EP1769191A1 - Aided cryogenic filling of pressure vessels - Google Patents

Aided cryogenic filling of pressure vessels

Info

Publication number
EP1769191A1
EP1769191A1 EP05756990A EP05756990A EP1769191A1 EP 1769191 A1 EP1769191 A1 EP 1769191A1 EP 05756990 A EP05756990 A EP 05756990A EP 05756990 A EP05756990 A EP 05756990A EP 1769191 A1 EP1769191 A1 EP 1769191A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
gas
cryogenically
pressure
pressure vessel
solidified
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05756990A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Ulrich Klebe
Friedel Michel
Ansgar Dechesne
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Air Liquide Deutschland GmbH
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
Air Liquide Deutschland GmbH
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Air Liquide Deutschland GmbH, Air Liquide SA, LAir Liquide SA a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical Air Liquide Deutschland GmbH
Publication of EP1769191A1 publication Critical patent/EP1769191A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • F17C5/02—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures for filling with liquefied gases
    • 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
    • F17C5/06—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures for filling with compressed gases
    • 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
    • F17C7/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
    • F17C7/02—Discharging liquefied gases
    • F17C7/04—Discharging liquefied gases with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
    • 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
    • F17C9/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
    • F17C9/02—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
    • 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
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/068—Special properties of materials for vessel walls
    • F17C2203/0685—Special properties of materials for vessel walls flexible
    • 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
    • F17C2221/011—Oxygen
    • 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
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/013—Carbone dioxide
    • 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
    • F17C2221/014—Nitrogen
    • 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
    • F17C2221/016—Noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe)
    • 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
    • F17C2221/016—Noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe)
    • F17C2221/017—Helium
    • 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
    • F17C2223/0107—Single phase
    • F17C2223/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
    • 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
    • F17C2223/0107—Single phase
    • F17C2223/0138—Single phase solid
    • 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
    • F17C2223/036—Very high pressure (>80 bar)
    • 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
    • F17C2227/0302—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating
    • 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
    • F17C2227/04—Methods for emptying or filling
    • 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
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
    • F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
    • F17C2250/043—Pressure
    • 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
    • F17C2260/02—Improving properties related to fluid or fluid transfer
    • F17C2260/023—Avoiding overheating
    • 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
    • F17C2270/0181—Airbags
    • 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

