Patent Application
20160375760
Petrol, in most cases, is sold via gasoline pumps at petrol stations. This is not only the case for fossil fuels but also for alternative fuels, such a bio-ethanol or hydrogen.
There are going to be more and more electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles which are either equipped with a fuel cell or which comprise a combustion engine as range extender in order to produce electric current on-board, which can be stored in a battery. To date, such a range extender is being supplied with fuel from a conventional tank in order to combust the fuel to drive an electric generator.
Most recent developments enable the production of methanol using carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Examples for this can be derived from the following patent applications:
International patent application with the publication number WO2010069622A1, which was filed with the European Patent Office on Aug. 13, 2009 with title “VERFAHREN AND ANLAGE ZUM BEREITSTELLEN EINES ENERGIETRAGERS UNTER EINSATZ VON CARBON DIOXIDE ALS KOHLENSTOFFLIEFERANT AND VON ELEKTRISCHER ENERGIE”. This international patent application concerns an intelligent mix of energies with an optimum economic and ecological combination of regenerative and conventional electric current supply in connection with the production of methanol.
International Patent application with the publication number WO2011018124A1, which was filed with the European Patent Office on Sep. 9, 2009 with title “Verfahren und Anlage zum Bereitstellen eines kohlenhydrogen-basierten Energietragers unter Einsatz eines Anteils von regenerativ erzeugtem Methanol und eines Anteils von Methanol, der mittels Direktoxidation oder uiber partielle Oxidation oder tiber Reformierung erzeugt wird”. This International patent application concerns the deployment of a portion of regeneratively produced methanol and a portion of methanol being produced by means of direct oxidation or via a partial oxidation or via a reforming process.
International patent application with application number PCT/EP2010/064948, which was filed with the European Patent Office on Oct. 6, 2010 with title “VERFAHREN AND ANLAGE ZUR SYNTHESE VON KOHLENHYDROGEN”. This international Patent application concerns a reactor which is particularly advantageous for the synthesis of methanol using a syngas comprising carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2).
International Patent application with application number PCT/EP2010/067812, which was filed with the European Patent Office on 10 Nov. 2010 with title “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE INTEGRATION SYNTHESIS OF METHANOL IN A PLANT”. This international Patent application concerns a synthesis of methanol being integrated into an overall system. Coal or hydrocarbon is combusted together with oxygen in a furnace chamber. The oxygen is provided by a water-electrolysis. Carbon dioxide is washed out of the flue gas of this combustion process and is handed over to a reforming plant. The carbon dioxide together with the gaseous hydrocarbon is therein transformed into syngas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The syngas is then transformed to methanol in a reactor together with further hydrogen from the water-electrolysis.
European patent application with application number EP 11155310.3, which was filed with the European Patent Office on Feb. 22, 2011 with title “Verfahren zur Bereitstellung und zum Einsetzen eines Alkohols und Verwendung des Alkohols zur Wirkungsgrad-und Leistungssteigerung einer Verbrennungskraftmaschine”. This patent application concerns the usage of an alcohol (preferably a methanol-water mixture) for improving the efficiency and power of a combustion engine, such as a diesel engine.
The methods described in these documents are based on the use of carbon dioxide for producing methanol. This offers to possibility to recycle carbon dioxide by producing methanol. The correspondingly produced methanol can be regarded to be CO2-neutral or at least partially CO2-neutral, depending on the production method and energy supply.
Methanol is an alcohol which is particularly advantageous since it is the simplest alcohol that exists. In the future methanol will increasingly be used in connection with the mobility, in fact either to drive direct methanol fuel cells or to be transformed in combustion engines (such as range extenders).
For the applications mentioned before there is a demand for providing such fuels, combustibles or heating materials, such as methanol, in a form independent from petrol stations and independent from the existing infrastructure. The circumstances concerning mobility are going to see a considerable change in the next years. Thus, the installation of a distribution chain would be ideal which is based on sales points in different shops. For this, a container is needed which is able to safely store fuels, combustibles or heating materials. Furthermore, the handling of this container should be tamper-resistant and hazard-free.
It is an objective to provide a container which is able to receive, store, carry and discharge fuels, combustibles or heating materials.
