Method for Coordinating an Evaporation Process of a Motor Vehicle Having a Hydrogen Tank, and Assistance System

Abstract

A method for coordinating an evaporation process of hydrogen from a hydrogen tank of a motor vehicle by an assistance system includes initiating the evaporation process of hydrogen from the hydrogen tank of the motor vehicle into an area surrounding the motor vehicle by an electronic computing device of the assistance system in accordance with a hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen tank. Evaporation information regarding an additional motor vehicle having an additional hydrogen tank is received by a communication device of the assistance system. The evaporation process of hydrogen from the hydrogen tank of the motor vehicle is coordinated in accordance with the evaporation information regarding the additional motor vehicle.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for coordinating an evaporation process (30) of hydrogen from a hydrogen tank (18) of a motor vehicle (14) by an assistance system (10), comprising the steps of: initiating the evaporation process (30) of hydrogen from the hydrogen tank (18) of the motor vehicle (14) into an area (40) surrounding the motor vehicle (14) by an electronic computing device (32) of the assistance system (10) in accordance with a hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen tank (18); receiving evaporation information (42) regarding an additional motor vehicle (16) having an additional hydrogen tank (22) by a communication device (34) of the assistance system (10); and coordinating the evaporation process (30) of hydrogen from the hydrogen tank (18) of the motor vehicle (14) in accordance with the evaporation information (42) regarding the additional motor vehicle (16).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the evaporation information (42) is transmitted by a near-field communication between the motor vehicle (14) and the additional motor vehicle (16).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein an evaporation time and/or an amount of hydrogen and/or a position of the additional motor vehicle (16) and/or a pressure in the additional hydrogen tank (22) and/or a location of an evaporation valve (24) on the additional hydrogen tank (22) is transmitted as the evaporation information (42).

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein an evaporation amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen tank (18) and/or an evaporation time of hydrogen in the hydrogen tank (18) is coordinated.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the evaporation process (30) is additionally coordinated in accordance with a hydrogen content in the area (40) surrounding the motor vehicle (14).

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of creating an environment model (46) of the surrounding area (40) by the electronic computing device (32) in accordance with evaporation information (42) of the motor vehicle (14) and in accordance with the evaporation information (42) of the additional motor vehicle (16).

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of activating a warning device (48) of the assistance system (10) as a function of the coordinating and generating a warning for the surrounding area (40) by the warning device (48).

18. An assistance system (10) for coordinating an evaporation process (30) of hydrogen from a hydrogen tank (18) of a motor vehicle (14), comprising: an electronic computing device (32); and a communication device (34); wherein the assistance system (10) is configured to perform the method according to claim 11.

19. The assistance system (10) according to claim 18, wherein the electronic computing device (32) is external to the motor vehicle and centrally receives the evaporation information (42) and evaporation information (42) of the motor vehicle (14) and creates an environment model (46) for the surrounding area (40) as a function thereof.

20. The assistance system (10) according to claim 19, wherein the electronic computing device (32) is configured to generate a control signal for a venting device (50) for venting the surrounding area (40) as a function of the environment model (46).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of an assistance system; and

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference signs in the figures.

[0024] FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of an embodiment of an assistance system 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, the assistance system 10 is shown in particular in a multi-story car park 12. In this example there are a motor vehicle 14 and an additional motor vehicle 16 and a further additional motor vehicle 26 in the multi-story car park 12. The motor vehicle 14 has a hydrogen tank 18 with an evaporation valve 20. The additional motor vehicle 16 also has an additional hydrogen tank 22 with an additional evaporation valve 24. Furthermore, the further additional motor vehicle 26 has a further additional hydrogen tank 28 auf. The assistance system 10 is designed for coordinating an evaporation process 30 of the motor vehicle 14 having the hydrogen tank 18. For this purpose, the assistance system 10 has at least one electronic computing device 32 which in the present case can be a motor-vehicle-external and central electronic computing device. The assistance system 10 also has at least one communication device 34 which in the present case is in the motor vehicle 14. The additional motor vehicle 16 also has in the present case an additional communication device 36. The further additional motor vehicle 28 has a further additional communication device 38.

[0025] In the method for coordinating the evaporation process 30 by means of the assistance system 10, the evaporation process 30 of discharging hydrogen into a surroundings 40, in the present case in particular the multi-story car park 12, of the motor vehicle 14 is initiated by means of the electronic computing device 32 of the assistance system 10 in accordance with a hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen tank 18. It is hereby provided that evaporation information 42 regarding the additional hydrogen tank 22, and in the present case the further additional hydrogen tank 28, is received by means of the communication device 34, and the evaporation process 30 of the hydrogen tank 18 is coordinated in accordance with the evaporation information 42 of the additional motor vehicle 16 and of the further additional motor vehicle 26.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows in particular that the additional motor vehicle 16 and the further additional motor vehicle 26 transmit the evaporation information 42 to the central electronic computing device 32. Alternatively or in addition, it can be provided that the additional motor vehicle 16 and the further additional motor vehicle 26 transmit the evaporation information 42 directly to the motor vehicle 14, for example via a vehicle-to-vehicle communication. In particular, however, the communication takes place by means of near-field communication between the motor vehicle 14 and the additional motor vehicle 16.

