DE102009049687A1 - Gas container arrangement for natural-gas engine of natural-gas vehicle, has controller temporarily controlling valve devices such that gas containers are connected with each other and gas flows between containers for pressure compensation - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement has valve devices (28, 30) attached to gas containers (10, 12). A common gas line (14) is connected with the gas connectors at its one-side and with filling nozzles (18) and a gas engine (16) at its another side. A controller (36) temporarily controls the valve devices such that the gas containers are connected with each other by a bypass line and gas flows between the gas containers for pressure compensation. The controller temporarily opens a bypass valve device that is arranged in the bypass line. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a gas container arrangement.

Description

The invention relates to a gas container arrangement for a gas engine with a plurality of gas containers and a method for operating such a gas container arrangement.

Natural gas powered vehicles often have multiple gas tanks to provide as large a volume of gas as possible. Depending on the size and distribution of the available installation space, these gas containers may also have different volumes.

A conventional gas container arrangement, as can be used for natural gas vehicles, for example, has a plurality of gas tank, each associated with a safety valve, which includes a shut-off valve and a flow restrictor, a common gas line, on the one hand with the plurality of gas tanks or safety valves upstream and on the other connected to a filler neck and to the natural gas engine; and a control device for driving the safety valves of the plurality of gas containers.

For gas containers of substantially equal volumes and symmetrical, d. H. about the same length and similar running gas lines to the containers, these fill with natural gas at about the same speed and thereby build up in about the same pressure.

In the case of gas containers with different volumes and / or different length / differently guided gas lines to the containers, however, there is the problem that they are filled at a refueling process at different speeds with the highly compressed gas, which can lead to different pressure levels. Such a pressure difference can lead, in particular in the case of partial refueling, to the response of the flow restrictor within the safety valve, especially in the gas containers with the higher pressure. But also pressure differences, which have other causes, can lead to the response of the flow restrictor.

As a result, the natural gas engine does not have the maximum possible amount of gas available for operation. Furthermore, a pressure equalization between the gas containers after the start of operation of the vehicle generates overflow noise, which is perceived by the vehicle occupants as unpleasant or irritating.

In order to avoid these problems, the individual gas containers could in principle be filled one after the other. However, this would require a complex piping and valve system. In addition, the above problems are often avoided or at least minimized when all gas tanks have substantially the same volumes and the refueling pipes are substantially evenly associated with the plurality of gas tanks.

However, there is a need for gas container arrangements for gas engines, which comprise a plurality of gas containers with different volumes and possibly also different lengths and / or arranged pipelines. Especially in the case of natural gas vehicles on the one hand a long range is desired and on the other hand is generally only a limited space for installation of gas containers available, so it is often advantageous to accommodate several gas containers of different sizes at different locations in the vehicle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved gas container assembly for a gas engine and an improved method of operating a gas container assembly for a gas engine, which allow as complete refueling of multiple gas containers with a highly compressed gas and / or disturbing Überströmgeräusche during operation of the Avoid gas engine.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a gas container arrangement for a gas engine with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments and refinements of this gas container arrangement are the subject of the dependent claims 2 to 4.

The gas container assembly for a gas engine has a plurality of gas containers, wherein each of the plurality of gas containers is associated with at least one valve device; a common gas line, which is connected on the one hand with the plurality of gas containers and on the other hand with a filling nozzle and with the gas engine; and a control device for driving the valve devices of the plurality of gas containers. According to the gas container arrangement is characterized in that the control device is designed to at least temporarily control the valve devices of the plurality of gas containers such that a first gas container and a second gas container are connected to each other, so that gas can flow between the first and the second gas container for pressure equalization.

Since the control device and the valve devices of the gas containers are designed such that a first gas container and a second gas container can be connected to one another as required so that gas can flow between the first and the second gas container for pressure equalization, Such pressure equalization can in principle be carried out at arbitrary times. In particular, the pressure compensation is not limited to the period of operation of the gas engine and the pressure compensation is completely possible. In this way, the user disturbing overflow noise can be avoided.

In one embodiment of the invention, the valve devices of the plurality of gas containers are associated with the respective gas tank on the side of the common gas line and each have a shut-off valve and a flow restrictor. The flow restrictors of the valve devices of the plurality of gas containers are designed to be deactivated and the control device is designed so that it can deactivate the flow restrictors of the valve devices of the plurality of gas containers at least temporarily.