In particular, the providing of an overall system with container and an optional (buffer-)tank, which enables a safe fueling of the tank (decanting) or the vehicle by the employment of the tank.
In accordance with the invention, an apparatus is provided for receiving, storing, carrying and discharging a liquid. The apparatus comprises a container with a discharging device for discharging the liquid. The discharging device preferably has a hollow cylinder shape and it is connected with the container in an area of a first side close to the container. It comprises a discharge opening in an area of a second side. In the area of the first side close to the container, a protective layer, or another mechanical protection, is provided being positioned with an offset of a minimum distance with respect to the discharge opening in order to prevent it from being destroyed or against unauthorized or unintended manipulation.
The present invention can not only be used in connection with vehicles, such as electric vehicles. It is also suitable for numerous other engine-powered equipment and apparatus, such as, for instance, gardening tools (lawn mower), kitchen and household devices, computers, ancillary units, ventilation systems, alarm systems, emergency systems and the like.
Due to the passive nature of the container, the discharging of the methanol fuel is carried out without electricity by means of gravitation-fueling. It is an advantage of this approach that no electric discharge or spark could potentially put the container on fire while being discharged.
Further advantageous embodiments can be derived from the specification, the figures and the dependent claims.
Different aspects of the invention are schematically depicted in the drawings:
The word liquid 108 is herein used for all sorts of liquids. It concerns, for example, in particular liquids 108 which are combustible and/or chemically reactive. Of particular concerned are fuels, combustibles or heating materials, such as methanol.
The word container 21 is herein used for a container or bundle which is suitable for receiving a liquid 108, for storing it and, in case of need, for discharging it. Preferably, the container of all embodiments is produced from plastic. Very well suited is PET (polyethylene), PP (Polypropylene), HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), HM-HDPE (High-molecular-weight polyethylene), UHM-HDPE (Ultra-highmolecular-weight polyethylene) or a fluorelastomer, such as for example PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), or a fluorthermoplast. Also suitable are plastics which are provided with a Fluorpoylmer coating (e.g. hydrophobic PTFE) or with an EVOH-coating (EVOH stands for Ethylene-Vinylalcohol-Copolymer).
The expression portable container 21 is herein used in order to refer to containers 21 having a weight and size so that it can be carried by a human being. The weight is preferably in the range between 5 and 25 kg. The size is preferably between a few centimenters and a maximum of 50 cm.
Exceptionally well suited are containers 21 which are produced by co-extrusion from one of the materials mentioned or from material combinations, or containers 21 which are (inside-)coated later by the application of one of said materials.
Exceptionally well suited are containers 21 or apparatus 20 which are produced by co-extrusion in the shape of a multilayer-extrudate (here preferably with a carrier layer of PET, PP, HDPE, HM-HDPE, UHM-HDPE and an inner layer of PTFE or EVOH). Formed components are produced by co-extrusion from which by means of further process steps the container 21 or the apparatus 20 are being produced.
Exceptionally well suited are containers 21 or apparatus 20 which are produced from preforms by means of a stretch-blowing or a blow-forming method. The preforms are preferably extruded or produced by means of a injection molding process. The injection molding process and the stretch-blowing or a blow-forming method can also be combined from a process-technological view in order to produce the containers 21 or apparatus 20.
Exceptionally well suited are containers 21 having an omniphobic or nano-coated (inner) surface. An omniphobic and a nano-coated surface have outstanding characteristics and repels fuel (e.g. methanol) reliably. Such an apparatus 20 does not have to be cleaned or only has to be cleaned rarely.
Euro-Plastic canisters, which are provided in accordance with the invention, can be used as containers 21 for all embodiments.
Plastic bottles (e.g. square or cylindrical), which are provided in accordance with the invention, can be used as containers 21 for all embodiments.
Preferably, the container 21 satisfies one or more of the following criteria:
Preferably, the container 21 has a round, oval, polygonal or rectangular horizontal cross-section and a round, oval, rectangular or funnel shape in a vertical cross-section.
The words discharging device 30 are herein used for a hollow, preferably cylinder-shaped (pipe or hose-)body which is connectable with the container 21. Preferably, the discharging device 30 of all embodiments has the shape of a pipe or hose.
