Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C5/00—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures
  • F17C5/002—Automated filling apparatus
  • F17C5/007—Automated filling apparatus for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
  • B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/05—Size
  • F17C2201/056—Small (<1 m3)
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
  • F17C2221/012—Hydrogen
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
  • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
  • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
  • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
  • F17C2227/0337—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
  • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
  • F17C2227/0367—Localisation of heat exchange
  • F17C2227/0388—Localisation of heat exchange separate
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/04—Reducing risks and environmental impact
  • F17C2260/042—Reducing risk of explosion
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
  • F17C2265/04—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling using an independent energy source, e.g. battery
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0165—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road
  • F17C2270/0168—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road by vehicles
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0165—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road
  • F17C2270/0168—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road by vehicles
  • F17C2270/0171—Trucks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0165—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road
  • F17C2270/0168—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road by vehicles
  • F17C2270/0176—Buses
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0165—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road
  • F17C2270/0184—Fuel cells
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/32—Hydrogen storage

Definitions

• This invention relates to a method for managing hydrogen tanks used to supply transportation vehicles.
• the invention concerns the management of tanks of vehicles when left in parking areas for a long period.
• Background of the Invention The development of technologies about alternative propulsion systems with respect to the traditional engines fed with oil-derived substances enables the realisation of zero-emissions vehicles, and, among those ones, as known, electric vehicles and vehicles fed with hydrogen have been already produced. Electric vehicles are, without any doubt, penalised by limitations regarding the cost, the overall dimensions and the difficulties in managing portable power sources (batteries), while, as regards vehicles fed with hydrogen, new interesting solutions have been recently proposed, and filed also by the same applicant, those solutions being mainly dedicated to overrun the difficulties in the distribution of said fuel and to allow the industrial production of proper engines.
• Such engines are, that is, suitable to assure performances and range high enough to be used in a civic context where the fuel is hydrogen gas compressed up to 200-330 bar in specific tanks installed on board the vehicles, while, in outskirts contexts, traditional fuels are fed to the same engine to obtain higher performances and range.
• the hydrogen gas produced by the continuous and unescapable vaporisation that results from the heating of the fuel tank is fed to the engine itself.
• the hydrogen produced by the above said vaporisation is used and, exactly, it is fed to the fuel cells.
• the method of the invention advantageously provides, in parallel with, or instead of the placement on the vehicle of auxiliary hydrogen gas tanks, the eventual placement of power batteries apt to assure power supply to said electric motor in order to allow the vehicle's motion in said areas.
• the method of the invention may also provide connection of the liquid hydrogen tanks to specific facilities of the parking area, devices or equipment, able to keep the hydrogen inside the tanks in hquid phase, or by circulation of cryogenic fluids in heat exchangers comprised in said tanks else by direct circulation of liquid hydrogen inside the same tanks. It may take place both with tanks removed from the vehicle and with tanks in their normal working position. The possible removing of the tanks from the vehicle and their seating in the freezing cells take place by proper means which ease and the speed up the removal and transportation of the tanks.
• An eventual phase of replenish the tanks with liquid hydrogen may be provided according to the method of the invention after than said tanks have been removed from the vehicle.
• - Figure 2 shows a second flow chart relating to different embodiments of the method of fig.1.
• the flow chart pointed in the whole with 100, shows the logic connection among the different phases of the method for managing main and auxiliary fuel tanks of a vehicle fed with hydrogen, according to the present invention.
• phase 101 When a vehicle, equipped with liquid hydrogen tanks dedicated to supply or the traction engine else the fuel cells of an eventual electric motor, arrives, phase 101, to a parking area provided with facilities for loading or unloading as, for example, a port or similar, said tanks are removed, phase 102, from the vehicle.
• the liquid hydrogen tanks are picked from the vehicle by means of fork lifters or similar machines, properly equipped to release, in automatic or semi-automatic mode, the tanks placed in the under part of the vehicle. Said tanks are then seated, phase 103, in freezing cells in which the temperature is equal to or less than -250°C, and, anyway, it is variable as a function of the hydrogen pressure, as to maintain it in liquid phase. The tanks remain in the freezing cells during all the period in which the vehicle stay in the above said parking areas.
• phase 104 inside the parking area, said movement is allowed providing the vehicle with proper means supplying the vehicle's traction system, i particular, in case of a vehicle having an engine fed with hydrogen, hydrogen gas tanks are mounted, phase 106, on the vehicle, so that they can directly supply the injection system of the engine.
• the hydrogen gas tanks, or the power batteries, eventually mounted on the vehicle are removed, phase 109.
• the liquid hydrogen tanks, which have been kept in the freezing cells during the parking period are seated back on the vehicle.
• this phase may also occur the refuelling with liquid hydrogen by seating back full tanks on the vehicle, or by replacing the previously removed ones with different full tanks, else by seating back the original tanks filled up with the help of specific devices.
• the hquid hydrogen tanks instead of being seated inside freezing cells, are connected to devices or equipment apt to keep the inner hydrogen in liquid phase, and it can be performed both with tanks removed from the vehicle, phase 203, and with tanks in their normal working position, phase 210.
• Said devices may indifferently operate, according to known technologies, or by circulating cryogenic fluid in heat exchangers comprise in the tanks, else by directly circulating hquid hydrogen in the same tanks and, in this last case we also have the refuelling of the tanks.
• the connection to said equipment or cryogenic systems is interrupted, phase 212, when the vehicle has to leave the parking area containing the above said facilities.
• the vehicle if it is required to independently move in the parking area, is provided with auxihary hydrogen gas tanks, phase 206, or with power batteries, phase 207, instead of or, in addition to said auxiliary tanks.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=32375565

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2002
  • 2002-11-26 IT IT000072A patent/ITPI20020072A1/it unknown
• 2003
  • 2003-11-21 EP EP03780644A patent/EP1567398A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-11-21 AU AU2003288741A patent/AU2003288741A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-11-21 WO PCT/IT2003/000760 patent/WO2004048166A1/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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