In this case, the shut-off valves of the valve devices of the plurality of gas containers may preferably each have an electric adjusting mechanism which closes the respective shut-off valve when de-energized; the flow restrictors of the valve devices of the plurality of gas containers can preferably each have an electrical adjusting mechanism which releases a non-return function of the respective flow restrictor in the de-energized state; and the control device may preferably be designed so that it can at least temporarily each control the electrical adjusting mechanisms of the shut-off valves and the flow restrictors of the valve devices of the plurality of gas containers so that the shut-off valves are opened and the non-return function of the flow restrictors are deactivated.

In another embodiment of the invention, a first gas container and a second gas container are connected to one another via a bypass line, in which at least one bypass valve device is arranged. In this case, the control device is designed so that it can open the at least one bypass valve device at least temporarily.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a method for operating a gas container arrangement for a gas engine with the features of claim 5. Advantageous developments and refinements of this method are the subject of the dependent claims 6 and 7.

In the method for operating a gas container assembly for a gas engine with a plurality of gas containers, wherein each of the plurality of gas containers is associated with a respective valve device, and a common gas line, which is connected on the one hand with the plurality of gas containers and on the other hand with a filling nozzle and with the gas engine, is a highly compressed gas from at least one storage tank simultaneously conveyed into the plurality of gas containers. During a refueling operation of the gas canister assembly, the valve devices of a first gas container and a second gas container are at least temporarily opened to interconnect the first and second gas containers such that gas can flow between the first and second gas containers for pressure equalization.

In contrast to conventional systems, in which the gas containers establish a mutual connection only when the gas engine is started by opening the valve devices, which can then lead to the Überströmgeräuschen described above, in the inventive method already during a refueling operation, a first gas container and a second Gas container at least temporarily connected to each other such that between the first and the second gas tank gas can flow to equalize the pressure. In this way, even during the refueling process, a pressure equalization between a first and a second gas container (preferably between all existing gas containers) take place, which on the one hand leads to the gas containers are filled more evenly, and on the other hand early response of overflow by higher pressures in one Part of the gas tank prevented. This in turn means that an overall larger amount of gas (preferably the maximum possible amount of gas) can be filled in the existing multiple gas containers.

This refueling method of the invention can also be used advantageously in gas container arrangements with a plurality of gas containers of different volumes and / or asymmetric gas lines.

In one embodiment of the invention, the gas container arrangement communicates with a refueling device prior to refueling operation to determine the amount of gas to be delivered into the plurality of gas containers.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the valve devices of the first and the second gas container are opened at the end of the refueling process until a complete pressure equalization has taken place between the first and the second gas container.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a method for operating a gas container arrangement for a gas engine with the features of claim 8.

In the method for operating a gas container assembly for a gas engine with a plurality of gas containers, wherein each of the plurality of gas containers is associated with a respective valve device, and a common gas line, which is connected on the one hand with the plurality of gas containers and on the other hand with a filling nozzle and with the gas engine, is a highly compressed gas from at least one storage tank simultaneously conveyed into the plurality of gas containers. During a starting operation of the gas engine, the valve devices of a first gas container and a second gas container are at least temporarily opened to connect the first and the second gas container with each other so that gas can flow between the first and the second gas container for pressure equalization.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a method for operating a gas container arrangement for a gas engine with the features of claim 9.

In the method for operating a gas container assembly for a gas engine with a plurality of gas containers, wherein each of the plurality of gas containers is associated with a respective valve device, and a common gas line, which is connected on the one hand with the plurality of gas containers and on the other hand with a filling nozzle and with the gas engine, is a highly compressed gas from at least one storage tank simultaneously conveyed into the plurality of gas containers. During operation of the gas engine, the valve devices of a first gas container and a second gas container are at least temporarily opened to connect the first and second gas containers together so that gas can flow between the first and second gas containers for pressure equalization.

In the above-described methods of the invention, a leak test of the gas container assembly is preferably performed prior to initial opening of the valve devices of the first and second gas containers.

The "shut-off valves" of the gas containers associated with the valve devices are generally used to open and close the gas tank. They are usually designed so that they are closed in the de-energized state of their actuating mechanism, without the invention being limited to this construction. The shut-off valves are, for example, check valves which, in the de-energized state of their actuating mechanism, prevent the gas from flowing out of the gas container, but an inflow of gas, for example, is prevented. B. allow during a refueling operation, and are open when the actuating mechanism in both directions of flow.

