EP4083493A1 - Réservoir de stockage de fluide, procédé de remplissage et aéronef - Google Patents

Réservoir de stockage de fluide, procédé de remplissage et aéronef Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4083493A1
EP4083493A1 EP21167243.1A EP21167243A EP4083493A1 EP 4083493 A1 EP4083493 A1 EP 4083493A1 EP 21167243 A EP21167243 A EP 21167243A EP 4083493 A1 EP4083493 A1 EP 4083493A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fluid
tank
distribution network
aircraft
valve
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP21167243.1A
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German (de)
English (en)
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designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
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Blue Spirit Aero SAS
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Blue Spirit Aero SAS
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Priority to EP21167243.1A priority Critical patent/EP4083493A1/fr
Publication of EP4083493A1 publication Critical patent/EP4083493A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • F17C2201/01—Shape
    • F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
    • F17C2201/0109—Shape cylindrical with exteriorly curved end-piece
    • 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
    • F17C2201/054—Size medium (>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
    • 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
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
    • F17C2203/0604—Liners
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
    • F17C2203/0612—Wall structures
    • F17C2203/0614—Single wall
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0636—Metals
    • F17C2203/0639—Steels
    • 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
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
    • F17C2205/0123—Mounting arrangements characterised by number of vessels
    • F17C2205/013—Two or more vessels
    • F17C2205/0134—Two or more vessels characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels
    • F17C2205/0142—Two or more vessels characterised by the presence of fluid connection between vessels bundled in parallel
    • 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
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
    • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
    • F17C2205/0311—Closure means
    • F17C2205/0317—Closure means fusing or melting
    • 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
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
    • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
    • F17C2205/0323—Valves
    • F17C2205/0326—Valves electrically actuated
    • 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
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
    • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
    • F17C2205/0323—Valves
    • F17C2205/0329—Valves manually actuated
    • 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
    • F17C2223/0107—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
    • F17C2223/03—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
    • F17C2227/04—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
    • F17C2250/03—Control means
    • 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
    • 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
    • F17C2250/0439—Temperature
    • 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
    • F17C2250/0443—Flow or movement of content
    • 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
    • F17C2250/06—Controlling or regulating of parameters as output values
    • F17C2250/0605—Parameters
    • F17C2250/0626—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
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/06—Controlling or regulating of parameters as output values
    • F17C2250/0605—Parameters
    • F17C2250/0631—Temperature
    • 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
    • F17C2250/06—Controlling or regulating of parameters as output values
    • F17C2250/0605—Parameters
    • F17C2250/0636—Flow or movement of content
    • 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
    • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/06—Fluid distribution
    • F17C2265/066—Fluid distribution for feeding engines for propulsion
    • 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
    • F17C2270/0186—Applications for fluid transport or storage in the air or in space
    • F17C2270/0189—Planes

