阅读说明：本技术 热泄压装置(tprd)、具有tprd的气体蓄压器和气体蓄压器系统和热过压保护方法 (Thermal Pressure Relief Device (TPRD), gas accumulator and gas accumulator system with TPRD and method for thermal overpressure protection ) 是由 简·安德里亚斯 于 2020-12-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于气体蓄压器和/或气体蓄压器系统的热泄压装置100,包括：阀单元110,其能流体连通至气体蓄压器和/或气体蓄压器系统且具有至少一个流体路径101,借此能排空该气体蓄压器和/或气体蓄压器系统,尤其能将加压储蓄在气体蓄压器和/或气体蓄压器系统中的气体排放到环境,其中,阀单元110具有关闭件111,其在使气体能流过流体路径101的打开位置和使气体无法流过流体路径101的关闭位置之间可被调节和/或移动；第一触发机构120,其设置用于通过热作用、尤其在达到预定温度时将关闭件111调节和/或移动到打开位置和/或允许关闭件111调节和/或移动至打开位置,其中,第一触发机构120还设计用于：在所述气体蓄压器和/或气体蓄压器系统的除了热泄压装置100的安装位置St1以外的另一个位置St2检测热作用,和/或至少在尤其所述气体蓄压器和/或气体蓄压器系统的两个空间分开的位置和/或区域检测热作用。(The present invention relates to a TPRD 100 for a gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system, comprising: a valve unit 110 which is fluidically connectable to a gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system and has at least one fluid path 101, by means of which the gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system can be emptied, in particular the gas stored under pressure in the gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system can be discharged to the environment, wherein the valve unit 110 has a closing member 111 which can be adjusted and/or moved between an open position, in which gas can flow through the fluid path 101, and a closed position, in which gas cannot flow through the fluid path 101; a first trigger 120, which is provided to adjust and/or move the closing element 111 into the open position and/or to allow the closing element 111 to adjust and/or move into the open position by thermal action, in particular when a predetermined temperature is reached, wherein the first trigger 120 is further designed to: the thermal effect is detected at another location St2 of the gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system than the installation location St1 of the thermal pressure relief device 100 and/or at least at two spatially separated locations and/or regions of the gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system, in particular.)

1. A TPRD (100) for a gas accumulator (300) and/or a gas accumulator system (400), comprising:

a valve unit (110) which is fluidically connectable to a gas accumulator (300) and/or a gas accumulator system (400) and has at least one fluid path (101) by means of which the gas accumulator (300) and/or the gas accumulator system (400) can be emptied, in particular gas stored under pressure in the gas accumulator (300) and/or the gas accumulator system (400) can be discharged into the environment,

wherein the valve unit (110) has a closing member (111) which is adjustable and/or movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position gas can flow through the fluid path (101); and in the closed position gas cannot flow through the fluid path (101), an

-a first triggering mechanism (120) provided for adjusting and/or moving the shutter (111) to the open position and/or allowing the shutter (111) to adjust and/or move to the open position by the action of heat, in particular when a predetermined temperature is reached,

wherein the first trigger mechanism (120) is further designed to:

can detect a thermal effect at the gas pressure accumulator (300) and/or at another location (St2) of the gas pressure accumulator system (400) than the installation location (St1) of the TPRD (100), and/or

The thermal action can be detected at least at two spatially separated locations (St1, St2, St3) and/or regions of the gas accumulator (300) and/or the gas accumulator system (400) and/or of the transport means in which the TPRD is installed.

2. The TPRD (100) according to claim 1, wherein the TPRD (100) is in the form of an in-tank valve (200) for mounting to the gas accumulator (300), in particular a hydrogen tank, which is preferably designed for supplying a fuel cell system with fuel, in particular gaseous hydrogen.

3. The TPRD (100) according to claim 2, further comprising a connection piece (111,211) which is designed to be screwed into the gas pressure accumulator (300), in particular into a connection piece (301) of the gas pressure accumulator (300).

4. TPRD (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shutter (111) is designed as an adjusting piston (111a) which is movably mounted (or accommodated) in the valve unit (110) transversely to the fluid path (101), in particular perpendicularly to the fluid path (101).

5. The TPRD (100) according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment piston (111a) has a long cylindrical piston body, on the outer circumferential surface of which three seals (113) are provided at intervals from each other in the longitudinal direction of the piston body, thereby forming two hermetically separated chambers (K1, K2) in the state of being installed into the valve unit (110).

6. The TPRD (100) according to claim 5, wherein in the closed position of the regulating piston (111a) the first chamber (K1) is in fluid communication with and closes the fluid path (101), and in the open position of the regulating piston (111a) the second chamber (K2) is in fluid communication with the fluid path (101) and connects the fluid path to the relief port (A3) via a fluid line (102).

7. The TPRD (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the size of the second chamber (K1) is increased by a radial annular groove along the outer circumferential surface of the piston body.

8. The TPRD (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shutter (111) is designed in the form of a closing piston (111b) mounted in the valve unit (110) movably in the direction of the fluid path (101) and/or in the gas outflow direction, in particular within the fluid path.

9. A TPRD (100) according to claim 8 wherein the closure piston (111b) closes the fluid line (102) on one side in a closed position and opens the fluid line in an open position whereby the fluid path (101) is fluidly connected to the fluid line (102) and further fluidly connected to a pressure relief port (a 3).

10. The TPRD (100) according to any of the preceding claims, further having a second trigger mechanism (130) integrated in the valve unit (110) and connected in parallel or in series with the first trigger mechanism (120).

11. The TPRD (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first trigger mechanism (120) and/or the second trigger mechanism is in the form of a glass ampoule, which is designed to break or rupture when a predetermined temperature is reached.