The "flow restrictors" of the valve assemblies associated with the gas containers are generally intended to limit the flow of gas out of the gas containers and into the gas containers. For this purpose, the flow restrictors have, for example, a narrowing of the flow cross-section. In addition, the flow restrictor may additionally be provided with a non-return function, which completely closes the flow cross-section, when the pressure in the gas container relative to the pressure outside the container exceeds a certain value. The valve element may be biased for this purpose, for example by means of a mechanical spring in the opening direction, wherein the spring force determines the value of the pressure difference at which the flow restrictor closes.

The "simultaneous refueling" of the multiple gas containers is in contrast to a sequential refueling of the gas tank. For example, the refueling of the plurality of gas tanks via parallel feed lines, which are coupled to a common filling nozzle, so that the highly compressed gas can be supplied simultaneously / parallel to the plurality of containers.

The "refueling operation" of the plurality of gas containers comprises, in particular, the period in which the highly compressed gas is conveyed into the containers, but also periods before and after this actual filling of the gas containers in which the gas engine is not in operation. For example, the "refueling operation" may be defined by the length of time that the filler neck or upstream fuel filler door is open for refueling by a user.

Additionally, the "refueling operation" includes both continuous and intermittent delivery of the high density gas from one or more storage tanks into the multiple gas containers of the gas container assembly.

The above and other features, advantages and applications of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show:

1 a schematic representation of a gas container assembly for a gas engine according to the present invention;

2 a schematic representation of a valve device of the gas container assembly of 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

3 schematic representations for explaining the operation of the flow restrictors of the valve devices of 2 in the de-energized state of their adjusting mechanisms; and

4 schematic representations for explaining the operation of the flow restrictors of the valve devices of 2 in the energized state of their adjusting mechanisms.

The present invention will be explained in more detail below using the example of a gas container arrangement for a natural gas engine of a natural gas vehicle.

The gas container arrangement comprises a plurality of gas containers, wherein in the embodiment of 1 only a first gas container 10 and a second gas container 12 are shown.

Of course, the invention is also applicable to arrangements with more than two gas containers.

In addition, the gas tanks 10 . 12 this arrangement optionally have the same or different volumes. However, the advantages of the arrangement and operating methods described below come to bear in particular with different gas container volumes and / or asymmetrical arrangements of the gas containers and the gas lines.

The two gas containers 10 . 12 are via a common gas line 14 both with the natural gas engine 16 as well as a filling nozzle 18 connected. This filling nozzle 18 is for example with a gas pump of a natural gas refueling plant (general gas station) 20 connectable via a corresponding dispensing hose to a highly compressed gas, such as natural gas from one or more reservoirs of the natural gas refueling system in the gas tank 10 . 12 to fill the gas container assembly The filling nozzle 18 is with a tank flap switch 22 equipped, opening and closing the fuel filler flap 24 the filling nozzle 18 detected. Optionally, the fuel filler flap switch 22 also for detecting the presence of a fuel nozzle in the open filler neck 18 be educated.

In the common gas line 14 is still a pressure sensor 26 arranged to the gas pressure in the common gas line 14 to be able to capture.

In the common gas line 14 In addition, further pressure sensors, temperature sensors, valve devices and the like may be provided, which for the sake of simplicity in 1 are not shown.

As in 1 shown, is the first gas container 10 the gas container arrangement with a first valve device (also referred to as container safety valve) 28 Mistake. In the same way, the second gas container 12 with a second valve device (also referred to as container safety valve) 30 Mistake. The valve devices 28 . 30 holding the gas containers 10 . 12 are assigned, in particular an unintentional outflow of natural gas from the gas tanks back to the refueling system 20 or with open filler neck 18 into the environment.

The valve devices 28 . 30 the first and the second gas container 10 . 12 each include a shut-off valve 32 and a flow restrictor 34 , which are connected in series and the respective gas tank 10 . 12 upstream.

The gas container assembly further comprises a control device 36 on. This control device 36 receives signals from the fuel filler flap switch 22 the filling nozzle 18 and the pressure sensor 26 the common gas line 14 , In addition, the controller controls 36 the gas tanks 10 . 12 associated valve devices 28 . 30 , in particular their shut-off valves 32 and flow restrictors 34 depending on the operating state of the natural gas engine 12 and the entire gas container assembly.

Optionally, the refueling system 20 with the control device 36 of the natural gas vehicle. This can be done wirelessly, for example, or realized via a bus line integrated in the dispensing hose.

