DEVICE FOR DIRECT INJECTION OF A GASEOUS FUEL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for direct injection of a gaseous fuel, in particular hydrogen, which device comprises: a pressure-control unit which is designed to convert a supplied variable pressure level of the gaseous fuel into a fixed constant output pressure level; a distributor unit which is connected to at least one injector for direct injection of the gaseous fuel, which has been guided through the pressure-control unit, into a combustion chamber; and a fluid connection between the pressure-control unit and the distributor unit in order to guide the gaseous fuel at a constant output pressure downstream towards the distributor unit. The device is characterized in that a flow-control valve is disposed along the fluid connection and designed to adjust the constant output pressure level of the gaseous fuel to a desired target pressure not exceeding the output pressure level.

Claims

1. A device for direct injection of a gaseous fuel, comprising: a pressure-control unit, which is designed to convert a supplied variable pressure level of the gaseous fuel into a fixed constant output pressure level, a distributor unit, which is connected to at least one injector for direct injection of the gaseous fuel, which has been guided through the pressure-control unit, into a combustion chamber, a fluid connection between the pressure-control unit and the distributor unit in order to guide the gaseous fuel at a constant output pressure downstream towards the distributor unit, a flow-control valve arranged along the fluid connection and designed to adjust the fixed constant output pressure level of the gaseous fuel to a variable desired setpoint pressure not exceeding the output pressure level, and a shut-off valve arranged along the fluid connection between the flow-control valve and the pressure-control unit.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off valve is configured to shut off the fluid connection between the pressure-control unit and the distributor unit.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off valve is arranged at a distance of at least 50 cm from the flow-control valve.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the shut-off valve is arranged at a distance of at least 60 cm from the flow-control valve.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the shut-off valve is arranged at a distance of at least 70 cm from the flow-control valve.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the flow-control valve is arranged on a half of the fluid connection closer to the distributor unit.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid connection comprises a flexible fluid connection, including a flexible pipe or flexible hose to decouple vibrations between the distributor unit and the pressure-control unit.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a gas reservoir for supplying the gaseous fuel to the pressure-control unit with a variable pressure level as a function of a fill level of the gas reservoir.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic control unit, which is designed to control the flow-control valve and the at least one injector as a function of a temperature and/or pressure value detected in the distributor unit.

10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor arranged in the distributor unit for transmitting measured values of temperature and pressure to the electronic control unit.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the distributor unit is a rail.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one injector comprises a plurality of injectors connected to the distributor unit, the plurality of injectors arranged in at least a daisy chain configuration in which each of the plurality of injectors is connected to a common output of the distributor unit.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-control unit is a mechanical pressure-control unit.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-control unit is designed to regulate the fixed constant output pressure level to a pressure in a range of 40-80 bar.

15. The device according to claim 8, wherein the gas reservoir is designed to store fuel at a pressure in the range of 300-400 bar.

16. A vehicle having the device according to claim 1, wherein an engine compartment of the vehicle forms a first zone in which the distributor unit, the flow-control valve, and the shut-off valve are arranged, and areas other than the engine compartment form a second zone in which the pressure-control unit is arranged.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the fluid connection between the pressure-control unit and the distributor unit is a flexible pipe or a flexible hose and spans between the first zone and the second zone, the vehicle further comprising a gas reservoir arranged in the second zone.

18. The vehicle according to claim 16, the vehicle further comprising separating means, wherein the first zone and the second zone are separated from one another by the separating means in order to reduce vibrations, acoustic waves and/or thermal influences emanating from one of the first zone and the second zone.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the gaseous fuel is hydrogen.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the flow-control valve is arranged on a quarter of the fluid connection leading away from the distributor unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0045] Further features, details and advantages of the invention can be seen in the following description of the figures. In the figures:

[0046] FIG. 1: shows a schematic sketch of a device known from the prior art for direct injection of a gaseous fuel,

[0047] FIG. 2: shows a schematic sketch of a device according to the invention for direct injection of a gaseous fuel,

[0048] FIG. 3: shows a schematic sketch of a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for direct injection of a gaseous fuel,

[0049] FIG. 4: shows a schematic sketch of a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for direct injection of a gaseous fuel,

[0050] FIG. 5: shows a schematic sketch of a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for direct injection of a gaseous fuel,

[0051] FIG. 6: shows a schematic sketch of a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for direct injection of a gaseous fuel,

[0052] FIG. 7: shows a schematic sketch of a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for direct injection of a gaseous fuel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sketch of a device 1 known from the prior art for direct injection of a gaseous fuel.

[0054] The prior art is based on the technology of the current low-pressure control used in MPI engines and uses a single electronic PRV component 2* (pressure regulation valve component or pressure regulation unit) that integrates the entire functionality of tank pressure stabilization and regulation of the pressure of the fuel to be injected through the injectors to a setpoint.