12. A tprd (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first trigger mechanism (120) is designed in the form of a test section at a predetermined pressure, such that the closing member (111) remains in the closed position as a result of the pressure being applied until the pressure in the test section drops, in particular drops below a predetermined trigger pressure, as a result of the thermal action, in particular in the at least one further position (St 2).

13. A TPRD (100) according to claim 11, wherein the test section is designed in the form of a hose, in particular a rubber hose, and/or a pipe, in particular a steel pipe, which is filled with liquid and/or gas and in particular water under sufficiently high pressure so that the closure member (111) remains in the closed position until the pressure inside the hose and/or the pipe is reduced by the action of heat, in particular acting on the detection member (121).

14. The TPRD (100) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the test section has a detection member (121), in particular an opening member, formed by: the hose itself, which at least partially melts when a predetermined temperature is reached; a point-like weak point in the hose that melts when a predetermined temperature is reached; a plug inserted into the hose and/or the pipe and melting when a predetermined temperature is reached; and/or a glass ampoule which breaks or ruptures when a predetermined temperature is reached and opens an opening in the hose or the tube.

15. A TPRD (100) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the detector(s) (121) is/are in place at a particularly hazardous location at said gas accumulator (300) and/or said gas accumulator system (400) and/or in a vehicle in which said TPRD is installed.

16. The TPRD (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first trigger mechanism (120) is designed in the form of a test section filled with a medium, in particular a liquid and/or a gas, the pressure of which medium upon reaching a predetermined temperature reaches a value sufficient for adjusting and/or moving the closure member (111) to the open position due to thermal action.

17. TPRD (100) according to claim 16, wherein the test section is designed as a hose, in particular a rubber hose, and/or a pipe, in particular a steel pipe, which is filled with a liquid, preferably having a low boiling point, and which starts to boil when a predetermined temperature is reached, whereby the pressure inside the hose or the pipe rises above a predetermined pressure, such that the closure member can be adjusted and/or moved to the open position, in particular in an irreversible manner.

18. The TPRD (100) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the liquid contained in the hose and/or the pipe is water, ethanol, methanol, ethanol mixture, methanol mixture, or the like.

19. The TPRD (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shutter (111) is further electrically and/or electronically actuatable, in particular by means of a microwave emitter and/or a heating wire which can place the first and/or second triggering mechanism (120,130) under thermal action.

20. The TPRD (100) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a communication device (140), in particular a wireless communication device using infrared, radio, Bluetooth or WLAN (wireless local area network), which is set up to receive control instructions from an external user such as an external/master controller of a vehicle, an emergency control system operable by a fire department, police department or other rescue authorities, in order to operate, in particular, the first and/or second triggering mechanisms (120, 130).

21. The TPRD (100) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an orientation detection device (150) set up for detecting the spatial absolute geometric orientation of the valve unit (110), in particular of at least one gas accumulator (300) connected to the valve unit (110), wherein the orientation detection device (150) has at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: accelerometers, gyroscopes, and geomagnetic field sensors.

22. The TPRD (100) according to claim 21, wherein the TPRD (100), in particular an internally integrated control device, is set up for selecting a pressure relief opening (A3) by means of which a connected gas accumulator (300) and/or a connected gas accumulator system (400) can be evacuated in a predetermined, in particular safe, spatial direction, based on the orientation of the valve unit (110) determined by the orientation detection device (150).

23. A gas pressure accumulator (300) with a take-over (301) in which a TPRD (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 22 is installed.

24. A gas pressure accumulator (300) according to claim 23, which is a hollow body formed by a multilayer laminate, said nipple (301) being enclosed in said hollow body and in said hollow body preferably the hose and/or a bag of liquid connected to the hose and/or the pipe is mounted.

25. A gas accumulator system (400) for storing a fuel, in particular gaseous hydrogen, preferably set up for supplying a fuel cell system with a fuel, in particular gaseous hydrogen, comprising:

-at least one gas accumulator (300), preferably according to claim 23 or 24, and

-a TPRD (100), preferably a TPRD (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

26. A method of thermal over-pressure protection of a gas accumulator (300) and/or a gas accumulator system (400) by means of a TPRD, in particular a TPRD (100) according to any of claims 1 to 22, comprising:

-opening a fluid path (101) available for venting the gas accumulator (300) and/or the gas accumulator system (400) by means of heat action, in particular external heat action, when a predetermined temperature is reached,

wherein at least in another position (St2) of the gas pressure accumulator (300) and/or of the gas pressure accumulator system (400) and/or of a vehicle in which the TPRD is installed than the installation position (St1) of the TPRD (100) a thermal action can be detected for opening the fluid path (101), and/or

At least at two spatially separated locations of the gas pressure accumulator (300) and/or the gas pressure accumulator system (400) and/or a vehicle on which the TPRD is installed, in particular, the thermal action can be detected for opening the fluid path (101).

27. A method of thermal overpressure protection according to claim 26, wherein the fluid path (101) is closed in an unactuated and/or unactuated state by a shutter (111) which can be actively or passively adjusted and/or moved from a closed position to an open position, wherein in the closed position gas cannot flow through the fluid path (101); and in the open position gas can flow through the fluid path (101).

28. A method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the first triggering mechanism (120) adjusts and/or moves the closing member (111) into the open position and/or allows the closing member (111) to adjust and/or move into the open position by thermal action, in particular upon reaching a predetermined temperature.

29. A method for thermal overvoltage protection according to claim 28, wherein the first trigger mechanism (120) is designed in the form of a test section which, in the unactuated or unactuated state, is at a predetermined pressure and applies this pressure to the closing member (111) in such a way that the closing member remains in the closed position until the pressure in the test section falls under the effect of heat, in particular external heat, in particular to below a predetermined trigger pressure, whereby the first trigger means (120) releases the closing member (111) and the closing member is adjusted and/or moved into the open position.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a Thermal Pressure Relief Device (TPRD) for a gas pressure accumulator and/or a gas pressure accumulator system, a gas pressure accumulator and a gas pressure accumulator system each provided with a thermal pressure relief device of this type, wherein they are preferably used in fuel supply systems for supplying fuel, in particular gaseous hydrogen, to fuel cell systems or fuel cell applications. The invention also relates to a method for protecting against thermal overvoltages, in particular of a gas pressure accumulator of this type.

