Pressure Vessel System and Energy Supply Arrangement

Abstract

A pressure vessel system has a pressure vessel for storing gaseous fuel, a fuel line, and a total-pressure sensor for measuring a total pressure of the fuel at a position within the fuel line. This makes it possible for various functions, such as the control of power reduction, for example, to be performed more accurately than if only static pressure were being used. The technology disclosed here also relates to an energy supply arrangement having such a pressure vessel system and having an energy converter, such as a fuel cell, for example.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A pressure vessel system, comprising: a pressure vessel for storing gaseous fuel; a fuel line connected to the pressure vessel; a total-pressure sensor connected to the fuel line for measuring a total pressure of the gaseous fuel at a position within the fuel line.

12. The pressure vessel system according to claim 11, wherein the fuel line is a removal line, and the total-pressure sensor is configured to measure the total pressure when the gaseous fuel is flowing away from the pressure vessel.

13. The pressure vessel system according to claim 11, wherein the fuel line is a tank-filling line, and the total-pressure sensor is configured to measure the total pressure when the gaseous fuel is flowing toward the pressure vessel.

14. The pressure vessel system according to claim 14, further comprising: an electronic control device for calculating a filling level of the pressure vessel based on the total pressure in the tank-filling line.

15. The pressure vessel system according to claim 11, wherein the total-pressure sensor is configured to measure the total pressure in both directions of flow.

16. The pressure vessel system according to claim 11, wherein the total-pressure sensor is rotatably connected to the fuel line.

17. The pressure vessel system according to claim 11, wherein the total pressure sensor includes a tube having an opening in the fuel line, the opening being configured to face counter to a flow direction of the fuel.

18. The pressure vessel system according to claim 11, further comprising: a static-pressure sensor connected to the fuel line for measuring a static pressure of the gaseous fuel at the position within the fuel line.

19. The pressure vessel system according to claim 18, wherein the total-pressure sensor and the static-pressure sensor are directly adjacent to one another.

20. The pressure vessel system according to claim 18, wherein the static-pressure sensor and the total-pressure sensor are positioned at most a distance of 10 cm from each other.

21. The pressure vessel system according to claim 18, further comprising: an electronic control device connected to the total-pressure sensor and the static-pressure sensor.

22. The pressure vessel system according to claim 21, wherein the electronic control device is configured for calculating a dynamic pressure as a difference from the total pressure and the static pressure, and/or for calculating a flow rate from the total pressure and the static pressure and/or from the dynamic pressure.

23. The pressure vessel system according to claim 11, further comprising: an electronic control device connected to the total-pressure sensor, and wherein the electronic control device is configured for triggering a reduction in power output of an energy converter connected to the pressure vessel system based on the total pressure.

24. An energy supply arrangement, comprising: a pressure vessel system according to claim 11; and an energy converter connected to the pressure vessel by the fuel line.

25. A method of measuring pressure in a fuel line of an energy supply arrangement, the method comprising: providing a pressure vessel containing a gaseous fuel, an energy converter connected to the pressure vessel by a fuel line, and a total-pressure sensor connected to the fuel line; flowing the gaseous fuel through the fuel line; and measuring a total-pressure using the total-pressure sensor.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the fuel line is a removal line, and the total pressure is measured when the gaseous fuel is flowing away from the pressure vessel.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the fuel line is a tank-filling line, and the total pressure is measured when the gaseous fuel is flowing toward the pressure vessel.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising: providing a static-pressure sensor connected to the fuel line; and an electronic control device connected to the total-pressure sensor and the static-pressure sensor.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising: measuring a static pressure using the static-pressure sensor; sending the total pressure and the static pressure to the electronic control device; and calculating a mass flow from a difference between the total pressure and the static pressure.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising: triggering a reduction in power output of the energy converter based on the total pressure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The technology disclosed here is now described on the basis of the figures, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows an energy supply arrangement, and

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a total-pressure sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows an energy supply arrangement 5 according to an exemplary embodiment in a purely schematic representation. The energy supply arrangement 5 has a pressure vessel system 10 and an energy converter connected thereto in the form of a fuel cell 7. It should be mentioned that, instead of the fuel cell 7, for example some other energy converter, such as for example a gas-operated internal combustion engine, may be connected. In any event, the connected energy converter is supplied with a gaseous fuel, for example hydrogen, by the pressure vessel system 10 as described below.

