WO2020057812A1

WO2020057812A1 - Fluid tank

Info

Publication number: WO2020057812A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/069928
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juergen Hanneke
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2018-09-19
Filing date: 2019-07-24
Publication date: 2020-03-26
Also published as: DE102018215902A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid tank (2) having a tank volume (4a, 4b) for storing a fluid (3), comprising at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b), which is designed to reduce slosh and wave movements of the fluid (3). In the at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b), at least one filter element (16, 16a, 16b) is arranged, which is designed to filter the fluid (3).

Description

title

Fluid tank

The invention relates to a fluid tank for storing a fluid, in particular a fluid reducing agent.

State of the art

In order to reduce nitrogen oxides (NO _x ), which are contained in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, a liquid reducing agent G, fluid ”), in particular a urea water solution, is often used

G, Ad Blue “®), injected into the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine using an injection system.

In a catalytic converter located downstream of the injection point, the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gases react with the reducing agent and are reduced in nitrogen and water.

The reducing agent is kept in a fluid tank. The reducing agent can contain foreign bodies and / or dirt particles that can damage and / or clog the injection system.

In particular in the case of a gasoline engine, a fluid tank can be provided for storing demineralized water. Demineralized water can be injected together with the fuel into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine in order to reduce the combustion temperature and thus the thermal load on the components. The water also binds any soot particles generated during combustion.

Movements of the fluid tank, e.g. in a moving vehicle can cause the fluid to spill up in the fluid tank. This can have the consequence that there is temporarily no fluid at the removal point of the fluid tank and the fluid supply to the injection system is interrupted.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fluid tank for a fluid, in particular a liquid reducing agent, which avoids or at least reduces the problems mentioned. Disclosure of the invention

According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a fluid tank limits a tank volume which is provided for storing a fluid, in particular a fluid reducing agent or demineralized water. There is at least one slosh wall in the tank volume, which is designed to prevent or at least reduce sloshing and wave movements of the fluid, as can be caused in particular by movements and fluid noise in the fluid tank resulting therefrom. In the at least one slosh wall, at least one filter element is arranged, which is designed to filter fluid flowing through.

Embodiments of the invention also include an injection system for injecting a fluid reducing agent into an exhaust line

Internal combustion engine, the injection system having a metering module arranged on an exhaust duct of the exhaust line and a fluid tank according to the invention. The metering module is designed to inject the reducing agent into the exhaust gas duct, and the fluid tank is designed to store the fluid to be injected into the exhaust gas duct.

By integrating at least one filter element into at least one slosh wall according to the invention, a space-saving and inexpensive construction of a fluid tank can be realized, which makes it possible both to provide filtered fluid and to prevent the fluid stored in the fluid tank from undesirably sloshing up. In this way, the

Injection system reliably filtered fluid can be provided even when the tank is moved.

In one embodiment, at least one filter window is formed in the at least one slosh wall, and the at least one filter element is arranged in the at least one filter window. With the help of filter windows formed in the at least one slosh wall, the filter elements can be arranged particularly easily in the at least one slosh wall.

In particular, the filter elements can be removably arranged in the filter windows, so that the filter elements can be easily removed and cleaned or replaced if necessary. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one slosh wall can also be designed such that it can be easily removed from the fluid tank and reinserted, for example for maintenance purposes.

In one embodiment, a lower edge of the at least one

Filter element at a distance of at least 15 mm, for example at a distance of 15 mm to 25 mm, in particular 20 mm, from a bottom of the fluid tank. Such an arrangement of the filter element, spaced from the bottom of the fluid tank, ensures that sediments in the fluid are in a sediment area below the at least one

Collect the filter element without clogging or blocking the flow through the filter element.

In one embodiment, the at least one slosh wall divides this

Tank volume of the fluid tank in a dirt area and in one

Clean area. This can be done from the clean area of the tank volume

Injection system filtered clean fluid can be provided.

In one embodiment, a sedimentation stage is formed on a side of the at least one slosh wall facing the dirt area, which supports the separation of sediment at the bottom of the dirt area and thereby reduces the risk of clogging and / or blocking of the at least one filter element by separated sediments.

In one embodiment, the at least one filter element is linear, i.e. formed as a substantially planar plate. In an alternative embodiment, the at least one filter element is cylindrical. The at least one filter element can be particularly easy to handle and

replaceable, essentially cylindrical, filter cartridge.