Prior Art

Generally, a pressure limiting valve is a safety device designed to protect a pressurized container or system in the event of an overpressure. The same applies to Thermal Pressure Relief Devices (TPRD) or thermal pressure limit valves, which, unlike pure pressure limit valves, are activated when a predetermined or preset limit temperature is reached, in order to overpressure protect a pressurized container or a pressurized system.

In this case, an overpressure event generally refers to any condition that causes a pressure rise within the vessel or system that exceeds a specified design pressure or Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP). Thermal pressure limit valves are involved in overpressure events caused by elevated temperatures in the container environment or system environment, such as, for example, when a vehicle in which the container or system is installed catches fire.

The main purpose of overpressure valves is to protect life and property by venting liquid or gas from a container or system that is subject to overpressure.

Today there are many electronic, pneumatic and hydraulic systems used to control fluid system variables such as pressure, temperature and flow. These systems all require some type of energy source, such as electricity or compressed air, to achieve their operation. A thermal pressure relief device or a thermal pressure limit valve must be functional at all times, especially also in the event of a power outage, for example when there is no function in the system control. The safest energy source for a pressure limiting valve, in particular a TPRD, is therefore a process fluid, in other words a fluid stored in a vessel or system, wherein it may be a gas or a liquid here.

If conditions arise where the pressure within the system or vessel rises to dangerous levels due to ambient temperature, or if the vessel integrity or system integrity is compromised due to ambient temperature, such as in the case of a vehicle fire as described above, the TPRD may be the only remaining device to prevent catastrophic failure. Since the reliability of a TPRD is directly related to the complexity of the device, it is important that the construction of the TPRD be as simple as possible.

Various types of TPRD are known, and thus, for example, fittings are used that contain fusible plugs that plug and seal outlet passages within the vessel. When the temperature now surrounding the container reaches the melting point of the fusible plug, the plug melts and pressure forces the molten plug out through the passageway to thereby allow the pressure within the container to be released.

DE 60309339T 2, for example, proposes a pressure relief valve which can provide a pressure relief for the pressurized fluid in the container when a predetermined temperature or a predetermined pressure is exceeded. The heat removal and pressure relief combined valve comprises: a first housing having an opening at a first end and having a conduit extending from a second end of the first housing through the opening; a second housing partially received within the opening of the first housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing define a chamber adjacent the conduit; an outlet line extending from the chamber and providing an outlet to the exterior of the valve; a support within the chamber and adjacent the conduit, wherein the support is greater than the conduit width; a spring preloaded in the chamber and aligned with the support; and a heat sensitive member within the chamber between the second housing and the spring, wherein the heat sensitive member is aligned with the spring and melts at a predetermined temperature, wherein when the valve is not actuated, the heat sensitive member does not block the outlet to the exterior of the valve, wherein when the valve is not actuated and forces the support member, the spring is preloaded toward the heat sensitive member such that the support member is urged toward the conduit due to the preload and forms a seal between the chamber and the conduit.

Furthermore, DE 3812552C 1 describes a fuse safety device for a gas-liquid pressure accumulator, which has an outlet channel which can be opened for the gas to flow out of the system and which can be closed in a sealed manner by a closure element which is composed of a material which melts at a predetermined temperature and thus opens the outlet channel, wherein, in addition to the closure element, there is a valve for opening and sealing closing the outlet channel, which is preset to a closed position in which it closes the outlet and can be transferred into an open position in which the outlet channel is opened by means of an actuating movement of an actuator which can be moved by a power drive, and the closure element is designed as a blocking element which projects into the movement path of the actuator and blocks the actuating movement thereof.

Furthermore, US 3,618,627 describes an automatic pressure relief valve with a valve arranged between a pressure system and the environment, wherein the valve has an at least partially hollow valve stem and a fusible element, wherein it is capable of opening the pressure system when a melting temperature is reached, wherein a fuse is provided in the hollow valve stem, which fuse is designed such that it slides in a cavity and reacts to the pressure inside the system to relieve the system at a predetermined pressure, and a spring is provided in the cavity and presses against the fuse to suppress the sliding of the fuse.

In certain applications, such as in aviation, it is feasible that the decision to actively start the Thermal Pressure Relief Device (TPRD) must be made by the upper authorities. But this is not possible in the above-described device and requires structural modifications.

In addition, in the device for activating the tpus using the fuse, there is a problem in that the fuse used is not suitable for a pressure range of several hundred bar, and thus melting starts with the passage of time especially due to stress variation, and thus the functionality of the tpus cannot be ensured.

Furthermore, in the development of transportation or transportation means, in particular cars, using gaseous fuels as energy storage bodies, there has been a trend in recent years to: the invention is based on the object of providing a high-pressure container unit which is converted from a conventional configuration into a plurality of pressure containers, in particular a high-pressure container unit comprising a plurality of individual pressure containers, in order to be able to store a sufficient amount of fuel or fuel gas, in particular hydrogen, which is necessary to ensure a satisfactory vehicle mileage.

However, such a group of high-pressure vessels or a high-pressure vessel unit has a large number of possible interfaces or weak points, at which the risk of possible fire increases. It may therefore be the case that a certain pressure vessel in the pressure vessel unit is exposed to a fire or heat source, while the remaining assembly, in particular the thermal pressure relief device arranged at the pressure vessel unit, is not affected or damaged. This may cause the associated hyperbaric chamber to reach a critical or unstable state, but not detected by the TPRD, which may compromise the integrity of the hyperbaric chamber unit. The same problem may occur in tanks or tankers for transporting gaseous fuels or fuel gases, in particular gaseous hydrogen, and which have a large number of high-pressure containers for this purpose.

