[0001]The present invention belongs to the field of components for automotive systems comprising hydrogen- powered fuel cells. In particular, the present invention relates to a tank assembly for storing hydrogen on board the vehicle.

[0002]Most automotive systems comprising hydrogen-powered fuel cells include a single tank in which hydrogen is stored at high pressure; a multifunction valve (OTV valve), for refueling hydrogen and supplying a fuel cell supply line, provided with several accessory devices, such as shut-off valves, exhaust valves, thermal safety devices etc., is attached to one flange of the tank.

[0003]Recently, the need has arisen to use a plurality of smaller tanks to replace a single larger tank, in order to use conveniently some spaces of the vehicle and allow electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles to share the same architecture, as it already occurs with petrol and diesel vehicles.

[0004]Such smaller tanks have some drawbacks. For example, it is not possible to attach a traditional OTV valve of the type described above thereto, due to the overall dimensions which do not allow it to be attached to the flange.

[0005]Therefore, there is the need to create a tank assembly, comprising a plurality of tanks, which is suitable for refueling and supplying hydrogen to use devices, and provided with the aforesaid accessory devices.

[0006]It is the object of the present invention to provide a tank assembly capable of meeting the needs of the field and overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks. [0007]Such an object is achieved by a tank assembly according to claim 1. The dependent claims identify further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0008]The features and advantages of the tank assembly according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non limiting example, according to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009]- Figure 1 shows a plan view of a tank assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0010]- Figure 2 shows a section of the tank assembly in

Figure 1, according to the section plane II-II in Figure i;

[0011]- Figure 3 shows an enlargement of box III in Figure

1 which shows a main inlet assembly of the tank assembly; [0012]- Figure 4 shows an enlargement of box IV in Figure 1, which shows a bottom assembly of the tank assembly; [0013]- Figure 5 shows a section of the tank assembly in Figure 1, according to the section plane V-V in Figure 1; [0014]- Figure 6 shows an enlargement of Figure 5, which shows a thermal safety device of the tank assembly;

[0015]- Figure 7 shows an enlargement of box VII in Figure 1, which shows a main outlet assembly of the tank assembly; [0016]- Figure 8 shows a section of the main outlet assembly in Figure 7, according to the section plane VIII-VIII in Figure 7.

[0017]With reference to the accompanying Figures, reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a tank assembly for an automotive system comprising hydrogen-powered fuel cells, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]The tank assembly 1 comprises a plurality of tanks 4; for example, in the embodiment described, the tank assembly comprises twelve tanks 4.

[0019]Each tank 4 comprises a tank body 6, typically cylindrical in shape, which extends along a central tank axis X, between a top end 6a and a bottom end 6b; preferably, the top end 6a is closed by a cap of the tank body 6, while a bottom assembly 40 is attached to the bottom end 6b in a gas-tight manner, as described below. [0020]Preferably, the tank axes X of all the tanks 4 are parallel to one another and the top ends 6a of all the tanks 4 are arranged on the same side, as all the bottom ends 6b, obviously.

[0021]The tank assembly 1 comprises a bottom manifold 10b, arranged on the side of the bottom ends 6b, operatively connected to the bottom assemblies of all the tanks 4. [0022]The bottom manifold 10b internally comprises a bottom channel 12b, extending transversely to the tank axes X, intercepting each of these, for example orthogonally. Pressurized hydrogen is supplied at one end IN of the bottom channel 12b for refueling the tanks of the whole tank assembly 1, while at an opposite end OUT of the bottom channel 12b, gas is supplied to use devices.

[0023]According to a preferred embodiment, the bottom manifold 10b is made from a semi-finished product made of metal material, typically extruded aluminum, provided with the bottom channel, then subjected to chip removal machining, for example to manufacture the seats for the connection with the bottom assemblies or for further finishing processes.

[0024]The tank assembly 1 comprises a main inlet assembly 20 (Figure 3), arranged at the end IN, integrated with the bottom manifold 10b.

[0025]The main inlet assembly 20 comprises a main inlet body 21, preferably in a single piece with the bottom manifold 10b. In the main inlet body 21, a main inlet door 22 is formed, in which a main inlet connection 24 is preferably housed for the connection with a fueling device for the supply of pressurized hydrogen.

[0026]In the main inlet body 21, a main inlet channel 26 is also formed, being connectable to the bottom channel 12b.

[0027]The main inlet assembly 20 also comprises a main shut-off valve 28, which is manually operated and normally open. Said main shut-off valve 28 may be closed manually to close the communication between the main inlet channel 26 and the bottom channel 12b, for example, in order to perform maintenance interventions.

[0028]Furthermore, the main inlet assembly 20 preferably comprises a non-return valve 30, which operates along the main inlet channel 26, so as to allow the passage of the hydrogen flow from the main inlet door 22 towards the bottom channel 12b during the refueling operations and so as to prevent the gas from returning from the bottom channel 12b towards the main inlet door 22 during the normal use of the tank assembly. [0029]Furthermore, the main inlet assembly 20 preferably comprises a filter 32, which operates along the main inlet channel 26, preferably between the main inlet door 22 and the non-return valve 30.

[0030]At the tanks, a bottom assembly 40 is attached to each bottom end 6b (Figure 4), preferably attached directly to the tank body 6 in a gas-tight manner and configured to put in communication the inner compartment 6c of the tank 4 with the bottom channel 12b.

[0031]The bottom assembly 40 comprises a bottom body 42, preferably in a single piece, for example made of aluminum, comprising a coupling portion 44 attached to the bottom end 6b of the tank body 6, and a main portion 46 which cooperates with the bottom manifold 10b.

