| US20140124039A1 | 2014-05-08 | |||
| US20190271439A1 | 2019-09-05 | |||
| US20140110017A1 | 2014-04-24 | |||
| US8020589B2 | 2011-09-20 | |||
| US20210003256A1 | 2021-01-07 | |||
| US20100294393A1 | 2010-11-25 | |||
| US20160010799A1 | 2016-01-14 | |||
| EP2489392B1 | 2017-11-08 | |||
| US9328745B2 | 2016-05-03 | |||
| US20150219279A1 | 2015-08-06 | |||
| US20100307454A1 | 2010-12-09 | |||
| US11168841B2 | 2021-11-09 | |||
| CN101086322A | 2007-12-12 |
| - 4 - Claims 1. Feed unit for feeding hydrogen to a hydrogen propulsion system (2), the feed unit comprising a hydrogen storage tank (3); a hydraulic circuit (4) for connecting the tank (3) to the propulsion system (2); and a valve device (5) fitted in the hydraulic circuit (4) for controlling the hydrogen feed from the tank (3) to said propulsion system (2), and being characterized in that the valve device (5) comprises a first control valve (6) that can be moved between a closed position and a single open position or at least two open positions, and a second control valve (7) that can be moved between a closed position and at least two open positions; said first and second control valves (6, 7) being fitted in parallel with each other in the hydraulic circuit (4). 2. Feed unit according to Claim 1, wherein each of said first and second control valves (6, 7) is a solenoid valve. 3. Feed unit according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve device (5) further comprises a safety valve (8) fitted in the hydraulic circuit (4) between the tank (3) and said first and second control valves (6, 7). 4. Feed unit according to Claim 3, wherein the safety valve (8) is a solenoid valve. 5. Feed unit according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the safety valve (8) is normally set in an open position, and can be moved to a closed position if the electricity supply to said safety valve (8) fails. 6. Feed unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second control valve (7) can be moved between its closed position and a plurality of open positions. - 5 - Feed unit according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an electronic control unit (9) configured for moving the first control valve (6) to its open position and the second control valve (7) to its closed position when the flow of hydrogen demanded by the propulsion system (2) is substantially equal to a threshold value. Feed unit according to Claim 7, wherein the electronic control unit (9) is configured for moving the first control valve (6) to its closed position and the second control valve (7) to one of its open positions when the flow of hydrogen demanded by the propulsion system (2) is below said threshold value. Feed unit according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the electronic control unit (9) is configured for moving the first control valve (6) to its open position and the second control valve (7) to one of its open positions when the flow of hydrogen demanded by the propulsion system (2) is greater than said threshold value. Feed unit according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a housing (11), accommodating the first control valve (6) and the second control valve (7). Feed unit according to claim 10, wherein the housing (11) further accommodates the safety valve (8). Feed unit according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the housing (11) further accommodates a pressure sensor (12) for measuring the hydrogen pressure downstream from safety valve (8), the first control valve (6) and the second control valve (7). Feed unit according to claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the housing further has an inlet an inlet (13) upstream from the first control valve (6) and the second control valve (7) and an outlet (14) downstream from the first control valve (6) - 6 - and the second control valve (7). Valve device (5) that comprises a first control valve (6) that can be moved be- tween a closed position and a single open position or at least two open positions, and a second control valve (7) that can be moved between a closed position and at least two open positions; said first and second control valves (6, 7) being fitted in parallel with each other in the hydraulic circuit (4). Valve device (5) according to claim 14 having a housing (11) with an inlet (13) an outlet (14) and between them the first control valve (6) and the second control valve (7) and a safety valve (8) and a pressure sensor (12) for measuring the hydrogen pressure within the housing (11) downstream from safety valve (8), the first control valve (6) and the second control valve (7). |
Title
Feed unit for feeding hydrogen to a hydrogen propulsion system
The present invention relates to a feed unit for feeding hydrogen to a hydrogen propulsion system.
In particular, the present invention relates to a feed unit of the type comprising a hydrogen storage tank; a hydraulic circuit for connecting the tank to a hydrogen propulsion system; and a valve device fitted in the hydraulic circuit for controlling the hydrogen feed from the tank to said propulsion system.
Prior Art
Valve devices are already knwn, for example from US 9 328 745 B2, from US 2015/0219279 Al, from US 2010/307454 Al, from US 11 168 841 B2 and from CN 101086322 A
Disclosure of the invention
The object of the present invention is to provide a feed unit for feeding hydrogen to a hydrogen propulsion system which is efficient and which is simple and economical to implement.
According to the present invention, a feed unit is produced for feeding hydrogen to a hydrogen propulsion system as claimed in the attached claims.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached figure which shows in a schematic manner a non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention. With reference to the attached figure, the number 1 indicates the whole of a feed unit for feeding hydrogen to a hydrogen propulsion system 2 such as, for example, a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine or a hydrogen-burning fuel cell for supplying an electric motor.
The feed unit 1 comprises a hydrogen storage tank 3, a hydraulic circuit 4 for connecting the tank 3 to the propulsion system 2, and a valve device 5 fitted in the circuit 4 for controlling the hydrogen feed from the tank 3 to said propulsion system 2.
The device 5 comprises two control valves 6, 7, in the present case two solenoid valves, fitted in parallel with each other, of which the valve 6 is an on-off valve that can be moved between a closed position and a single open position, and the valve 7 is a proportional valve that can be moved between a closed position and at least two open positions, particularly a plurality of open positions.
The device 5 further comprises a safety valve 8, in the present case a solenoid valve, fitted in the circuit 4 between the tank 3 and the valves 6, 7.
The valve 8 is usually set in an open position, and can be moved to a closed position if the electricity supply to said valve 8 fails.
The feed unit 1 further comprises an electronic control unit 9 configured for: moving valve 6 to its open position and valve 7 to its closed position when the flow of hydrogen demanded by the propulsion system 2 is substantially equal to a threshold value; moving valve 6 to its closed position and valve 7 to one of its open positions when the flow of hydrogen demanded by the propulsion system 2 is below said threshold value; or moving valve 6 to its open position and valve 7 to one of its open positions when the flow of hydrogen demanded by the propulsion system 2 is greater than said threshold value.
The feed unit 1 has a number of advantages, primarily due to the fact that the assembly of valves 6 and 7 is relatively simple and economical, and enables valve 6 to provide a constant flow of hydrogen and enables valve 7 to provide flows of hydrogen that are smaller or greater than the flow provided by said valve 6. The feed unit/ the valve device 5 11 can have an housing with an inlet 13 an outlet 14 and between them the first control valve 6 and the second control valve 7, the safety valve 8, and a pressure sensor 12 for measuring the hydrogen pres- sure within the housing 11 downstream from safety valve 8, the first control valve
6 and the second control valve 7.
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