DE102022204126A1 - Method for operating a fluid storage system and fluid storage system that can be operated with such a method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a fluid storage system (2), which has at least one fluid tank (4) in which a fluid is stored under pressure, which has at least one valve unit (6) which is functionally assigned to the fluid tank (4) and which of an open functional position, in which fluid can flow through the valve unit (6), can be converted into a closed functional position, in which flow through the valve unit (6) is blocked, which comprises at least one sensor means (20), through which an actual pressure of the fluid can be detected on the downstream side of the valve unit (6), and which comprises at least one control unit (22) to which the at least one sensor means (20) is functionally assigned, in which a TARGET pressure range on the downstream side of the valve unit (6) is stored in the closed functional position, through which at least the valve unit (6) can be controlled for opening and closing and through which at least when an ACTUAL pressure is detected outside the TARGET pressure range in the closed functional positions of the valve unit (6). Valve cleaning is carried out in which the valve unit (6) is transferred from the closed functional position to the open functional position and back again to the closed functional position.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a fluid storage system and a fluid storage system that can be operated with such a method.

Fluid storage systems are known in different embodiments from the prior art. In these, a fluid is stored in a tank and supplied to a consumer via a pipe system. In known fluid storage systems, a valve unit is located directly on the fluid tank, through which the fluid in the tank can be forwarded via a distribution unit into which several valve units open to a control unit, from which the fluid can be supplied to a consumer. In order to ensure a long, maintenance-free operating life of the fluid storage system, several filters are provided in the fluid storage system through which particles in the fluid can be filtered out and stored.

When operating the fluid storage system, it can never be completely avoided that particles that are transported with the fluid can settle in a valve means of the valve unit. If such settling or clogging occurs in the valve unit in the area of the valve seat and the valve piston, the risk is increased that the solenoid valve will not close completely in a closed functional position.

One object of an exemplary embodiment of the invention is to propose a method for operating a fluid storage system and a fluid storage system that can be operated according to such a method, through which a high level of tightness of a valve unit can be guaranteed for the duration of an operating cycle of the fluid storage system.

This object is achieved by a method for operating a fluid storage system, which has at least one fluid tank in which a fluid is stored under pressure, which has at least one valve unit which is functionally assigned to the fluid tank and which has an open functional position in which fluid flows through the valve unit can be flowed, can be moved into a closed functional position, in which flow through the valve unit is blocked, which comprises at least one sensor means through which an actual pressure of the fluid on the downstream side of the valve unit can be detected, and which comprises at least one control unit, which the at least one sensor means is functionally assigned, in which a TARGET pressure range is stored on the downstream side of the valve unit in the closed functional position, through which at least the valve unit can be controlled for opening and closing and through which at least when detecting an ACTUAL pressure outside of the TARGET pressure range in the closed functional positions of the valve unit, a valve cleaning is carried out, in which the valve unit is transferred from the closed functional position to the open functional position and back again to the closed functional position.

Because the control unit detects in conjunction with the sensor means when the ACTUAL pressure of the valve unit in the closed functional position is outside the TARGET pressure range, a leak in the valve unit can be detected by the valve unit. If the ACTUAL pressure of the valve unit in the closed functional position is outside the TARGET pressure range, the control unit can conclude that the valve seat of the valve unit is clogged with particles, which results in the reduced tightness of the valve unit.

The TARGET pressure range includes a pressure range that occurs with a completely closed valve unit with unrestricted tightness.

Because valve cleaning is carried out by the control unit in this case, the particles can be loosened and transported away, whereby at least the valve seat of a valve means of the valve unit is cleaned and the tightness of the valve unit is increased again.

Because valve cleaning includes opening and closing the valve unit, the valve unit can be flushed without external intervention in the fluid storage system having to be carried out.

The valve unit can be a so-called “on tank valve”, i.e. a valve unit that is arranged directly on a fluid tank.

The valve unit can comprise one or more valve means. The valve unit can be easily controlled if the at least one valve unit comprises at least one solenoid valve, which can be moved by the control unit from the closed functional position to the open functional position and back again to the closed functional position.

In principle, it is conceivable that the valve cleaning exclusively includes opening and closing the valve unit, in particular the solenoid valve, in order to clean the valve unit, in particular the solenoid valve. A cleaning effect can be further increased if the Valve cleaning includes increasing and / or lowering the pressure of the fluid flowing through the at least one valve unit by a pressure control element.

