COMPRESSED GAS TANK AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A COMPRESSED GAS TANK

Abstract

The invention relates to a compressed gas storage tank, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a holder that is designed to store a compressed fuel, and with at least one pressure relief valve. Fuel is dischargeable from the holder into environment of the compressed gas tank due to the opening of at least one pressure relief valve. A catalytic converter device of the compressed gas storage tank designed to catalyze an oxidation reaction of fuel originating from the holder with oxygen. The compressed gas storage tank has at least one piezoelectric element to which a pressure can be applied by opening the at least one pressure relief valve Through the pressure, at least one spark can be generated by means of the at least one piezoelectric element. The invention furthermore relates to a method for operating a compressed gas storage tank of said type.

Claims

1. A compressed gas storage tank, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a holder which is designed to store a compressed fuel, with at least one pressure relief valve, wherein due to opening of the at least one pressure relief valve, fuel is dischargeable from the holder into an environment of the compressed gas storage tank, and with a catalytic converter device which is designed to catalyze an oxidation reaction of fuel originating from the holder (12) with oxygen, characterized in that the compressed gas storage tank has at least one piezoelectric element to which a pressure can be applied by opening the at least one pressure relief valve, wherein the pressure can cause at least one spark to be generated by means of the at least one piezoelectric element.

2. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is arranged between a valve disc of the at least one pressure relief valve and a padding device for a spring element of the at least one pressure relief valve, wherein, the at least one piezoelectric element can be subjected to the pressure by moving the valve disk away from a valve seat of the at least one pressure relief valve.

3. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 2, wherein the spring element of the at least one pressure relief valve is formed by the at least one piezoelectric element.

4. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the compressed gas storage tank has a first pressure relief valve and a second pressure relief valve, wherein the second pressure relief valve is arranged downstream of the first pressure relief valve, as seen in the direction of flow of the fuel emerging from the holder, and whereby it is possible for the at least one piezoelectric element to be subjected to the pressure by the opening of the second pressure relief valve.

5. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 4, between the first pressure relief valve and the second pressure relief valve a valve device is arranged which impedes a backflow of fuel towards the holder, in particular a valve device which has a flow resistance which is lower in the flow direction than in a flow direction opposite to the flow direction.

6. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the compressed gas storage tank has an outlet device, in particular comprising an air inlet, through which products of the oxidation reaction of the fuel can be discharged into the environment of the compressed gas storage tank, and/or which is designed as a section of an exhaust gas tract of the motor vehicle.

7. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 6, the outlet device, in particular tapering towards an outlet, is aligned essentially vertically in the installation position of the compressed gas storage tank and/or has a cover at the end, and/or the catalytic converter device is arranged in a section of the outlet device, in particular having a sonic vaporizer.

8. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 6, the air inlet comprises a non-return valve and/or valve device with a flow resistance which is lower in a first flow direction than in a second flow direction opposite to the first flow direction.

9. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 1, wherein at least one electrode of the at least one piezoelectric element has a coating with a catalyst material which is designed to catalyze an oxidation reaction of the fuel originating from the holder with oxygen and/or the compressed gas storage tank has at least two piezoelectric elements to which the pressure can be applied.

10. A method for operating a compressed gas storage tank, in particular for a motor vehicle, in which a compressed fuel is stored in a holder of the compressed gas storage tank, and in which, due to an opening of at least one pressure relief valve of the compressed gas storage tank, fuel is discharged from the holder into an environment of the compressed gas storage tank, wherein an oxidation reaction is catalyzed by means of a catalytic converter device of the compressed gas storage tank, in which oxidation reaction fuel originating from the holder reacts with oxygen, wherein the compressed gas storage tank comprises at least one piezoelectric element which is pressurized by the opening of the at least one pressure relief valve, wherein at least one spark is generated by the at least one piezoelectric element due to the application of the pressure to the at least one piezoelectric element .

11. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 2, wherein the compressed gas storage tank has a first pressure relief valve and a second pressure relief valve, wherein the second pressure relief valve is arranged downstream of the first pressure relief valve, as seen in the direction of flow of the fuel emerging from the holder, and whereby it is possible for the at least one piezoelectric element to be subjected to the pressure by the opening of the second pressure relief valve.

12. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 3, wherein the compressed gas storage tank has a first pressure relief valve and a second pressure relief valve, wherein the second pressure relief valve is arranged downstream of the first pressure relief valve, as seen in the direction of flow of the fuel emerging from the holder, and whereby it is possible for the at least one piezoelectric element to be subjected to the pressure by the opening of the second pressure relief valve.

13. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 2, wherein the compressed gas storage tank has an outlet device, in particular comprising an air inlet, through which products of the oxidation reaction of the fuel can be discharged into the environment of the compressed gas storage tank, and/or which is designed as a section of an exhaust gas tract of the motor vehicle.

14. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 3, wherein the compressed gas storage tank has an outlet device, in particular comprising an air inlet, through which products of the oxidation reaction of the fuel can be discharged into the environment of the compressed gas storage tank, and/or which is designed as a section of an exhaust gas tract of the motor vehicle.

15. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 4, wherein the compressed gas storage tank has an outlet device, in particular comprising an air inlet, through which products of the oxidation reaction of the fuel can be discharged into the environment of the compressed gas storage tank, and/or which is designed as a section of an exhaust gas tract of the motor vehicle.

16. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 5, wherein the compressed gas storage tank has an outlet device, in particular comprising an air inlet, through which products of the oxidation reaction of the fuel can be discharged into the environment of the compressed gas storage tank, and/or which is designed as a section of an exhaust gas tract of the motor vehicle.

17. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 7, the air inlet comprises a non-return valve and/or valve device with a flow resistance which is lower in a first flow direction than in a second flow direction opposite to the first flow direction.

18. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 2, wherein at least one electrode of the at least one piezoelectric element has a coating with a catalyst material which is designed to catalyze an oxidation reaction of the fuel originating from the holder with oxygen and/or the compressed gas storage tank has at least two piezoelectric elements to which the pressure can be applied.

19. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 3, wherein at least one electrode of the at least one piezoelectric element has a coating with a catalyst material which is designed to catalyze an oxidation reaction of the fuel originating from the holder with oxygen and/or the compressed gas storage tank has at least two piezoelectric elements to which the pressure can be applied.

20. The compressed gas storage tank according to claim 4, wherein at least one electrode of the at least one piezoelectric element has a coating with a catalyst material which is designed to catalyze an oxidation reaction of the fuel originating from the holder with oxygen and/or the compressed gas storage tank has at least two piezoelectric elements to which the pressure can be applied.

Description

[0040] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the figure description and/or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Showing:

[0041] FIG. 1 schematically a compressed gas storage tank of a motor vehicle in which, in the event of gaseous fuel being discharged from a holder of the compressed gas storage tank, at least one piezoelectric element is actuated, resulting in the formation of sparks;

[0042] FIG. 2 schematically the arrangement of two pressure relief valves in the area of a pressure relief device of the compressed gas storage tank; and

[0043] FIG. 3 schematically and in a partially enlarged view a possibility of actuating the at least one piezoelectric element when opening one of the pressure relief valves.

[0044] In the figures the same or functionally identical elements are marked with the same reference numbers.

[0045] A compressed gas storage tank 10 shown in highly schematized form in FIG. 1 comprises a holder 12, which has a thermally insulating holder wall 14. The holder wall 14 surrounds a receiving chamber 16 of the holder 12, in which compressed fuel can be stored. For the purposes of the present example, it can be assumed that liquid hydrogen is stored in the receiving chamber 16 surrounded circumferentially by the holder wall 14. Accordingly, the fuel in the form of the liquid hydrogen may have a density of 80 grams per liter and may be stored in the receiving chamber 16 at a temperature of, for example, -253° C.

[0046] Due to the fuel being exposed to heat, for example as a result of heat radiation and/or heat conduction and/or convection, liquid hydrogen may evaporate and gaseous hydrogen may subsequently have to be removed from the holder 12 in order to prevent the mechanical pressure load on the holder wall 14 from becoming too great.

[0047] For this purpose, the compressed gas storage tank 10 has a pressure relief device 18 which, according to the schematic representation in FIG. 1, comprises a line 20 opening into the receiving chamber 16. A section of the line 20 is shown schematically in FIG. 3. A first pressure relief valve 22 and a second pressure relief valve 24 are arranged in the line 20. As seen in the direction of flow of gaseous fuel out of the receiving chamber 16 and accordingly as seen in the direction of flow of the gaseous fuel through the line 20, the second pressure relief valve 24 is arranged downstream of the first pressure relief valve 22. Accordingly, the second pressure relief valve 24 is connected in series with the first pressure relief valve 22. Both the first pressure relief valve 22 and the second pressure relief valve 24 open when a threshold value of a predetermined pressure is exceeded.

[0048] For example, the first pressure relief valve 22 may open when the pressure acting on a closure member 26 of the first pressure relief valve 22 exceeds a value of about 6 bar. Similarly, the second pressure relief valve 24 may open, for example, when the pressure exceeds a threshold value of about 5 bar.