Definitions

  • One prior art solution to reduce overheating is to precool the hydrogen gas at - 40°C which allows an increase of the mass flow rate while keeping the temperature at an end section of the storage compartment on an appropriate level at the end of the refilling process. Furthermore, the higher the quantity of hydrogen in the storage compartment 102, the slower the temperature rise of the storage compartment 102 since there is more fluid to absorb the kinetic energy of the injected hydrogen molecules.
  • This fluid storage tank gives the advantage that simultaneous filling the storage compartment from both ends through the respective tank ports with gaseous fluid is enabled. This achieves that the gas flows injected from each end collide with each other in the storage compartment, thus creating a turbulent flow in a mixing zone distanced from the ends of the storage compartment.
  • the kinetic energy of the colliding gas molecules is transformed into heat.
  • the heat is advantageously mostly generated in the fluid of the mixing zone and not at the inner surface of the storage compartment.
  • the heat generation is advantageously less abrupt and less localized but more homogeneous and extends over a larger area.
  • the heat can advantageously better spread to both ends of the storage compartment which advantageously causes a stronger heat transfer from the mixing zone.
  • the above effects advantageously reduce local temperature spikes and avoid exceeding maximum temperature limits of the storage compartment.
  • the integrity of the liner material is much easier to maintain.
  • Limiting the temperature rise in the above-described manner also reduces the pressure value of the fluid in the storage compartment, e.g., to a value below 875 bar. If the required counter pressure difference does not change, the supply pressure may be reduced, and for the same safety margin of 10% as described above, the total required gas pressure is lower. For instance, a total pressure of 950 bar may be sufficient rather than a total pressure of over 1050 bar. As a result, electrical energy may be saved due to a reduction in power required by pumps and compressors to achieve the required total pressure. This is similar for the required cooling temperature before the gas injection into the storage compartment.
  • a tank port comprises a first pressure reduction stage, e.g., the above mentions mass flow rate valve, that has a first connection connected to the storage compartment and a second connection, wherein the first pressure reduction stage is adapted to reduce a pressure of the fluid in the rigid storage compartment to a lower pressure level at its second connection.
  • a second pressure reduction stage e.g., a further mass flow rate valve, comprises a first connection connected to the second connection of the first pressure reduction stage and a second connection, wherein the second pressure reduction stage is adapted to reduce a pressure of the fluid at its first connection to a lower pressure level at its second connection.
  • both pressure reduction stages are individually remotely controllable, particularly electrically controllable.
  • the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are monitored, and if an unfavourable condition is detected, the mass flow rate through at least one of the tank ports is adjusted.
  • the unfavourable condition may be a temperature difference measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor that exceeds a certain threshold.
  • the unfavourable condition may also be encountered when a temperature measured by the first temperature sensor and/or the second temperature sensor exceeds a respective threshold.
  • first and second tank ports may be interconnected with the first and second fluid distribution network, respectively, via their respective remotely controllable valves, e.g., mass flow valves.
  • the storage tanks are fixedly attached to the aircraft, i.e., not intended to by regularly removed or swapped. However, they may be removed for maintenance or repair.
  • This embodiment gives the advantage that a particularly fast refill of the storage tanks and thus turn-around time for the aircraft is achievable.
  • the ECC is adapted to create electric energy from the fluid, in particular hydrogen.
  • the electric energy may be used to power any electrical load of the aircraft, in particular electric motors, actuators, and so on, e.g., an electric aircraft propulsion motor like an electric propeller motor, etc.
  • the aircraft may be a hydrogen fuelled, electrically driven aircraft.
  • a fluid inlet of at least one of the ECCs is connected to a valve (in the following called a "supply valve") to advantageously being able to individually shut-off the ECCs from fluid supply, e.g., in case of a failure of the ECC or when an ECC is not needed.
  • the supply valve is provided to allow or block connection of the supply valve to a distribution network.
  • the supply valve may be a shut-off valve or, advantageously, a mass flow rate valve.
  • the supply valve is a remotely controllable valve.
  • the first distribution network is connected to the third fluid distribution network via multiple connection valves and each of the first tank ports comprises its mass flow valve and one of the connection valves.
  • each of the first tank ports comprises its mass flow valve and one of the connection valves.
  • connection valve also acts a pressure reduction valve / stage.
  • connection valve may be controlled to adjust the pressure reduction between the first distribution network and the third distribution network.
  • the first distribution network is connected to the third distribution network via exactly one connection valve.