  • the invention relates to a method for filling pressure vessels, .in particular pressure vessels of airbag systems, with gas.
  • Airbags in vehicles are increasingly using new types of gas generators, which in the event of an accident inflate the airbag within a few milliseconds.
  • High- pressure gas storage systems are used as gas generators .
  • the gas generators which are filled with various gases, throw up huge technical problems in production, both in terms of their production and their filling with pressures of up to 1000 bar.
  • the heat of compression in particular during rapid filling means that these pressures are required in order for accurately predetermined masses of gas to be introduced. These are crucial for the subsequent inflation characteristics of the airbag.
  • Gas generators with a pure helium filling are of particular interest.
  • Helium has a positive Joule Thomson coefficient. This means that this gas does not cool down in the event of rapid expansion.
  • helium is a very expensive filling gas, and manufacturers of gas generators of this type aim to work with the minimum possible production losses.
  • Very expensive and complex piston or diaphragm compressors are required to generate the very high pressures. This entails high investment costs, and high operating and maintenance costs. In addition, a correspondingly complex and expensive downstream gas supply is required for these pressures.
  • the cold filling method which is described, for example, in EP 0 033 386 Al or DE 198 17 324 Al .
  • the gas which is to be introduced into the pressure vessel is liquefied before the filling operation, or at least cooled to a temperature which is only slightly above its boiling point.
  • the preferred coolant in this context is liquid nitrogen. Since the gas volume is approximately proportional to the temperature during cooling (if the pressure remains constant) , it is in this way possible to increase the effective storage capacity by a not inconsiderable amount.
  • a pressure vessel or compressed-gas vessel is directly filled with a cryogenically liquefied gas
  • accurate metering presents problems, in particular because the cryogenically liquefied gas, during the filling operation, spontaneously evaporates as soon as it first comes into contact with the inner surfaces of the vessel, building up pressure and thereby preventing cryogenically liquefied gas at low pressure from being added further .
  • the invention is based on the object of providing an alternative method for the high-pressure filling of pressure vessels with gases or gas mixtures.
  • the method for filling pressure vessels, in particular pressure vessels in airbag systems, with a gas or gas mixture is characterized by the introduction of a cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas or cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas mixture or any combination into the pressure vessel with the aid of at least one containment and/or a means for storing the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture.
  • the pressure vessel is closed after filling. After increase of the temperature of the pressure vessel and its contents, for example by warming up to room temperature, a pressure or increase of pressure is obtained.
  • Cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas or cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas mixture may be advantageously used in two or more containments and/or storage means.
  • Cryogenically liquefied gases are gases which have been liquefied by refrigeration, such as cryogenically liquefied nitrogen (LN2) , cryogenically liquefied oxygen, cryogenically liquefied argon, cryogenically liquefied hydrogen or cryogenically liquefied helium.
  • Cryogenically solidified gases are gases solidified by refrigeration, such as cryogenically solidified nitrogen, cryogenically solidified oxygen, cryogenically solidified argon or cryogenically solidified carbon dioxide.
  • a containment is a general term used for a container, such as a vessel or a vessel-like structure, which is suitable for holding a cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas or gas mixture in the form of a liquid or solid and generally storing it at least for a short period of time.
  • vessels include small tubes, cups, capsules, hollow spheres or hollow bodies.
  • Vessel-like structures are hollow structures, generally made from flexible or thin-walled materials, e.g. films.
  • Examples of vessel-like structures include hose- like structures, pouches, bags, hoses, in particular hoses which are closed on one side, or pockets.
  • the containers generally have a filling opening. The filling opening may be closable.
  • Containments are advantageously made from a material with a low heat penetration coefficient or from a material with a low thermal conductivity. Vessels with the inner walls coated with a material with a low heat penetration coefficient, as described in WO 02/086379 Al and DE 101 19 115 Al (internal file reference MG 2445) , to which express reference is hereby made, are also suitable.
  • the containment advantageously has an additional insulating part, in particular at the lower end.
  • an insulating element is introduced into the pressure vessel before the containment is introduced into the pressure vessel.
  • One or more insulating elements are arranged, for example, on the inner wall and/or in the base region in the interior of the pressure vessel.
  • An insulating element is, for example, a type of spacer made from a material with a low thermal conductivity.
  • the containment advantageously may be made of a solidified gas, e.g. solidified carbon dioxide.
  • Means for storing a cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture are generally containers or storage materials, such as absorbent materials, absorbent foams, capillary material, absorbent powder or particles or parts, which take up liquid.
  • the storage means containing a cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture may be advantageously cooled to a temperature, where the liquefied gas or gas mixture become solid or change into liquid and solid parts.
  • the loading of the storage materials is also effected, for example, by condensation of the gas as a solid in the storage material at a suitable low temperature.
  • the storage means is used for the storage of liquefied or solidified gas or gas mixture.