[0049] Here, the opening of the second pressure relief valve 24 causes the generation of at least one spark 28, which is shown schematically in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 3. The at least one spark 28 is generated by compressing at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32, wherein two piezoelectric elements 30, 32 are shown schematically arranged next to each other in FIG. 1 as an example.

[0050] From FIG. 2, the actuation of the at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32 due to the opening of the second pressure relief valve 24 is more apparent. However, only one of the two piezoelectric elements 30, 32 is shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity. When both piezoelectric elements 30, 32 are actuated simultaneously, each of the piezoelectric elements releases sparks 28. Therefore, the provision of two ignition devices arranged side by side in the form of the two piezoelectric elements 30, 32 is advantageous.

[0051] To illustrate the conversion of gaseous fuel exiting the receiving chamber 16 into low-energy or oxidized products, the process of actuating only one of the piezoelectric elements 30, 32 is explained below by way of example. However, the actuation of the other of the two piezoelectric elements 30, 32 is carried out analogously.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 2, the piezoelectric element 30 may comprise, in a manner known per se, approximately one crystal 34 and a plurality of electrodes 36, 38. Between the outer electrodes 36 and the central electrode 38, as a result of an application of pressure to the crystal 34 and an associated elastic deformation of the crystal 34, a spark over can occur or the sparks 28 can be generated. The corresponding pressure forces moving the two outer electrodes 36 toward each other are illustrated in FIG. 3 by respective arrows 40.

[0053] According to FIG. 2, the opening of the second pressure relief valve 24 simultaneously ensures the pressurization of the piezoelectric element 30 and thereby the generation of the at least one spark 28. In particular, the closing force of the second pressure relief valve 24 can be set in such a way that, when the second pressure relief valve 24 is opened, the at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32 acts as a ignition generator, which leads to the generation of the at least one spark 28. The ignition device in the form of the at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32 is thus preferably actuated when the second pressure relief valve 24 is opened.

[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an integration of the at least one piezoelectric element 30 into the second pressure relief valve 24. Accordingly, the second pressure relief valve 24 has a movable closing body in the form of a valve disk 42, which rests against a valve seat 44 of the pressure relief valve 24 when the pressure relief valve 24 is closed. The piezoelectric element 30 is arranged between the valve disk 42 and a padding device 46, on which a spring element 48 of the pressure relief valve 24 is padded.

[0055] The spring element 48, which compresses against the padding device 46, presses the valve disc 42 against the valve seat 44. Thus, when the spring element 48 is compressed, the valve disc 42 is moved away from the valve seat 44 so that the gaseous fuel can escape. In this case, the movement of the valve disc 42 toward the padding device 46 also causes the piezoelectric element 30 to be compressed, as illustrated by the arrows 40 in FIG. 3.

[0056] It can also be provided that the spring element 48 of the second pressure relief valve 24 is formed by the at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32. In this case, the spring element 48 does not need to be provided in addition to the at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32. Accordingly, in this particularly low-component variant, the threshold value of the pressure at which the second pressure relief valve 24 opens is predetermined by the at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32. The gas volume trapped between the two pressure relief valves 22, 24 after the opening of the first pressure relief valve 22 and before the opening of the second pressure relief valve 24 now escapes, i.e. after closing of the first pressure relief valve 22 arranged on the tank side and with the second pressure relief valve 24 open at the same time, via a mouth 50 (not shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) into a chimney-shaped outlet device 52. The corresponding flow path of the gaseous fuel through the mouth 50 of the line 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1 by arrows 54.

[0057] When the at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32 is compressed, the sparks 28 are generated. In addition, oxygen is present in the region of the mouth 50, i.e. the connection point of the line 20 to the outlet device 52, which is designed in the manner of a chimney in the present case. This is because the outlet device 52 has an air inlet 56. The at least one spark 28 now provides the ignition energy for the start of an oxidation reaction of the gaseous fuel, in this case hydrogen, with oxygen from the air. The exothermic oxidation reaction ensures that other fuel molecules also react with oxygen molecules.

[0058] In particular, this causes heating of a catalytic converter device 58, which in the present case is arranged in a lower section 60 of the outlet device 52. At a catalyst material of the catalytic converter device 58, the conversion of the fuel into oxidation products of the fuel molecules takes place at low ambient temperature. For example, temperatures of 60° C. to 80° C. may be encountered during the conversion of the hydrogen with oxygen, and thus cold combustion of hydrogen with oxygen may be achieved. Accordingly, the hydrogen is converted to water or water vapor during the oxidation reaction with oxygen catalyzed by the catalytic converter device 58.