[0045] The pressure vessel system 10 has a pressure vessel 20 in which gaseous fuel is stored. The pressure vessel system 10 has a fuel line 30, which, as shown, leads from the pressure vessel 20 to the fuel cell 7. Furthermore, the pressure vessel system 10 may have a total-pressure sensor 40 and a static-pressure sensor 50. The total-pressure sensor 40 is designed to measure a total pressure in the fuel line 30, i.e. a combination of static pressure and dynamic pressure, the latter being dependent on the flow rate. By contrast, the static-pressure sensor 50 only measures the static pressure, that is to say, the total pressure minus the dynamic pressure.

[0046] The pressure vessel system 10 also has an electronic control device 60, which, as shown, is connected to the two pressure sensors 40, 50.

[0047] During a removal operating mode, i.e. while the fuel cell 7 is being supplied with fuel from the pressure vessel 20, the total-pressure sensor 40 measures the total pressure and the static-pressure sensor 50 measures the static pressure. Both values are sent to the electronic control device 60. This can calculate the mass flow from a difference between the two pressures and thereby control the removal in an advantageous way. It is also possible in this way for a filling level to be deduced. Should the total pressure fall below a predetermined value, which may for example lie at 40 bar, the electronic control device 60 can request a reduction in the power output of the fuel cell 7, so that the removal decreases. Since the total pressure is used, and not just the static pressure, the reduction in the power output can commence later here than when only the static pressure is used, as is usual in the case of embodiments in the prior art.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows the total-pressure sensor 40 in more detail. In this case, its connection to the already mentioned fuel line 30 is also shown. In the fuel line 30, the gas flows as indicated by the arrows during a typical removal operating mode. The total-pressure sensor 40 has a block 41, which is connected to the fuel line 30 and which carries further components of the total-pressure sensor 40. The total-pressure sensor 40 has a tube 42, which protrudes into the fuel line 30. In the fuel line 30, the tube 42 has an opening 43, which faces counter to the direction of flow and consequently ensures that flowing gas penetrates into the tube 42 under pressure.

[0049] On the outside, the total-pressure sensor 40 has a union nut 45 and a supporting ring 46, which hold further components on the block 41 and provide stability.

[0050] Formed on the tube 42 opposite from the fuel line 30 is a membrane 47, which deforms pressure-dependently. Arranged directly adjacent thereto is an evaluation circuit 48, which records the deformation and outputs a signal dependent thereon by way of pins 44 integrated on the circuit and pointing to the right. Consequently, the signal indicates the deformation of the membrane 47, and thus ultimately the total pressure. On account of the already mentioned formation of the tube 42 and the opening 43, not just the static pressure, but the total pressure is measured here. If the opening 43 were not directed, but were only laterally adjacent to the fuel line 30, only the static pressure would be measured.

[0051] The evaluation circuit 48 is carried by a connector housing 49, in which the already mentioned pins 44 are also fastened. This housing is clipped to the rest of the total-pressure sensor 40.

[0052] For reasons of readability, the term “at least one” has sometimes been omitted for the sake of simplicity. If a feature of the technology disclosed here is described in the singular or with an indefinite article (for example, the/a pressure vessel, the/a sensor, etc.), its plurality is also intended to be disclosed at the same time (for example the at least one pressure vessel, the at least one sensor, etc.).

[0053] The foregoing description of the present invention serves only for illustrative purposes and not for the purpose of restricting the invention. Various changes and modifications are possible within the context of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention and the equivalents thereof

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0054] 5: Energy supply arrangement [0055] 7: Fuel cell [0056] 10: Pressure vessel system [0057] 20: Pressure vessel [0058] 30: Fuel line [0059] 40: Total-pressure sensor [0060] 41: Block [0061] 42: Tube [0062] 43: Opening [0063] Pins [0064] 45: Union nut [0065] 46: Supporting ring [0066] 47: Membrane [0067] 48: Evaluation circuit [0068] 49: Connector housing [0069] 50: Static-pressure sensor [0070] 60: Electronic control device