Monitoring apparatus for a pressure tank, and pressure tank

Abstract

A monitoring apparatus is provided for a pressure tank, in particular in a motor vehicle. The monitoring apparatus is designed to determine current operating parameters of the pressure tank and, on the basis of the operating parameters, to calculate and preferably to display a maximum possible filling level for the pressure tank under the current operating parameters.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a pressure tank, comprising: a monitoring device set up to determine current operating parameters of the pressure tank; wherein the monitoring device has a memory which stores a best possible filling level for the pressure tank that is characteristic for the pressure tank, wherein the best possible filling level is a maximum permissible capacity of the pressure tank, wherein the best possible filling level is achieved when the pressure tank is completely empty without introducing heat into the pressure tank, and thus, the best possible filling level has been achieved when the pressure tank has a pressure that is less than a predefined swelling pressure and a temperature that is less than a predefined swelling temperature; and, wherein the monitoring device calculates a ratio of a maximum possible filling level for the pressure tank at the current operating parameters to the best possible filling level.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one temperature sensor that can record the temperature within the pressure tank as an operating parameter of the pressure tank and/or a pressure sensor that can record the pressure within the pressure tank as an operating parameter of the pressure tank.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a flow sensor that can record an outflow mass stream from the pressure tank as an operating parameter of the pressure tank.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a flow sensor that can record an outflow mass stream from the pressure tank as an operating parameter of the pressure tank.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display device on which the maximum possible filling level and the best possible filling level are displayed.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a current filling level of the pressure tank is displayed on the display device.

7. A pressure tank, comprising an apparatus according to claim 1.

8. The pressure tank according to claim 7, further comprising a heating device, wherein the heating device can introduce thermal energy into the pressure tank.

9. The pressure tank according to claim 8, wherein the heating device is a heat exchanger connectable to a cooling system of a user that can be supplied with content of the pressure tank.

10. The pressure tank according to claim 8, wherein the heating device is activatable or deactivatable by a user via a user interface.

11. The pressure tank according to claim 7, wherein the pressure tank is a cryogenic pressure tank that stores hydrogen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a pressure tank with a monitoring apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(2) FIG. 1 shows a pressure tank 2 with a monitoring apparatus 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The pressure tank 2 is a cryogenic insulated pressure tank that can store hydrogen in particular. The pressure tank 2 is advantageously provided in a vehicle and stores cryogenic hydrogen, wherein the cryogenic hydrogen is provided as a fuel for the vehicle.

(3) The monitoring apparatus 1 includes a temperature sensor 3, a pressure sensor 4 and a flow sensor 5. Via these sensors 3, 4, 5, operating parameters of the pressure tank 2 can be recorded. With the temperature sensor 3, a temperature within the pressure tank 2 can be recorded; with the pressure sensor 4, a pressure within the pressure tank 2 can be recorded; and with the flow sensor 5, an outflow mass stream from the pressure tank 2 can be recorded. Alternately, via the change of pressure and temperature over time, the outflow mass stream can be calculated via the pressure sensor 2 and the temperature sensor 3. As another alternative, the flow can be determined directly by the user, for example by a fuel cell with produced current as measured variable. Finally, from these operating parameters, a maximum possible filling level of the pressure tank 2 can be calculated.

(4) Furthermore, to use the pressure tank 2 as supply for a user, an extraction valve 8 is provided. The extraction valve 8 is advantageously controllable and controls an outflow of medium from the pressure tank 2. The flow sensor 5 is advantageously arranged directly at the extraction valve 8.

(5) The monitoring apparatus 1 has a memory in which a best possible filling level that is characteristic for the pressure tank 2 is stored. Thus, the monitoring apparatus 1 can calculate which portion of the best possible filling level is provided by the maximum possible filling level at current operating parameters.

(6) To represent the calculated information, the monitoring apparatus 1 is connected to a display device 7. On the display device 7, the maximum possible filling level for the pressure tank 2 and/or the best possible filling level for the pressure tank 2 and/or a current filling level for the pressure tank 2 can be displayed. Thus, a user can also recognize which capacity of the pressure tank 2 currently has been exhausted and which capacity is available. This capacity can be converted into a predicted range based on the consumption data and the stored characteristic curves, and displayed.

(7) Finally, the pressure tank 2 has a heating device 6. The heating device 6 is a heat exchanger that can heat the pressure tank 2 and simultaneously cool a user that is connected to the pressure tank 2. Because, in particular, when extracting large quantities of medium from the pressure tank 2 over a short time, the temperature in the pressure tank 2 drops, while at the same time, the user generates a large quantity of waste heat because of the large quantity of energy from the pressure tank 2, an optimum cooling is ensured whenever it is needed. The heating device 6 makes it possible for the user to introduce heat into the pressure tank 2. Because a minimum pressure is required within the pressure tank 2 to generate an outflow mass stream from the pressure tank 2, a residual amount of medium always remains within the pressure tank 2. With the heating device 6, the pressure within the pressure tank 2 can be increased so that at least a part of the residual quantity of medium remaining in the pressure tank 2 can be extracted. However, because the temperature within the pressure tank 2 increases at the same time, the monitoring apparatus 1 calculates a drop of the maximum possible filling level for the pressure tank 2 based on the sensor values of the temperature sensor 3 and the pressure sensor 4, and displays it on the display device 7.

(8) In particular, it is provided that the monitoring apparatus 1 determines the effect of the use of the heating device 6 on the maximum possible filling level for the pressure tank 2. This is relevant in particular when the pressure tank 2 supplies the drive of a vehicle. The display device 7 displays to the user of the vehicle how much range of the vehicle remains with the current filling level of the pressure tank 2. Furthermore, the user is shown on the display device 7 how much range the vehicle will have if the heating device 6 is used for introducing heat into the tank. At the same time, the effect of the use of the heating device 6 on the maximum possible filling level for the pressure tank 2 is displayed for the user on the display device 7.

(9) Therefore, the user can decide, using the information on the display device 7, if it wants to use the heating device 6. To that end, the heating device 6 has a user interface 9 via which the user can activate or deactivate the heating device 6. Thus, the user can alternately obtain a best possible filling level of the pressure tank 2 or quickly generate an optimum high range.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(10) 1 Monitoring apparatus 2 Pressure tank 3 Temperature sensor 4 Pressure sensor 5 Flow sensor 6 Heating device 7 Display device 8 Extraction valve 9 User interface

(11) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.