CRYOGENIC TANK SYSTEM

Abstract

A cryotank system comprising a first cryotank device and a second cryotank device. The first cryotank device includes a first cryotank to hold hydrogen, an extraction line operable to feed a consumer, a pressure sensor operable to measure pressure in the first cryotank, a heating line into which a partial flow of the extraction line can be branched off at a first junction, a first heat exchanger arranged in the first cryotank, wherein the heating line extends through the first heat exchanger and returns into the extraction line after the first heat exchanger at a second junction, at least one switching element operable to activate or deactivate the first heat exchanger in response to a measured pressure by the pressure sensor, and a first filling line operable to facilitate filling of the first cryotank with hydrogen. The second cryotank device includes a second cryotank to hold hydrogen, and a second filling line operable to facilitate filling of the second cryotank with hydrogen. A connecting line is operable to fluidically connect the first filling line to the second filling line.

Claims

1. A cryotank system, comprising: a first cryotank device that includes: a first cryotank to hold hydrogen, an extraction line operable to feed a consumer, a pressure sensor operable to measure pressure in the first cryotank, a heating line into which a partial flow of the extraction line can be branched off at a first junction, a first heat exchanger arranged in the first cryotank, wherein the heating line extends through the first heat exchanger and returns into the extraction line after the first heat exchanger at a second junction, at least one switching element operable to activate or deactivate the first heat exchanger in response to a measured pressure by the pressure sensor, and a first filling line operable to facilitate filling of the first cryotank with hydrogen; a second cryotank device that includes a second cryotank to hold hydrogen, and a second filling line operable to facilitate filling of the second cryotank with hydrogen; and a connecting line operable to fluidically connect the first filling line to the second filling line.

2. The cryotank system of claim 1, further comprising a second heat exchanger arranged on the extraction line between the first cryotank and the first junction.

3. The cryotank system of claim 2, further comprising a third heat exchanger arranged on the heating line between the first heat exchanger and the second junction.

4. The cryotank system of claim 3, further comprising a thermally insulating housing having an interior into which the first cryotank, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger are arranged.

5. The cryotank system of claim 4, wherein: at least the extraction line is fed outwards by passing through the thermally insulating housing, and the switching element is arranged outside of the thermally insulating housing.

6. The cryotank system of claim 4, wherein: the third heat exchanger is arranged outside of the thermally insulating housing, and the pressure sensor is arranged outside of the thermally insulating housing.

7. The cryotank system of claim 4, wherein the thermally insulating housing has a filling connection fluidically connected to the filling line, and a venting connection fluidically connected to a venting line.

8. The cryotank system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the extraction line, the filling line, and the venting line is provided with an overpressure relief which extends through the thermally insulating housing.

9. The cryotank system of claim 4, wherein the first cryotank device further includes an electrical heater thermally connected to the first cryotank and arranged between the first cryotank and the thermally insulating housing.

10. The cryotank system of claim 1, further comprising a valve arranged on the first filling line upstream of the first cryotank after a junction of the connecting line.

11. The cryotank system of claim 1, further comprising two valves arranged on the connecting line.

12. The cryotank system of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a tube having inner and/or outer fins.

13. The cryotank system of claim 1, wherein the at least one switching element comprises a 3/2-way valve arranged at the first junction or at the second junction, the 3/2-way valve having an integrated pressure loss element.

14. The cryotank system of claim 1, wherein the at least one switching element comprises: a first valve arranged at an entry to a pressure regulating system in the heating line, and a second valve arranged in a main flow of the extraction line.

15. The cryotank system of claim 1, wherein the at least one switching element comprises: a first valve arranged at an exit of a pressure regulating system in the heating line, and a second valve arranged in a main flow of the extraction line.

16. The cryotank system of claim 1, wherein the switching element comprises: a valve arranged at an entry to a pressure regulating system in the heating line, and a hydrodynamic impedance arranged in a main flow of the extraction line.

17. The cryotank system of claim 1, wherein the switching element comprises: a valve arranged at an exit of a pressure regulating system in the heating line, and a hydrodynamic impedance arranged in a main flow of the extraction line.

18. The cryotank system of claim 1, wherein the switching element comprises: a valve arranged in the main flow of the extraction line, and a hydrodynamic impedance arranged at an entry of a pressure regulating system in the heating line.

19. The cryotank system of claim 1, wherein the switching element comprises a valve arranged in a main flow of the extraction line.

