Fuel extraction system, fuel tank apparatus having a fuel extraction system, and fuel cell system having a fuel extraction system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11434019-B2
Application number	US-202016826977-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2020
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A fuel extraction system for extracting a gaseous fuel from a fuel tank. The fuel extraction system includes a conveying device which is configured to convey gaseous fuel and to bring it from a first pressure level to a second pressure level, a first line which is configured to connect the conveying device fluidically to the interior of the fuel tank, a buffer tank which is configured to store the fuel at the second pressure level, and which has a first outlet and a second outlet, at least one valve with a pneumatic actuating device, and a second line which is connected to the first outlet of the buffer tank and is configured to conduct a part of the fuel at the second pressure level to the pneumatic actuating device of the at least one valve. Furthermore, a fuel tank apparatus and a fuel cell system are described.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fuel extraction system for extracting a gaseous fuel from a fuel tank, comprising:
a conveying device which is configured to the convey gaseous fuel and to bring the gaseous fuel from a first pressure level to a second pressure level;
a first line which is configured to connect the conveying device fluidically to the interior of the fuel tank;
a buffer tank which is configured to store the fuel at the second pressure level, and which has a first outlet and a second outlet;
at least one valve with a pneumatic actuating device; and
a second line which is connected to the first outlet of the buffer tank and is configured to conduct a part of the fuel at the second pressure level to the pneumatic actuating device of the at least one valve.

2. The fuel extraction system according to claim 1 , the pneumatic actuating device of the at least one valve being configured to open and to close the valve exclusively by means of the gaseous fuel at the second pressure level.

3. The fuel extraction system according to claim 1 , comprising, furthermore:
a third line which is connected to the second outlet of the buffer tank and is configured to conduct the fuel at the second pressure level to a consumer,
the third line having a section which leads through an interior of the fuel tank and which comprises a first heat exchanger for evaporating liquid fuel in the fuel tank.

4. The fuel extraction system according to claim 3 , a first valve of the at least one valve being arranged in the third line downstream of the section through the interior of the fuel tank, and being configured to regulate a throughflow quantity of the fuel through the third line.

5. The fuel extraction system according to claim 3 , comprising, furthermore:
a bypass line which, outside the fuel tank, bypasses the section of the third line through the interior of the fuel tank; and
a second valve of the at least one valve which is arranged in the bypass line and is configured to regulate a throughflow quantity of the fuel through the bypass line.

6. The fuel extraction system according to claim 1 , comprising, furthermore:
a second heat exchanger which is configured to utilize the gaseous fuel as a heat sink for a coolant of a cooling circuit.

7. The fuel extraction system according to claim 3 , comprising, furthermore:
a third heat exchanger which is configured to couple the gaseous fuel in the first line thermally to the gaseous fuel in the third line.

8. The fuel extraction system according to claim 1 , comprising, furthermore:
a main valve which is arranged in the second line and which is configured to regulate a throughflow quantity of the fuel at the second pressure level through the second line.

9. A fuel tank apparatus, comprising:
a fuel tank for storing a fuel in a liquid and gaseous state; and
a fuel extraction system according to claim 1 .

10. The fuel tank apparatus according to claim 9 , comprising, furthermore:
a feed line into the fuel tank for filling the fuel tank with liquid fuel; and
a third valve of the at least one valve which is arranged in the feed line and is configured to regulate a throughflow quantity of the fuel feed through the line.

11. A fuel cell system, comprising:
a fuel cell which is operated by way of gaseous fuel; and
a fuel extraction system according to claim 1 .

12. A fuel cell system, comprising:
a fuel cell which is operated by way of gaseous fuel; and
a fuel tank apparatus according to claim 9 .

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Law Barnaby

Classifications

• F17C2223/0161

  cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG · CPC title

• H01M8/04201

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title

• F17C5/06

  for filling with compressed gases · CPC title

• B64D37/10 Primary

  to facilitate fuel pressurisation · CPC title

• F17C2205/0111

  Boxes · CPC title