The structure and operation of the valve devices 28 . 30 the gas container 10 . 12 will now be based on the 2 to 4 explained in more detail.

As in 2 illustrated are the shut-off valve 32 and the flow restrictor 34 the valve device 28 (respectively. 30 ) connected in series.

The shut-off valve 32 is essentially designed as a check valve and with an electric actuator mechanism 38 Mistake. in the de-energized state of the actuating mechanism 38 is the non-return function of the shut-off valve 32 activated, in the energized state of the actuating mechanism 38 however, open.

With activated check function of the shut-off valve 32 can this z. B. during a refueling operation by the pressure of the natural gas in the storage tank of the gas station 20 be pressed so that the natural gas in the gas tank 10 (respectively. 12 ) can flow. An outflow of natural gas from the gas container 10 is however in this operating state of the shut-off valve 32 blocked. Only with energized actuating mechanism 38 and in this way deactivated check function of the shut-off valve 32 can the natural gas through the valve device 28 from the container 10 stream.

The flow limiter 34 contains, as in 2 illustrates a gas flow limiting function and a non-return function. In addition, the flow restrictor 34 with a mechanical adjusting mechanism 40 and an electric adjusting mechanism 42 Mistake.

As exemplified in 3 illustrates, the flow restrictor 34 in particular a narrowed flow cross-section 44 on, passing through a valve body 46 can be closed. At the valve body 46 For example, it is a sphere or a cylinder.

The valve body 46 is through the mechanical adjustment mechanism 40 in an open position (see. 3A ). Exceeds the pressure difference between the gas container 10 (below in 3 ) and the common gas line 14 (above in 3 However, a predetermined value, the valve body 46 against the spring force of the mechanical adjusting mechanism 40 against the opening cross-section 44 pressed and the flow restrictor 34 closed in this way.

The electric adjusting mechanism 42 It serves the non-return function of the flow restrictor 34 if necessary to deactivate.

While in 3A the situation of the flow restrictor 34 in the case of a currentless actuating mechanism 42 and at low differential pressure and in 3B the situation of the flow restrictor 34 in the case of a currentless actuating mechanism 42 and are shown at high differential pressure are in 4A and 4B the situations of the flow restrictor 34 in the case of an energized actuating mechanism 42 illustrated.

The energization or activation of the electric adjusting mechanism 42 deactivates the non-return function of the flow restrictor 34 , While this does not differ in the operation of the flow restrictor at small differential pressures 34 means, as the valve body 46 through the mechanical adjusting mechanism 40 anyway from the flow cross-section 44 is kept away (cf. 4A ), the valve body becomes 46 even with large pressure differences through the active actuating mechanism 42 prevented from closing the flow cross-section (see. 4B ).

In the embodiment of 3 and 4 has the electrical adjustment mechanism 42 a coil arrangement 48 on, in the energized state, at least one pin 50 or the like body inward to the flow cross section 44 emotional. This pen 50 prevents the valve body 46 even with large pressure differences on it, in the flow cross-section 44 to get to and the flow limiter 34 close.

The operations of the gas container assembly described above with the specific valve devices and the advantages associated therewith will now be explained in more detail.

For a better understanding of the invention, the operation of a valve device with a shut-off valve and a flow restrictor will be described first, wherein the flow restrictor in contrast to the embodiment of the present invention 2 to 4 has no electrical adjustment mechanism.

In such a container safety valve, the shut-off valve is in refueling direction by the gas pressure of the gas station during the refueling process 20 pressed. The natural gas then flows through the flow limiter into the tank 10 , The shut-off valve or its actuating mechanism only during operation of the gas engine 16 driven; It is therefore not electrically actuated during the refueling process and thus has a non-return function which equalizes the pressure between the gas containers 10 and 12 over the common gas line 14 generally prohibited.

In addition, since the flow restrictor is connected in series with this shut-off valve, it can also equalize the pressure between the containers even if the non-return function of the shut-off valve is deactivated 10 . 12 prevent. In such a valve device, therefore, no rapid pressure equalization between the containers could take place.

The mechanical adjustment mechanism of the flow restrictor also prevents the immediate activation of the flow restrictor, so that a defined flow would still be possible with activated shut-off valve. This defined flow would on the one hand flow through the gas required for engine operation and on the other hand, the compensation of rather small pressure differences less than 5.6 bar between the containers while enabling electrical control of the shut-off valve.

