U.S. patent application number 12/917048 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-26 for pressure-resistant tank for cryogenically stored fuel.
This patent application is currently assigned to Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Michael BAUER, Johannes Koppi, Michael Zenner.
Application Number | 20110121004 12/917048 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40941854 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110121004 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BAUER; Michael ; et
al. |
May 26, 2011 |
Pressure-Resistant Tank for Cryogenically Stored Fuel
Abstract
A heat-insulated tank is provided for use as a reservoir for an
operating agent of a drive assembly of a motor vehicle,
particularly a heat-insulated cryotank for condensed gases. The
tank consists at least of an interior tank for receiving a
condensed gas, which interior tank is held in a heat-insulated
manner in at least one exterior tank, which can be closed by a lid.
At least one valve, a sensor, and/or a conduit connecting piece
with pertaining conduits are accommodated in the insulation space,
in the area of the lid between the interior tank and the exterior
tank, fixedly connected with the lid.
Inventors: |
BAUER; Michael;
(Unterfoehring, DE) ; Koppi; Johannes; (Muenchen,
DE) ; Zenner; Michael; (Muenchen, DE) |
Assignee: |
Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Muenchen
DE
|
Family ID: |
40941854 |
Appl. No.: |
12/917048 |
Filed: |
November 1, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/EP2009/003840 |
May 29, 2009 |
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12917048 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/592.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F17C 2221/033 20130101;
F17C 2209/228 20130101; F17C 2201/0147 20130101; F17C 2203/0629
20130101; F17C 3/08 20130101; F17C 2203/0663 20130101; F17C
2260/011 20130101; F17C 2270/0171 20130101; Y02E 60/321 20130101;
F17C 2205/0323 20130101; F17C 2203/0634 20130101; F17C 2270/0168
20130101; F17C 2270/0176 20130101; F17C 2205/0332 20130101; F17C
2221/012 20130101; F17C 2260/012 20130101; F17C 2223/0161 20130101;
F17C 2265/031 20130101; F17C 2203/012 20130101; F17C 2203/014
20130101; F17C 2203/0636 20130101; F17C 2205/0119 20130101; F17C
2203/0391 20130101; Y02E 60/32 20130101; F17C 2209/221 20130101;
F17C 2201/056 20130101; F17C 2205/0394 20130101; F17C 2223/033
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/592.2 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/38 20060101
B65D081/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 5, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 026 824.0 |
Claims
1. A heat-insulated tank for use as a reservoir for an operating
agent of a drive assembly of a motor vehicle, the heat-insulated
tank comprising: an interior tank for receiving a condensed gas; an
exterior tank in which the interior tank is arranged in a
heat-insulated manner; a lid operatively configured to close the
exterior tank; at least one of a valve, a sensor, and a conduit
connector with an associated conduit, being fixedly connected with
the lid; wherein the at least one of the valve, the sensor, and the
conduit connector with the associated conduit are configured so as
to be arranged in an insulation space in an area of the lid between
the interior tank and the exterior tank.
2. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 1, wherein the tank
is a heat-insulated cryotank for the condensed gas.
3. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 1, wherein, viewed in
a longitudinal tank axis direction, the exterior tank comprises a
circumferential wall with a bottom and an open end opposite the
bottom, the open end being closable by the lid.
4. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 3, wherein the
heat-insulated tank is a molded tank.
5. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 1, wherein the
exterior tank comprises at least one hollow-cylindrical
circumferential wall with a removable bottom and a removable
lid.
6. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 5, further
comprising: at least one of an additional valve, an additional
sensor, and an additional conduit connector with an associated
conduit is fixedly connected with the bottom, the at least one of
the additional valve, the additional sensor, and the additional
conduit connector with the associated conduit being arranged in the
insulation space in a bottom area between the interior tank and the
exterior tank.
7. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 6, wherein the
associated conduits extend out of the exterior tank through at
least one of the lid and the bottom.
8. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 6, wherein at least
one of the associated conduits is integrated along a portion of its
length in at least one of the lid and the bottom.
9. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 6, wherein at least
one of the valve, the additional valve, the sensor, and the
additional sensor is integrated partially in at least one of the
lid and the bottom.
10. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 9, wherein the at
least one valve and the additional valve integrated in at least one
of the lid and the bottom provides a valve seat constructed in the
at least one of the lid and the bottom.
11. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 3, wherein the lid
is a metal lid connected to the circumferential wall.