[0032]An inlet/outlet channel 48, having an inner inlet/outlet opening 50 on the outer surface of the coupling portion 44 in the inner compartment 6c of the tank 4, and an outer inlet/outlet opening 52 on the outer surface of the main portion 46 in communication with the bottom channel 12b are obtained in the bottom body 42. [0033]The bottom assembly 40 also comprises a detection channel 54, having an inner detection opening 56 on the outer surface of the coupling portion 44, in the inner compartment 6c of the tank 4, and an outer detection opening 58 on the outer surface of the main portion 46 in communication with the external environment with respect to the bottom manifold 10b.

[0034]The bottom assembly 40 also comprises a temperature detection device 60 suitable for detecting the temperature of the gas in the inner compartment 6c and inserted into the detection channel 54. For example, said temperature detection device 60 comprises a protective cap 62 protruding into the inner compartment 6c from the inner detection opening 56, and a temperature sensor (not shown) housed in the protective cap 62, having a signal cable housed in the detection channel 54 and exiting from the outer detection opening 58.

[0035]Preferably, for the mounting of the temperature detection device 60, the protective cap 62 may be inserted into the detection channel 54 from the side of the outer detection opening 58 and, once in position, it is fixed in said position by means of a threaded spacer 64, screwed into the detection channel 54.

[0036]The tank assembly 1 also comprises at least one thermal safety device 70 suitable for releasing the gas contained in a predetermined tank or in all the tanks of the tank assembly into an emission zone if a temperature exceeds a preset threshold temperature (Figures 5 and 6). [0037]According to a preferred embodiment, the thermal safety device 70 is integrated in the bottom manifold 10b. [0038]To this end, the bottom manifold 10b internally comprises a safety channel 72, which branches off from the bottom channel 12b, and an exhaust channel 74 in communication with an emission zone by means of an exhaust opening 76 obtained in an outer surface of the bottom manifold 10b.

[0039]The thermal safety device 70 operates between the safety channel 72 and the exhaust channel 74 and is normally closed to prevent the gas from transiting from the safety channel 72 to the exhaust channel 74, while it switches to an opening configuration if a temperature exceeds a preset threshold temperature.

[0040]For example, the thermal safety device 70 comprises an ignition having a breakable bulb 78 and an interception piston 80.

[0041]The interception piston 80 intercepts the connection between the safety channel 72 and the exhaust channel 74, thus preventing hydrogen from escaping under normal operating conditions. When the bulb 78 breaks, the piston 80 frees the passage between the safety channel 72 and the exhaust channel 74, so that hydrogen can escape from the exhaust opening 76 towards the emission zone.

[0042]According to a further example, the thermal safety device 70 comprises an ignition comprising at least one wire that has at least one portion made of a shape-memory material (SMA).

[0043]The tank assembly 1 also comprises a main outlet assembly 90 (Figures 7 and 8), for example, integrated in the bottom manifold 10b or attached thereto. [0044]The main outlet assembly 90 comprises a main outlet body 92, preferably made of aluminum, having a main outlet channel 94 having a first branch 96 in direct communication with the bottom channel 12b, a second branch 98 which is connectable to the first branch 96, and a third branch 100 which is connectable to the second branch 98 and ending in a main outlet door 102, at the end OUT, for hydrogen to flow towards the use devices. [0045]A main outlet connection 104 is preferably inserted into the main outlet door 102. [0046]The main outlet assembly 90 comprises a first electromagnetically operated shut-off valve 106 which operates between the first branch 96 and the second branch 98, is normally closed and openable in an electrically controlled manner to allow hydrogen to flow towards the use devices.

[0047]The shut-off valve 106 comprises a solenoid 108, a piston 110 which obstructs the passage between the first branch 96 and the second branch 98 and magnetically operable by the solenoid 108, and an electrical socket 112 for the electrical supply of the solenoid 108 and preferably for the connection with the temperature detection devices 60 of the tanks 4 of the tank assembly

1.

[0048]The main outlet assembly 90 further comprises a second manually operated shut-off valve 118, which operates along the main outlet channel 94 downstream of the region in which the first shut-off valve 106 operates, is normally open and closable to obstruct permanently the passage of hydrogen from the bottom channel 12b towards the main outlet door 102, for example in order to perform maintenance work.

[0049]For example, the second shut-off valve 118 operates at the connection between the second branch 98 and the third branch 100 of the main outlet channel 94. [0050]Furthermore, the main outlet body 92 comprises a bypass channel 114, which forms a direct connection between the bottom channel 12b and the main outlet door 102.

[0051]The main outlet assembly 90 further comprises a third manually operated shut-off valve 120, which operates along the bypass channel 114, is normally closed and openable to bypass the first shut-off valve 106 and to directly discharge the hydrogen from the bottom channel 12b towards the main outlet door 102. [0052]Furthermore, the main outlet assembly 90 preferably comprises an excess flow valve 130, which is normally open and suitable for closing the passage of the gas when the flow of gas exceeds a prefixed threshold flow, arranged between the main outlet channel 94 and the bottom channel 12b, and preferably a filter 132 arranged between the main outlet channel 94 and the bottom channel 12b, for example downstream of the excess flow valve 130. [0053]According to a preferred embodiment, the filter 132 is arranged upstream of the bypass channel 114. [0054]Innovatively, the tank assembly according to the present invention meets the needs of the field and overcomes the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art.

[0055]It is apparent that, in order to meet contingent needs, those skilled in the art may make changes to the tank assembly described above, all contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.