ES2361760A1 - Apparatus for determining the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for determining the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank, which comprises a thermometer (3), a pressure sensor (4) and a solenoid valve (5), an input connection (7) and an output connection (8) and a microcontroller (11) which captures the information generated and, provided with the corresponding software, carries out the calculations on the basis of the specific features of the tank (2). The microcontroller (11) has a keyboard (13), a memory (14) and a connection port (15), which enables the connection thereof to an external management system, and optionally a screen (16). In one alternative embodiment for determining the hydrogen in the tank (2) in the transient state thereof, the apparatus also includes a flow sensor (17) arranged between the pressure sensor (4) and the solenoid valve (5).

Description

Equipment to determine the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank.

Object of the invention

The invention, as expressed in the statement of This specification refers to a device for determine the amount of hydrogen in a storage tank hydrogen solid, in which hydrogen is stored under the physical-chemical properties of the material content in the deposit and which presents a series of advantages and innovative features, apart from others inherent in its organization and constitution, which will be described in more detail ahead and that are an improved alternative to systems currently known in the state of the art for the same finish.

More particularly, the object of the invention is focuses on a team designed to take pressure measurements, of temperature and flow rate of fluids and the tank at which applies, preferably an interchangeable deposit but not limited to it, and that through the aforementioned measures of pressures and temperatures allows to determine the amount of hydrogen that exists in said deposit, thanks to the calculations of coupled electronic system, in the steady state of the Deposit. This requires knowing the type of bottle previously with the objective of obtaining the characteristic curves of the material of the deposits.

By measuring the flow rate, the equipment allows also determine the amount of hydrogen in the state transient.

The invention contemplates two variants of realization of it in two different teams, one where it presents the pressure and temperature, and other equipment where it is also Have the flow measurement.

Field of application of the invention

The field of application of the present invention It is part of the technical sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of apparatus and devices intended for realization of measurements, focusing particularly on the field of hydrogen storage tanks.

Background of the invention

Currently, and as a reference to the state of the technique, it should be noted that there are various market apparatus and devices intended for the purpose here concerned.

In that sense it should be noted that the company Jadoo markets a system for measuring the quantity of hydrogen in metal hydride bottles N-Stor. These systems are sold so indivisible.

This system has a visual indicator of filled, where each level indicator represents 12% of the total filling. The indicator is updated based on hydrogen consumed in the applications of the Jadoo commercial house.

On certain occasions the system communicates errors in the filling level, but can be corrected 100% filling the system in your Jadoo filling systems FillOne or FillPoint.

After analyzing the characteristics said system or device can indicate that the process of the bidirectionality That is, the discharge of the bottle is indicated by the docked screen, while the load seems to be that It can only be done with your equipment and charging 100% deposit. Which seems to indicate that the system only the hydrogen stored is discounted and the process when making a total load.

Also, Jadoo has a patent for a hydrogen quantity measurement system in a tank, WO 2008 /
076312.

On the other hand they are known in the market Flow meters, such as those sold by the company TSI Incorporated. Flow meters for the 4040 series and 4140

Measurement models of gaseous streams that present variable measurements pressure and temperature, such as the TSI 4040 and 4140 systems.

The difference with this type of equipment is the data collection and the treatment that is made of them. The data collection is carried out in situ , not being able to communicate externally, the three measurements at the same point and does not determine the temperature of the deposits, being a key point for the hydrogen measuring equipment. In addition, the treatment of data presented by this equipment is only to present it on a screen or register it, while the hydrogen measurement equipment proposed by the present invention presents it and indicates the amount of hydrogen that exists in the tank.

It should also be noted the existence of numerous related documents on the subject, among which it is worth highlighting, as more relevant, the following invention patents:

DE10360001 titled "Metal Hydride Hydrogen storage container fill level display for vehicle fuel use has sensors directly fitted in metal hydride mass with gas tight cable entry "and referred to a system that includes pressure measurements in the interior, measures the electrical conductivity of the material, measurements of the optical transmission factor, of the temperature by insulated epoxy resin cables. The system is all embedded in a single set, so it is not an indivisible system.

