Description:
Complete Specification

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a hydrogen powered vehicle, and more specifically to an apparatus to equalize pressure between hydrogen tanks in the hydrogen powered vehicle.

Background of the invention
[0002] EP 1800930 B1 describes an apparatus comprising a plurality of tank units for the on-board storage of hydrogen gas under high pressure in a vehicle. Each tank unit comprises a valve having an outlet responsive to a control means. A plurality of pressure sensors sensitive to each tank unit pressure to generate a pressure signal. The control means is adapted to respond to a vehicle operation signal and the pressure signal to control the sequence of exhausting of the hydrogen gas from each tank unit by opening the outlet of one of the valves, at a time, to exhaust hydrogen gas from one selected tank unit at a time, to power the vehicle, until the tank unit is evacuated to a threshold pressure. The control means is adapted to respond to the pressure signal representing a threshold pressure to open the outlet of one of the valves of one tank unit above the threshold pressure. Each tank unit is connected to an inlet manifold and valves responsive to connection of a refilling line to the inlet manifold to flow hydrogen gas from the inlet manifold into one or more of the tank units which are at least partially exhausted. The control means is adapted to respond to the pressure sensors sensing the pressure in the tank units in each at least partially exhausted tank to control the valves to flow the hydrogen gas first to fill each most exhausted tank unit until the pressure in the most exhausted tank unit reaches a final pressure equal to the maximum supply pressure available from the refilling line, or a maximum tank unit storage pressure, and responsive to a tank unit pressure signal indicating the presence of another at least partially exhausted tank unit to then control the valves to direct the flow of hydrogen gas to fill the next most exhausted tank unit until every at least partially exhausted tank unit is filled to the final pressure.
Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a drawing depicting an apparatus to equalize pressure between hydrogen tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus 100 to equalize pressure between hydrogen tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle. The apparatus 100 comprises a first hydrogen tank 110 containing hydrogen fuel, and at least one second hydrogen tank 120 containing hydrogen fuel. A connecting pipe 130 is positioned between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the at least one second hydrogen tank 120, the connecting pipe 130 adapted to equalize pressure of hydrogen fuel between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the at least one second hydrogen tank 120. A first valve 140 is adapted to close the first hydrogen tank 110 and at least one second valve 150 adapted to close the at least one second hydrogen tank 120. The connecting pipe 130 that is positioned between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the at least one second hydrogen tank 120 is inserted into the first hydrogen tank 110 through the first valve 140 that is adapted to close the first hydrogen tank 110 at its first end and is inserted into the at least one second hydrogen tank 120 through the at least one second valve 150 that is adapted to close the at least one second hydrogen tank 120 at its second end.

[0005] Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus 100 to equalize pressure between hydrogen tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle. The apparatus 100 comprises a first hydrogen tank 110 that contains hydrogen fuel. In addition, the apparatus comprises a second hydrogen tank 120 that contains hydrogen fuel. In a further exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a third hydrogen tank 160 that contains hydrogen fuel. In an exemplary embodiment, a first connecting pipe 130 comprising a first end 170 is positioned within the first hydrogen tank 110 and is in flow communication with hydrogen gas that is present in the first hydrogen tank 110. In addition, the first connecting pipe 130 comprising an opposite second end 180 is positioned within the second hydrogen tank 120 and is in flow communication with hydrogen gas that is present in the second hydrogen tank 120. Therefore, the first connecting pipe 130 when operational equalizes a pressure of hydrogen fuel between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the second hydrogen tank 120. Therefore, the first connecting pipe 130 ensures that no pressure differential exists between the hydrogen gas that is present in the first hydrogen tank 110 and the hydrogen gas that is present in the second hydrogen tank 120 during normal operating conditions of the vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 100 comprises a third hydrogen tank 160 that contains hydrogen fuel. A second connecting pipe 190 comprising a first end 192 is positioned within the second hydrogen tank 120 and is in flow communication with hydrogen gas that is present in the second hydrogen tank 120. In addition, the second connecting pipe 190 comprising an opposite second end 195 is positioned within the third hydrogen tank 160 and is in flow communication with hydrogen gas that is present in the third hydrogen tank 160. Therefore, the second connecting pipe 190 when operational equalizes a pressure of hydrogen fuel between the second hydrogen tank 120 and the third hydrogen tank 160. Therefore, the second connecting pipe 190 ensures that no pressure differential exists between the hydrogen gas that is present in the second hydrogen tank 120 and the hydrogen gas that is present in the third hydrogen tank 160 during normal operating conditions of the vehicle.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, a first valve 140 is adapted to close the first hydrogen tank 110 to prevent leakage of hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen tank 110 and a second valve 150 is adapted to close the second hydrogen tank 120 to prevent leakage of hydrogen gas from the second hydrogen tank 120. Similarly, a third valve 199 is adapted to close the third hydrogen tank 166 to prevent leakage of hydrogen gas from the third hydrogen tank 160. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, the first connecting pipe 130 that is positioned between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the second hydrogen tank 120 is inserted into the first hydrogen tank 110 through the first valve 140 that is adapted to close the first hydrogen tank 110 at its first end. In addition, the first connecting pipe 130 that is positioned between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the second hydrogen tank 120 is inserted into the second hydrogen tank 120 through the second valve 150 that is adapted to close the second hydrogen tank 120 at its second end. Similarly, in an exemplary embodiment, the second connecting pipe 190 that is positioned between the second hydrogen tank 120 and the third hydrogen tank 160 is inserted into the second hydrogen tank 120 through the second valve 150 that is adapted to close the second hydrogen tank 120 at its first end. In addition, the second connecting pipe 190 that is positioned between the second hydrogen tank 120 and the third hydrogen tank 160 is inserted into the third hydrogen tank 160 through the third valve 199 that is adapted to close the third hydrogen tank 160, at its second end 195.