Is the pressure difference between the containers 10 . 12 however, greater than 5.6 bar, the spring of the mechanical actuator mechanism in this case can no longer keep the valve body within the flow restrictor open, thus activating the flow restrictor. When the flow restrictor is activated, only a very slow pressure equalization can take place via the throttle bore within the flow restrictor. In addition, this pressure compensation is only possible with simultaneously electrically open shut-off valve. This means that in the conventional gas container arrangement with the gas engine switched off, no pressure compensation is possible because the shut-off valve is not activated in this state and therefore prevents gas transport out of the container.

As a result, a pressure difference of greater than 5.6 bar which occurs during refueling (in particular partial refueling) can first of all only be compensated via the throttle bore when the engine is running and secondly only very slowly. However, during operation of the engine, gas is continuously withdrawn from the remaining container system, which counteracts pressure equalization. In other words, once a tank has been pressurized to greater than 5.6 bar when refueling a tank, the flow restrictor will respond again each time the engine starts. As a result, only the container of lower pressure is properly emptied by the engine. Due to the active flow restrictor, gas can only very slowly flow out of the container of higher pressure through the throttle bore. Depending on the gas consumption of the engine and the initial pressure difference between the tanks, the pressure difference may or may not equalize.

In extreme cases, the gas mass of the container of higher pressure due to the closed flow restrictor is thus no longer available for the entire vehicle operation.

In the gas container assembly of the invention 1 to 4 on the other hand are the valve devices 28 . 30 the gas container 10 . 12 by the control device 36 at any time so controllable that the check functions of the shut-off valves 32 and the flow restrictor 34 be deactivated. In this way, at any time a pressure equalization between the gas containers 10 . 12 occur.

Thus, for example, during the fueling process, two gas containers 10 . 12 be interconnected so that between them natural gas can flow to pressure equalization. In this way, a pressure equalization between a first and a second container (preferably between all existing containers) take place already during the refueling process.

The fast pressure equalization between the containers 10 . 12 is by deactivating the non-return function of the flow restrictor 34 with the help of electrical adjusting mechanisms 42 inside the tank safety valves 28 . 30 allows. These electrical adjusting mechanisms 42 prevent the non-return function of the flow restrictors 34 with simultaneous activation of the shut-off valves 32 or their electrical adjusting mechanisms 38 ,

About the electromagnetic coil 48 of the electric adjusting mechanism 42 can thus a fast pressure equalization between the containers 10 . 12 already take place during refueling. This in turn means that an overall larger amount of gas (preferably the maximum possible amount of gas) is available for vehicle operation.

The refueling process of the containers 10 . 12 includes in particular the period in which the highly compressed natural gas is conveyed into the container, but in addition also periods before and after this actual filling of the containers in which the gas engine 16 not in operation. For example, the refueling operation may be defined by the period in which the filler neck is 18 or an upstream tank flap 24 for refueling is opened by a user. He can also start from the moment, by the high pressure sensor 26 by the control device 36 a certain pressure rise gradient is measured, begin and with the cap of the tank cap 24 end up.

Additionally, the refueling operation includes both continuous and intermittent delivery of the high density gas from one or more storage tanks into the containers 10 . 12 of the natural gas tank system.

For pressure equalization, the solenoid coils of the shut-off valves 32 and at the same time the magnetic coils 48 the flow restrictor 34 in both gas containers 10 . 12 controlled during refueling. This control is also maintained immediately after refueling for a defined period of time necessary for pressure equalization. The gas containers 10 . 12 are caused by the simultaneous activation of the shut-off valves described above 32 and flow restrictors 34 directly connected. Since this connection is generally not desired at all times, this is done by the controller 36 controlled at specific times.

With the gas container arrangement described above, various advantageous operating methods can be carried out, which are described in more detail below with reference to exemplary processes.

Example 1: Pressure equalization during and shortly after refueling

Through the opening of the fuel filler flap 24 becomes a monitoring function in the controller 36 activates the pressure sensor 26 in the common gas line 14 supervised. By the first pressure surge from the gas station 20 is through the control device 36 over the pressure sensor 26 a positive slope in the pressure and thus the refueling process recognized.

After this detection, both the shut-off valves 32 open as well as the flow restrictor 34 by the electrical control of the control device 36 disabled.