US2004200735 "Fuel gauge for hydrogen storage media", in which a system is disclosed that has an indicator of the amount of hydrogen absorbed in the material used. The system is based on the measurement of a parameter to determine that level (electrical resistance or pressure, although for the latter the temperature has to be measured). Then the system has a processor coupled to the indicator to determine the degree of material occupation
employee.

US5882384 "Gas source and dispensing system with in situ monitoring of pressure and temperature", consisting of a flow, pressure and / or temperature measurement system for adsorption storage systems. The system has an integrated system that allows warning when the equipment works outside the established ranges.

WO03016892 "Method and apparatus for determining the amount of hydrogen in a vessel ", relative to a hydrogen measuring system in materials such as hydrides metallic, chemical hydrides, organic hydrides and MWNT. The system It has PCT diagrams and van't Hoff data of each material for Perform the calculations.

In this case, to determine the amount of hydrogen, the system measures the temperature at one or several points and Get the average temperature. The pressure is measured through the surface tension and calculate the pressure inside the Deposit. Once both parameters are obtained, they use PCT curves of absorption or desorption, as appropriate and determine the relationship H / M, which multiply it by the amount of metal that the structure and get the amount of hydrogen.

The system can calculate both the amount in situ and the variations in the amount of hydrogen. However, no flow measures are named at any time.

US2003070487 Titled "Fuel gauge for hydrogen storage media ", which consists of a system to measure hydrogen in metal hydrides by measuring the pressure and the temperature. The pressure is measured directly at the nozzle, and gives different hydrogen quantity values depending on the temperature. And a colorimetric temperature indicator for Determine the amount of hydrogen.

In the same patent, the sensor can be a electrical system that allows calculations by processor and an algorithm.

US6285179 "Detecting apparatus and detecting method of absorbed hydrogen amount in hydrogen absorbing tank ", system that allows to determine the amount of hydrogen in a metal hydride system by resistance analysis electric alloy. This electrical resistance varies depending on the degree of absorption of hydrogen in the alloy.

US6155099 "Apparatus for measuring quantity of hydrogen ", hydrogen quantity determination system that exists in a tank through conductivity measurements electric metal hydride used.

WO2007032507 "Apparatus Hydrogen gas supply device and fuel cell ", relative to a complex measurement system of hydrogen in a set of tanks. The system has sensors temperature and pressure, as well as conductivity sensors of Electric inside the tanks. It is worth mentioning in this case that the operation of what is explained in this document is confused.

US4197095 "Heatless adsorbent fractionators with microprocessor cycle control and process ", which discloses a system consisting of a set of beds that adsorb gas, and While some beds are loaded, others are unloaded.

To operate the system in a controlled manner, the patent employs a controller, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flowmeter and solenoid valves. All this for the regeneration of the beds.

However, despite the numerous documents noted, it is not observed that any of the inventions and systems described therein, taken separately or in combination, describe an equipment to determine the amount of hydrogen in a tank of solid hydrogen storage similar to the one present invention advocates as claimed.

Explanation of the invention.

Specifically, what the invention advocates is, as already noted above, a device for determining the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank, preferably an interchangeable tank, but not limited thereto, since it could occur the case that the element is indivisibly attached to the bottle, or it can be supplied separately to the bottle. In any case, said equipment is equipped with means to take measurements of pressure, temperature and flow of the fluids and of the tank to which
apply

In addition, the team contemplates the incorporation of an electronic microcontroller coupled to it and that performs the calculations necessary for, with the measurements of pressures and temperatures, to determine the amount of hydrogen that exists in the deposit, being necessary, to know previously the typology of said deposit in order to obtain the curves features.

Also, by measuring the flow rate, contemplated in a second variant of the equipment, this can Determine the amount of hydrogen in the transitional state.

It is important to note that the proposed team can work continuously or discontinuously, depending on the type of installation to be applied. Through continuous work, the different components of the equipment include input connections and output as well as blocking elements, i.e. keys or solenoid valves that allow pressure measurements and temperature.