  • a storage means may be produced from a solidified gas, e.g. a solid structure of gas which takes up a liquefied or solidified gas.
  • the containments or storage means are preferably precooled, for example to the temperature of the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture (e.g. the boiling point) or the temperature of the cryogenically solidified gas or gas mixture or below, prior to being filled or loaded with the cryogenically liquefied and/or solidified gas or gas mixture.
  • the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture e.g. the boiling point
  • the temperature of the cryogenically solidified gas or gas mixture or below prior to being filled or loaded with the cryogenically liquefied and/or solidified gas or gas mixture.
  • the containments or storage means which have been filled or loaded with the cryogenically liquefied and/or solidified gas or gas mixture, are introduced into the pressure vessel.
  • the use of the containments or storage means allows simple metering of the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture and simple dosage of cryogenically solidified gas or gas mixture.
  • the storage means is used without a containment or in a containment.
  • the method for filling pressure vessels with gas at a high pressure makes use of the cryogenically liquefied or solid state of these gases. No superatmospheric pressure or only a relatively minor superatmospheric pressure need be applied during filling of the pressure vessels, i.e. pressure vessels are preferably filled in an unpressurized state or at a low pressure.
  • the method for filling pressure vessels is generally used to produce pressure vessels filled with gas at a high pressure.
  • the filled pressure vessels generally have a gas pressure of at least 100 bar absolute, preferably of at least 150 bar, particularly preferably of at least 100 bar, in particular of at least 200 bar, at ambient temperature (e.g. room temperature or temperatures in the range from 0 to 40 °C) .
  • the method can be used to produce gas-filled pressure vessels with a gas pressure of, for example, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 bar absolute or more.
  • Pressure vessels are generally compressed-gas vessels, such as compressed-gas cylinders, tanks, pressure canisters or pressure cartridges. Pressure vessels are, for example, what are known as gas generators in airbag systems. Pressure vessels which are or are not precooled are used in the method. Precooling implies for example cooling of the pressure vessels to a temperature which corresponds to the boiling point of the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture to be introduced or a lower temperature, prior to introduction of the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas . mixture .
  • one or more containments and/or storage means holding a cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture are transferred into the pressure vessel.
  • the containments or storage means contain the same cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture or different cryogenically liquefied gases or gas mixtures.
  • the pressure vessel which is or is not precooled, has been filled, it is closed and then the pressure vessel together with the gas which is being introduced is warmed. It is generally warmed to the subsequent temperature of use (ambient temperature or room temperature) . Warming to ambient temperature is effected, for example, by heat exchange with the environment. Alternatively, the warming is also effected by active heating.
  • the final filling pressure or secondary filling pressure is set to the desired temperature, generally the ambient temperature.
  • the final filling pressure is determined by the quantity of gas introduced.
  • the pressure which is established after warming to ambient temperature is shown by way of example for nitrogen as a function of the LN2 filling level in the diagram (Fig. 1) .
  • the cryogenically liquefied gas is introduced into the pressure vessel by means of a "loading system".
  • This loading system may be any type of containment which is able to temporarily accommodate the cold liquid, e.g. a small plastic or glass tube or a foam-like, porous or microporous material.
  • the insulating action of the containment means that there is no spontaneous evaporation, as occurs during normal liquid filling of a warm vessel, and consequently sufficient time remains to close off the pressure vessel.
  • the warming which only commences thereafter, then leads to the desired high pressure in the vessel.
  • a further advantage is that a containment of this type results in good metering properties for the cryogenic liquid filling medium.
  • a vessel e.g. a small tube
  • the filling mass can easily be determined by the volume of the vessel and the density of the liquid in the boiling state.
  • storage means such as sponge-like materials
  • the ability of these materials to take up the respective liquefied gas has to be determined beforehand.
  • Aerosil stores approx. 90% by volume of LN2.
  • a high-pressure ball cock 3 is used as a device for shutting off the vessel 1 (compressed-gas vessel) with a volume VI.
  • a small silicone tube 2 (containment) of volume V2 which is filled with liquid nitrogen, is introduced through the open ball cock. Then, the ball cock 3 is quickly closed.
  • a manometer can be used to monitor the rise in pressure which results from warming of the cold nitrogen in the test vessel 1.
  • Fig. 3 shows how a containment 2, in this case a small silicone tube which is closed at the bottom, filled with the liquid nitrogen is introduced into the pressure vessel 1 through the shut-off device 3.
  • the dimensions of the containment 2 are such that it fits through the filling opening, i.e. it has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the filling opening.
  • the external diameter (d a ) of the containment 2 is smaller than the clear diameter (d k ) of the shut-off device 3, i.e. the ball cock.
  • the containment 2, i.e. the small tube is of a length which corresponds at most to the height of the interior of the pressure vessel.
  • the shut-off device 3 of the pressure vessel 1 is open.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates the containment 2 which has been introduced into the pressure vessel 1 and filled with the liquid nitrogen.
  • the shut-off device 3 of the pressure vessel 1 is closed.

