HEAT EXCHANGER AND METHOD FOR REFUELING A VEHICLE

Abstract

A heat exchanger, including a heat exchanger tube for guiding a first medium in its interior, and also at least one connection for a second medium, wherein the region around the heat exchanger tube is provided by an open-pored, in particular solid, material, preferably a body of such a material, into which the second medium in particular can enter.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A heat exchanger, comprising: a heat exchanger tube for guiding a first medium in its interior; and at least one connection for a second medium, wherein a region around the heat exchanger tube is provided by an open-pored material into which the second medium can enter.

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the material is a solid material.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the material forms a body.

15. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein The heat exchanger has a chamber in which the heat exchanger tube is arranged, wherein the chamber is filled with the open-pored material.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the chamber is completely filled with the open-pored material.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein the chamber has a cross-section that tapers at least in some portions.

18. The heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein the cross-section of the chamber tapers contrary to a main direction of flow of the second medium.

19. The heat exchanger according to claim 18, wherein the cross-section of the chamber is (frusto)conical.

20. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the material is metal, in particular aluminum.

21. The heat exchanger according to claim 20, wherein the material is aluminum.

22. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the heat exchanger tube is formed as a spiral and/or a fin tube and/or a coaxial tube.

23. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, further comprising a heating wire embedded in the material.

24. A method for producing a heat exchanger according to claim 1-2 having a heat exchanger tube for guiding a first medium in its interior, and at least one connection for a second medium, the method comprising the steps of: providing a heat exchanger tube in a mold or chamber, whcrcin the; and introducing a material, which is open-pored at least in a use state, is introduccd into the mold or chamber to provide a region around the heat exchanger tube into which the second medium can enter.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the material is (die-)cast, injected or foamed into the mold or container.

26. The method according to claim 24, including, for producing open porosity, removing particles from the material after the material has been introduced.

27. The method according to claim 26, including removing salt crystals.

28. A system for refueling a vehicle with a gas, comprising: a delivery nozzle: and a heat exchanger according to claim 12 arranged upstream of the delivery nozzle.

29. A method for refueling a vehicle with a gas, comprising guiding gas from a gas storage to a delivery nozzle that is able to cooperate with the vehicle, wherein the gas, for cooling purposes, is guided through a heat exchanger arranged between the gas storage and the delivery nozzle, wherein the gas is guided through a heat-conducting tube of the heat exchanger and is thereby cooled.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the heat exchanger has a heat exchanger tube for guiding a first medium in its interior, and at least one connection for a second medium, wherein a region around the heat exchanger tube is provided by an open-pored material into which the second medium can enter.

Description

[0111] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims which have not been cited and from the following description of the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, in which:

[0112] FIG. 1 is a highly schematic view of a hydrogen filling station with a passenger car parked next to a hydrogen gas pump, with a heat exchanger according to the invention indicated by a broken line and an aluminum block of the prior art indicated by a broken line,

[0113] FIG. 2 is a highly schematic, isometric oblique view of a first exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention,

[0114] FIG. 3 is a highly schematic sectional view of the heat exchanger according to FIG. 2, approximately along section line III-III in FIG. 2,

[0115] FIG. 4 shows, in a view which is approximately according to FIG. 2 but shifted through 90°, a further exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger having a tapering chamber,

[0116] FIG. 5 shows, in a highly schematic view, a section through the heat exchanger according to FIG. 4, approximately along section line V-V in FIG. 4,

[0117] FIG. 6 shows an alternative exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger tube of a heat exchanger according to the invention in a schematic, isometric oblique view,

[0118] FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention having a heat exchanger tube according to FIG. 6, in a highly schematic, broken or truncated view,

[0119] FIG. 8 shows, in a highly schematic illustration, the process of producing a heat exchanger according to the invention, in particular according to FIG. 7,

[0120] FIG. 9 shows, in a view according to FIG. 7, the finished heat exchanger according to FIG. 8, with the chamber closed, and

[0121] FIG. 10 shows a highly schematic detail of a piece of the open-pored material, for example according to window X in FIG. 9.