[0055] This pressure-control unit 2* is normally installed at the outlet of the tank 7 or on the machine chassis to avoid the vibrations, thermal and mechanical stresses typical of a solution mounted in the engine compartment. The main disadvantages and limitations of such a solution are the large component size with the resulting restriction of the possible component density and layout flexibility, as well as an increased component weight. Installation in the engine compartment is de facto ruled out due to the vibrations and mechanical and thermal stresses prevailing there. Another disadvantage is the large control volume downstream of the regulator and the associated high reaction inertia (cannot be reduced by the internal volume of the system, long lines between regulator 2* and injector 4).

[0056] In the implementation known from the prior art, the first zone 11, which characterizes the fuel supply area, comprises only the gas reservoir 7. The second zone 12, which characterizes the control volume of the fuel, on the other hand, comprises the downstream components of the device 1. Thus, the electrical pressure-control unit 2* known from the prior art is used to output the pressure to be set in the distributor unit 3. In order to bridge the spatial distance between the pressure-control unit 2*, which is typically arranged on the gas reservoir 7, and the distributor unit 3, a fluid connection 5 is provided, which carries a fuel at the pressure level of the distributor unit 3 over its entire length.

[0057] The graph to the right of the gas reservoir 7 shows the output pressure of the gas reservoir 7, which is arranged over time t. As the fill level drops, the output pressure of the gas reservoir 7, which is fed to the pressure-control valve 2*, also drops. This pressure-control valve 2* must therefore be able to output the desired set pressure based on different output pressures of the gas reservoir 7, which leads to a relatively complex design of the pressure-control unit 2*.

[0058] Another disadvantage is that the control volume to be provided with the set pressure is relatively large, as this completely encompasses not only the distributor unit 3 but also the fluid connection 5.

[0059] Looking at the graph to the right of pressure-control unit 2*, which shows the output pressure of pressure-control unit 2* over time t, the desired setpoint value can be seen in dotted lines and the actual value of the output pressure of the pressure-control unit 2* achieved in a continuous line. Due to the large control volume (through the fluid connection 5 and the distributor unit 3), dynamic pressure change requirements can only be implemented with a certain time delay. This can be recognized, for example, by the different steepness of the flanks and the greater overall deviation of the two curves. The control commands issued by the electronic control unit 8 can therefore only be reached with a certain time delay.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a device 1 according to the invention. Starting from a reservoir 7 or tank, the fuel present in gaseous form at the output of the reservoir 7 is also fed into the distributor unit 3 so that the injectors 4 connected to it can dispense the gaseous fuel at a desired pressure level.

[0061] In contrast to the device known from the prior art, a pressure-control unit 2 is connected to the output of the reservoir 7, which dispenses the fuel at a constant fixed pressure. This pressure is, for example, in the range of approx. 60 bar and therefore significantly below the prevailing pressure level of approx. 350 bar in the reservoir 7. Downstream of the pressure-control unit 2, a flow-control valve 6 is connected via a fluid connection 5, which, separately from the pressure-control unit 2, has the object of generating the variable pressure levels to be set in the distributor unit 3.

[0062] To the right of reservoir 7, the pressure P can again be seen plotted over time t, which drops as the fill level of the reservoir 7 drops. In contrast to the pressure-control unit 2* known from the prior art, the object of the pressure-control unit 2 according to the invention is to bring the fuel coming from the reservoir 7 to a constant fixed pressure level. The fuel with this constant fixed pressure level is then routed via the fluid connection 5 to the flow-control valve 6, which is typically arranged in the area of the distributor unit 3. This reduces the control volume to which a variable fuel pressure is applied. Finally, implementations are conceivable in which, for example, the control volume can be reduced to the distributor unit 3 and the injectors 4 connected thereto. The flow-control valve 6 is designed to output the desired, variable pressure values that are to prevail in the distributor unit 3, starting from the constant fixed output pressure of the pressure-control unit 2.

[0063] To the right of the pressure-control unit 2, the output pressure level P over time t can be seen, which is fed from the pressure-control unit 2 to the flow-control valve 6 via the fluid line 5. The flow-control valve 6 maintains a constant fuel pressure level, irrespective of the fill level of the reservoir 7, from which the desired pressure setpoints are set. Below the distributor unit a graph shows the pressure prevailing in the distributor unit over time t. The continuous line in this graph describes the actual pressure of the fuel, whereas the dashed line indicates the pressure setpoint of the fuel. It can be seen that the deviations of the two curves shown in the graph differ only minimally from each other and are much closer together than the corresponding counterpart in FIG. 1.

[0064] It can also be seen that the first zone 11, which defines the fuel supply area without load-dependent, variable pressure fluctuations, now contains not only the reservoir 7 of the device 1, but also the pressure-control unit 2 and part of the fluid connection 5.

[0065] The second zone 12, on the other hand, which designates the components with the control volumes of a varying pressure to be controlled, has been reduced, since large parts of the fluid connection 5 arranged upstream of the flow-control valve 6 interact with a constant fixed pressure of the fuel. The reduction in the control volume also results in the improved response behavior of the varied pressure in the distributor unit 3.