Abstract

The method for filling pressure vessels (1), in particular in airbag systems, with a gas or gas mixture by introducing a cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas or gas mixture into a pressure vessel (1) is characterized by the use of a containment (2) or storage means.

Description

Aided cryogenic filling of pressure vessels
The invention relates to a method for filling pressure vessels, .in particular pressure vessels of airbag systems, with gas.
Airbags in vehicles are increasingly using new types of gas generators, which in the event of an accident inflate the airbag within a few milliseconds. High- pressure gas storage systems are used as gas generators .
The gas generators, which are filled with various gases, throw up huge technical problems in production, both in terms of their production and their filling with pressures of up to 1000 bar. The heat of compression in particular during rapid filling means that these pressures are required in order for accurately predetermined masses of gas to be introduced. These are crucial for the subsequent inflation characteristics of the airbag.
Gas generators with a pure helium filling are of particular interest. Helium has a positive Joule Thomson coefficient. This means that this gas does not cool down in the event of rapid expansion. However, helium is a very expensive filling gas, and manufacturers of gas generators of this type aim to work with the minimum possible production losses.
Very expensive and complex piston or diaphragm compressors are required to generate the very high pressures. This entails high investment costs, and high operating and maintenance costs. In addition, a correspondingly complex and expensive downstream gas supply is required for these pressures.
One possible solution to these problems is the cold filling method, which is described, for example, in EP 0 033 386 Al or DE 198 17 324 Al . In this method, the gas which is to be introduced into the pressure vessel is liquefied before the filling operation, or at least cooled to a temperature which is only slightly above its boiling point. The preferred coolant in this context is liquid nitrogen. Since the gas volume is approximately proportional to the temperature during cooling (if the pressure remains constant) , it is in this way possible to increase the effective storage capacity by a not inconsiderable amount.
If a pressure vessel or compressed-gas vessel is directly filled with a cryogenically liquefied gas, accurate metering presents problems, in particular because the cryogenically liquefied gas, during the filling operation, spontaneously evaporates as soon as it first comes into contact with the inner surfaces of the vessel, building up pressure and thereby preventing cryogenically liquefied gas at low pressure from being added further .
The invention is based on the object of providing an alternative method for the high-pressure filling of pressure vessels with gases or gas mixtures.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method having the features of Claim 1.
The method for filling pressure vessels, in particular pressure vessels in airbag systems, with a gas or gas mixture is characterized by the introduction of a cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas or cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas mixture or any combination into the pressure vessel with the aid of at least one containment and/or a means for storing the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture. For example one or more cryogenically liquefied gases, one or more cryogenically solidified gases, a mixture of at least one cryogenically liquefied gas and at least one cryogenically solidified gas, a mixture of two or more solidified gases, a mixture of two or more liquefied gases, a mixture of two or more solidified gas mixtures, a mixture of a cryogenically liquefied gas mixture and a cryogenically solidified gas mixture, a mixture of a cryogenically liquefied gas and a cryogenically solidified gas mixture or a mixture of a cryogenically liquefied gas mixture and a cryogenically solidified gas are put into a containment or are stored in a means for storing and are transferred into the pressure vessel, which is preferrably cooled or precooled. The pressure vessel is closed after filling. After increase of the temperature of the pressure vessel and its contents, for example by warming up to room temperature, a pressure or increase of pressure is obtained.
Cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas or cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas mixture may be advantageously used in two or more containments and/or storage means. For example, one or more cryogenically liquefied gases or gas mixtures, one or more cryogenically solidified gases or gas mixtures or one or more cryogenically liquefied gases or gas mixtures and one or more cryogenically solidified gases or gas mixtures stored in different containments .or storage means .
Cryogenically liquefied gases are gases which have been liquefied by refrigeration, such as cryogenically liquefied nitrogen (LN2) , cryogenically liquefied oxygen, cryogenically liquefied argon, cryogenically liquefied hydrogen or cryogenically liquefied helium.
Cryogenically solidified gases are gases solidified by refrigeration, such as cryogenically solidified nitrogen, cryogenically solidified oxygen, cryogenically solidified argon or cryogenically solidified carbon dioxide.
A containment is a general term used for a container, such as a vessel or a vessel-like structure, which is suitable for holding a cryogenically liquefied or solidified gas or gas mixture in the form of a liquid or solid and generally storing it at least for a short period of time. Examples of vessels include small tubes, cups, capsules, hollow spheres or hollow bodies. Vessel-like structures are hollow structures, generally made from flexible or thin-walled materials, e.g. films. Examples of vessel-like structures include hose- like structures, pouches, bags, hoses, in particular hoses which are closed on one side, or pockets. The containers generally have a filling opening. The filling opening may be closable.
Containments are advantageously made from a material with a low heat penetration coefficient or from a material with a low thermal conductivity. Vessels with the inner walls coated with a material with a low heat penetration coefficient, as described in WO 02/086379 Al and DE 101 19 115 Al (internal file reference MG 2445) , to which express reference is hereby made, are also suitable.
The containment advantageously has an additional insulating part, in particular at the lower end. Alternatively, an insulating element is introduced into the pressure vessel before the containment is introduced into the pressure vessel. One or more insulating elements are arranged, for example, on the inner wall and/or in the base region in the interior of the pressure vessel. An insulating element is, for example, a type of spacer made from a material with a low thermal conductivity. The containment advantageously may be made of a solidified gas, e.g. solidified carbon dioxide.