[0122] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described by way of example in the following description of the figures, also with reference to the drawings. For the sake of clarity—also inasmuch as different exemplary embodiments are concerned—identical or comparable parts or elements or regions are thereby designated with identical reference numerals, in some cases with the addition of lowercase letters, numbers and/or apostrophes. The same applies to the claims following the description of the figures.

[0123] Within the scope of the invention, features which are described only in relation to one exemplary embodiment can also be provided in any other exemplary embodiment of the invention. Such modified exemplary embodiments—even if they are not shown in the drawings—are included in the invention.

[0124] All the disclosed features are in themselves essential to the invention. The disclosed content of the associated priority documents (copy of the preliminary application), where appropriate, and, where appropriate, also of the cited publications and of the described devices of the prior art is hereby incorporated in its entirety into the disclosure of the application, also for the purpose of incorporating individual or multiple features of these documents into one or into multiple of the claims of the present application.

[0125] FIG. 1 first shows a system 11 according to the invention for refueling a vehicle 12 with hydrogen.

[0126] The system 11 is by way of example in the form of a gas pump 13, which has, in addition to a display 14 and a delivery nozzle 16 (which can also be referred to as a coupling) connected by way of a hose 15 to the base body of the gas pump 13, in particular a heat exchanger 10 according to the invention, which is shown in FIG. 1 by a broken line.

[0127] The heat exchanger 10 is thereby arranged (directly) upstream of the hose 15, or the delivery nozzle 16, and is arranged upstream of a hydrogen supply (not shown in FIG. 1) (which can be integrated in the gas pump 13, for example, or can be arranged separately therefrom).

[0128] The heat exchanger 10 is therefore arranged between the hydrogen supply and the delivery nozzle 16.

[0129] In order to be able to refuel the vehicle 12 within a short period of time of typically less than 10 minutes, it is necessary to equalize the high temperatures which occur in the compression process during refueling and to reduce the temperature of the hydrogen in an upstream cooling process to approximately from −40° C. to −60° C. The heat exchanger 10 according to the invention, through which the hydrogen guided to the vehicle 12 flows, whereby it is cooled, serves precisely this purpose.

[0130] In FIG. 1, an aluminum block 37 of the prior art, which was mentioned in the introduction to the description, is shown by a broken line. However, such an aluminum block is no longer required in the case of the use of a heat exchanger 10 according to the invention. FIG. 1 is thereby intended to illustrate in particular the outlay which must in some cases still be made according to the prior art.

[0131] The particular feature of the heat exchanger 10 according to FIG. 1 consists, as is not yet shown in FIG. 1, however, in particular in that the hydrogen is guided through a heat exchanger tube of the heat exchanger 10 and is thereby cooled.

[0132] A very elaborate process of producing special plate heat exchangers, as has likewise been described at the beginning in relation to the prior art, can therefore be omitted.

[0133] FIG. 2 shows in this respect, in a highly exemplary form, in a highly schematic external oblique view, a first exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention, of which there can be seen in this figure, however, substantially only a chamber 17 (which can also be referred to as a housing). The chamber 17 has in particular two connections 18 and 19 (an inlet and an outlet) for hydrogen. The connections for a coolant are designated 23 and 24 in FIG. 2.

[0134] FIG. 3 is important, which shows a cross-section through the heat exchanger 10 according to FIG. 2, approximately along section line III-III in FIG. 2.

[0135] According to FIG. 3, the heat exchanger tube 20 is, purely by way of example, in the form of a smooth tube (that is to say without fins), which has a substantially linear, rod-like form. This is to be understood merely by way of example and is intended to illustrate the aspect of the invention according to the main claim.

[0136] Thus, it can be seen in FIG. 3 that the region 21 around the heat exchanger tube 20 (inside the chamber 17) is surrounded by an open-pored material 22. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the open-pored material 22 in particular fills the entire chamber 17.