The at least one slosh wall can also be linear, i.e. be designed as an essentially planar plate, accordion-shaped or cylindrical. The surface available for filtering the fluid can be made with the same dimensions of the fluid tank compared to a linear one by means of a cylindrical or zigzag-shaped swash wall

Slosh wall can be enlarged. The maximum possible fluid flow through the filter elements, and thus the maximum possible withdrawal amount per Unit of time, can be increased in this way without increasing the dimensions of the fluid tank.

In one embodiment, the fluid tank has at least two slosh walls, in each of which at least one filter element is arranged. The at least two slosh walls divide the tank volume of the fluid tank into a dirt area, a first clean area and a second clean area. More than two slosh walls can also be provided, which form more than two clean areas. The

Filter elements in the various slosh walls can have different mesh sizes / pore sizes. In particular, the filter elements can be designed in such a way that the fluid flows in sequence through filter elements with decreasing mesh sizes / pore sizes before it reaches the last clean area (clean area).

Particles of different sizes can be filtered out of the fluid in stages. In this way, particularly pure fluid can be provided in the clean area without the risk that the filter elements, in particular the filter elements with a small mesh size / pore size, clog too quickly.

In one embodiment, the fluid tank has at least one protective element, for example a protective wall. The at least one protective element is arranged and formed on at least one side of the at least one slosh wall, the slosh wall and in particular the at least one

To protect the filter element from mechanical influences, in particular from ice and / or liquid hammer.

The protective element can be made of the same material as the at least one slosh wall or of a different material. The

Protective element can in particular be made of an elastic and / or porous material, for example a PU foam, which is suitable for elastically absorbing mechanical effects / impacts in order to prevent mechanical damage to the protective element and / or the slosh wall.

In one embodiment, the at least one protective element is at a distance of 5 mm to 10 mm from the at least one slosh wall arranged. A distance in a range of 5 mm to 10 mm has proven to be particularly suitable for protecting the swash wall from damage.

In one embodiment, at least one groove for receiving the at least one slosh wall is formed in / on a limitation of the tank volume, for example in / on a wall, a floor and / or a ceiling of the fluid tank. The slosh wall can be inserted into such a groove in order to detachably fix the slosh wall to a limitation of the tank volume.

In one embodiment, the at least one slosh wall is glued or welded to at least one limitation of the tank volume, around which

Secure the slosh wall particularly securely to the limit of the tank volume.

A slosh wall extending between at least two limits of the tank volume gives the fluid tank additional rigidity.

In one embodiment, the at least one filter element is interchangeable, i.e. it is easily removable from the slosh wall, making it easy

can be replaced if it is clogged and / or damaged. The at least one filter element can also be replaced at regular intervals in order to prevent clogging and / or damage.

In one embodiment, the at least one slosh wall and / or the at least one filter element can be heated in order to thaw frozen fluid and / or to prevent the fluid from freezing.

For this purpose, the slosh walls and / or the filter elements can each be equipped with at least one heating element, in particular an electrical heating element.

The electrical heating element can be, for example, an ohmic heating element, for example a heating coil, or a PTC heating element. A large-scale heating effect can be achieved by heating the slosh walls and / or the filter elements. So even at low ambient temperatures after a short Time a quantity of thawed fluids are available, which is sufficient for the operation of the injection system.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine with a metering module for injecting a reducing agent into an exhaust duct of the

Exhaust system in a schematic representation.

Figure 2 shows a schematic side sectional view of a fluid tank according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a schematic section along the line C-C shown in Figure 2.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a region of a fluid tank according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the area shown in FIG. 4.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of a fluid tank according to another

Embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of an area of a fluid tank with a

Slosh wall and a protective element arranged in front of the slosh wall.

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of an area of the fluid tank according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention in the vicinity of the swash wall.

Figure 9 shows a section through the slosh wall shown in Figure 8.

Figure description

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures. FIG. 1 shows an exhaust line 52 of an internal combustion engine 54 with an injection system 55 for injecting a reducing agent 3 into an

Exhaust duct 53 of exhaust line 52 in a schematic representation.

The injection system 55 comprises a metering module 51, which in the flow direction of the exhaust gases 50 of the internal combustion engine 54 between the

Internal combustion engine 54 and an SCR catalyst 57 is arranged. The dosing module 51 contains an injection valve 56, which is designed to inject a fluid reducing agent 3 into the exhaust gas duct 53.