This circumstance allows to make a first discrimination of the necessary sensors. That is, depending on which configuration is used, the sensors can be selected at effect. Thus, for a variant of the team that works in discontinuous, only pressure and pressure measurements are necessary temperature, while for measurements with the setting in continuous it is possible to add flow sensors.

Once determined the sensor elements that are required, the measurement range is selected. This range will be defined, in turn, by the deposits to which destined the recommended equipment.

For the operation of said equipment, It requires a stage where the tank pressure can be measured. To facilitate this measurement, a solenoid valve is used which cuts off the hydrogen supply but allows the measurement of hydrogen. In the event that said solenoid valve was not viable, another supply cut system would be required. The possibilities that allow these measures vary from one option where only the equipment is connected to the bottle and cannot obtain hydrogen from the equipment, at an option with valves or external solenoid valves operated by the user or by the user team.

The connection of the equipment with the systems of storage is done so that the system is in union direct with the equipment, contemplating a manual valve that should be closed each time the measure of the amount of hydrogen through pressure and temperature, as well as the incorporation of a thermometer arranged on the tank.

Once the value of the amount of hydrogen by measuring pressure and temperature, the equipment can allow the passage of hydrogen flow without the need to disassemble it

By using a flowmeter, the amount of hydrogen in the tank is updated so constant, which allows to connect a bottle adapted to the equipment regardless of its load level, since the equipment is capable of determine the level of charge at that time by measuring pressure and temperature, and its variations are measured by the flowmeter

Regarding the electronic and electrical part of recommended equipment, which does not come into direct contact with the hydrogen, it should be noted that it carries with it the development of power and electronics systems for the acquisition of data.

Thus, the equipment requires sensor power. For this, it can either have interchangeable or rechargeable electric generators, or have an electrical connection to the grid, it should be noted that the power supply of the internal equipment can be very variable, including the possibility of incorporating a fuel cell
ble.

The signals generated by the different Equipment instruments will be sent to the microcontroller that allows to perform the appropriate calculations. These calculations can be invariable parameters or they can be modified by connection of the equipment with some specialized external system.

The data generated in the measurement process and calculation are displayed on the computer itself via a screen provided for this purpose or, alternatively, sent to another team for its management. Said shipment can be by direct connection to see data in real time or through storage systems data on the device for later viewing in the systems external

Finally, it should be noted that, to obtain the fundamental information of the equipment the configuration of a computer program to obtain the total amount of hydrogen. Due to the various factors that affect determining In this equation, each type of deposit has its own equation.

The basic equation is of the form:

one

To obtain this equation requires a study of deposits in detail. They have to be analyzed the bottles to get these equations.

When the deposits are analyzed and know the equations that govern its operation, this is will implement in the teams. This implementation can be done directly from the factory or can be incorporated by the user to the team through connections with the management system of data.

Given the above, it is found that the described equipment to determine the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank represents a innovative structure of structural features and constitutives unknown so far for that purpose, reasons that together with its practical utility, provide it with sufficient foundation to obtain the privilege of exclusivity that is requested.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being performing the equipment object of the invention and to help a better understanding of the characteristics that distinguish it, it accompanies the present specification, as an integral part of the same, of a set of planes, in which with illustrative character and not limiting the following has been represented:

Figure number 1.- Shows, in a diagram of blocks, a schematic representation of the equipment to determine the amount of hydrogen in a solid storage tank of hydrogen, object of the invention, in its variant embodiment without flow measurement, having represented in it, the flow of hydrogen with arrow lines while connections between the different elements of the equipment, with solid lines those of data, and with dashed lines the electric ones.

Figure number 2.- Shows, also in a block diagram, a schematic representation of the team of the invention similar to that shown in the preceding figure, in this case in its embodiment variant with flow measurement.

Figure number 3.- Shows a scheme of very simplified assembly of the equipment object of the invention in a hydrogen storage tank.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In view of the aforementioned figures, and of according to the numbering adopted, it can be seen in them as the equipment (1) in question, to determine the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank (2), in a first embodiment thereof, shown in figure 1, comprises a thermometer (3) coupled to said reservoir (2), and a pressure sensor (4) and a solenoid valve (5) or stopcock installed, in contact with hydrogen flow (6) from said reservoir (2), between an input connection (7) and an output connection (8).