Means for storing a cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture (storage means) are generally containers or storage materials, such as absorbent materials, absorbent foams, capillary material, absorbent powder or particles or parts, which take up liquid. The storage means containing a cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture may be advantageously cooled to a temperature, where the liquefied gas or gas mixture become solid or change into liquid and solid parts. The loading of the storage materials is also effected, for example, by condensation of the gas as a solid in the storage material at a suitable low temperature.
The storage means is used for the storage of liquefied or solidified gas or gas mixture. A storage means may be produced from a solidified gas, e.g. a solid structure of gas which takes up a liquefied or solidified gas.
The containments or storage means are preferably precooled, for example to the temperature of the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture (e.g. the boiling point) or the temperature of the cryogenically solidified gas or gas mixture or below, prior to being filled or loaded with the cryogenically liquefied and/or solidified gas or gas mixture.
In the method, the containments or storage means, which have been filled or loaded with the cryogenically liquefied and/or solidified gas or gas mixture, are introduced into the pressure vessel. The use of the containments or storage means allows simple metering of the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture and simple dosage of cryogenically solidified gas or gas mixture. The storage means is used without a containment or in a containment.
The method for filling pressure vessels with gas at a high pressure makes use of the cryogenically liquefied or solid state of these gases. No superatmospheric pressure or only a relatively minor superatmospheric pressure need be applied during filling of the pressure vessels, i.e. pressure vessels are preferably filled in an unpressurized state or at a low pressure. The method for filling pressure vessels is generally used to produce pressure vessels filled with gas at a high pressure. The filled pressure vessels generally have a gas pressure of at least 100 bar absolute, preferably of at least 150 bar, particularly preferably of at least 100 bar, in particular of at least 200 bar, at ambient temperature (e.g. room temperature or temperatures in the range from 0 to 40 °C) . The method can be used to produce gas-filled pressure vessels with a gas pressure of, for example, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 bar absolute or more.
Pressure vessels are generally compressed-gas vessels, such as compressed-gas cylinders, tanks, pressure canisters or pressure cartridges. Pressure vessels are, for example, what are known as gas generators in airbag systems. Pressure vessels which are or are not precooled are used in the method. Precooling implies for example cooling of the pressure vessels to a temperature which corresponds to the boiling point of the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture to be introduced or a lower temperature, prior to introduction of the cryogenically liquefied gas or gas . mixture .
In the method, one or more containments and/or storage means holding a cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture are transferred into the pressure vessel. The containments or storage means contain the same cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture or different cryogenically liquefied gases or gas mixtures.
After the pressure vessel, which is or is not precooled, has been filled, it is closed and then the pressure vessel together with the gas which is being introduced is warmed. It is generally warmed to the subsequent temperature of use (ambient temperature or room temperature) . Warming to ambient temperature is effected, for example, by heat exchange with the environment. Alternatively, the warming is also effected by active heating.
After warming, the final filling pressure or secondary filling pressure (equilibrium pressure) is set to the desired temperature, generally the ambient temperature. The final filling pressure is determined by the quantity of gas introduced.
The pressure which is established after warming to ambient temperature is shown by way of example for nitrogen as a function of the LN2 filling level in the diagram (Fig. 1) . Example: if a vessel is 50% filled with LN2, closed off and then allowed to warm up, the pressure in the vessel rises to approx. 500 bar.
According to the invention, the cryogenically liquefied gas is introduced into the pressure vessel by means of a "loading system". This loading system may be any type of containment which is able to temporarily accommodate the cold liquid, e.g. a small plastic or glass tube or a foam-like, porous or microporous material.
The insulating action of the containment means that there is no spontaneous evaporation, as occurs during normal liquid filling of a warm vessel, and consequently sufficient time remains to close off the pressure vessel. The warming, which only commences thereafter, then leads to the desired high pressure in the vessel.
A further advantage is that a containment of this type results in good metering properties for the cryogenic liquid filling medium. If a vessel (e.g. a small tube) is used, the filling mass can easily be determined by the volume of the vessel and the density of the liquid in the boiling state. In the case of storage means, such as sponge-like materials, the ability of these materials to take up the respective liquefied gas has to be determined beforehand. By way of example, Aerosil stores approx. 90% by volume of LN2.
The design of a filling device and the execution of the method are outlined in Fig. 2. Here, a high-pressure ball cock 3 is used as a device for shutting off the vessel 1 (compressed-gas vessel) with a volume VI. A small silicone tube 2 (containment) of volume V2, which is filled with liquid nitrogen, is introduced through the open ball cock. Then, the ball cock 3 is quickly closed. A manometer can be used to monitor the rise in pressure which results from warming of the cold nitrogen in the test vessel 1.
Fig. 3 shows how a containment 2, in this case a small silicone tube which is closed at the bottom, filled with the liquid nitrogen is introduced into the pressure vessel 1 through the shut-off device 3. The dimensions of the containment 2 are such that it fits through the filling opening, i.e. it has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the filling opening. The external diameter (da) of the containment 2 is smaller than the clear diameter (dk) of the shut-off device 3, i.e. the ball cock. The containment 2, i.e. the small tube, is of a length which corresponds at most to the height of the interior of the pressure vessel. The shut-off device 3 of the pressure vessel 1 is open.
Fig. 4 illustrates the containment 2 which has been introduced into the pressure vessel 1 and filled with the liquid nitrogen. The shut-off device 3 of the pressure vessel 1 is closed.