20. A cryotank system, comprising: a first cryotank device and a second cryotank device, the first cryotank device and the second cryotank device respectively including: a cryotank to hold hydrogen, an extraction line operable to feed a consumer, a pressure sensor operable to measure pressure in the first cryotank, a heating line into which a partial flow of the extraction line can be branched off at a first junction, a first heat exchanger arranged in the first cryotank, wherein the heating line extends through the first heat exchanger and returns into the extraction line after the first heat exchanger at a second junction, at least one switching element operable to activate or deactivate the first heat exchanger in response to a measured pressure by the pressure sensor, and a filling line operable to facilitate filling of the cryotank with hydrogen; and a connecting line operable to fluidically connect the first cryotank device and the second cryotank device.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0032] One or more embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description hereinbelow.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a cryotank system, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation which shows a pressure regulating system on the heating line of the cryotank system of FIG. 1, in in accordance with a first embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation which shows the pressure regulating system on the heating line of the cryotank system of FIG. 1, in accordance with a second embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation which shows the pressure regulating system on the heating line of the cryotank system of FIG. 1 in accordance with a third embodiment.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation which shows the pressure regulating system on the heating line of the cryotank system of FIG. 1 in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation which shows the pressure regulating system on the heating line of the cryotank system of FIG. 1 in accordance with a fifth embodiment.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation which shows the pressure regulating system on the heating line of the cryotank system of FIG. 1 in accordance with a sixth embodiment.

[0040] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation which shows the pressure regulating system on the heating line of the cryotank system of FIG. 1 in accordance with a seventh embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIG. 1 represents a cryotank system in accordance with one or more embodiments. The cryotank system comprises a first cryotank device 31 and a second cryotank device 32, the first cryotank device 31 comprising a first cryotank 1 and the second cryotank device 32 comprising a second cryotank 1, in particular respectively to hold hydrogen.

[0042] The second cryotank device 32 is in this case configured with substantially the same design as the first cryotank device 31, i.e., it has the same components as the first cryotank device 31. Although the following description of the components relates to the first cryotank device 31, it therefore also applies for the second cryotank device 32.

[0043] The first cryotank 1 can be filled via a first filling line d and the second cryotank 1 can be filled via a second filling line d. A connecting line f is operable to fluidically connect the first filling line d to the second filling line d.

[0044] A valve 19 is provided on the filling lined, after the junction of the connecting line f and before the first cryotank 1. When the valve 19 is closed, the medium supplied to the filling line d only reaches the connecting line f and therefore the other cryotank 1, or enters into the other cryotank 1 if its valve 19 is not closed.

[0045] The first cryotank device 31 comprises an extraction line a for feeding a consumer (at the right-hand end of the extraction line a, indicated in FIG. 1 by an arrow towards the right). A pressure sensor 9 is arranged on the extraction line a in order to measure the pressure in the first cryotank 1.

[0046] At a first junction 33, a partial flow of the extraction line a can be branched off into a heating line b. The heating line b leads through a first heat exchanger 14 arranged in the first cryotank 1 and, after this first heat exchanger 14, back into the extraction line a at a second junction 34.

[0047] The first cryotank device 31 comprises at least one switching element 15, which is adapted in such a way that the first heat exchanger 14 is activated or deactivated depending on the pressure in the first cryotank 1 measured by the pressure sensor 9, the activation and deactivation of the heat exchanger 14 being carried out by at least one partial flow from the extraction line a being conveyed or not conveyed into the heating line b, and therefore to the heat exchanger 14, via the switching element 15.

[0048] The return of the medium from the extraction line a via the heating line b with the heat exchanger 14 via the switching element 15 forms a pressure regulating system. Several variants of the switching element 15, and therefore of pressure regulating systems, are represented in FIGS. 2 to 8.

[0049] The first heat exchanger 14 is formed by a tube, in which case the tube may have inner and/or outer fins.

[0050] A second heat exchanger 12 is arranged on the extraction line a between the first cryotank 1 and the first junction 33, the second heat exchanger 12 being warmed by a warm fluid, for example, by water or a G40 mixture.

[0051] A third heat exchanger 13 is arranged on the heating line b between the first heat exchanger 14 and the second junction 34, the third heat exchanger 13 being warmed by a warm fluid, for example by water or a G40 mixture.