These elements, that is, the thermometer (3), the pressure sensor (4) and the solenoid valve (5), which are electrically powered by the corresponding connection electrical (9) thereof to a power supply (10), are connected to a microcontroller (11) that collects the information generated by them, through the corresponding data connection (12), performs the calculations that allow to determine the amount of hydrogen that exists in the tank (2) depending on the specific characteristics of it, for which it is equipped with corresponding software.

In turn, said microcontroller (11) counts connected to it with at least one keyboard (13) for operation, with a memory (14) for storing the collected data and with a connection port (15) for data input and output that enables connection to an external management system, counting optionally with a screen (16) to display the information.

The described variant of the device (1) is specially designed to determine the amount of hydrogen that It exists in the tank (2) in its steady state.

\hbox{hidrógeno (6)
entre el sensor de presión (4) y la electroválvula (5).}

According to figure number 2, it is observed how the equipment (1) of the invention, in a second variant of embodiment, in addition to the elements described above, also contemplates the incorporation of a flow sensor (17), which is arranged in contact with the flow of

 \ hbox {hydrogen (6)
between the pressure sensor (4) and the solenoid valve (5).} 

Said flow sensor (17) is a sensor bidirectional and can be used both in tank charges As in the downloads.

With the incorporation of said flow sensor (17), the measurement of the amount of hydrogen in the tank is going constantly updating, allowing to connect a tank (2) adapted to the equipment regardless of load level, and that the team is able to determine the level of charge in that instant through pressure and temperature measurements, while its variations are measured by the flowmeter.

This second team variant (1) is specially designed to determine the amount of hydrogen that It exists in the warehouse (2) in its transitory state.

In both cases, it is important to note that, for a proper functioning of the equipment (1) and to determine the total amount of hydrogen, it becomes necessary to analyze and know the equations that govern the operation of deposits (2) in that this equipment is incorporated, to implement them in its software microcontroller (11), which can be done directly by part of the equipment manufacturer or by the user through connections with the data management system.

It should be noted that each type of deposit has its own own equation, the basic equation being the following:

2

Finally it should be noted that the team recommended, apart from the described functions, you can also used to perform tasks such as measuring hydrogen flows in a driving.

Describe sufficiently the nature of the The present invention, as well as the way of putting it into practice, is not considers it necessary to extend its explanation so that any subject matter expert understands its scope and advantages that derive from it.

Likewise, it is stated that, within its essentiality, the invention may be implemented in other embodiments that differ in detail from that indicated a example title, and which will also achieve protection that is collected as long as it is not altered, changed or modified fundamental principle.

Claims (5)

1. Equipment for determining the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank, applicable to determine the amount of hydrogen in a tank (2) in its steady state, characterized in that it comprises a thermometer (3), coupled to the tank (2 ), a pressure sensor (4) and an electrovalve (5), arranged in contact with hydrogen flow (6) between an inlet connection (7) and an outlet connection (8) and connected to a power supply (10 ) electrical, as well as a microcontroller (11) that collects the information generated by them, which, equipped with the corresponding software, performs the calculations that allow to determine the amount of hydrogen that exists in the tank (2) based on the specific characteristics of the same. 2. Equipment for determining the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank, according to claim 1, characterized in that the microcontroller (11) has at least one memory (14) for storing the collected data, and connection port (15) that allows its connection to an external management system. 3. Equipment for determining the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank, according to claim 2, characterized in that the microcontroller (11) has a keyboard (13). 4. Equipment for determining the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the microcontroller incorporates a screen (16) to display the information. 5. Equipment for determining the amount of hydrogen in a solid hydrogen storage tank, according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in a variant intended to determine the amount of hydrogen that exists in the tank (2) in its transitory state , it is also contemplated the incorporation of a two-way flow sensor (17), arranged in contact with the hydrogen flow (6) between the pressure sensor (4) and the solenoid valve (5).