  • this allows for a particularly simple interconnection.
  • a closed inter-network valve may, on the other hand, advantageously enable maintaining different mass flow rates and/or different pressures to the first tank ports and second tank ports, respectively, during refilling, if so desired.
  • a filling station may adapt the mass flow rate at each refilling port and the closed inter-network valve prevents the natural tendency of pressure to equilibrate.
  • At least one refilling port comprises multiple refilling valves. This advantageously improves the redundancy and the availability of the refilling system. If one of the refilling valves is clogged, the other refilling valve(s) are still able to supply fluid to the respective distribution network.
  • the refilling valves may be non-return valves, i.e., in their normal state prevent gas from leaving the respective network. In an embodiment, they may be specially operated to release gas from the respective distribution network.
  • Fig.2 shows o sketch of a fluid storage tank in form of a gas bottle 1 comprising a cylindrical rigid storage compartment 2 made of a composite core for storing pressured fluid. Its inner surface is covered by a liner 3.
  • the gas bottle 1 has a design similar to the gas bottle 101 but now has a first connection tube 4-1 at a first end of the storage compartment 2 and a second connection tube 4-2 at a second end of the storage compartment 2.
  • Each connection tube 4-1, 4-2 may having a reducer (not shown) and a shut-off cock (not shown).
  • Onto the first connection tube 4-1 is attached a first bottle-head 6-1 while onto the second connection tube 4-2 is attached a second bottle-head 6-2.
  • Each bottle head 6-1, 6-2 comprises a remotely, in particular electrically, controllable adjustable mass flow valve 7 which may also act as a pressure reduction stage.
  • the first connection tube 4-1 and the first bottle-head 6-1 may be components of a first tank port 8-1, while the second connection tube 4-2 and the second bottle-head 6-2 may be components of a second tank port 8-2.
  • the injected hydrogen gas flows collide with each other in the storage compartment 2, creating a turbulent flow mostly in a mixing zone 9 which, if the mass flow rates are equal, is located in the middle of the storage compartment 2 in equal distance from the connection tubes 4-1, 4-2.
  • the mixing zone 9 the kinetic energy of the colliding hydrogen molecules is transformed into heat.
  • Fig.3 shows a sketch of a wing W1 of an aircraft A comprising multiple fluid storage tanks, e.g., the storage tanks 1.
  • the storage tanks 1 may be detachable from the wing W1 or may be fixedly attached.
  • the first fluid distribution network 10-1 is connected via multiple connection valves 13 with a third fluid distribution network 14.
  • the connection valves 13 may also act as pressure reduction devices / stages.
  • the third fluid distribution network 14 feeds several electro-chemical converters, ECCs 15, e.g., to convert the hydrogen to electric energy.
  • ECCs electro-chemical converters
  • the electric energy may be used, e.g., to power electric propulsion motors (not shown).
  • the first tank ports 8-1 may comprise its mass flow valve 7 and one of the connection valves 13 in its adapter / bottle head 6-1.
  • the storage tanks 1, refilling guns 16 (see Fig.4A and Fig.4B ) of a filling station or such may be connected to the refilling ports 11-1, 11-2.
  • the inter-network valve 12 may be open to allow an even pressure distribution over the first and second distribution networks 10-1, 10-2 and thus equal mass flow rates at the tank ports 8-1 and 8-2.
  • inter-network valve 12 may be closed to allow different pressure levels between the first and second distribution networks 10-1, 10-2 and thus different mass flow rates at the tank ports 8-1 and 8-2, respectively.
  • the refilling ports 11-1, 11-2 each have one refilling valve, and the refilling gun 16 accordingly has one refilling nozzle, it is advantageous that the refilling ports 11-1, 11-2 each have multiple refilling valves (not shown), and the refilling gun 16 accordingly has the same number of refilling nozzles 17.
  • Fig.4A shows a side view of a sketch of a refilling gun 16 having two refilling nozzles 17 that are connected to respective fluid supply lines 18.
  • Fig.4B shows a front view of the refilling gun 16.
  • the refilling gun 16 may have only one supply line and a fluid distribution head (not shown) between the supply line and the refilling nozzles 17.
  • Fig.5 shows a wing W2 of an aircraft A comprising multiple fluid storage tanks 1.
  • the wing W2 has a design similar to wing W1 with the exception that one connection valve 13 is used instead of multiple connection valves 13. Consequently, the single connection valve 13 may not be part of a bottle head 8-1.
  • Fig.6 shows a wing W3 of an aircraft A comprising multiple fluid storage tanks 1.
  • the wing W3 has a design similar to wings W1 and W2 but does not have a dedicated third distribution network. Rather, the ECCs 15 are directly connected to the first distribution network 10-1.
  • shut-off the ECCs 15 from fluid supply they optionally may each (alternatively, in groups, not shown) comprise or being connected to a valve ("supply valve") 19.
  • the supply valve 19 may be a shut-off valve or, advantageously, a mass flow rate valve.
  • the supply valve 19 may be remotely controllable by the aircraft A.
  • pairs of one mass flow valve 7 and one supply valves 9 may be parts of respective bottle heads 8-1, similar to wing W1, as indicated by the dotted square.
  • wing W1 of Fig.3 Several operational scenarios of the wings are now explained in an exemplary manner referring to wing W1 of Fig.3 .