By increasing and/or decreasing the pressure, a detaching effect on the particles that have settled in the valve unit, in particular in the solenoid valve, can be improved.

The fluid tank can be a high-pressure tank. This can be used to store fluids in liquid or gaseous states at 50 bar or more.

If the valve cleaning involves increasing or lowering the pressure, it proves to be advantageous if the increasing and/or lowering of the pressure of the fluid flowing through the at least one valve unit through the pressure control element creates a pressure difference of at least 5 bar, in particular of at least 10 bar , in particular of at least 20 bar, and / or if a minimum pressure of the fluid is 9 bar and / or a maximum pressure of the fluid is 29 bar during valve cleaning.

As an alternative or in addition to increasing and/or decreasing the pressure of the fluid flowing through the valve unit, it proves to be advantageous if the valve cleaning includes increasing and/or decreasing the mass flow of the fluid flowing through the at least one valve unit.

Furthermore, loosening of stuck particles in the valve unit, in particular in a valve seat of a solenoid valve, can be further improved if the pressure and/or the mass flow rate of the fluid flowing through the at least one valve unit is increased and/or reduced once during opening and closing the valve unit, in particular the solenoid valve, or takes place at least twice when opening and closing the valve unit, in particular the solenoid valve.

In embodiments of the method it is provided that between the transfer into the open functional position and the transfer into the closed functional position of the at least one valve unit, in particular the solenoid valve, a period of time of a maximum of 90 seconds, in particular a maximum of 60 seconds, in particular a maximum of 30 seconds, in particular a maximum 15 seconds, lies.

If the time period between opening and closing the at least one valve unit is a maximum of 15 seconds, the cleaning process can be carried out in a time-optimized manner. If the time between opening and closing is a maximum of 90 seconds, the cleaning effect can be improved compared to shorter times.

The fluid storage system may include a single fluid tank with a single valve unit disposed thereon. In addition, embodiments of the fluid storage system are conceivable in which at least two, in particular at least three, fluid tanks are provided, on each of which a valve unit assigned to the respective fluid tank is arranged. Furthermore, it is conceivable that at least two valve units are arranged on a fluid tank.

If the fluid storage system comprises a plurality of valve units, it proves to be advantageous if the fluid storage system comprises at least one distribution unit, into which the at least two valve units, in particular at least three valve units, open in a distribution section of the distribution unit, through which the flowing fluid can be forwarded to a consumer and in which the sensor means is arranged in the distributor section, the actual pressure of the fluid detected by the sensor means being detected in the distributor section of the distributor unit.

By providing a distribution unit, fluid from different valve units can be supplied to a single fluid control system. The at least two valve units open into the distribution unit, whereby the fluid flowing there mixes in the distribution unit, in particular in the distribution section. A resulting pressure is established in the distributor section of the distributor unit.

If the sensor means is arranged in the distributor section of the distributor unit, the fluid storage system can be designed with reduced components. In this case, a statement about the tightness of the at least two valve units can be made using a single sensor means in the distributor section.

If the sensor means is arranged in the distribution section of the distribution unit and if the detected actual pressure of the fluid is arranged outside the TARGET pressure range, the control unit cannot immediately conclude which of the at least two valve units have a leak or whether both valve units have a leak .

In a further development of the method, it therefore proves to be advantageous if, when detecting the ACTUAL pressure outside the TARGET pressure range, the at least two valve units, in particular the at least three valve units, individually and are transferred one after the other from the closed functional position to the open functional position and back to the closed functional position.

In this case, when one of the valve units or both valve units is detected or a conclusion is drawn about a leak, both valve units are cleaned individually and one after the other.

In principle, it is conceivable that after completing a valve cleaning of a valve unit, i.e. when the valve unit has reached the closed functional position, the further valve unit is immediately transferred to the open functional position. In embodiments of the method it is provided that between the transfer into the closed functional position of a valve unit, in particular the solenoid valve, and the renewed transfer into the open functional position of the valve unit, in particular the solenoid valve, or the transfer into the open functional position of the at least one further valve unit Period of at least five seconds, in particular at least ten seconds, in particular at least 20 seconds.