Disclosure of Invention

Against the background of the prior art described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a thermal pressure relief device and a method for thermal overpressure protection which on the one hand increase the reliability in the detection or detection of a possible local or punctiform thermal action on a gas pressure accumulator or a gas pressure accumulator system, and on the other hand increase the fatigue strength of the thermal pressure relief device used, in particular in the case of the stringent requirements in the storage of gaseous hydrogen, while at the same time achieving a simple construction of the thermal pressure relief device.

This object is achieved by a TPRD according to claim 1, a gas accumulator according to claim 23, a gas accumulator system according to claim 25 and a method for thermal overpressure protection according to claim 26. Preferred developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims, wherein the subject matter of the claims relating to a thermal pressure relief device can be applied in the gas accumulator system and the thermal overpressure protection method and vice versa within the scope of a gas accumulator.

One of the basic concepts of the present invention is to provide a thermal pressure relief device and a method for thermal overpressure protection which are capable of measuring or detecting the thermal effect on a gas pressure accumulator and/or gas pressure accumulator system not only in a fixed or installed position of the thermal pressure relief device on the gas pressure accumulator and/or gas pressure accumulator system, but also at least in another position of the gas pressure accumulator and/or gas pressure accumulator system and/or of a transport means in which the thermal pressure relief device is installed, and/or in particular at least two spatially separated points or positions or regions of the gas pressure accumulator and/or gas pressure accumulator system and/or of the transport means in which the thermal pressure relief device is installed.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a TPRD for a gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system comprises: a valve unit which is fluidically connectable to a gas accumulator and/or a gas accumulator system and has at least one fluid path via which the gas accumulator and/or the gas accumulator system can be emptied, in particular a gas which has been charged (high) to the gas accumulator and/or the gas accumulator system can be discharged or discharged into the environment, in particular the environment of the gas accumulator and/or the gas accumulator system, wherein the valve unit has a closing member which can be adjusted and/or moved between an open position, in which gas can flow through the fluid path, and a closed position, in which gas cannot flow through the fluid path; and a first triggering mechanism, which is provided for adjusting and/or moving the closing element into the open position and/or for allowing the closing element to be adjusted and/or moved into the open position by means of a thermal action, in particular when a predetermined temperature is reached, wherein the first triggering mechanism is also designed for being able to detect the thermal action at least at another location of the gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system and/or vehicle on which the TPRD is installed than at the installation location of the TPRD, and/or for being able to detect the thermal action at least at two spatially separated locations and/or regions of the gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system and/or the vehicle on which the TPRD is installed.

In other words, the TPRD has two detection regions at which the thermal action on the individual gas pressure accumulators and/or the gas pressure accumulator combination (gas pressure accumulator system) can be measured and detected. This brings the advantage over the known devices that the thermal action can be detected not only at the installation location of the TPRD but also at least at another point or location or area.

In this way, a thermal pressure relief device and a thermal overpressure protection method can be provided which on the one hand increase the reliability in the detection or detection of possible local or point-like thermal effects on the gas accumulator or gas accumulator system, for example a point-like fire source in a vehicle. On the other hand, the fatigue strength of the hot-relief device used, in particular of the triggering mechanism, can be improved, in particular in the case of the stringent requirements in the storage of gaseous hydrogen. Furthermore, the proposed device and the method based thereon enable a simple structural design, which contributes positively to reducing the acquisition costs as well as the operating costs. This is particularly achievable since a large number of separate TPRD's may no longer be used.

In this case, within the scope of the invention, a "spatially separate position and/or region" means that two detection positions or detection regions are arranged at least so far apart or spaced apart that a meaningful or reliable measurement by means of one detection position or one detection region cannot be guaranteed. In other words, the two measuring points or measuring regions are spaced apart from one another in such a way that the thermal conduction between the two regions is not sufficient to ensure reliable measurement or detection of the thermal action in a sufficiently short response time.

Accordingly, the respective spacing from the detection position or detection area depends on the particular installation situation. If there are possibly a number of danger points or local danger locations, it is advisable to arrange a number of detection locations or detection areas, in particular close to each other.

The spatial distance between the individual detection locations or detection areas can vary here between 100 mm and 1000 mm, depending on the installation situation or the number of hazardous locations.

Furthermore, in the context of the present invention, the term "thermally effective" means that the housing or the laminated hollow body of the gas pressure accumulator or the gas pressure accumulator component or the component of the transport vehicle on which the TPRD is installed is subjected at least locally to heat, which may threaten the integrity of the gas pressure accumulator or the gas pressure accumulator system. In this case, the at least partial heating may result from a fire, for example a vehicle fire or a cable fire. The highly dangerous locations in the vehicle are here, for example, brakes, motors, batteries, etc.

In this case, the TPRD is preferably designed in the form of an in-tank valve for installation into a gas pressure accumulator, in particular a hydrogen tank (hydrogen tank), which is preferably designed for supplying the fuel cell system with fuel, in particular gaseous hydrogen.

It is also advantageous if the TPRD has a nipple which is designed to be screwed into a gas pressure accumulator, in particular a nipple of a gas pressure accumulator.

It is also preferred that the TPRD of the present invention is used in a gas accumulator system of a vehicle or gas storage, a transport vehicle or tanker, a replaceable tank battery, or the like, which is used to transport gaseous fuel or fuel gas, particularly gaseous hydrogen.

In the context of the present invention, the term "vehicle" or other similar terms, as used herein, generally include: automotive vehicles, such as cars, buses, trucks, and various commercial vehicles that include Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs); watercraft including a variety of boats; aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, etc.; hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen powered vehicles, and other alternative vehicles (e.g., fuel from other sources besides petroleum). As described herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle having two or more energy carriers, such as a vehicle that is driven by both gasoline and electricity.