The reducing agent 3 to be injected is removed from a fluid tank 2 by a feed pump 58 and fed to the metering module 51. The dosing module 51 injects the reducing agent 3 into the exhaust duct 53 of the exhaust line 52 with increased pressure. In the exhaust duct 53, the injected reducing agent 3 mixes with the exhaust gases 50 flowing through the exhaust duct 53 and reacts in the SCR catalytic converter 57 arranged downstream of the metering module 51 with those contained in the exhaust gases 50

Nitrogen oxides (NO _x ), which are reduced to N ₂ and H2O.

Figure 2 shows a schematic side sectional view of a fluid tank 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows one

schematic sectional view along the line C-C shown in Figure 1.

The fluid tank 2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises an upper tank shell 6a and a lower tank shell 6b. The two tank shells 6a, 6b are connected to one another along a connecting line 7, for example by a welding or adhesive connection. The upper tank shell 6a and the lower tank shell 6b delimit a tank volume 4a, 4b which is used to store a fluid 3, in particular a fluid reducing agent 3, e.g. an aqueous urea solution, or of demineralized water is provided and suitable.

In order to dampen wave and sloshing movements of the fluid 3 stored in the tank volume 4a, 4b, as can be generated in particular by movements of the fluid tank 2, there is a slosh wall 8 in the tank volume 4a, 4b. The slosh wall 8 extends from a bottom 18 of the fluid tank 2 to a ceiling 20 of the fluid tank 2. The slosh wall 8 divides the tank volume 4a, 4b into a dirt area 4a shown on the left in FIGS. 2 and 3 and a clean area 4b shown on the right in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A filler neck 10 is formed in the ceiling 20 of the fluid tank 2, which makes it possible to fill fluid (reducing agent or demineralized water) 3 into the dirt region 4a of the fluid tank 2.

At the bottom 18 of the clean area 4b there is a removal device 12, which in particular contains the feed pump 58 and enables fluid 3 to be removed from the clean area 4b of the tank volume 4a, 4b and to be fed to the metering module 51.

In addition to the feed pump 58, the removal device 12 can contain a filter 60 and / or a heater 62.

Openings / windows 14 are formed in the slosh wall 8, in each of which a filter element 16 is arranged. Fluid 3 can flow through the filter elements 16 from the dirt area 4a into the clean area 4b of the tank volume 4a, 4b. Fluid 3, which flows through the openings / windows 14, is filtered by the filter elements 16. Dirt particles 17 which are larger than the mesh size / pore size of the filter elements 16 are filtered out of the fluid 3 and cannot get into the clean area 4b of the tank volume 4a, 4b.

Filtered / clean fluid 3 is therefore available in the clean area 4b and can be removed from the clean area 4b by the removal device 12 and fed to the metering module 51.

The openings / windows 14 are arranged at a distance (at a height) d of at least 15 mm from the bottom 18 of the fluid tank 2. Due to this increased arrangement of the openings / windows 14, a sedimentation area 15 is formed in front of the slosh wall 8 on the bottom 18 of the dirt area 4a, in which a sediment of dirt particles 17 can collect without clogging the filter elements 16.

An opening 22 is formed in the ceiling 20 of the tank 2, through which the filter elements 16 can be removed, cleaned and / or replaced if necessary can be. The opening 22 can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by a removable cover 24.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a region of a fluid tank 2 in the

Surrounding the slosh wall 8 according to a further embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 shows a side view of the slosh wall 8 from the viewing direction R shown in FIG. 4.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slosh wall 8 extends between two side walls 19a, 19b of the fluid tank 2. The slosh wall 8 is designed in the manner of an accordion and comprises a plurality of slosh wall segments 81-84 which are at obtuse angles 01 _, 2 _, 3 , ie at angles ai _, 2 _, 3 _> which are greater than 90 °, are arranged to each other. The angles 01 _, 2 _, 3 between the swash wall segments 81-84 can be identical or different.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, two openings / windows 16 are formed in each of the slosh wall segments 81-84, in each of which a filter element 18 is arranged (see FIG. 5). In each of the slosh wall segments 81-84, more or less than two openings / windows 16 can also be formed and more or less than two filter elements 18 can be arranged.

A groove 26 is formed in each of the side walls 19a, 19b or in the ceiling 20 and in the bottom 18 of the fluid tank 2, into which the slosh wall 8 is inserted (see FIG. 4) in order to fix the slosh wall 8.