This proves to be particularly advantageous when between the transfer into the closed functional position of the valve unit, in particular the solenoid valve, and the renewed transfer into the open functional position of the valve unit, in particular the solenoid valve, or the transfer into the open functional position of the at least one further valve unit detecting the ACTUAL pressure of the fluid and checking whether the detected ACTUAL pressure is within or outside the TARGET pressure range, the valve cleaning being ended when the ACTUAL pressure is in the TARGET pressure range and the valve cleaning continues if the ACTUAL pressure is outside the TARGET pressure range.

In this case, valve cleaning can be ended when the ACTUAL pressure recorded by the control unit is within the TARGET pressure range.

In particular, it proves to be advantageous if there is a period of time of at least 5 seconds, in particular of at least 10 seconds, in particular of at least 20 seconds, between the closing of a valve unit, i.e. the placement of one valve unit in the closed functional position, in order to avoid flow effects, that occur when the valve unit is closed should not be taken into account.

In order to reduce the risk of contamination, in particular of a valve seat becoming clogged, of the valve unit, in particular of the solenoid valve, it proves to be advantageous if at least one of the at least one valve unit of the fluid storage system has at least one first filter means arranged between the fluid tank and the solenoid valve and at least one between Second filter means arranged solenoid valve and valve unit output, through which dirt particles can be filtered and stored.

Because the valve unit comprises a first filter medium and a second filter medium, particles dissolved in the course of valve cleaning can be filtered and retained in the first filter medium and/or in the second filter medium. This reduces the risk of particles clogging other components.

In addition, the object is achieved by a fluid storage system with at least one fluid tank in which a fluid is stored under pressure, with at least one valve unit which is functionally assigned to the fluid tank and which has an open functional position in which fluid can flow through the valve unit. can be moved into a closed functional position, in which the flow of fluid through the valve unit is blocked, with at least one sensor means through which an actual pressure of the fluid on the downstream side of the valve unit can be detected, and with at least one control unit, wherein the Fluid storage system can be operated with a method with the aforementioned features.

In one embodiment of the fluid storage system, it comprises at least three valve units and at least one distribution unit, which comprises a distribution section into which the three distribution units open and in which the sensor means is arranged.

Finally, in one embodiment of the fluid storage system it is provided that at least one of the valve units comprises a solenoid valve which can be moved by the control unit from the closed functional position to the open functional position and back to the closed functional position and/or that at least one of the valve units has at least one first filter means arranged between the fluid tank and the solenoid valve and at least one second filter means arranged between the solenoid valve and the valve unit outlet, through which dirt particles can be filtered and stored.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from the attached patent claims and from the graphic illustration ment and subsequent description of a preferred embodiment of the fluid storage system and the method.

• 1 Ein schematisches Schaltdiagramm eines Fluidspeichersystems;
• 2 Eine schematische Detailansicht einer Ventileinheit des Fluidspeichersystems gemäß 1;
• 3 Eine Schnittansicht durch ein Ventilmittel einer Ventileinheit in der geöffneten Funktionsstellung;
• 4 Ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

In the drawing shows:

• 1 A schematic circuit diagram of a fluid storage system;
• 2 A schematic detailed view of a valve unit of the fluid storage system according to 1 ;
• 3 A sectional view through a valve means of a valve unit in the open functional position;
• 4 A schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

1 shows a fluid storage system according to the invention, provided overall with the reference number 2. This includes three fluid tanks 4, each of which contains fluid under pressure. A valve unit 6 is arranged on the fluid tanks 4, which is functionally assigned to the fluid tank 4 and which can be moved from an open functional position, in which fluid can flow through the valve unit 6, to a closed functional position, in which flow through the valve unit 6 is blocked. The valve unit 6 includes a solenoid valve 8, which can be moved from a closed functional position to an open functional position.

A first filter means 10 is arranged between the solenoid valve 8 and the fluid tank 4 and a second filter means 14 is provided between the solenoid valve 8 and the valve unit outlet 12.

In addition, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the fluid storage system 2 includes a distribution unit 16, which includes a distribution section 18. The three valve units 6 open into the distributor section 18.

In addition, a sensor means 20 is arranged in the distributor section 18, through which an actual pressure of the fluid on the downstream side of the valve unit 6 can be detected.