Furthermore, in the context of the present invention, the term "fuel" refers to a medium or fluid which is used as an energy storage body. In this case, it may be, on the one hand, a fuel whose chemical energy is converted into mechanical energy by combustion in an internal combustion engine, such as an internal combustion engine or a gas turbine, and, on the other hand, hydrogen, for example, which continuously undergoes chemical reactions in a fuel cell (galvanic cell), thereby generating electrical energy or converting chemical energy into electrical energy. However, it is also possible that hydrogen can be burned in a dedicated fuel device, and therefore hydrogen can also be used as fuel. In this case, the fuel may be gaseous or liquid. During this time, pressure accumulators have also been developed in which hydrogen is stored in two forms, namely in the gaseous and liquid state, so-called transcritical storage.

It is also preferred that the closing element is designed as an actuating piston which is mounted or accommodated in the valve unit so as to be displaceable transversely to the fluid path (flow channel), in particular perpendicularly thereto.

In this way, it is possible to avoid that the pressure of the fuel stored in the gas pressure accumulator or the gas pressure accumulator system, which in the filled state can be between 300 bar and 1000 bar, acts in the direction of action of the control piston, whereby the required closing force of the closing element is significantly reduced, and the stress of the closing element and thus of the thermal pressure relief device is significantly reduced. Thereby ensuring the durability of the TPRD.

According to a further embodiment, the adjusting piston has a long-cylindrical piston body, on the outer circumferential surface of which three sealing elements are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the piston body, so that two chambers which are gas-tight with respect to one another are formed in the installed state in the valve unit.

It is furthermore preferred that in the closed position of the regulating piston the first chamber is fluidly connected to the fluid path and closes the fluid path, so that gas stored in the gas accumulator or the gas accumulator system does not escape into the environment.

In the open position of the control piston, on the other hand, the second chamber is fluidically connected to the fluid path or fluidically connected to the fluid path and is connected via a fluid line to a pressure relief opening, whereby the gas stored in the gas accumulator or the gas accumulator system can escape into the environment.

It is also preferred that the size of the second chamber is increased by a radial annular groove along the outer periphery of the piston body to ensure a sufficient flow rate of gas from the gas accumulator and/or gas accumulator system.

In this case, the closing element can alternatively be designed as a closing piston which is mounted or accommodated in the valve unit so as to be displaceable in the direction of the fluid path and/or in the direction of the gas outflow, in particular within the fluid path.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, in the closed position, the closing piston closes a fluid line provided on one side, in particular downstream of the closing piston in the direction of flow, and in the open position opens the fluid line, whereby the fluid path is fluidically connected to the fluid line or fluidically connected to the fluid line, and therefore fluidically connectable or fluidically connected to a pressure relief opening, whereby gas stored in the gas accumulator or gas accumulator system can escape into the environment.

It is also advantageous if the TPRD has a second triggering mechanism which is (directly) integrated in the valve unit and is connected in parallel or in series with the first triggering mechanism, in particular in terms of flow-through technology.

It is furthermore preferred that the first and/or the second trigger mechanism is/are designed in the form of a glass ampoule which is designed such that it breaks or breaks when a predetermined temperature (trigger temperature) is reached.

It is furthermore advantageous if the first triggering means is designed in the form of a test section at a predetermined pressure (sufficiently high pressure) such that the closure member remains in the closed position as a result of the pressure being applied until the pressure in the test section drops, in particular falls below the predetermined triggering pressure (when the predetermined temperature is reached), as a result of the thermal action, in particular in at least one further position, so that the closure member is opened.

In this case, within the scope of the present invention, the term "open" shall mean a mechanism, preferably a mechanical mechanism, which prevents the closure member from being movable, in particular from being movable into the open position. In the simplest case, this can be achieved by the inherent form of a glass ampoule which, by breaking when a predetermined temperature is reached, opens a space into which a preferably spring-biased closing element can be moved to thereby open the gas flow path.

In this case, it is also advantageous if the test section is designed as a hose, in particular a rubber hose and/or a pipe, in particular a steel pipe, which is filled with a liquid and/or a gas, in particular water, which is under a sufficiently high pressure such that the closure member remains in the closed position until the pressure in the hose and/or the pipe drops due to the action of heat, in particular acting on the detection element. In this case, for example, the pressure present in the test section may be in the range from 5 bar to 20 bar, preferably in the range from 8 bar to 12 bar.

It is furthermore preferred that the test section has a detection element, in particular an opening element, which is formed by: the hose itself, which at least partially melts when a predetermined temperature is reached; a local weak spot in the hose that melts when a predetermined temperature is reached; a plug inserted into the hose and/or pipe and melting when a predetermined temperature is reached; and/or a glass ampoule which breaks or ruptures when a predetermined temperature is reached and opens an opening in the hose or pipe, whereby the liquid and/or gas contained under pressure in the test section escapes and the pressure in the test section drops.

In this case, the closure may be composed of a plastic material, a eutectic material such as a bismuth compound or a tin compound, etc., which has a low melting point, so that the closure melts when a predetermined temperature is reached and opens or makes accessible an opening in the hose or pipe.

In this case, the detector element and/or the detector elements at the gas pressure accumulator and/or the gas pressure accumulator system and/or in the transport means equipped with the TPRD are preferably situated in a particularly dangerous position in order to be able to detect possible thermal effects, for example a fire, quickly and reliably.

In this case, it may be particularly advantageous to arrange the detection element and/or the detection elements (positions or regions) at extreme points of the gas accumulator and/or of the gas accumulator system. If, for example, a gas accumulator system has ten gas accumulators accommodated in a honeycomb or ring in a holder, the innermost gas accumulator is least likely to be exposed to heat, and correspondingly it may be sufficient to provide the detector elements only at the outer points of the holder.

