System for storing a pressurized gas and method for emptying a storage container for a pressurized gas

Abstract

A system for storing a pressurized gas in a motor vehicle is provided, having a storage container and at least one thermally activatable safety valve for emptying the storage container. The safety valve activates automatically at a corresponding high temperature. The storage container has an additional activatable emptying device, which has an interface for an external energy source. The interface can be connected to the external energy source in order to empty the storage container in a targeted manner. Also provided is a method for emptying a storage container for a pressurized gas in a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for storing a pressurized gas in a motor vehicle, comprising: a storage vessel storing the pressurized gas; at least one thermally activatable safety valve for the evacuation of the storage vessel, the safety valve self-activating in the presence of a correspondingly high temperature; and a triggering device that is activatable to evacuate the storage vessel via the safety valve, the triggering device having an interface, which activates to evacuate the storage vessel when electrically connected to an energy source that, prior to a demand situation calling for the storage vessel to be targetedly evacuated, is physically and electrically separate from the motor vehicle, but that, in the demand situation, may be brought into electrical contact with the interface so as to activate the triggering device to targetedly evacuate the storage vessel.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the triggering device is provided on the safety valve, and includes the interface, and the energy source is connectable to the interface of the triggering device for the purposes of targetedly triggering the safety valve.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the interface has terminals connectable to the energy source and arranged in a region of the motor vehicle that is accessible from the outside.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the terminals are electrical terminals.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the energy source can, after connecting to the triggering device, be activated in order to evacuate the storage vessel.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the activation is performed by remote control or via an electrical ignition line.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the remote control activation is via radio.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein the triggering device has a thermal actuator.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the thermal actuator is an electric heater.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the triggering device has a heating coil with which the safety valve is at least partially enwrapped.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the triggering device comprises a mechanical or pyrotechnic actuator.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the interface has terminals that are connectable to the energy source and are arranged in an interior compartment of the motor vehicle.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the triggering device has a breaker switch, which is open during normal driving operation, and which is closed by a crash signal from a vehicle safety system.

14. A method for the evacuation of a storage vessel for a pressurized gas in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of: maintaining, prior to a demand situation, an energy source physically and electrically separate from a triggering device provided on a safety valve of the storage vessel, wherein the demand situation calls for the storage vessel to be targetedly evacuated; connecting, in the demand situation, the energy source to the triggering device, and activating the energy source such that the storage vessel is targetedly evacuated by way of the triggering device via the safety valve.

15. A triggering device for use with a self-actuated safety valve configured to evacuate a pressurized gas storage vessel of a motor vehicle, the triggering device comprising: an interface, which activates to evacuate the pressurized gas storage vessel when electrically connected to an energy source that, prior to an on-demand situation calling for the pressurized gas storage vessel to be targetedly evacuated, is physically and electrically separate from the motor vehicle, but that, in the on-demand situation, may be brought into electrical contact with the interface so as to activate the triggering device to targetedly evacuate the pressurized gas storage vessel via the self-actuated safety valve.

16. The triggering device according to claim 15, wherein the triggering device is configured to activate only after an on-demand coupling with the energy source.

17. The triggering device according to claim 15, further comprising a breaker switch configured to close from a normal open configuration in response to a crash signal of a vehicle safety system.

18. The triggering device according to claim 16, wherein the interface has terminals configured to couple with the energy source so as to activate the triggering device.

19. The triggering device according to claim 18, wherein the terminals are accessible from an interior of the motor vehicle.

20. The triggering device according to claim 15, wherein the triggering device includes a heating coil partially enwrapping the self-actuated safety valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a schematic views of systems for storing a pressurized gas in a motor vehicle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a system 10 for storing a pressurized gas in a motor vehicle 2. The gas is in particular hydrogen or natural gas. The system 10 has a storage vessel 12 for the pressurized gas. On the storage vessel there is provided a tank valve 14 for the purposes of supplying the gas to, for example, an engine. The tank valve 14 comprises various valves and temperature and/or pressure sensors, which are combined in the tank valve 14. Since the tank valve 14 is known per se and, furthermore, the exact mode of operation thereof is not relevant to the present invention, a more detailed description will be omitted at this juncture.

(3) Furthermore, the system 10 has two thermally activatable safety valves 16, 18 (also referred to as TPRD) arranged in parallel with respect to one another, which are coupled via a line 20. Line 20 also couples the safety valves 16, 18 to the tank valve 14 and to the storage vessel 12.

(4) The safety valves 16, 18 may for example have a closure compound which is arranged in a flow path of the gas. In the presence of a correspondingly high temperature of approximately 105-110 C. in the region of one of the safety valves 16, 18, the compound melts, and the respective safety valve 16, 18 becomes permeable to the gas stored in the storage vessel 12. That is to say the safety valve 16, 18 self-activates in this way. Thus, in the event of a fire, the pressurized gas is released from the storage vessel 12. Alternatively, the safety valves 16, 18 may comprise a fluid-filled glass ampule which, in the presence of a correspondingly high temperature, bursts and allows the gas to escape from the storage vessel 12.

(5) Furthermore, on the safety valve 16, there is provided a triggering device 22 which forms an additional activatable evacuation device for the storage vessel 12. The triggering device 22 comprises a thermal actuator in the form of an electric heater 24, which is arranged on the safety valve 16 and is in the form of a heating resistor. The triggering device 22 furthermore has an interface 26 which comprises electrical terminals 28 for an external energy source 30. The interface 26 or the terminals 28 is/are arranged in an easily accessible region of the motor vehicle 2, in particular, in a region of the motor vehicle that is accessible from the outside.

(6) In a demand situation, for example, in the event of an accident in which the storage vessel 12 could be damaged such that the safe storage of the pressurized gas is no longer ensured, the external energy source 30 is connected to the interface 26, or more precisely to the terminals 28, of the triggering device 22 and, after any persons present have been moved to safety, is targetedly externally activated, in particular, by radio or via an electrical ignition line (indicated in the FIGURE by reference designation 31). After activation of the external energy source 30, electrical current flows through the heater 24, and the heater warms up to a temperature sufficient to targetedly trigger the safety valve 16 and thus evacuate the storage vessel 12.

(7) To prevent evacuation of the storage vessel 12 by misuse, the evacuation or triggering device 22 may have a breaker switch 32 that is open during normal driving operation and that is closed only by a crash signal of a vehicle safety system 34. Alternatively or in addition, the terminals 28 may be arranged in an interior compartment of the motor vehicle.

(8) Alternatively to the electrical heater 24, the evacuation or triggering device 22 may comprise a mechanical or pyrotechnic actuator 25 which, for example, when activated, destroys a glass ampule of the safety valve 16.

(9) Thus, in the system 10, the storage vessel 12 is targetedly evacuated on-site after an accident, whereby bursting of the vessel during rescue work, transportation, or storage after the accident (that is to say not in the period of time immediately after the accident event) can be prevented. Since, particularly in the case of hydrogen, there is the risk of the gas igniting during the evacuation of the storage vessel 12, the accident site should be cleared before the evacuation is performed. Furthermore, ignition sources should be avoided, and the measure must not be performed in closed spaces, under bridges or in tunnels.

(10) 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.