[0066] The electronic control unit 8 is connected to a temperature sensor 9, which measures the temperature in the distributor unit 3. In addition, the electronic control unit 8 is also connected to a pressure sensor 10, which reports the prevailing pressure in the distributor unit 3. It can be provided that the flow-control valve 6 or the injectors 4 connected to the distributor unit 3 are actuated depending on the pressure and/or temperature in the distributor unit 3.

[0067] It can be provided that the second zone 12 defines the engine compartment of a vehicle and the first zone 11 describes areas other than the engine compartment of a vehicle. The advantages described above can be achieved by arranging the flow-control valve 6 in the engine compartment and the pressure-control unit 2 at a position remote therefrom. It is also advantageous if the fluid connection is a flexible fluid connection, for example a flexible pipe or a flexible hose, in order to decouple vibrations emanating from the engine compartment to the upstream components such as the pressure-control unit 2 and reservoir 7.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a further schematic sketch of a further embodiment of the present invention. It can be seen that the flow-control valve 6 is now arranged directly on the distributor unit 3, which is a rail in the present case.

[0069] It can also be seen that the reservoir 7 now consists of an arrangement of a plurality of tanks connected in parallel, which are connected via a check valve 13, a filter 14 and a two-way valve 18. Downstream of this is the pressure-control unit 2, which is realized with a single-stage pressure-control valve 15. This can have a filter 16 and the corresponding valve 15, which has a blow-off line 17 through which gaseous fuel with a pressure level that is too high and needs to be drained can be drained if necessary. The fuel delivered in gaseous form via the injectors can also be in liquid form in the reservoir 7 and only attain its gaseous state in the reservoir 7 itself or downstream.

[0070] The electronic control unit 8 can be designed to control the plurality of tanks of the reservoir 7 and their outlet openings, such that the pressure-control unit 2 is supplied with a fuel with pressure that varies depending on the fill levels of the tanks of the reservoir 7, which the pressure-control unit 2 converts to a constant fixed level. In addition, the electronic control unit 8 is also connected to an engine control unit 20 (see double arrow), which in turn is responsible for activating the spark plugs 21. In order to achieve a coordinated injection of the gaseous fuel, it is advantageous to actuate the injectors 4 at a correspondingly coordinated time.

[0071] FIG. 4 shows a slightly modified variant of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, in which the distributor unit 3 is now not a rail or common rail, but a distributor block for gaseous fuel. This distributor block can contain a plurality of components in one assembly and comprises, for example, the flow-control valve 6 and the pressure sensor 10 and/or the temperature sensor 9. By integrating the plurality of components into a single assembly, the control volume in which the variable injection pressure of the fuel prevails can be further reduced.

[0072] FIG. 5 is a further development of the previous layout of FIG. 3, in which the distributor block (as distributor unit 3) has fewer outputs than injectors 4 to be supplied with fuel. This is advantageous in particular when integrating the device 1 according to the invention into an engine compartment, as this allows different injectors to be connected to different sides of the distributor block in the very confined space available. It is possible that a plurality of the injectors 4 is connected to the same output of the distributor block. The advantage of this embodiment is that the control volume to be controlled is further reduced, as the volume of the lines running to the plurality of injectors 4 can be further reduced as a result. If each of the existing injectors 4 does not have its own line, but a plurality of injectors is brought together in terms of lines before being connected to the distributor block or a distributor unit 3, the volume of lines to be controlled is smaller compared to a separate line for each injector 4. As already explained above, the reduction of the control volume is accompanied by an improvement in the response behavior when the pressure is varied, so that an improved approximation to the desired target pressure level is achieved.

[0073] FIG. 6 shows a further development of the present invention, from which it can be seen that the fluid connection 5 to the distributor unit 3 does not have to be in one piece or consist of a single line. In the present case, it can be seen that the fluid connection 5 is made in several parts and the flow-control valve 6 is arranged at a distance from the distributor unit 3 via a component of the fluid connection 5. For example, the plurality of assemblies of the fluid connection 5 between the pressure-control unit 2 and the distributor unit 3 may have a rigid component and a flexible component. For example, it can be provided that the connection from the distributor unit 3 to the flow-control valve 6 is rigid and the connection between the flow-control valve 6 and the pressure-control unit 2 is flexible. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that a reverse arrangement of the flexible and rigid components is also encompassed by the invention.

[0074] A circle shown in FIG. 6 can also be seen, as well as a plus symbol in the center, which indicates the center of gravity of an engine. The flow-control valve is advantageously arranged in such a way that it is no further than 2 m away from the center of gravity of the engine. The circle indicating the permissible range within the 2 m thus defines the permissible range in which the flow-control valve 6 can be arranged.

[0075] FIG. 7 shows a further development of the present invention and, in contrast to the preceding embodiments, contains a separate shut-off valve which is arranged between the flow-control valve 6 and the pressure-control unit 2. The separate shut-off valve is surrounded by a circle for better visibility.