12. The heat-insulated tank according to claim 11, wherein the lid
is vacuum tight screwed to the circumferential wall to form the
connection.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT International
Application No. PCT/EP2009/003840, filed May 29, 2009, which claims
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 from German Patent Application
No. DE 10 2008 026 824.0, filed Jun. 5, 2008, the entire
disclosures of which are herein expressly incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a pressure-resistant tank,
particularly a cryotank, especially for the storage of condensed
gas for supplying an internal-combustion engine driving a motor
vehicle. With respect to the technical background, reference is
made to German patent document DE 195 46 618 A1.
[0003] Fuels for driving motor vehicles, such as hydrogen or
natural gas, or the like, which will be extremely interesting in
the future, can in practice be stored in a relatively advantageous
manner only in a liquefied and therefore considerably cooled
condition. In the case of this cryogenic fuel storage, the
very-low-temperature liquid hydrogen supply is stored in the
vehicle in a boiling condition in the thermally very highly
insulated pressure-resistant tank. In this case, by storing the
hydrogen at a temperature a little above its boiling temperature at
ambient pressure, approximately 20 K, the energy density of the
boiling hydrogen is maximized. In the storage tanks currently
technically implemented, the hydrogen is typically present at
temperatures of from approximately 21K to approximately 27 K and
the corresponding boiling pressures of approximately 2 bar (abs.)
to approximately 5 bar (abs.). In the lower part of the storage
tank, the boiling hydrogen is present as a denser liquid phase
(LH2) and above the lower part as a gaseous phase (GH2).
[0004] As a rule, such storage tanks have a double-walled
construction, in which case the liquid gas is stored in the
interior tank, and the space between the interior tank and the
exterior tank is evacuated and used for insulation. The control of
the cryofuel flows and of the ancillary equipment takes place by
way of removal and filling pipes as well as electric lines, and
control elements arranged essentially outside the cryotank. For
reducing the heat conduction into the interior tank, the removal
and filling pipes are surrounded by a vacuum jacket and are
constructed in a length that is suitable for reducing heat, before
they enter into the interior tank.
[0005] In German published patent application DE-OS 195 46 618, a
storage tank for cryogenic media is suggested where an
interior-enclosing evacuated insulation space is present between
the two tanks. Through this insulation space, conduits arranged in
the interior tank are guided to control elements arranged outside
the exterior tank. These control elements are situated in a vacuum
tank which is non-detachably connected with the exterior tank. For
this purpose, a tank wall of the exterior tank bounds the vacuum
tank and the conduits extend through this tank wall.
[0006] Such a vacuum tank outside the exterior tank requires
additional space and its connection to the exterior tank has to be
established separately, which results in high manufacturing costs.
In addition, it is desirable to produce a cryotank which has a
light weight in a modular construction and a high degree of
prefabrication.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to indicate a
corresponding solution and to provide a storage tank as
desired.
[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by
providing a heat-insulated tank for use as a reservoir for an
operating agent of a drive assembly of a motor vehicle,
particularly a heat-insulated cryotank for condensed gases, having
an interior tank for receiving a condensed gas, which interior tank
is held in a heat-insulated manner in at least one exterior tank
which can be closed by way of a lid. At least one valve, sensor,
and/or a conduit connecting piece with the pertaining conduits is
accommodated in an insulation space in an area of the lid between
the interior tank and the exterior tank, in a manner fixedly
connected with the lid.
[0009] Further preferred embodiments of the invention are
characterized in that, viewed in the direction of its longitudinal
tank axis, the exterior tank consists at least of a circumferential
wall element with a bottom, whose open opposite end can be closed
by the lid. For this purpose, the cryotank may also be designed as
a molded tank whose outer shell is molded essentially according to
the space available in the motor vehicle.
[0010] As an alternative, the exterior tank, also as a molded tank,
may also consist of at least one hollow-cylindrical circumferential
wall element having a removable bottom and a removable lid. In
which case, at least one additional valve, additional sensor,
and/or an additional conduit connecting piece with the pertaining
conduits may then also be accommodated in the insulation space in
the area of the bottom between the interior tank and the exterior
tank in a manner fixedly connected with the bottom.
[0011] Additional advantageous embodiments of the invention are
characterized in that the conduits lead through the lid and/or the
bottom out of the exterior tank. In addition, at least one conduit
may be integrated on at least a portion of its length in the lid
and/or in the bottom; just as a valve and/or a sensor may at least
partially be integrated in the lid and/or in the bottom. In the
case of a valve, it is advantageous for the latter to be integrated
in the lid and/or in the bottom such that a valve seat is
constructed there. The lid preferably consists of metal and is
tightly connected, particularly screwed to the circumferential wall
element, for example to be vacuum tight.