On the other hand, it may be advantageous to provide a detection element (location or region) in the vehicle outside the gas pressure accumulator system itself and in particular in the vicinity of dangerous locations such as brakes, motors, batteries, etc., in order to detect the thermal effect as early as possible.

Alternatively, the first triggering means can be designed in the form of a test section which is filled with a medium, in particular a liquid and/or a gas, the pressure of which, when a predetermined temperature is reached, reaches a value which is sufficient to (actively) adjust and/or move the closing member into the open position as a result of the thermal action. In this case, the pressure increase can preferably take place by an at least partially implemented phase change.

It is also advantageous here if the test section is designed in the form of a hose, in particular a rubber hose, and/or a pipe, in particular a steel pipe, which is filled at least with a liquid, preferably with a low boiling point, which starts to boil when a predetermined temperature is reached, whereby the pressure in the hose or pipe rises above a predetermined pressure, so that the closure member can be adjusted and/or moved into the open position, in particular in an irreversible manner.

It is furthermore preferred that the liquid contained in the hose and/or tube is water, ethanol, methanol, an ethanol mixture, a methanol mixture, or the like.

It is also advantageous that the closing member can be electrically and/or electronically actuated, in particular by means of a microwave emitter and/or a heating wire which can place the first and/or second triggering means under the action of heat. Alternatively, the shutter can also be actuated directly, for example by a solenoid valve or a piezoelectric element.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the TPRD has a communication device, in particular a wireless communication device using infrared, radio, Bluetooth or WLAN (wireless local area network), which is set up to receive control instructions from an external user, for example an external/master controller of a vehicle, an emergency control system operable by a fire department, police department or other rescue forces, in order to operate, in particular, the first and/or second triggering mechanisms and/or the heating wire and/or the microwave emitter.

It is also advantageous if the TPRD further has an orientation detection device which is designed to detect the absolute geometric orientation in space of the TPRD, in particular of the valve unit, more preferably of at least one gas pressure accumulator connected to the valve unit, wherein the orientation detection device has at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: accelerometers, gyroscopes, and geomagnetic field sensors.

In this case, it is preferred that the thermal pressure relief device, in particular the control device integrated therein, is designed to select a pressure relief opening, by means of which the connected gas pressure accumulator and/or the connected gas pressure accumulator system can be emptied in a predetermined, in particular safe, spatial direction, on the basis of the orientation of the thermal pressure relief device, in particular the valve unit, determined by the orientation detection device.

In this regard, the TPRD, and in particular the valve unit, may have a plurality of pressure relief ports, each of which may be opened or closed by a respective predetermined valve, in particular a solenoid valve. It may be advantageous to provide pressure relief lines at the respective pressure relief openings, which are oriented in different spatial directions in order to discharge the fuel in the event of an accident of the vehicle in the desired or advantageous spatial direction.

In this case, the pressure relief line is preferably arranged such that the discharged fuel does not damage any safety-relevant components of the vehicle and in particular of the fuel supply and does not prevent access to the vehicle. As a rule of thumb, depending on the position of the vehicle (for example, in the event of an accident, a rollover) a pressure relief line is selected, for example, which discharges fuel upward, i.e., vertically, in order to ensure lateral access to the vehicle, in particular for rescue teams.

The invention also relates to a gas pressure accumulator with a connecting pipe, into which a hot pressure relief device as described above can be fitted. If necessary, the TPRD and in particular the valve unit and/or the gas accumulator are provided with a seal in order to position the TPRD in a gas-tight manner within the connection of the gas accumulator.

In general, gas pressure accumulators of this type are designed as hollow bodies which are formed from a multilayer laminate, in particular a multilayer plastic laminate. The laminate consisting of plastic may preferably have reinforcing fibre material, such as carbon fibre or glass fibre, to improve its stability. The nipple is incorporated into the laminate and is usually provided with an internal thread into which a mating thread provided on the nipple of the TPRD can be screwed in order to mount the TPRD to, preferably into, the gas pressure accumulator.

In this case, it is advantageous to insert a tube and/or a fluid bag connected to the tube and/or the pipe into the hollow body.

The invention also relates to a gas accumulator system for storing a fuel, in particular gaseous hydrogen, which is preferably designed for supplying a fuel cell system with a fuel, in particular gaseous hydrogen, comprising: at least one gas accumulator, preferably the gas accumulator and the TPRD of the present invention as described above, preferably the TPRD of the present invention as described above.

The invention also relates to a method for thermal overpressure protection of a gas accumulator and/or a gas accumulator system by means of a TPRD, in particular the above-described TPRD of the invention, comprising: when a predetermined temperature is reached, a fluid path which can be used for emptying the gas pressure accumulator and/or the gas pressure accumulator system is opened by means of a thermal action, in particular an external thermal action, wherein the thermal action can be detected at least at another location of the gas pressure accumulator and/or the gas pressure accumulator system and/or of the vehicle on which the TPRD is installed than at the location of installation of the TPRD, and/or the thermal action can be detected at least at two spatially separated locations or points and/or regions of the gas pressure accumulator and/or the gas pressure accumulator system and/or of the vehicle on which the TPRD is installed, for opening the fluid path.

In this case, it is preferred that the fluid path is closed in the unactuated and/or unactuated state by means of a closing element which can be actively or passively adjusted and/or moved from a closed position (in which gas cannot flow through the fluid path) into an open position (in which gas can flow through the fluid path).

