-described method that the findings of the means of locomotion are made available to at least one predefined user group (for example, depending on the manufacturer, vehicle pool-dependent, or the like).

According to a second aspect of the presently disclosed technology, a means of transportation is proposed, which includes a data input (eg a tank condition sensor, a temperature sensor / sensor), an evaluation unit (eg a programmable processor, a microcontroller, an electronic control unit, or the like) and a Data output (eg a bus subscriber, a signal line, etc.). The evaluation unit is set up to identify a gas station in connection with the data input. The evaluation unit is further configured to automatically match a current state parameter of a pressure vessel with a property of the identified gas station in data form. Subsequently, the evaluation unit, in conjunction with the data output, can adapt a use of the traction energy carrier by the means of locomotion on the way to the filling station as a function of a result of the adjustment. In this way, the above-described means of transportation is capable of carrying out, but at least participating in, the above-described method of using a gas station. To avoid repetition is therefore with respect to the features, combination of features and referring to the above advantages for the above advantages.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Fortbewegungsmittels bei der Ausführung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Verfahrens zur Verwendung einer Tankstelle;
• 2 ein Volumenstrom-Zeit-Diagramm veranschaulichend einen optional verwendbaren zweitgeteilten Tankvorgang; und
• 3 ein Flussdiagramm veranschaulichend Schritte eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Verfahrens.

Further details, features and advantages of the technology disclosed herein will become apparent from the following description and the figures. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a means of transport in carrying out an embodiment of a method for using a gas station;
• 2 a volumetric flow-time diagram illustrating an optionally usable second divided refueling operation; and
• 3 a flowchart illustrating steps of an embodiment of a method.

1 shows a gas station 1 which have a variety of dispensers 2 for the release of hydrogen 14 as an energy carrier, which in an underground pressure vessel 13 is stored. An approaching means of transportation in the form of a car 100 has a front camera 3 as environment sensor, which information technology with a data input 4a an electronic control unit 4 is connected as an evaluation unit information technology. The electronic control unit 4 is above the data input 4a Moreover, information technology with a data storage 5 and an antenna 12 for receiving wireless communication signals and from a satellite 120 set up signals generated. Via a data output 4b is the electronic control unit 4 equipped, expenditure for adjusting the longitudinal guidance of the car 100 to send to an engine control unit (not shown) and other electrical consumers to adjust the use of traction energy. The traction energy refers to the car 100 from a pressure vessel 7 , which has a tank neck 6 as refueling path with the surface of the car 100 connected is. If in the car 100 the need for receiving external traction energy sources is determined by means of the antenna 12 as well as by means of the front camera 3 determined record 110 representing properties 101 . 102 . 103 . 104 the gas station 1 with a record 11 containing state parameters 111 . 112 . 113 . 114 . 115 of the car 100 adjusted. If a result of the comparison is a suitability of the gas station 1 for the absorption of hydrogen 14 in the pressure vessel 7 is already on the way to the gas station 1 Traktionsenergieverbrauch in case of need lowered so that the internal pressure and the internal temperature of the pressure vessel 7 allow continuous refueling and the tank neck 6 of the car 100 upon arrival at the gas station 1 is released, so that the user can easily initiate the refueling process. Unless the records 11 . 110 too different from each other or suitability of the gas station 1 for the delivery of traction energy to the car 100 can not be supported, the tank neck is 6 locked as a refueling path to the process safety and the pressure vessel 7 of the car 100 not overuse.

2 shows a flow-time diagram for a refueling operation, by which the in 1 shown car 100 possibly hydrogen 14 from the petrol pump 2 the gas station 1 can absorb without damaging the pressure vessel 7 to have to accept. For this purpose, the volume flow V ' of hydrogen through a break 9 in a first refueling sub-operation 8th and a second refueling sub-operation 10 separated. Through the break 9 may be the first refueling sub-process 8th in the pressure vessel 7 introduced heat (partially) be removed, so that in the second refueling sub-process 10 more hydrogen in the pressure vessel 7 can be introduced without leaving one for this predefined temperature range.