The process described can for instance be carried out in a Silicon-Fire facility 100, as for example described in the initially mentioned international Patent application with the Publication number WO2010069622A1.
The methanol 108 is thus filled into a tank cartridge 20 instead being provided at a gasoline pump 10 for fueling. The tank cartridge 20 can be carried in a vehicle without difficulty in order to put it to use if needed, or the liquid 108 can be decanted at a petrol station or at another sales point right from the tank cartridge 20 into the tank 60 of the vehicle. The hose-free fueling takes place quickly and cleanly.
For the safe handling of the container 21 and for a hose-free fueling, a suitable mechanical protection is required. In the following, different examples are described which a very safe and robust.
Embodiments of the invention preferably have a double protection. On one hand, embodiments have the protective layer 40 to prevent a running out of the liquid 108. On the other hand, the protective layer 40 is set back so that it cannot be reached or manipulated with a finger. The minimum distance A is at least 6 cm for this purpose and/or the inner diameter D has a maximum of 1 cm. The offsetting is herein also called manipulation protection.
Preferably, embodiments comprise an inside or outside lying tube 22 at the container 21. The embodiment which is shown in
The tube 22 can be completely outside the container 21, it can reach partially into the inside of the container 21 or it can be completely inside. Depending on the arrangement of the tube 22, the discharge opening 23 for discharging the liquid 108 has to be carried out and/or positioned differently. Preferably, the discharge opening 23 is always at the deepest point of the container 21 in order to facilitate a discharging due to the gravitational force.
The protective layer 40 is designed so that it can be mechanically pierced, cut through or destroyed. For this purpose, a mechanical counterpiece 61 is provided at the tank 60 (see,
The mechanical counterpiece 61 (
In
Steps are shown in
Preferably, a single layer or multi-layer foil 41 is employed.
Preferably, a plastic foil 41 is employed.
Preferably, foil 41 is employed having a deformation behavior (i.e. the elasticity of which) and physical bursting characteristics (i.e. the failure characteristics of which) given so that the foil 41 can be destroyed by the mechanic counteraction with the mechanical counterpiece 61 and that the remaider of the foil 41 retract/shorten. In case of a homogeneous planar pressure, it should not be possible for the foil 41 to be destroyed, whereas it should burst at a punctual load by action of the counterpiece 61.
The discharging device 30 can now be connected to the tube 22. The discharging device 30 here has got an outside thread 32 and the tube 22 a complementary internal thread 24. The connection is provided by screwing the discharging device 30 into the tube 22.
In the assembled state, which is schematically depicted in
Means are preferably provided for all embodiments in order to allow air to stream in so that no pressure builds up in the container 21 which prevents or slows down the running out of the liquid 108.
Depending on the embodiment, the mechanical counterpiece 61 can be designed as needle (as shown in
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in the
Preferably, a membrane 42 is produced from a thin, non-tear-resistant plastic which can be destroyed by mechanical interaction with the counterpiece 61.
Preferably, a membrane 42 is employed having a deformation behavior (e.g. the elasticity of which) and physical burst characteristics (e.g. the failure characteristics of which) are defined so that the membrane 42 is destroyed due to the mechanical interaction with the counterpiece 61 and that the remainders of the membrane 42 retract/contract. In case of a homogeneous planar pressure the membrane 42 should be stretchable, whereas it should burst at a punctual load by action of the counterpiece 61.
Preferably, a membrane 42 is employed which is made from vulcanized rubber.
Preferably, a membrane 42 is employed which is made from Polyethylene (PE), Polyurethane (PUR) or Polyisoprene.
The elastic membrane 42 may optionally comprise a circumferential ridge 43, as can be well seen in
The mechanical counterpiece 61 can be designed as needle (as shown in
In situations where no intermediate tank 60 is employed, the apparatus 20 can be directly or indirectly coupled to a fuel pipe 203, for example, as indicated in
A second overall system 200 with tank 60 and apparatus 20 is shown in
The hollow cylinder 64 can be connected with fastening means in the tank 60, which are not shown in
In the following sections and the corresponding figures details of further embodiments are described. These details can be applied to the respective other embodiments and can be combined with other means of the invention described.