[0052] The first cryotank 1 is arranged together with the first heat exchanger 14 and with the second heat exchanger 12 in the interior of a thermally insulating housing 2. The extraction line a is fed outwards through the housing 2. The housing 2 has a filling connection 4 and a venting connection 3, the filling connection 4 being connected to the filling line d and the venting connection 3 being connected to a venting line e. A valve 18 is arranged in the venting line e. The switching element 15, the third heat exchanger 13 and the pressure sensor 9 are arranged outside the housing 2. A valve 18 is arranged in the venting line e.

[0053] Besides the pressure sensor 9, a further pressure sensor 11 and a temperature sensor 10 are arranged on the extraction line a. The temperature sensor 10 is arranged after the switching element 15 and before the valve 16, while the further pressure sensor 11 is arranged after the valve 16 and a further valve 17 on the extraction line a. After the valve 17, the extraction line a leads to a consumer connection and/or to a consumer.

[0054] A filling level sensor 7 and a temperature sensor 8 are furthermore arranged in the first cryotank 1.

[0055] The first cryotank device 31 also comprises an electrical heater 22, the electrical heater 22 being thermally linked to the first cryotank 1 and being arranged between the first cryotank 1 and the housing 2, inside the housing 2.

[0056] The extraction line a and the venting line e are each arranged with an overpressure relief 5, 6 which passes through the housing 2, via overpressure lines c.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows the pressure regulating system on the heating line of a cryotank system according to FIG. 1 in a first embodiment. The switching element 15 is configured as a 3/2-way valve with an integrated pressure loss element 20 and is arranged at the first junction 33. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the 3/2-way valve is arranged at the second junction 34.

[0058] For the extraction line a, FIGS. 2 to 8 represent a division into a first section a1 as far as the first junction 33, a second section a2 between the first junction 33 and the second junction 34, and a third section a3 after the second junction 34. For the heating line b, FIGS. 2 to 8 represent a division into a first section 131 from the first junction 33 to the first heat exchanger 14, a second section b2 from the first heat exchanger 14 to the third heat exchanger 13, and a third section b3 after the third heat exchanger 13 as far as the second junction 34.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the switching element 15 comprises two valves 21, 22, namely one valve 22 at the entry to the pressure regulating system in the heating line 131 and the other valve, 21, in the main flow in the extraction line a2, namely in the second section of the extraction line a2, which lies between the two junctions 33, 34.

[0060] Similarly, in FIG. 5 the valve 22 is arranged at the exit of the pressure regulating system in the heating line b3 and the other valve, 21, is arranged in the main flow in the extraction line a2.

[0061] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the switching element 15 is a valve 22 at the entry of the pressure regulating system in the heating line b1 and a hydrodynamic impedance 20, for example a diaphragm, in the main flow of the extraction line a2.

[0062] In FIG. 7, a valve 22 is arranged at the exit of the pressure regulating system in the heating line b3 and a hydrodynamic impedance 20, for example a diaphragm, is arranged in the main flow of the extraction line a2.

[0063] In another embodiment, which is not represented here, the switching element 15 is a valve 22 in the main flow of the extraction line a2 and a hydrodynamic impedance 20, for example a diaphragm, is arranged at the entry of the pressure regulating system in the heating line b1. Alternatively, a valve 22 may also be arranged in the main flow of the extraction line a2 and a hydrodynamic impedance 20, for example a diaphragm, may be arranged at the exit of the pressure regulating system in the heating line b3.

[0064] Lastly, FIG. 8 shows another embodiment in which the switching element 15 is formed only by a valve 21 in the main flow of the extraction line a2.

[0065] The terms “coupled,” “attached,” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical, or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

[0066] Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0067] 1 cryotank [0068] 2 housing [0069] 3 venting connection [0070] 4 filling connection [0071] overpressure relief [0072] 6 overpressure relief [0073] 7 filling level sensor [0074] 8 temperature sensor [0075] 9 pressure sensor [0076] temperature sensor [0077] 11 further pressure sensor [0078] 12 second heat exchanger [0079] 13 third heat exchanger [0080] 14 first heat exchanger [0081] switching element [0082] 16 valve [0083] 17 valve [0084] 18 valve [0085] 19 valve [0086] pressure loss element [0087] 21 valve [0088] 22 valve [0089] 23 heater [0090] 31 first cryotank device [0091] 32 second cryotank device [0092] 33 first junction [0093] 34 second junction [0094] a extraction line [0095] a1 extraction line, first section [0096] a2 extraction line, second section [0097] a3 extraction line, third section [0098] b heating line [0099] b1 heating line, first section [0100] b2 heating line, second section [0101] b3 heating line, third section [0102] c overpressure line [0103] d filling line [0104] e venting line [0105] f connecting line