Through pressure gradient evaluation, every single pressure surge of the filling station can be monitored during the entire refueling period 20 from the controller 36 be recognized. If the pressure drops disproportionately after a previous increase, the control device switches 36 each after a holding period to be defined by z. B. about 6 seconds, the electrical adjusting mechanisms 38 . 42 the shut-off valves 32 and the flow restrictor 34 again without power.

This safety function is necessary because the measured pressure drop is also the result of a line break in the gas line 14 could be. Therefore, the holding period is re-enabled for each pressure increase so that the hold function is available only once after each pressure increase phase. The hold function starts from the moment when a negative slope of the pressure curve results, and is active for a defined period of time. This prevents both valves in the event of a real line break 32 and 34 the valve devices 28 . 30 remain activated and the gas container assembly emptied uncontrollably.

While passing through the gas station 20 switched-on measuring stops and after refueling are both valves 32 . 34 each actuated long enough to equalize the pressure between the gas cylinders 10 . 12 to enable.

The simultaneous electrical activation of the second valve stage (deactivatable flow limiter 34 ) of the valve devices 28 . 30 This is the guarantor for the compensation of the pressure differences within the measurement stops during and after the refueling.

Example 2: Pressure equalization before engine start and while driving

The flow restrictors 34 the valve devices 28 . 309 are deactivated each time the engine is started. At the same time the shut-off valves 32 the valve devices 28 . 30 electrically controlled. In this way, there is always a pressure equalization.

For safety reasons, it is advantageous if, prior to the opening of the two valves 32 . 34 the valve devices 28 . 30 in each case a leak test of the gas system is made.

This could be done by prior sole control of the shut-off valves 32 happen. When the user opens the central lock of the natural gas vehicle, a leak test of the gas system takes place. This leak test can be defined as follows. It is first measured the starting pressure and then only the Duchflussbegrenzern 34 upstream shut-off valve 32 electrically controlled and the control then withdrawn.

In the process, the high-pressure sensor installed on the gas system is used 26 evaluated. The gas line 14 is intact if a slightly higher constant pressure value results after activation. If a pressure drop occurs in the high-pressure gas system after this activation, there is a faulty gas system. The flow restrictors 34 will not be disabled in this case and the shut-off valves 32 stay switched off.

If the leak test is successful, the flow restrictors 34 and the shut-off valves 32 be electrically controlled at the following engine start at the same time. The control of the flow restrictors 34 However, after a defined period of time, ie after completion of pressure equalization again withdrawn, so that the desired safety function of the container safety valves 28 . 30 while driving is preserved.

Possible pressure differences of the gas containers 10 . 12 , caused, for example, by thermal environmental influences, can thus be successfully balanced at every engine start or also cyclically while driving.

Example 3: Interaction of gas station and vehicle

The gas station 20 may after the placement of the filling tube by the user via a data bus connection made thereby, the control device 36 "Wake up" and the data of the high pressure sensor 26 and information about the vehicle to be refueled such. B. retrieve the cross section of the piping system or the container volume in total. The gas station 20 can thereby customize the refueling process especially to the vehicle type.

Also, the gas station 20 via the control device 36 the container safety valves 28 . 30 of the vehicle.

After placing the filling hose is through the gas station 20 first made a leak test of the gas system described in Example 2 above. If the gas system is tight, the electric adjusting mechanisms become 38 . 42 the shut-off valves 32 and the flow restrictor 34 driven. This activation takes place with all gas containers 10 . 12 , After that, the refueling process is started with active activation.

The control serves to enable a pressure equalization between the containers 10 . 12 , It will be used by the gas station during the entire refueling period and after the last pressure surge 20 maintained until a complete pressure equalization has taken place. This can be done via the pressure sensor 26 be recognized as follows. If the at the sensor 26 measured pressure has settled to a final value after the last pressure surge, the pressure equalization is completed and the gas station 20 takes the electrical control of the shut-off valves 32 and the flow restrictor 34 back. The refueling process is thus finished and the tank pressures balanced.

During refueling, the gas station side mass flow sensor signal may be used to detect a line break. If the mass flow increases suddenly during refueling, only a line break can be the cause. In this case, the refueling process from the gas station 20 immediately interrupted and an electrical control of the safety valves 28 . 30 withdrawn.

The bus connection via the filling hose allows communication between the filling station 20 and the controller 36 in the vehicle. Thus, the refueling process can be optimized in terms of speed. The gas station 20 always stores the most recently refueled amount of natural gas in the control device 36 from.