Preferably, the manipulation protection 45 is provided for many embodiments. It can be designed so that only a hollow needle 65 or another mechanical counterpiece 61 allows or enables the opening of the manipulation protection 45.
An embodiment with passages 28 and 38 and with discharge opening 23 has the advantage that air can stream in without problem and that thus no under pressure builds up which prevents or slows down the discharging.
Said range extender is designed to produce electric current on-board of the vehicle 201. This electric current can be stored in a battery 207 (
In accordance with the invention, the fueling of the tank 60 takes place without pressure and without the employment of pumps or the like. Due to the gravitational force, the fuel 108 runs from the container 21 of the apparatus 20 into the tank 60 as soon as the protective layer 40 has been opened. The apparatus 20 of all embodiments is thus designed for gravitation-fueling. The gravitation-fueling of all embodiments is done without electricity, since no pumps have to be driven. The fueling can be done anytime and at any place without requiring a power connection or even some other form of infrastructure.
The apparatus 20 is safe and thus can be distributed via retail businesses or even via direct mail selling. In particular if methanol is employed as fuel 108, this approach is particularly advantageous since methanol is difficult to inflame. Furthermore, methanol can be decomposed biologically if it should end up in water.
The described embodiments prevent or at least make mis-manipulations so difficult that a laymen does not get into contact with the liquid 108 unconsciously or ignorantly.
Preferably, securing means 50 are included to prevent a loosening and/or removing and/or an unconscious manipulation of the discharging device 30. The securing means 50, however, are optional.
An example of a securing means 50 is shown in
Preferably, a package band (made from plastic or paper) may serve as securing means 50 and which is for this purpose glued around the tube 22 and a part of the discharging device 30. This package band seals the tube 22 optically recognizable with the discharging device 30 and secures both with respect to each other.
Preferably, a splint, a rivet or a bolt may serve as securing means 50.
All embodiments of the invention can also be employed in order to receive, store, carry and discharge alcohol in order to use this alcohol for increasing the efficiency and power of a combustion engine. Details for this can be derived from the initially mentioned European patent application with the application number EP 1155310.3.
The apparatus 20 should preferably be designed as a passive apparatus 20 without sensor(s) and/or fuel pumps. When using the apparatus 20 in a vehicle 201, it is however important to “know” at any time how much fuel 108 is still left in the apparatus 20. It is indicated in
The vehicle 201 comprises a bay or port which is designed so that at least a part of the discharging device 30 can be inserted into a receiving opening of the vehicle 201. The receiving opening is connected to the fuel pipe 203 and/or to the (buffer)tank 60. In
The bay or port can be inside the car (e.g. close to the engine 202) or it can be acessible from outside the vehicle 201.
Details of a suitable constellation of wheel-side engines can be derived from the published patent application EP2199137A1 of the company Klingelnberg AG.
If the generator 205 is an alternating current generator, a rectifier (not shown) is employed. The inverter 208 transforms the direct current of the battery 207 or of the generator 205 into an alternating current in a form which is suitable for the engine/s 209. The engine control 212 (called engine control unit or ECU) monitors these procedures. The inverter 208 comprises circuit elements which are controlled and acted upon by the ECU 212. The ECU 212 is provided with input values I (signals) from the different components of the vehicle 201. The ECU 212 makes decisions based on these input values I and it outputs control values to the engine 202, the generator 205 and the inverter 208.
One sensor 301 is preferably present at least in the area of the receiving opening 62 (e.g. in the area of the hollow cylinder 37) in order to recognize a characteristic feature (e.g. the filling amount) of the apparatus 20 when or after inserting the apparatus 20 into the receiving opening 62 and to be able to hand it over to the control 212. For this purpose there is a signal connection 302 to the ECU 212.
Particularly preferred are embodiments where a mechanical feature serves as sampling means 300. Thus the hollow cylinder 37 might be provided with a drill hole, trench or nose which can be detected by the sensor 301. There could also be a small magnetic plate serving as means 300 that can be sampled and the sensor 301 can detect the position of the magnetic plate. The volume of the containers 21 might be coded via the position of the magnetic plate. By means of this, at the side of the vehicle a 10 liters comprising apparatus 20 can be distinguished from a 20 liters comprising apparatus 20.