It is also advantageous if the first triggering means adjusts and/or moves the closing element into the open position and/or allows the closing element to adjust and/or move into the open position by thermal action, in particular when a predetermined temperature is reached.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the first triggering means is designed in the form of a test section which, in the unactuated or unactuated state, is at a predetermined pressure and exerts this pressure on the closing member in such a way that the closing member remains in the closed position until the pressure in the test section drops or decreases under the effect of heat, in particular external heat, in particular drops below a predetermined triggering pressure when a predetermined temperature is reached, whereby the first triggering means releases the closing member and the closing member is adjusted and/or moved into the open position, in particular is pushed into the open position by a pretensioning spring.

The TPRD may be integrated into a gas accumulator or a gas accumulator system including a plurality of gas accumulators. Furthermore, a TPRD may be used for the thermal overvoltage protection method. Thus, the other features disclosed in connection with the above description of the thermal overpressure protection can also be used for the gas accumulator, the gas accumulator system and the method of thermal overpressure protection. The same applies to the gas pressure accumulator, the gas accumulator system and the method of thermal overpressure protection.

Drawings

Further features and advantages of the device, the use and/or the method result from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show:

figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a heat rejection pressure relief combination valve according to the prior art,

figure 2 shows a perspective view of a high-pressure container unit according to the prior art,

figure 3 shows a simplified illustration of one embodiment of the gas accumulator system of the present invention,

figure 4 shows a partial enlarged view of the TPRD of figure 3,

figure 5 shows the closure member of the TPRD of figure 4 in a closed position,

figure 6 shows the closure member of the TPRD of figure 4 in an open position,

fig. 7 is a simplified illustration of another embodiment of the gas accumulator system of the present invention, and in particular of the TPRD of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Like reference numbers in different figures indicate identical, corresponding or functionally similar elements.

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view from the side of a combined heat and pressure relief valve 4 according to the prior art. The valve 4 is shown having a first housing 10 and a second housing 12. The first housing 10 includes a first end 15, a second end 24 opposite the first end, and a line 22 extending from the second end 24 of the first housing 10 to the first end 15. Line 22 is positioned such that it opens into and is in fluid communication with distributor 3.

The first and second housings 10, 12 define a chamber 20. Preferably, the second housing 12 has an opening 34 such that when the second housing 12 is received by the first housing 10, the openings 14, 34 of the first and second housings together define the chamber 20 adjacent the line 22.

A support 30, a spring 32 and a heat sensitive member 34 are arranged in the chamber 20. The support 30 is disposed adjacent the pipeline 22. A portion 36 of the support 30 disposed adjacent to the pipeline 22 is made of a sealing material. The remainder of the support 30 serves as a support surface against which the spring 22 urges.

It is to be noted that the shape of the support 30 allows it to act on the line 22 as a seal, but at the same time does not act as a seal in the chamber 22. Normally, when the valve 4 is in the non-actuated state, the spring 32 bears in a compressed state against the support 30. Thus, under normal conditions, the spring 32 pre-loads the support 30 towards the pipeline 22. The support thus acts as a seal between the line 22 and the chamber 20.

The operation of the valve will now be described, as previously described, the valve 4 being connected to an opening 6 in a distributor 3 which is fixed to a container 2 containing a gaseous or liquid fluid. Under normal conditions, the spring 32 is in compression and exerts a force on the support 30 to thereby form a seal between the line 22 and the chamber 20. Thus, under normal conditions, the spring 32 presses the support 30 towards the pipeline 22 by prestressing. The heat sensitive member 34 is arranged in such a way as to be aligned with the spring 32.

The heat sensitive member 34 has a melting point which causes it to melt or to discard its solid state properties when a predetermined temperature is reached within the container 2. When this occurs, the heat sensitive member melts and causes the spring 32 to decompress and enter the area previously occupied by the heat generating member 34. When the spring 32 is relieved, the support 30 is no longer pressed against the line 22. Thus, excess hot pressure may enter chamber 20 from line 22 and escape via outlet line 42. Thus, the valve 4 achieves heat rejection and prevents damage at the container and/or fluid.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a high-pressure container unit 10 according to the prior art. The high-pressure container unit 10 shown has: a box-shaped housing 22, a connecting member 20, and a plurality of cylindrical containers 18 arranged inside the housing 22, wherein each container 18 includes an opening 30B at one end portion in the axial direction, the connecting member 20 communicates with these openings 30B to couple the plurality of containers 18 to each other, and the connecting member includes a flow passage communicating the inner chambers of the plurality of containers 18 with each other. Further, the high-pressure container unit 10 has a discharge line 32 which reaches the outside of the housing 22 from the connection member 20 via a through hole 46A formed in the housing 22, wherein a valve 34 which opens and closes the flow passage is connected to the discharge line 32.

In the high-pressure container unit 10 shown according to the prior art, only one TPRD is integrated in the valve 34 for cost reasons, and accordingly, the thermal action can be detected only outside the housing 22 and only at one location of the high-pressure container unit 10, which is not satisfactory.

Fig. 3 shows a simplified first embodiment of a gas accumulator system 400 according to the invention, which consists for example of two gas accumulators 300, two in-tank valves 200 screwed into the gas accumulators 300 respectively, and a TPRD 100, which in the embodiment shown is integrated in a gas treatment plant. Accordingly, the valve unit 110 of the TPRD 100 has not only the components required for the TPS monitoring of the gas accumulator system 400, but also other components such as relief valves, pressure control valves, filters, check valves, etc.

As can be seen from fig. 3, the illustrated tprd 100 has a fluid path 101 in the valve unit 110, which is connected or in communication with two gas accumulators (high-pressure vessels) 300, in particular the contents thereof, i.e. the fuel, in terms of flow technology. A closing member 111 that can open and close the fluid path is provided in the fluid path 101. In the closed position, which corresponds to the basic position, gas, in particular fuel, cannot flow through the fluid path, so that the gas accumulator 300 is in a ready-to-operate state. However, if it is now detected by the first triggering mechanism 120 of the TPRD, for example, that a thermal event in the form of a fire has occurred at position St2, the triggering mechanism 120 may allow the closure member 111 to move to the open position, whereby the fluid path 101 is in communication with the second fluid path 102 (fluid line), whereby gas (fuel) from the gas accumulator 300 may be controllably vented or discharged to the TPRD's environment via the pressure relief port A3 of the valve unit.