In addition, the fluid storage system 2 includes a control unit 22 to which the at least one sensor means 20 is functionally assigned. A TARGET pressure range on the downstream side of the valve unit 6 in the closed functional position is stored in the control unit 22. In conjunction with the sensor means 20, an actual pressure of the fluid in the distribution section 18 is detected by the control unit 22. If the control unit 22 determines that an ACTUAL pressure is outside the TARGET pressure range, the control unit 22 carries out valve cleaning. Looking in 3 It is made clear that one reason for the ACTUAL pressure to deviate from the TARGET pressure range in the closed functional position of the valve unit 6 can be a contamination of a valve seat 24 with particles. The purpose of valve cleaning is to loosen and remove these particles from the valve seat 24 of the solenoid valve 8 of the valve unit 6.

• In einem ersten Schritt 100 wird durch die Steuereinheit 22, der das Sensormittel 20 funktional zugeordnet ist, ein IST-Druck des Fluids bei geschlossener Funktionsstellung der Ventileinheiten 6 auf der stromabwärtigen Seite der Ventileinheiten 6 erfasst. In der Steuereinheit 22 ist ein SOLL-Druckbereich der Ventileinheiten 6 in der geschlossenen Funktionsstellung hinterlegt. Wird durch die Steuereinheit 22 im Schritt 100 erfasst, dass der erfasste IST-Druck außerhalb des SOLL-Druckbereichs liegt, wird durch die Steuereinheit 22 eine Ventilreinigung durchgeführt.

Based on 4 with the help of the 1 until 3 , the method according to the invention is described below:

• In a first step 100, the control unit 22, to which the sensor means 20 is functionally assigned, detects an actual pressure of the fluid when the functional position of the valve units 6 is closed on the downstream side of the valve units 6. A TARGET pressure range of the valve units 6 in the closed functional position is stored in the control unit 22. If the control unit 22 detects in step 100 that the detected ACTUAL pressure is outside the TARGET pressure range, the control unit 22 carries out valve cleaning.

In a first step 101a, one of the three valve units 6 is transferred from the closed functional position to the open functional position and then transferred back to the closed functional position. There can be a maximum period of 90 seconds between the transfer of the valve unit 6 into the open functional position and the renewed transfer into the closed functional position. In addition, in the open functional position of the respective valve unit 6, the pressure of the fluid can be increased and/or reduced and/or a mass flow rate of the fluid flowing through the valve unit 6 can be increased or reduced once or several times.

After the valve unit 6 has been transferred in step 101a, the actual pressure of the fluid is detected again by the sensor means 20. If it is further outside the TARGET range, in a subsequent step 101b the next valve unit 6 is cleaned by the previously described valve cleaning. If the valve cleaning has also been completed in step 101b of the further valve unit 6, the actual pressure of the fluid is again detected by the sensor means 20 and the control unit 22 checks whether the actual pressure is outside the TARGET pressure range. If the ACTUAL pressure is outside the TARGET pressure range, the remaining additional valve unit 6 is cleaned by valve cleaning in a subsequent step 101c.

If it is subsequently determined that the ACTUAL pressure is still located outside the TARGET pressure range, steps 101a to 101c are repeated until the ACTUAL pressure is located within the TARGET pressure range. If this is the case, the system returns to step 100, in which the actual pressure is monitored by the control unit 22 and compared with the stored TARGET pressure range.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the claims and in the drawing may be essential both individually and in any combination in the implementation of the invention in its various embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Reference symbol list

2

Fluid storage system

4

Fluid tank

6

Valve unit

8th

magnetic valve

10

first filter medium

12

Valve unit output

14

second filter medium

16

Distribution unit

18

distribution section

20

Sensor means

22

Control unit

24

Valve seat

100-101c

Procedural steps

Claims (15)