Claims

Patent Claims
1. Method for filling a pressure vessel (1), in particular a pressure vessel (1) in airbag systems, with a gas or gas mixture by introducing a cryogenically liquefied gas or cryogenically liquefied gas mixture and/or a cryogenically solidified gas or cryogenically solidified gas mixture into a pressure vessel (1) with the aid of at least one storage means, in particular at least one containment (2) .
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, by closing the pressure vessel (1) after cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture has been introduced, a pressure is generated in the pressure vessel (1) by warming.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a pressure of at least 200 bar, in particular more than 300 bar, is produced in the filled pressure vessel (1) by warming the gas or gas mixture.
4. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the warming of the gas is effected by active heating.
5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the containment (2) used is a small tube, vessel, cup, cap, or a balloon, sheath or hose which is closed on one side or completely.
6. Use of a containment (2) for filling a pressure vessel (1) with a cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture and/or cryogenically solidified gas or gas mixture.
7. Use according to Claim 6, characterized in that the pressure vessel (1) is a gas generator of an airbag system.
8. Use of at least one containment (2) and/or of a storage means for metering cryogenically liquefied gas or gas mixture and/or cryogenically solidified gas or gas mixture into a vessel, in particular into a pressure vessel (1) .
EP05756990A 2004-06-11 2005-06-09 Aided cryogenic filling of pressure vessels Withdrawn EP1769191A1 (en)

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DE102007011742A1 (en) * 2007-03-10 2008-09-11 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Process to refuel pressurised automotive fuel tank with liquid hydrogen
CN103261775A (en) * 2010-12-16 2013-08-21 气体产品与化学公司 A process for filling a gas storage container

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