The invention relates to a hydrogen discharge device for a motor vehicle, having at least one outlet opening for hydrogen at a body of the motor vehicle. The at least one outlet opening is associated with a hydrogen storage system of the motor vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,928 A describes a system for discharging from a motor vehicle gaseous fuel stored under pressure. For this purpose, the system has a leakage gas line which is guided to the outside through a motor vehicle body and which is connected to various impermeable casings of pressure tank valves and pressure lines and which in this way, via an outgoing-air opening in the vehicle body, vents from the fuel tract of the motor vehicle into the surroundings accumulated gas. The outgoing-air opening in the body, to which the leakage gas line is connected, is situated behind a body flap which is also used for the compressed gas fueling.
Connections for the emptying of hydrogen tank systems are normally situated in the underfloor of motor vehicles. DE 602 06 214 T2 describes such a motor vehicle having a hydrogen tank system for a fuel cell system.
Such emptying connections in the underfloor are often difficult to access when the motor vehicle is standing on the ground, since it is necessary to reach under the motor vehicle for this purpose. Moreover, such a connection has to be protected against unauthorized access, for example by means of a lock or special tool. For the purpose of emptying, a tube leading to an extraction device is normally connected to the emptying connection.
It is an object of the invention to design and arrange a hydrogen discharge device for a motor vehicle such that the simple, quick and safe handling of the hydrogen discharge device is ensured.
The object is achieved according to the invention by a hydrogen discharge device for a motor vehicle, having at least one outlet opening for hydrogen. The hydrogen discharge device is arranged below the engine hood in relation to the outlet opening such that, when the engine hood is closed, the outlet opening is not accessible and, when the engine hood is open, the outlet opening is accessible.
This has the advantage that, for the outlet opening, no securing measures, for example by way of a lock, are necessary to protect against unauthorized access. This function is performed by the engine hood securing device already present at the motor vehicle.
In one advantageous configuration of the invention, the outlet opening is arranged on the engine hood such that the outlet opening is moved upward during the opening movement of the engine hood and is positioned no less than 190 centimeters above the ground when the engine hood is fully open.
In this way, it is advantageously possible for hydrogen to be blown off outside into the surroundings without use of a separate blow-off tube and a blow-off chimney for overhead height. This makes it possible to omit work steps and yields good accessibility with an ergonomic working posture for the person carrying out defueling with hydrogen.
Preferred embodiments of the invention provide that the outlet opening is seated at the end of an outlet line which is guided below the engine hood and whose other end is connected to a valve device having valves arranged serially one after the other, these being, following the other end, a throttle valve, a shut-off valve and a check valve. By means of these valves, simple and reliable operation of the discharge device is ensured, especially if at least one hydrogen discharge line is connected to the valve device so as to serially follow the check valve.
The shut-off valve may advantageously also be designed such that, for example by way of a correspondingly small seat diameter, after the opening, it also acts as a throttle and in this way performs the throttling function of the throttle valve, which can then be dispensed with.
If the check valve is, via its outlet opening, a connection valve of the valve device for a further hydrogen discharge line, which is able to be connected, so as to serially follow the check valve, to the outlet opening of the latter, this has the advantage that a blow-off chimney of a building can be connected to the valve device in a simple manner, for example during servicing in a workshop, for the purpose of discharging hydrogen via the further hydrogen discharge line. The check valve can then be opened either actively by an operating person by way of a corresponding device or already by way of the connection of the hydrogen discharge line after sealing of the connection. In this way, it is also advantageously the case that a complete defueling operation is certainly able to be carried out.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the hydrogen outlet line or the hydrogen discharge line is guided, at least over a certain length, along a fastening point of the engine hood for the movable fastening thereof and, at least there, is of elastic form. In this way, it is easily possible for one or the other line to be fastened to the engine hood, and for the engine hood still to be designed to be swingable, for example in the vicinity of the lower edge of the windshield. Here, it is highly advantageous if the hydrogen outlet line and/or the hydrogen discharge line consist(s) of elastic, non-flammable plastic.
It is particularly advantageous if the valve device is attached below the engine hood, so as to be accessible in the open position of the latter, such that it can be actuated manually by an operating person. In particular, the valve device may be attached below the engine hood to the latter.
The invention will be discussed in more detail below on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment, wherein the appended
A hydrogen discharge line 7 is also indicated symbolically on the outside of the motor vehicle front section. The hydrogen discharge line 7 is guided, so as to run within the body, from at least one hydrogen pressure storage tank (not shown) in the rear section, and then along the underbody 8 of the motor vehicle up to a wheel arch 9, and then from the at the wheel arch upward in the engine compartment 10 below the engine hood 1 to the valve device 4 and 11 connected to the valve device 4 at a connection 11.
By way of the valve device 4, it is possible, in addition to this outlet line 16 with outlet opening 18 for hydrogen which is to be blown off into the environment, also to blow off hydrogen in a building, for example during servicing in a workshop, in that the check valve 12 of the valve device 4 is connected to one end of a further hydrogen discharge line 21. The other end thereof is connected to a blow-off chimney of the building (not shown) for the purpose of discharging the hydrogen, illustrated symbolically by a further arrow 22.
In their simplest form, the hydrogen outlet line 16 and the hydrogen discharge line 7 are designed as flexible pressure lines which may consist for example of an elastic, non-flammable plastic. It is then possible for the hydrogen discharge line 7 to be guided, at least over a certain length, on a fastening point (not drawn) of the engine hood 1, in particular on a hinge of the engine hood 1, for the movable fastening thereof.
By contrast to
The further hydrogen discharge line 21, with its free, other end, can, for the purpose of discharging the hydrogen, be connected preferably to a blow-off chimney of the building (not shown). Normally, the hydrogen discharge line 21 is then not part of the motor vehicle, but rather part of a discharge line crane (not illustrated) which is installed in the building and which, in particular inter alia, provides, at least in a pivotable manner, in particular overhead, the hydrogen discharge line 21 for use at the outlet opening (18′) of the valve device (4). Here, by way of its sealing connection to the hydrogen discharge line 21 via the outlet opening 18′, the check valve 12 can be opened already automatically, triggered by a mechanical or an electrical control device, or else by a separately required opening action by an operating person.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2017 221 849.5 | Dec 2017 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2018/083363 | 12/3/2018 | WO | 00 |