The tank 60 is not mandatory. It is thus shown by dashed lines in
A connection via a fuel pipe 203 to the engine 202 is established when inserting the apparatus 20 into an overall system 100 or vehicle 201. In
The vehicle 201 might include a fuel display 303 in order to always display the determined or the calculated remaining fuel 108 in the container 21.
In order to secure the apparatus 20 in a vehicle 201, a bracket 400 might be used, a schematically presented in
Preferably, the bracket 400 is a spring bracket or a spring-mounted bracket so that it sits in the receiving section 401. The bracket 400 is swivel mounted in the vehicle 201 (e.g. at the optional tank 60 or at another part of the vehicle). The swivel mounting is not shown in the
In
It is optional to actuate a mechanical counterpiece 61 or needle 65 by means of an action mechanism 500 in order to pierce the protective layer 40 (e.g. provided as foil 41 or membrane 42). The piercing moment is shown in
In the
A short string 501 pulls down a needle 65 in
The principle just described, can also be applied to a hollow needle or to a counterpiece 61.
Preferably, the discharging device 30 has a length between 6 and 10 cm. A part of the length of the discharging device 30 can sit inside the container 21. In this case, preferably only a length of 2-5 cm protrudes out of the container 21 and a discharging device according to the invention.
Preferably, the apparatus 20 include handle for easy carrying and handling.
The vehicle or port of said vehicle 201 preferably includes a receiving bay or port for inserting the container 21. It is obvious that the shape and size of the receiving bay or port matches the shape and size of the container 21 to be used.
In preferred embodiments, the receiving bay or port comprises an opening for receiving the discharging device 30. If the discharging device 30 has the shape of a connecting tube or piece, as illustrated in
Preferably, the connection between the discharging device 30 and the opening is self-sealing when a protruding end of the discharging device 30 is plugged into the opening. It is, however, also possible to provide a sealing element which manually or automatically activated in order to establish a liquid-tight connection when or after the discharging device 30 is plugged into the opening.
In preferred embodiments, the receiving bay or port furthermore comprises an opening for allowing air to stream through the air inlet 39 into the container 21 while the liquid fuel 108 is running through the discharging device 30 into the fuel pipe 203.
In preferred embodiments, the receiving bay or port furthermore comprises at least one sensor in order to be able to recognize a characteristic feature of the container 21 while or after inserting it into the vehicle or while or after mounting the container inside the vehicle. This feature is used in order to hand over information related to the respective characteristic feature to a control (e.g. the ECU 212) of the vehicle 201.
In order to avoid sparks, solutions are preferred which are non-electrical. Very good and reliable results can be achied using mechanical and/or magnetic and/or optical solutions.
In case of a mechanical solution, a 3-dimensional feature is provided at or on the container 21 which can be detected by a mechanical sensor (e.g. a lever switch). If, for instance, a nose at the container 21 is inserted into a slot of the receiving bay or port, a spring loaded lever is activated. The movement of this lever then open or close a switch. Instead of a mechanical switch, a light barrier might be used. This light barrier is for instance interrupted if the container 21 with a specific mechanical feature is present.
A metal element (e.g. a metal inlay) can be attached to the container 21. If this metal element comes close to a magnet, a switch can be triggered.
If different sizes of containers 21 are to be distinguished, a coding scheme can be used in connection with the above-described sensing solutions.
If more information is to be conveyed (e.g. the capacity of the container 21 and/or a filling date), an optical solution is preferred where a light sensitive element (e.g. a CCD chip) is used to read a code (e.g. a bar code or QR-code).
The invention can also be used in connection with boats and other vehicles. The invention can also be used in small appliances which comprise a combustion engine or a fuel cell.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/346,311, filed on Nov. 14, 2014, which further claims the priority to European Patent Application No. EP 11182203.7, which was filed with the European Patent Office on Sep. 21, 2011, in the same name of the present applicant. These applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14346311 | Nov 2014 | US |
| Child | 15260267 | US |