[0137] The open-pored material 22 can be, for example, open-pored aluminum or another suitable material mentioned above.

[0138] It is decisive thereby that the material 22 has a certain permeability, that is to say an open-pored structure in the sense that the individual pores in the material 22, which are indicated in FIG. 3, are substantially connected together. This ensures that a coolant supplied by way of the connection 23 shown in FIG. 3 is able to flow through the open-pored material 22 (which is in the form of a solid body) from left to right in respect of FIG. 3, that is to say from the inlet/connection 23 to an outlet/connection 24, or from top to bottom (or vice versa) by way of the alternative (or additional) connections 23 and 24 indicated by a broken line. The cooling medium thereby in particular cools the open-pored material 22 (or the body thereof) and in this way also the heat exchanger tube 20, or the hydrogen guided in the tube, in the manner of a heat exchanger.

[0139] In relation to FIG. 3 it should finally be noted that it shows that the cooling medium is guided, by way of example, substantially transverse to the main direction of flow R of the hydrogen (through the chamber 17) (or, by way of the alternative connections indicated by a broken line, in or contrary to the main direction of flow R).

[0140] FIGS. 4 and 5 then show a second exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger 10′ according to the invention, which is modified compared to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in only one aspect: Thus, the chamber 17′ in this exemplary embodiment is not cuboidal but has the form of a truncated pyramid.

[0141] This results, as is illustrated in particular in the sectional view according to FIG. 5, in a tapering of the chamber 17′ contrary to the main direction of flow H of the cooling medium. Consequently, the chamber 17′ widens in the main direction of flow H of the cooling medium.

[0142] Such a form of the chamber 17′, or of the body of the open-pored material 22, can lead to an additional cooling effect: Thus, the cooling medium can enter the heat exchanger 10′ by way of the inlet 23 and is then able to expand owing to the widening cross-sectional form of the chamber 17′ in the main direction of flow H of the cooling medium. In the case of gases, this expansion typically leads to a further cooling of the surroundings (because the gas is able to change its state of aggregation, or is able to evaporate, which leads to an evaporative cooling effect), which is able to additionally cool the open-pored material 22 (and thus the hydrogen).

[0143] However, cases are also conceivable in which the material 22 must not cool down too greatly (only, for example, in the case of a tapering cross-sectional form of the chamber). For such cases, FIG. 5 shows schematically a heating wire 35 which is embedded or cast in the material 22. The heating wire is shown only schematically and thus by a broken line and can have any desired shape (for example linear or meandering or spiral-shaped). It can in particular be provided with an electrical connection in order to provide the heat output. With such a heating wire 35, undesirable freezing in particular can be prevented.

[0144] FIG. 6 shows by way of example a heat exchanger tube 20′, which is not in the form of a smooth tube (there can be seen adumbrated fins 25—which for the sake of clarity are not throughout) and which is not in the form of a linear tube but in the form of a spiral tube, or is spiral-shaped.

[0145] Such a heat exchanger tube 20′ has the advantage that more active tube length can be arranged compactly in a smaller space.

[0146] However, in alternative exemplary embodiments it could also be a tube of flat, substantially planar harp or meander form, or tube bundles.

[0147] In any case, FIG. 6 shows by way of example two inlets or outlets 26 for the hydrogen. The inlets and outlets 26 thereby point by way of example in the same direction. The inlets and outlets 26 could of course also point in different directions, in particular be arranged at different ends of the spiral.

[0148] Such a heat exchanger tube 20′ according to FIG. 6 is installed by way of example in a further heat exchanger 10″ shown in FIG. 7.

[0149] In this exemplary embodiment, the chamber 17″ is, merely by way of example, of substantially cylindrical form, and the heat exchanger tube 20′ in this exemplary embodiment is oriented substantially coaxially, centrally.

[0150] According to this exemplary embodiment of the heat exchanger 10″ too, the heat exchanger tube 20′ is surrounded by open-pored material 22. The open-pored material 22 in particular again fills the entire chamber 17″ and extends in particular also into the inner region 27 of the spiral-shaped heat exchanger tube 20′.