[0012] As a result of this construction of the cryotank, a simple
series production of the tank can be implemented. The lid and/or
the bottom can be completely equipped ahead of time with all
fittings, i.e. connecting pieces, valves, sensors and pipe
conduits, suspensions, etc. and can be subsequently placed on,
attached and connected to the exterior tank which is equipped with
the interior tank. All secondary systems are integrated in the lid
and/or the bottom of the tank wall of the exterior tank. The valve
seats form a part of the tank wall of the exterior tank and
additionally strengthen this area. Reinforcements between the
individual components can also have a simple construction. In this
case, the connecting conduits may also be situated in the
insulation space. In addition, the valves and the sensors in the
lid and/or the bottom are easily accessible and exchangeable.
Within the lid and/or the bottom, the valves can also be connected
or networked by boreholes, so that a valve block is created
analogous to the hydraulic system. The interior tank bearing can
also be a component of the lid and/or of the bottom, for example,
by way of a receiving part.
[0013] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a partial spatial view of an exterior tank of a
cryotank according to an embodiment of the invention for storing a
cryogenic medium;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a partial spatial view of an exterior tank of a
cryotank according to an embodiment of the invention for storing a
cryogenic medium; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a view of the exterior tank in a partial section
view without a covering of the lid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a view with a lid covering; FIG. 2 is a view
without a lid covering. FIG. 3 is a view of the exterior tank in a
partial sectional view without a lid covering. In all figures, the
same elements are indicated by identical reference numbers.
[0018] A cryotank having an interior tank (not shown) according to
FIGS. 1 to 3, for storing liquid hydrogen LH2 is installed in a
motor vehicle (not shown). This liquid hydrogen LH2 is used as a
fuel for supplying an internal-combustion engine, which drives the
motor vehicle. The cryotank is an oblong tank, consisting of a
pressure-resistant interior tank, disposed by way of a bearing
device in an exterior tank, with an insulation layer--a
vacuum--disposed in-between. By means of such a so-called molded
tank, named on the basis of its circumferential design
corresponding to the installation space condition in the motor
vehicle, it becomes possible to minimize the spaces between the
cryotank and the neighboring vehicle parts and thereby maximize the
volume of the interior tank of the cryotank by a better utilization
of the space in the vehicle.
[0019] The thus designed exterior tank 1, for receiving the
interior tank filled with condensed gas and held in a
heat-insulated manner in the exterior tank, consists of a
hollow-cylindrical circumferential wall element 2 having a bottom
(not shown) and a lid 3 that can be placed thereon at the open end
opposite the bottom in the direction of the longitudinal tank axis.
The circumferential wall element 2 of the exterior tank and the lid
may be produced of a metallic and/or non-metallic material and are
tightly connected with one another, particularly by welding or
screwing together. Likewise, the lid may consist of a dense
interior layer, particularly made of metal, surrounded at least on
the outside by at least one reinforcing layer made of fiber
material and, in the joined condition may be surrounded at least at
the joining points, at least on the outside, by an additional
reinforcing layer made of fiber material.
[0020] In the insulation space 4, in the area of the lid 3 between
the interior tank and the exterior tank 1, fixedly connected with
the lid 3, two cold valves 21 are accommodated for the refueling
and venting, with pertaining conduits 22 which lead to the interior
tank. Additional conduits 6 accommodated there are guided from the
interior tank by way of the lid 3 out of the exterior tank 1. For
this purpose, conduit connecting pieces, valves and sensors are
mounted in the lid 3. Five valves,--a shut-off valve 5 of the
consuming device supply conduit, two safety valves 9, 10, a control
valve 11 and a boil-off pressure control valve 12--are each
integrated between honeycomb-shaped reinforcing ribs 7 in the lid 3
such that the respective valve seats are constructed in the wall of
the exterior tank 1 of the lid 3. The pertaining valve bodies are
then each screwed together in a honeycomb 8 made of reinforcing
ribs 7 of the lid 3, just like a tank fastening 13 for the exterior
tank 1, two pressure sensors 14, 15 and a temperature sensor 16.
One conduit connecting piece respectively for the filling pipe 17,
for two safety conduits 18, 19, for the consuming device supply
conduit 20 and for the boil-off pressure control conduit 21, are
also each screwed together in a honeycomb 8 made of reinforcing
ribs 7 of the lid 3. A superimposable lid covering 23 closes off
the described fittings accommodated in the lid 3.
[0021] By means of this construction, a series production of the
cryotank can be implemented. The lid 3 can be equipped ahead of
time with conduit connecting pieces, valves and sensors and can be
assembled. Subsequently, the lid 3 is inserted into the exterior
tank 1 and is tightly joined. This results in a molded tank of a
light weight and a high degree of prefabrication which can be
manufactured in a cost-effective manner of a reliable quality.
[0022] 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.
* * * * *