The gas station 20 can retrieve the data of the consumed natural gas mass determined by the consumption calculator, the vehicle tank volume and the most recently refueled natural gas mass directly via the bus connection. As a result, the exact required capacity can be calculated immediately and the natural gas vehicle can be refueled without pressure measuring stops. Since an estimate of the vehicle tank volume is no longer required by the use of pressure gauges, the refueling process can be performed faster without interruptions in one go.

Claims (10)

Gas tank arrangement for a gas engine, with several gas tanks ( 10 . 12 ), each of the multiple gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) at least one valve device ( 28 . 30 ) assigned; a common gas line ( 14 ) on the one hand with the several gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) and on the other hand with a filling nozzle ( 18 ) and with the gas engine ( 16 ) connected is; and a control device ( 36 ) for driving the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ), characterized in that the control device ( 36 ) is adapted to the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) at least temporarily such that a first gas container ( 10 ) and a second gas container ( 12 ) are connected to each other, so that between the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) Gas can flow to pressure equalization. Gas container arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the several Gas tank ( 10 . 12 ) the respective gas tank on the side of the common gas line ( 14 ) are assigned and in each case a shut-off valve ( 32 ) and a flow restrictor ( 34 ) exhibit; the flow restrictors ( 34 ) of the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) are designed to be deactivated; and the control device ( 36 ) is adapted to the flow restrictor ( 34 ) of the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) at least temporarily disable. Gas container arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the shut-off valves ( 32 ) of the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) each have an electrical actuating mechanism ( 38 ), which in the de-energized state, the respective shut-off valve ( 32 ) closes; the flow restrictors ( 34 ) of the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) each have an electrical actuating mechanism ( 42 ), which in the de-energized state, a non-return function of the respective flow restrictor ( 34 ) releases; and the control device ( 36 ) is adapted to the electrical adjusting mechanisms ( 38 . 42 ) of the shut-off valves ( 32 ) and the flow restrictor ( 34 ) of the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) at least temporarily so each to control that the shut-off valves ( 32 ) and the non-return function of the flow restrictors ( 34 ) are disabled. Gas container arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a first gas container ( 10 ) and a second gas container ( 12 ) are connected to each other via a bypass line, in which at least one bypass valve device is arranged; and the control device ( 36 ) is formed to at least temporarily open the at least one bypass valve device. Method for operating a gas container arrangement for a gas engine with a plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ), each of the multiple gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) each have a valve device ( 28 . 30 ), and a common gas line ( 14 ), on the one hand with the several gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) and on the other hand with a filling nozzle ( 18 ) and with the gas engine ( 16 ), in which a highly compressed gas from at least one storage tank simultaneously into the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ), characterized in that during a refueling operation of the gas container arrangement the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of a first gas container ( 10 ) and a second gas container ( 12 ) are at least temporarily opened to the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) in such a way that between the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) Gas can flow to pressure equalization. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the gas container arrangement before refueling with a refueling device data for determining in the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) to be conveyed gas quantity communicates. Method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) are opened at the end of the refueling process until a complete pressure equalization between the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) is done. Method for operating a gas container arrangement for a gas engine with a plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ), each of the multiple gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) each have a valve device ( 28 . 30 ), and a common gas line ( 14 ), on the one hand with the several gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) and on the other hand with a filling nozzle ( 18 ) and with the gas engine ( 16 ), in which a highly compressed gas from at least one storage tank simultaneously into the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ), characterized in that during a starting process of the gas engine ( 16 ) the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of a first gas container ( 10 ) and a second gas container ( 12 ) are at least temporarily opened to the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) in such a way that between the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) Gas can flow to pressure equalization. Method for operating a gas container arrangement for a gas engine with a plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ), each of the multiple gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) each have a valve device ( 28 . 30 ), and a common gas line ( 14 ), on the one hand with the several gas containers ( 10 . 12 ) and on the other hand with a filling nozzle ( 18 ) and with the gas engine ( 16 ), in which a highly compressed gas from at least one storage tank simultaneously into the plurality of gas containers ( 10 . 12 ), characterized in that during operation of the gas engine ( 16 ) the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of a first gas container ( 10 ) and a second gas container ( 12 ) are at least temporarily opened to the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) in such a way that between the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) Gas can flow to pressure equalization. Method according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that before the first opening of the valve devices ( 28 . 30 ) of the first and the second gas container ( 10 . 12 ) a leak test of the gas container assembly is performed.

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