  • the other wings W2 and W3 may be operated in a similar manner.
  • Scenario 1 relates to filling the storage tanks 1 with equal mass flow rates through both refilling ports 11-1 and 11-2.
  • the mass flow valves 7 of the first tank ports 8-1 and the second tank ports 8-2 are open (e.g., maximally), and the refilling ports 11-1 and 11-2 are open and connected to respective filling guns 16.
  • the inter-network valve 12 is open, and the connection valves 13 may be closed.
  • pressurized gas in particular hydrogen
  • pressurized gas is introduced into the distribution networks 10-1- and 10-2, respectively, through the filling guns 16 and connected refilling ports 11-1 and 11-2.
  • pressure between the first and second distribution networks 10-1, 10-2 equalizes such that basically the same fluid pressure is applied to the first and second tank ports 8-1, 8-2 of the respective storage tanks 1.
  • hydrogen should flow into the storage tanks 1 simultaneously from both tank ports 8-1 and 8-2, creating a mixing zone 9 in the middle of the storage compartment 2, as depicted schematically in Fig.2 .
  • Scenario 2 relates to the case that the storage tanks 1 are not being filled with equal mass flow rates through both end even if the pressure at the refilling ports 11-1 and 11-2 is the same. This might happen if, e.g., the measured pressure has a significant measurement error, the valves do not behave equally, etc.
  • Scenario 2 also relates to the case that levels of the pressure and/or mass flow rate of the first and second distribution networks 10-1 and 10-2, and thus at the first and second tank ports 8-1 and 8-2, respectively, may be specifically set to different values, e.g., to shift the position of the mixing zone in the storage compartment 2.
  • the pressure and/or mass flow rate of the first and second distribution networks 10-1 and 10-2 may be specifically set to different levels. To be able to do so, the inter-network valve 12 should be closed.
  • connection valves 13 and/or supply valves 19 may stay closed during (re)filling.
  • only the first distribution network 10-1 is used to supply the ECCs 15 with fluid F under normal conditions, i.e., without faulty components.
  • the fluid F from the storage tanks 1 is released through the first tank ports 8-1 into the first distribution network 10-1. From there, the fluid F flows though the connection valves 13 into the third distribution network 14, and from there to the EECs 15, through the supply valves 19, if present.
  • the second distribution network 10-2 is not used which is achieved by the second tank ports 8-2 and inter-network valve 12 being closed.
  • the second distribution network 10-2 may be used during normal operation, in which case the second tank ports 8-2 and inter-network valve 12 are open.
  • This scenario covers failure of one or more mass flow valves 7 of first tank ports 8-1 or any other fault in which the fluid connection between one or more storage tanks 1 and the first distribution network 10-1 is blocked or disrupted.
  • the mass flow valves 7 of the second tank ports 8-2 of the faulty storage tanks 1 are opened, as well as the inter-network valve 12.
  • fluid F of a storage tank 1 having a blocked passage to the first distribution network 10 is released into the second distribution network 10-2 and flows from there through the inter-network valve 12 to the first distribution network 10-1.
  • the storage tanks 1 having tank ports 8-1, 8-2 at both ends thus advantageously enable using their fluid storage to supply ECCs 15 even in case that one of the tank ports 8-1, 8-2 is blocked. This, in turn, greatly improves flight safety, in particular for aircraft having electric propulsion.
  • This scenario covers that one or more storage tanks 1 runs empty prematurely. Then, its / their tank ports 8-1 and 8-2 may be simply shut off / closed without affecting the operation of the ECCs 15.
  • the described scenarios can be adapted in analogy to the other fluid distribution designs using two-port storage tanks 1, e.g., as described for wings W2 and W3.
  • supply valves 19 may also be present in the wings W1 and W2.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
EP21167243.1A 2021-04-07 2021-04-07 Réservoir de stockage de fluide, procédé de remplissage et aéronef Pending EP4083493A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21167243.1A EP4083493A1 (fr) 2021-04-07 2021-04-07 Réservoir de stockage de fluide, procédé de remplissage et aéronef

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21167243.1A EP4083493A1 (fr) 2021-04-07 2021-04-07 Réservoir de stockage de fluide, procédé de remplissage et aéronef

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EP4083493A1 true EP4083493A1 (fr) 2022-11-02

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7681604B2 (en) * 2005-05-09 2010-03-23 Kiyoshi Handa Gas cooling method using a melting/solidifying media for high pressure storage tanks for compressed natural gas or hydrogen
US20100167155A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2010-07-01 Hyundai Motor Company Hydrogen supply system for fuel cell
US9863581B2 (en) * 2012-08-24 2018-01-09 Nearshore Natural Gas, Llc Virtual gaseous fuel pipeline

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7681604B2 (en) * 2005-05-09 2010-03-23 Kiyoshi Handa Gas cooling method using a melting/solidifying media for high pressure storage tanks for compressed natural gas or hydrogen
US20100167155A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2010-07-01 Hyundai Motor Company Hydrogen supply system for fuel cell
US9863581B2 (en) * 2012-08-24 2018-01-09 Nearshore Natural Gas, Llc Virtual gaseous fuel pipeline

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