In the embodiment shown, the closing element 111 is designed as an adjusting piston 111a, the function of which will be described in more detail later with reference to fig. 4. The first triggering mechanism 120 is designed as a test section, which here has a distributor to which a plurality of hoses and/or lines can be connected to realize the test section. As shown here, two hoses are connected to the distributor, each hose being routed to a respective gas accumulator, to enable possible thermal effects to be detected there at locations or regions St2 and St 3. Furthermore, a line is connected to the distributor, which line leads to a location or region St4, which may be provided, for example, in the engine compartment of the vehicle or in the vicinity of the vehicle brakes.

In the embodiment shown, the test section is filled with a liquid and preferably water and pressurized. The pressure prevailing in the test section is transmitted to the adjusting piston 111a, which is thereby pressed into the closed position against the spring force; in this state, the test section is hermetically closed or watertight closed.

If a thermal action now occurs at one of the positions St2 to St4, the sealing plug, for example made of plastic, melts in the line or in one of the hoses of the test section, water under pressure can escape, as a result of which the pressure in the test section or the first triggering means drops, as a result of which the spring can push or press the control piston 111a into the open position, as a result of which gas can escape via the pressure relief opening A3.

Fig. 4 illustrates a partially enlarged view of the tprd 100 of fig. 3. As shown in fig. 4, the regulating piston 111a is movably mounted in the valve unit 110 transversely to the fluid path 101, in particular in the transverse direction (direction perpendicular thereto) of the fluid path 101. The adjustment piston 111a has a long cylindrical piston body, and three seals 113 are provided in grooves on the outer peripheral surface of the piston body. The three sealing elements 113 are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the piston body, i.e. perpendicularly to the fluid path 101, so that two chambers K1, K2 are formed in the guide bore, in which the adjusting piston 111a is movably accommodated, which chambers are separated from one another in an air-tight manner.

Fig. 5 illustrates the closing member 111a of the tpr 100 shown in fig. 4 in a closed position. As can be seen from fig. 5, the pressure P1 prevailing in the test section (first triggering element) 120 acts on the left side of the control piston 111a and presses the control piston to the right against the spring 114, which is thereby pretensioned. In this position, the fluid path 101 opens into the first chamber 101 which is not in communication with the second fluid path 102, and the TPRD is therefore in a closed, i.e., non-actuated, state.

Fig. 6 shows the closure member or adjustment piston 111a of the tpr 100 of fig. 4 in an open position, i.e., in an actuated state. As can be seen from fig. 6, in the test phase, the pressure has dropped to a pressure P2 which is lower than the pressure P1, as a result of which the pretensioned spring 114 can move the adjusting piston 111a to the left into the open position. In this position, fluid path 101 leads into second chamber K2, which is connected to second fluid path 102, and as a result, gas from the gas accumulator can escape outward to the environment through relief port A3. As can also be seen from fig. 6, a groove is formed at the location of the chamber K2, i.e. between the two right seals 113, or the diameter of the adjusting piston 111a is reduced, in order to ensure that the flow rate of the outflowing gas is sufficiently high.

Fig. 7 shows a simplified illustration of another embodiment of a gas accumulator system according to the invention, in particular of an alternative optional TPRD according to the invention. In its basic structural aspect, the gas accumulator system shown in fig. 7 corresponds to the system already described in fig. 3. In the embodiment shown here, only the closing element 111 is not designed as an adjusting piston 111a, but as a closing piston 111 b.

As can be seen from fig. 7, the closing piston 111b is accommodated in the valve unit 110 so as to be movable in the direction of the fluid path 101 or in the direction of the gas flowing out via the fluid path 101. The closing piston 111b has a tapered valve body portion on a side facing the fluid path 101, which contacts a valve seat in a closed state, whereby the TPRD 100 is in a closed state. On the side of the closing piston 111b facing away from the valve seat, a piston surface is formed which is significantly larger than the valve seat surface, for example by a factor of 50 to 100. In this way, the pressure of 10-20 bar prevailing in the test section is sufficient to close the valve against a bottle pressure of up to 1000 bar loaded in the fluid path 101.

If the pressure in the test section now drops due to the action of heat, as in the above-described embodiment, the pressure acting on the piston face drops, and the closing piston 111b is pushed upward due to the pressure prevailing in the gas pressure accumulator and charged in the fluid path 101, and the valve opens, whereby gas can flow via the second fluid path 102 to the pressure relief opening a 3. In order to ensure that the valve opens even when the pressure in the gas pressure accumulator 300 is relatively low, a spring may be provided which pushes the closing piston 111b away from the valve seat if the pressure in the test section drops due to thermal effects.

It is obvious to the skilled person that the individual features which are described in the different embodiments in each case can also be implemented in a single embodiment, provided that they are not structurally incompatible. Likewise, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be provided in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

List of reference numerals

100 heat pressure relief device

101 fluid path

102 fluid line (second fluid path)

110 valve unit

111 closure

111a regulating piston

111b closing piston

112 take-over

113 sealing element

120 first trigger mechanism

121 detecting element (opening element)

130 second trigger mechanism

140 communication device

150 orientation detection device

A3 pressure relief vent

K1 first Chamber

K2 second Chamber

St1 installation site

St2 (first) other positions

St3 (second) other position

200 in-can valve

201 temperature and/or pressure measuring cell

204 safety valve

205 overflow valve

206 filter

207 filling channel

211 take-over

300 gas accumulator

301 connecting pipe

302 temperature sensor

400 gas accumulator system