[0027] In particular, an evaporation time and/or a hydrogen amount of hydrogen and/or a position of the additional motor vehicle 16 and/or a pressure in the additional hydrogen tank 22 and/or a location of the evaporation valve 24 on the additional hydrogen tank 32 can be transmitted as evaporation information 42. Furthermore, an evaporation amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 18 and/or an evaporation time of the hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 18 can be coordinated. It can additionally be provided that a hydrogen content in the surrounding area 40 of the motor vehicle 14 is measured by means of a hydrogen sensor 44 for example and the evaporation process 30 is coordinated in accordance with the measured hydrogen content. In the present case, the hydrogen sensor 44 is external to the motor vehicle. It is also possible that the hydrogen sensor 44 is provided internal to the motor vehicle, i.e., in the motor vehicle 14.

[0028] It can also be provided that an environment model 46 is created by means of the electronic computing device 32 in accordance with the evaporation information 42 of the motor vehicle 14 and in accordance with the evaporation information 42 of the additional motor vehicle 16.

[0029] It can furthermore be provided that a warning device 48 of the assistance system 10, located in the present case inside the motor vehicle 14, is activated in accordance with the coordination the evaporation process 30 and a warning is generated for the surrounding area 40 by means of the warning device 48. Alternatively, the warning device 48 can also be provided by the surrounding area 40, in the present case for example the multi-story car park 12.

[0030] It can furthermore be provided that the electronic computing device 32 is designed to generate a control signal for a venting device 50 for venting the surrounding area 40 in accordance with the created environment model 46.

[0031] The invention thus proposes in particular that a coordinated temporal and/or spatial distribution of the evaporation processes 30 or of the evaporation amounts is realized, for example by means of a motor vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, with the aim of achieving the lowest possible maximum concentration and/or falling below limit values within the surrounding area 40. For example, the measured values and/or the warning messages can be forwarded to the infrastructure, for example the multi-story car park 12. For this purpose, for example the measured value reading for underground garages, a home automation system, control and monitoring centres can be forwarded, whereby, for example, the venting device 50 can then be activated to reduce the gas concentration. For this purpose, it can be realized, for example, underground garages are released for use by motor vehicles with a hydrogen tank.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the method. In a first step S1, the motor vehicle 14 is parked or in motion, whereby this is stationary for a very long time, for example in a traffic jam. In a second step S2, the motor vehicle 14 establishes direct communication with the additional motor vehicle 16 or, via the motor-vehicle-external electronic computing device 32, with additional motor vehicles 16, 26 in the surrounding area 40. In the third step S3, the data regarding the evaporation process 30 is exchanged. For this, in particular location, pressure of the hydrogen storage tank, amount of hydrogen charged, expected evaporation time, the location of the evaporation valve 20 on the motor vehicle 14, the route planning and the output quantity are communicated. In a fourth step S4, the environment model 46 of the motor vehicle 14, 16, 26 is created. In a fifth step S5, the environment model 46 the motor vehicles 14, 16, 26 is created, wherein in particular an approximated mixing model is also calculated on the basis of the location. For this purpose, the surrounding conditions, such as for example the open field or narrow street of houses, can also be taken into account. In a sixth step S6, the corresponding data from the motor vehicles 14, 16, 26 of the relevant surrounding area 40 is input into the volatilization calculation. In a seventh step S7, the evaporation times are coordinated in accordance with the determined environment model 46 for the motor vehicles 14, 16, 26, wherein the evaporation processes 30 can be determined and assigned accordingly. In an eighth step S8, if the evaporation is too close together in time, the owners of the motor vehicles 14, 16, 26 can be informed of the danger via backend communication, display options on the motor vehicles 14, 16, 26 can be used to warn bystanders and the fire brigade can also be informed, for example. This method can be used in a similar way to a so-called eCall. The environment model 46 can be determined either decentrally on all motor vehicles 14, 16, 26 or centrally, as shown here, in the motor-vehicle-external, central electronic computing device 32.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0033] 10 assistance system [0034] 12 multi-story car park [0035] 14 motor vehicle [0036] 16 additional motor vehicle [0037] 18 hydrogen tank [0038] 20 evaporation valve [0039] 22 additional hydrogen tank [0040] 24 additional evaporation valve [0041] 26 additional motor vehicle [0042] 28 additional hydrogen tank [0043] 30 evaporation process [0044] 32 electronic computing device