[0059] Accordingly, if the fuel from the holder 12 is, for example, compressed or liquid natural gas, other oxidation products such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides will also occur. Again, however, cold combustion of the fuel takes place in the catalytic converter device 58, and thus conversion to low-energy and no longer reactive media takes place.

[0060] From FIG. 2 and from FIG. 3 it can be seen that the air inlet 56 can have a preferably passive valve 62 which permits a largely unimpeded inflow of air into the outlet device 52 and thus towards the catalytic converter device 58, but prevents air from escaping via the air inlet 56 as far as possible.

[0061] For example, the valve 62 can be designed as a non-return valve or as a Tesla valve, in which the flow resistance in one flow direction is lower than in the opposite flow direction. Such a Tesla valve is shown schematically and partially cut in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in the area of the air inlet 56 of the chimney-type outlet device 52.

[0062] In particular, it can be seen from FIG. 1 that the outlet device 52 preferably extends vertically. Accordingly, an upward direction z of the outlet device 52 in the installation position of the compressed gas storage tank 10 in the motor vehicle is preferably aligned parallel to the vehicle vertical axis. In this way, in particular in a section 64 of the outlet device 52 formed downstream of the catalytic converter device 58, a stack effect can occur during operation of the pressure relief device 18. The fuel can thus be introduced into the outlet device 52, which has a particularly streamlined shape, via the mouth 50 of the second pressure relief valve 24 through which the fuel passes and which has the integrated at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32 or piezoelectric tinder.

[0063] For example, the outlet device 52 may be in the form of a blast furnace in which the section 64 adjoining the catalytic converter device 58 tapers towards an outlet 66 of the outlet device 52. In the region of the outlet 66, the outlet device 52 may have an end cover 68.

[0064] Accordingly, the products formed during the oxidation reaction cannot pass upwardly through the cover 68, but are deflected at the cover 68 and exit laterally from the outlet device 52.

[0065] Furthermore, a sonic vaporizer 70 may be arranged or formed in particular in this section 64 of the outlet device 52. As a result, particularly low acoustic emissions occur during the cold combustion of the fuel at the catalytic converter device 58 and the removal of the products of the oxidation reaction into an environment 72 of the compressed gas storage tank 10.

[0066] In the present case, the pressures build up again when the gaseous fuel is discharged via the pressure relief device 18 as soon as the permissible pressure is again exceeded in the receiving chamber 16 of the holder 12. With each opening of the at least one pressure relief valve 22, 24, the ignition device in the form of the at least one piezoelectric element 30, 32 is also actuated again, so that the sparks 28 are generated or produced again. During operation of the compressed gas storage tank 10, cold combustion of the gaseous fuel thus also occurs intermittently before it reaches the environment 72 of the compressed gas storage tank 10 via the outlet device 52.

[0067] FIG. 1 further shows that a valve 74 can be arranged in the line 20 of the pressure relief device 18 between the first pressure relief valve 22 and the second pressure relief valve 24, which is preferably also designed, for example, as a Tesla valve. Such a passive valve 74 prevents a backflow of fuel or hydrogen to the first pressure relief valve. 22.

[0068] Furthermore, it is shown schematically in FIG. 1 that a further valve device 76 can be arranged on the holder 12, via which a removal of fuel from the receiving chamber 16 and an introduction of fuel into the receiving chamber 16 can take place. Accordingly, the valve device 76 has an outlet 78 via which the fuel can be supplied from the receiving chamber 16 to, for example, a fuel cell stack and/or an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle.

[0069] Further, the valve device 76 may serve to shut off a filler neck 80 of the compressed gas storage tank 10. Via the filler neck 80, fuel can be introduced into the receiving chamber 16 during refueling of the holder 12. Over at least one line 82 shown schematically in FIG. 1, the tank fitting in the form of the valve device 76 can be in communication with the receiving chamber 16 of the holder 12. Corresponding arrows 84 illustrate in FIG. 1 the introduction of fuel into the receiving chamber 16 during refueling and the removal of fuel during operation.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numbers 10 Compressed gas storage tank 12 Holder 14 Holder wall 16 Receiving chamber 18 Pressure relief device 20 Line 22 Pressure relief valve 24 Pressure relief valve 26 Closing body 28 Spark 30 Piezoelectric element 32 Piezoelectric element 34 Crystal 36 Electrode 38 Electrode 40 Arrow 42 Valve disk 44 Valve seat 46 Padding device 48 Spring element 50 Mouth 52 Outlet device 54 Arrow 56 Air inlet 58 Catalytic converter device 60 Section 62 Valve I 64 Section 66 Outlet 68 Cover 70 Sonic vaporizer 72 Environment 74 Valve I 76 Valve device 78 Output 80 Filler neck 82 Line 84 Arrow z Upward direction