[0007] Therefore, in operation, due to the uneven operating temperatures of the first hydrogen tank 110, the second hydrogen tank 120, and the third hydrogen tank 160, the hydrogen gas that is present in the first hydrogen tank 110, in the second hydrogen tank 120, and in the third hydrogen tank 160 are at different operating pressures. In addition, as the rates of depletion of hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen tank 110, from the second hydrogen tank 120, and from the third hydrogen tank 160 are different, the hydrogen gas that is present in the first hydrogen tank 110, in the second hydrogen tank 120, and in the third hydrogen tank 160 are at different operating pressures. In order to reduce the uneven flow rates of hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen tank 110, the second hydrogen tank 120, and the third hydrogen tank 160 due to this differential pressure, the first connecting pipe 130 equalizes the operating pressure between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the second hydrogen tank 120. Similarly, the second connecting pipe 190 equalizes the operating pressure between the second hydrogen tank 120 and the third hydrogen tank 160.
[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, a first valve 140 is adapted to close the first hydrogen tank 110 at its base portion 191 to prevent leakage of hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen tank 110, and the second valve 150 is adapted to close the second hydrogen tank 120 at its base portion 193 to prevent leakage of hydrogen gas from the second hydrogen tank 120. In a similar manner, the third valve 199 is adapted to close the third hydrogen tank 160 at its base portion 194 to prevent leakage of hydrogen gas from the third hydrogen tank 160. Similarly, a third valve 199 is adapted to close the third hydrogen tank 160 at its base portion 194 to prevent leakage of hydrogen gas from the third hydrogen tank 160. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, the first connecting pipe 130 that is positioned between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the second hydrogen tank 120 is inserted into the first hydrogen tank 110 through the first valve 140 that is adapted to close the first hydrogen tank 110 at its base portion 191, at its first end 170. In addition, the first connecting pipe 130 that is positioned between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the second hydrogen tank 120 is inserted into the second hydrogen tank 120 through the second valve 150 that is adapted to close the second hydrogen tank at its base portion 193 at its second end. Similarly, in an exemplary embodiment, the second connecting pipe 190 that is positioned between the second hydrogen tank 120 and the third hydrogen tank 160 is inserted into the second hydrogen tank 120 through the second valve 150 that is adapted to close the second hydrogen tank 120 at its first end 192. In addition, the second connecting pipe 190 that is positioned between the second hydrogen tank 120 and the third hydrogen tank 160 is inserted into the third hydrogen tank 160 through the third valve 199 that is adapted to close the third hydrogen tank 160 at its second end 195.

[0009] Therefore, in operation, due to the uneven operating temperatures of the first hydrogen tank 110, the second hydrogen tank 120, and the third hydrogen tank 160, the hydrogen gas that is present in the first hydrogen tank 110, in the second hydrogen tank 120, and in the third hydrogen tank 160 are at different operating pressures. In addition, as the rates of depletion of hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen tank 110, from the second hydrogen tank 120, and from the third hydrogen tank 160 are different, the hydrogen gas that is present in the first hydrogen tank 110, in the second hydrogen tank 120, and in the third hydrogen tank 160 are at different operating pressures. In order to reduce the uneven flow rates of hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen tank 110, the second hydrogen tank 120, and the third hydrogen tank 160 due to this differential pressure, the first connecting pipe 130 equalizes the operating pressure between the first hydrogen tank 110 and the second hydrogen tank 120. Similarly, the second connecting pipe 190 equalizes the operating pressure between the second hydrogen tank 120 and the third hydrogen tank 160.

[0010] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We Claim

1. An apparatus (100) to equalize pressure between hydrogen tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle, the apparatus (100) comprising:
a first hydrogen tank (110) containing hydrogen fuel;
at least one second hydrogen tank (120) containing hydrogen fuel; and
a connecting pipe (130) positioned between said first hydrogen tank (110) and said at least one second hydrogen tank (120), said connecting pipe (130) adapted to equalize pressure of hydrogen fuel between said first hydrogen tank (110) and said at least one second hydrogen tank (120).

2. The apparatus (100) to equalize pressure between hydrogen tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle in accordance with Claim 1, further comprising a first valve (140) adapted to close said first hydrogen tank (110) and at least one second valve (150) adapted to close said at least one second hydrogen tank (120).

3. The apparatus (100) to equalize pressure between hydrogen tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle in accordance with Claim 2, wherein said connecting pipe (130) that is positioned between said first hydrogen tank (110) and said second hydrogen tank (120) is inserted into said first hydrogen tank (110) through said first valve (140) that is adapted to close said first hydrogen tank (110) at its first end and is inserted into said second hydrogen tank (120) through said at least one second valve (150) that is adapted to close said at least one second hydrogen tank (120) at its opposite second end.

4. The apparatus (100) to equalize pressure between hydrogen tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle in accordance with Claim 1, further comprising a first valve (140) adapted to close said first hydrogen tank (110) at its base portion and at least one second valve (150) adapted to close said at least one second hydrogen tank (120) at its base portion.

5. The apparatus (100) to equalize pressure between hydrogen tanks in a hydrogen powered vehicle in accordance with Claim 4, wherein said connecting pipe (130) that is positioned between said first hydrogen tank (110) and said second hydrogen tank (120) is inserted into said first hydrogen tank (110) through said first valve (140) that is adapted to close said first hydrogen tank (110) at its base portion at its first end and is inserted into said second hydrogen tank through said at least one second valve (150) that is adapted to close said at least one second hydrogen tank (120) at its base portion at its opposite second end.