The grooves 26 and the slosh wall 8 can in particular be designed such that the width b of a gap between the slosh wall 8 and the

Side walls 19a, 19b or the ceiling 20 and the bottom 18 of the fluid tank 2 is not more than 0.5 mm over a length of at least 6 mm. The grooves 26 and the slosh wall 8 thus form a labyrinth seal which prevents that dirt particles 17 can get from the dirt area 4a into the clean area 4b of the tank volume 4a, 4b through the gap. The

Slosh wall 8 with the filter elements 16 can nevertheless be easily replaced by pulling them out of the grooves 26. Alternatively, the slosh wall 8 can be glued or welded in the grooves 26.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a fluid tank 2 according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, two slosh walls 8a, 8b with sedimentation areas 15a, 15b formed in front of them are arranged in the tank volume 4a, 4b, 4c of the fluid tank 2.

The two slosh walls 8a, 8b divide the tank volume 4a, 4b, 4c of the fluid tank 2 into a dirt area 4a, a first clean area 4b and a second clean area (clean area) 4c. The filler neck 10 makes it possible to fill fluid 3 into the dirt area 4a, and the

Fluid extraction device 12 is arranged in the second clean area (clean area) 4c.

The filter elements 16b arranged in the second slosh wall 8b in particular have a smaller mesh size / pore size than the filter elements 16a arranged in the first slosh wall 8a. The one in the first

Filter elements 16a arranged in slosh wall 8a thus effect a first (pre) filtering, through which coarse particles are filtered out of fluid 3.

The filter elements 16b arranged in the second slosh wall 6b effect a second (fine) filtering, by means of which fine particles, which could pass through the first filter element 16a, are removed from the already coarsely filtered fluid 3. Such a combination of filter elements 16a, 16b with different mesh sizes / pore sizes enables even fine particles to be reliably removed from the fluid 3 without the risk that the filter elements 16a, 16b, in particular those arranged in the second slosh wall 6b (fine -) Filter elements 16b, clog in a short time.

The filter elements 16a arranged in the first slosh wall 8a can, for example, have a mesh size / pore size of approximately 50 pm, and the filter elements 16b arranged in the second slosh wall 8b can, for example, have a mesh size / pore size of approximately 20 pm. FIG. 7 shows a plan view of an area of a fluid tank 2 with a slosh wall 8 and a protective element 28 arranged in front of the slosh wall 8. The protective element 28 is arranged on the side of the slosh wall 8 which faces the dirt region 4a of the tank volume 4a, 4b.

The protective element 28 extends essentially parallel to the slosh wall 8 and is arranged, for example, at a distance a of 5 mm to 10 mm in front of the slosh wall 8. The protective element 28 is formed, the

Slosh wall 8 before mechanical damage, especially before

Protect damage from ice and / or fluid hammer.

The protective element 28 extends in particular almost completely over the width and over the height of the slosh wall 8 in order to protect it almost completely.

Alternatively or additionally, a protective element 28 (not shown) can also be arranged on the other side of the slosh wall 8, which faces the clean area 4b of the tank volume 4a, 4b.

The protective element 28 can be made of the same material as the slosh wall 8 or of a different material. The protective element 28 can in particular be made of an elastic and / or porous material, for example a PU foam.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a further exemplary embodiment of a fluid tank 2 according to the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a region of the fluid tank 2 in the vicinity of the slosh wall 8, and FIG. 9 shows a section through the slosh wall 8 shown in FIG. 8.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, this is

Filter element 16 is designed as a cylindrical filter element 16.

The cylindrical filter element 16 can be particularly lightweight

replaceable filter cartridge 16 may be formed. The axis A of the cylindrical filter element 16 can be aligned in particular in the horizontal or in the vertical direction.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the axis A of the filter element 16 is aligned in the vertical direction. The underside of the filter element 16 lies on a sedimentation stage 30 formed on the bottom 18 of the fluid tank 2. The sedimentation stage 30 has, for example, a height h of at least 15 mm from the bottom 18 mm.

A lower area of the filter element 16, i.e. to the bottom 34 of the

Area adjacent to filter elements 16 is surrounded by an annular filter element fixation 35 in order to fix the filter element 16 to the bottom 18 of the fluid tank 2.

A fluid opening 32 is formed in the underside 34 of the filter element 16. The fluid opening 32 is in fluid communication with a fluid channel 36 which is formed in the bottom 18 of the fluid tank 2.

Fluid 3, which has passed through the side wall 33 designed as a filter and forms the jacket of the cylindrical filter element 16 from the dirt area 4a of the fluid tank 2 into a central area 37 of the filter element 16, flows through the bottom area 34 of the filter element 16 formed fluid opening 32 and the fluid outlet channel 36 from the filter element 16 into the clean area 4b of the fluid tank 2.