[0151] FIG. 7 shows a broken, open sectional view, in particular because the open-pored material 22 can be seen, and the chamber 17″ would typically also be closed at the front, that is to say in the plane of view of FIG. 7.

[0152] Proceeding from FIG. 7, it should be noted that, in a different embodiment (not shown), it is possible that a separate chamber 17″ would not have to be provided at all, but the body of the open-pored material 22 could be coated or the like, for example, on its outer side (so that no coolant can leak). This would possibly even make a chamber unnecessary.

[0153] Like FIG. 5, FIG. 7 also shows, highly schematically, a heating wire 35′, which in this exemplary embodiment is arranged in the chamber 17″ in the form of a spiral, coaxially with the heat exchanger tube 20′.

[0154] Finally, it should also be noted in relation to FIG. 7 that the inlets or outlets 26 of the tube 20″ are concealed in this figure, because they point away approximately in a downward direction.

[0155] The sequence of figures of FIGS. 8 and 9 is intended to illustrate the process of producing a corresponding heat exchanger 10″ according to FIG. 7: Thus, FIG. 9 first shows a mold, which can be provided in particular by the chamber 17″. The heat exchanger tube 20′ is first introduced into this mold. The interior of the chamber 17″ is then filled with granules 28, which in FIG. 8 are indicated merely by way of example by a small number of granule particles.

[0156] A (metal) melt 29 is then introduced into the mold 17″, which is illustrated in FIG. 8, likewise by way of example, by a small number of melt drops. The melt 29 can thereby surround the granules 28 inside the chamber 17″ as well as the heat exchanger tube 20′.

[0157] After the melt 29 has solidified, the granules 28, which can be, for example, (NaCl) salt granules, can be flushed out or washed out, so that pores predominate in the material structure which is then formed. These pores are accordingly thus defined by the granules 28 as placeholders. Smaller connecting pores can form in particular as a result of the process of casting the melt 29.

[0158] Merely for the sake of completeness, it should be noted that other types of production are, however, also possible, that a foam, for example, can be introduced and the granules then define the connecting pores, or allow them to form.

[0159] In any case, there is formed in each case a configuration shown in FIG. 9 with the solid, open-pored material 22.

[0160] The chamber 17″ can then optionally be closed by a cover 30 or cap (which in particular takes account of the connections 26). This cover 30 can typically be very much smaller than shown in FIG. 9, in particular when the chamber 17″ is a casting mold. It can accordingly also be a closure element 30 instead of a cover.

[0161] In particular, the tube connections 26 can protrude through said cover. Alternatively, but not shown, one of the connections can, however, also be arranged oppositely, at the lower end in respect of FIG. 9, and/or can point in a different direction, for example can be guided through the base of the chamber.

[0162] It is also possible (but not shown) that the casting mold is removed completely and the structure so formed of material 22 and heat exchanger tube 20′ is then introduced into a separate chamber.

[0163] In any case, however, an open-pored structure is formed.

[0164] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the structure is by way of example an open-pored aluminum structure, which is shown again in FIG. 10 in an enlarged detail.

[0165] FIG. 10 shows in particular that there are in the open-pored material 22 larger pores 33, which are defined by the granules 28 and are formed by the removal thereof. Smaller connecting pores 32 can typically form as a result of the casting process (or alternatively or additionally can likewise be provided by granules of a different particle size or the like).

[0166] It is important in the present case that an open-pored material 22 is formed, which is permeable such that the coolant can be guided through this open-pored material 22.

[0167] Finally, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 do not show a heating wire 35 or 35′ which is shown schematically in FIGS. 5 and 7. This could be either omitted or present (but not shown) in the exemplary embodiment. In the production of the heat exchanger according to FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, the heating wire can in particular be introduced into the chamber 17″ before the granules 28 and/or the melt 29 or—which is more practicable—after the granules 28 and/or the melt 29 (that is to say, therefore, as the final structural element).