3 FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustratively showing steps of a method of using a gas station by a traveling means. FIG. In step S100 the gas station is identified, including, for example, sensors of the means of transport used in conjunction with one or more antennas of the means of transport can be used. In step S200 Data are read from environment sensors of the means of transport to detect visual markings of the gas station. In step S300 a geographical position of the means of transport is determined in order to obtain information stored in a database associated with the adjustment of state parameters of the pressure vessel with a property of the identified filling station. In step S400 Wireless communication data is received by the gas station through a bidirectional exchange between the gas station and the means of transportation. In this way, for example, after a review of a basic suitability of the gas station visited an updated record on the provided by the gas station refueling technologies and Traktionsenergieträger can be obtained. In step S500 the adjustment of the state parameter of the pressure vessel of the vehicle to be refueled with one or more properties of the identified service station is performed in data form. In step S600 a use of traction energy by the means of locomotion on the way to the filling station is adjusted in dependence on a result of the adjustment. In particular, in this case, the energy which is kept available by means of the traction energy carrier can be used more intensely in order to optimize the condition parameter for the refueling process at the identified filling station. In step S700 For reasons of security of the refueling operation, a time-divided refueling process is defined, so that a break for the discharge of heat introduced into the pressure vessel is inserted between a first refueling sub-process and a second refueling sub-process. Of course, a fleet operator (or other user) could also use the vehicle for driving purposes after the first refueling sub-operation (if the tank contents are sufficient for this after the first refueling sub-operation). However, refueling in this case requires reconciliation of the vehicle data (pressure, temperature). In step S800 is determined as a function of a result of the above-mentioned adjustment (step S500 ) decided on a release of an energy supply from the gas station to the means of transport via a refueling path. Due to the decided two-way refueling process, the release is issued only until reaching a predefined maximum pressure and then prescribed a predefined or sensory-based measured break to dissipate the introduced heat. In step S900 Finally, the property of the identified gas station is transmitted to a database in order to make it available for access by further means of transportation. In this way, other means of locomotion (of the vehicle manufacturer and / or a vehicle pool operator) can be made available the findings and their decision for or against a gas station on a broader and / or updated database.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Gas station

2

gas pump

3

front camera

4

electronic control unit

4a

data input

4b

data output

5

data storage

6

Tankstutzen

7

pressure vessel

8th

first tank part process

9

Break

10

second tank part process

11

record

12

antenna

13

pressure vessel

14

hydrogen

100

car

101 to 104

state parameters

110

record

111 to 115

properties

120

satellite

Claims (11)

Method for using a device (1), hereinafter referred to as "filling station (1)", for receiving a traction energy carrier (14) by a means of locomotion (100) comprising the steps - Identify (S100) the gas station (1) - Automatic comparison (S500) of a state parameter (101, 102, 103, 104) of a pressure vessel (7) of the means to be refueled (100) with a property (111, 112, 113, 114) of the identified gas station (1) in data form and - adapting (S600) a use of traction energy by the means of locomotion (100) on the way to the filling station (1) as a function of a result of the adjustment. Method according to Claim 1 the method further comprising - deciding (S800) a release of a power supply from the gas station (1) to the vehicle (100) via a refueling path (6) in response to a result of the adjustment. Method according to Claim 1 or 2 further comprising - reading (S200) data from environmental sensors (3) and / or - determining (S300) a geographical position of the means of locomotion (100) and / or - receiving (S400) wireless communication data from the filling station (1) by the means of locomotion ( 100) and / or - determining a user behavior, in particular a user input for identifying the gas station (1). Method according to one of the preceding claims wherein - The traction energy carrier (14), in particular gaseous, preferably over -50 ° C, stored, is hydrogen. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting of the use comprises a consideration of a maximum permissible internal temperature of a pressure vessel (7) of the locomotion means (100) for the traction energy carrier (14). Method according to one of the preceding claims further comprising - Specify (S700) one time - split and / or - extended refueling in response to the result of the reconciliation. Method according to Claim 6 , wherein a break (9), in particular a duration of the break (9), in the refueling process by means of a sensor (3) of the means of transport (100) and / or by means of a predefined memory value of the means of transport (100) is determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the property (111, 112, 113, 114) of the identified service station (1) - A temperature of the traction energy carrier (14) of the gas station (1) and / or a method used by the filling station (1) for delivering the traction energy carrier (14) and / or - A from the gas station (1) provided course of pressure of the traction energy carrier (14). Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising - transmitting (S900) the property (111, 112, 113, 114) of the identified filling station (1) to a database in order to make it available for access by further means of transportation. Means of transport (100) comprising a data input (4a), an evaluation unit (4) and a data output (4b), wherein the evaluation unit (4) is set up, in connection with the data input (4a) to identify a device (1), hereinafter referred to as "gas station (1)", for receiving a traction energy carrier (14), - Automatically match a state parameter (101, 102, 103, 104) of a pressure vessel (7), the fuel to be refueled (100) with a property (111, 112, 113, 114) of the identified gas station (1) in data form and - in connection with the data output (4b) to adapt a use of the traction energy carrier (14) by the means of transport (100) on the way to the gas station (1) in dependence on a result of the adjustment. Means of transport (100) according to Claim 10 which is arranged, a method according to any of the above Claims 1 to 9 perform.

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