Method for operating a fluid storage system (2), which has at least one fluid tank (4) in which a fluid is stored under pressure, which has at least one valve unit (6) which is functionally assigned to the fluid tank (4) and which has an open functional position, in which fluid can flow through the valve unit (6), can be converted into a closed functional position in which flow through the valve unit (6) is blocked, which comprises at least one sensor means (20) through which an actual pressure of the fluid on the downstream side of the valve unit (6), and which comprises at least one control unit (22) to which the at least one sensor means (20) is functionally assigned, in which a TARGET pressure range on the downstream side of the valve unit (6). is stored in a closed functional position, through which at least the valve unit (6) can be controlled for opening and closing and through which valve cleaning is carried out at least when an ACTUAL pressure outside the TARGET pressure range is detected in the closed functional positions of the valve unit (6), in which the valve unit (6) is transferred from the closed functional position to the open functional position and back again to the closed functional position. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one valve unit (6) comprises at least one solenoid valve (8) which can be moved by the control unit (22) from the closed functional position to the open functional position and back again to the closed functional position. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the valve cleaning comprises increasing and/or lowering the pressure of the fluid flowing through the at least one valve unit (6) by a pressure control element. Procedure according to Claim 3 , characterized in that increasing and/or lowering the pressure of the fluid flowing through the at least one valve unit (6) through the pressure control element comprises a pressure difference of at least 5 bar, in particular of at least 10 bar, in particular of at least 20 bar, and/ or that a minimum pressure of the fluid is 9 bar and/or a maximum pressure of the fluid is 29 bar during valve cleaning. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve cleaning comprises increasing and/or decreasing the mass flow of the fluid flowing through the at least one valve unit (6). Procedure according to one of the Claims 3 until 5 , characterized in that the increasing and/or lowering of the pressure and/or the mass flow rate of the fluid flowing through the at least one valve unit (6) occurs once when the valve unit (6), in particular the solenoid valve (8), is opened and closed, or at least twice when opening and closing the valve unit (6), in particular the solenoid valve (8). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the transfer into the open functional position and the transfer into the closed functional position of the at least one valve unit (6), in particular the solenoid valve (8), there is a period of time of a maximum of 90 seconds, in particular a maximum of 60 Seconds, especially maximum 30 seconds, in particular a maximum of 15 seconds. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid storage system (2) comprises at least one distribution unit (16) into which the at least two valve units (6), in particular at least three valve units (6), in a distribution section (18) of the distribution unit (16), through which the flowing fluid can be passed on to a consumer and in which the sensor means (20) is arranged in the distributor section (18), the actual pressure of the fluid in the distributor section (18) detected by the sensor means (20) the distribution unit (16) is detected. Procedure according to Claim 8 , characterized in that when the ACTUAL pressure is detected outside the TARGET pressure range, the at least two valve units (6), in particular the at least three valve units (6), individually and one after the other from the closed functional position into the open functional position and back again be transferred to the closed functional position. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the transfer into the closed functional position of a valve unit (6), in particular the solenoid valve (8), and the renewed transfer into the open functional position of the valve unit (6), in particular the solenoid valve (8 ), or the transfer into the open functional position of the at least one further valve unit (6) there is a period of time of at least five seconds, in particular at least ten seconds, in particular at least 20 seconds. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the transfer into the closed functional position of the valve unit (6), in particular the solenoid valve (8), and the renewed transfer into the open functional position of the valve unit (6), in particular the solenoid valve (8 ), or transferring the at least one further valve unit (6) to the open functional position, detecting the actual pressure of the fluid and checking whether the detected actual pressure is within or outside the TARGET pressure range, whereby the valve cleaning is ended , when the ACTUAL pressure is within the TARGET pressure range and valve cleaning continues when the ACTUAL pressure is outside the TARGET pressure range. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the at least one valve unit (6) of the fluid storage system (2) has at least one first filter means (10) arranged between the fluid tank (4) and the solenoid valve (8) and at least one between the solenoid valve (8 ) and valve unit output (12) arranged second filter means (14), through which dirt particles can be filtered and stored. Fluid storage system (2) with at least one fluid tank (4), in which a fluid is stored under pressure, with at least one valve unit (6) which is functionally assigned to the fluid tank (4) and which has an open functional position in which fluid flows through Valve unit (6) is flowable, can be moved into a closed functional position, in which the flow of fluid through the valve unit (6) is blocked, with at least one sensor means (20) through which an actual pressure of the fluid on the downstream side the valve unit (6) can be detected, and with at least one control unit (22), the fluid storage system (2) using a method of Claims 1 until 12 is operable. Fluid storage system (2). Claim 13 , characterized by at least three valve units (6) and by at least one distribution unit (16), which comprises a distribution section (18) into which the three distribution units (16) open and in which the sensor means (20) is arranged. Fluid storage system (2). Claim 13 or 14 , characterized in that at least one of the valve units (6) comprises a solenoid valve (8) which can be moved by the control unit (22) from the closed functional position to the open functional position and back to the closed functional position and/or that at least one the valve units (6) comprise at least one first filter means (10) arranged between the fluid tank (4) and the solenoid valve (8) and at least one second filter means (14) arranged between the solenoid valve (8) and the valve unit outlet (12), through which dirt particles can be filtered and stored are.

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