Between the filter element 16 and the slosh wall 8, a semicircular fluid inlet channel 9 is formed, which allows fluid 3 from the dirt area 4a, along the entire circumference, in particular also from the (rear side of the filter element 16, which faces the slosh wall 8, through which Side wall 33 of the filter element 16 in the central region 37 of the

To flow filter element 16. In this way, the entire circumference of the cylindrical filter element 16 can be used for filtering in order to increase the maximum possible throughput through the filter element 16.

An upper end of the filter element 16 is enclosed by a cover 38.

The cover 38 has an internal thread 40 which can be screwed to a corresponding external thread 42 which is formed on the ceiling 20 of the fluid tank 2. This makes it possible to screw the filter element 16 to fix the cover 38 in the fluid tank 2 and to close the fluid tank 2 in a fluid-tight manner. A can be between the cover 38 and the fluid tank 2

Seal ring 39 may be provided. In an exemplary embodiment not shown in the figures, in which the axis A of the filter element 16 is oriented horizontally, the opening 22 is for

Removal of the filter element 16 and the external thread 42 in / on one

Side wall 19a, 19b of the fluid tank 2 is formed. The slosh walls 8, 8a, 8b and / or the filter elements 16, 16a, 16b can each be equipped with at least one heating element 44 which it

makes it possible to thaw frozen fluid 3 in the fluid tank 2 and / or to prevent the fluid 3 from freezing. A large-area heating effect can be achieved by heating the slosh walls 8, 8a, 8b and / or the filter elements 16, 16a, 16b. This can thaw a large amount in a short time

Fluids 3 are provided.

Although a heating element 44 in FIG. 9 only in connection with a

cylindrical filter element 16, the person skilled in the art understands that heating elements 44 can also be used in combination with planar filter elements 16, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7.

Claims

1. fluid tank (2) with a tank volume (4a, 4b) for storing a fluid (3) and with at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b), which is designed to reduce sloshing and wave movements of the fluid (3); characterized in that in the at least one slosh wall (8,

8a, 8b) at least one filter element (16, 16a, 16b) is arranged, which is designed for filtering the fluid (3).

2. Fluid tank (2) according to claim 1, wherein at least one filter window (14) is formed in the at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b), and wherein the at least one filter element (16, 16a, 16b) in the at least one filter window (14) is arranged.

3. fluid tank (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one

Filter element (16, 16a, 16b) is arranged at a distance (d) of at least 15 mm from a bottom (18) of the fluid tank (2).

4. fluid tank (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b) divides the tank volume (4a, 4b) of the fluid tank (2) into a dirt area (4a) and a clean area (4b).

5. Fluid tank (2) according to claim 4, wherein a sedimentation stage (30) is formed on a side of the at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b) facing the dirt region (4a).

6. fluid tank (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

at least one filter element (16, 16a, 16b) plate-shaped or

is cylindrical

7. fluid tank (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b) is plate-shaped, accordion-shaped or cylindrical.

8. fluid tank (2) according to any one of the preceding claims with at least two slosh walls (8a, 8b), in each of which at least one Filter element (16, 16a, 16b) is arranged, the at least two slosh walls (8a, 8b) the tank volume (4a, 4b) of the fluid tank (2) in a dirt area (4a), a first clean area (4b) and a second clean area Divide (4c).

9. fluid tank (2) according to one of the preceding claims with at least one protective element (28) which is arranged on at least one side of the at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b), wherein the at least one protective element (28) is formed, the at least one filter element (16, 16a, 16b) against mechanical influences, in particular against ice and

Liquid splash, protect.

10. fluid tank (2) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one protective element (28) is arranged at a distance (a) of 5 mm to 10 mm from the at least one slosh wall (8).

11. Fluid tank (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in a limitation of the tank volume (4a, 4b) at least one groove (26) for receiving the at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b) is formed.

12. fluid tank (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b) with at least one limitation (18, 19a, 19b, 20) of the tank volume (4a, 4b) is glued or welded.

13. fluid tank (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

at least one filter element (16, 16a, 16b) is interchangeable.

14. fluid tank (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

at least one slosh wall (8, 8a, 8b) and / or the at least one filter element (16, 16a, 16b) can be heated.

15. Injection system (55) for injecting a fluid reducing agent (3) into an exhaust line (52) of an internal combustion engine (54), the injection system comprising: a metering module (51) arranged on an exhaust channel (53) of the exhaust line (52) that for injecting the reducing agent (3) into the

Exhaust duct (53) is formed; and a fluid tank (2) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to store the reducing agent (3) to be injected.