DE102019121979A1 - Water supply system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a water supply system (1) for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising a tank (2) for supplying water to the internal combustion engine and a cleaning device (3) for purifying water in the tank (2).

Description

The invention relates to a water supply system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.

The US5466425 discloses a method of reducing biological organisms in a liquid wastewater comprising irradiating the waste water with ultraviolet radiation.

The water supply system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle according to the present invention comprises a tank for supplying water for the internal combustion engine and a purifier for purifying water in the tank.

By the cleaning device, a growth of biological material in the water of the tank is reduced and / or prevented. This makes it possible to maintain a sufficiently high water quality so that the water is suitable for use in the internal combustion engine, for example for an injection device of the internal combustion engine.

Preferably, the cleaning device comprises a heater operable with electrical energy for heating water in the tank.

This provides a technically simple way to reduce and / or prevent the growth of biological material in the water of the tank. Increasing the temperature of the water through the heater to preferably above 60 ° C kills algae, bacteria and / or other biological material. This allows no increase in the proportion of biological material in the water to take place and thus the water quality does not decrease unfavorably.

In addition, the cleaning device makes it possible to adjust a pH of the water such that the water is suitable for use, for example in an injection device. Within the scope of the invention, it has been found that a pH value of 7 is particularly advantageous for this purpose. An adjustment of this pH is made possible by the cleaning device.

Preferably, the water supply system comprises a recovery system. This is designed to recover water from the internal combustion engine and / or an environment of the internal combustion engine and supply it to the tank.

By the recovery system, it is possible that water, for example, from exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, is recovered. Thus, it is possible that a manual filling of the tank with water is advantageously avoided. This allows a reduction of maintenance costs for the internal combustion engine and / or an increase in the comfort for a driver of the vehicle.

By recovering the water from exhaust gas and supplying the water to the tank, germs of biological material can be transferred into the tank. These germs would grow unchecked without further action. Through this, the water quality would disadvantageously decrease, which is advantageously reduced and / or prevented by operation of the cleaning device.

The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

• 1 schematisch ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Wasserbereitstellungssystems,
• 2 schematisch ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Wasserbereitstellungssystems und
• 3 schematisch ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Wasserbereitstellungssystems.

Preferred embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. It shows

• 1 schematically a first embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention,
• 2 schematically a second embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention and
• 3 schematically a third embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention.

1 shows a first embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention 1 for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The water supply system 1 includes a tank 2 for providing water for the internal combustion engine and a cleaning device 3 for cleaning water in the tank 2 ,

The cleaning device 3 includes a heater operable with electrical energy 5 for heating water in the tank 2 ,

The electric heater 5 is formed in this embodiment as a heating coil. The heating coil is located on an outer side of an outer shell of the tank 2 , The outer shell has sections of a Keramikkunststoffkomposit, with a thermal conductivity greater than 10 W / (m K). These sections are adjacent to the heating coil on the outer shell of the tank 2 arranged. The distance between turns is 5% of the z-dimension of the tank 2 , This allows good heat transfer between the heating coil and water in the tank 2 ,

The fact that the heating coil is arranged on an outer side of the outer shell, it does not come into direct contact with water from the tank 2 , This allows a low corrosion and thus an increase in the durability of the heating coil.

Alternatively, the electric heater 5 formed as a heating plate which adjacent uu an outer side of the outer shell of the tank 2 is arranged.

The cleaning device 3 includes a sensor 7d for determining properties of the water in the tank 2 , The cleaning device 3 is designed and set up to carry out a purification of the water on the basis of the determined properties of the water.

The sensor 7d is formed in this embodiment as an optical sensor. This comprises a light source and a photodiode, whereby a determination of the turbidity of the water in the tank 2 is possible. The turbidity is a measure of the proportion of biological material that is in the water.

The signal of the sensor 7d is used to control the heating 5 used. Once a turbidity of the water is detected, which is above a threshold value for the turbidity of the water, the heating 5 turned on. The heater is then operated so that the water has a temperature of at least 60 ° C during cleaning.

This allows a reduction in operating costs compared to a variant in which the water temperature is kept constant above 60 ° C.

The cleaning device 3 is configured and configured such that it can be operated with electrical energy from an electrical system of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the electrical system supplies 12 V. Alternatively, 48 V or the supply via photovoltaic system of the vehicle are conceivable.

This allows easy operation of the electric heater 5 because no additional supply is needed, since the electrical system is present in conventional vehicles anyway.

2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention 1 , The cleaning device 3 includes a UV system 6 for irradiating water in the tank 2 with UV radiation.

This allows organic material in water of the tank to be rendered harmless. Further growth of the biological material is thus reduced and / or prevented.

The UV system 6 includes a UV lamp operable with electrical energy 6b , The UV lamp 6b is supplied with electrical energy via the electrical system.

The UV lamp 6b is outside the tank 2 positioned. This allows a longer life of the UV lamp 6b because corrosion-related damage is reduced and / or prevented.

The Tank 2 In this embodiment, at least in sections, a UV-permeable outer shell 6a on. The UV system 6 is formed, the UV radiation through the UV-permeable outer shell 6a in the tank 2 contribute. The UV-permeable outer shell 6a includes Plexiglas. It is arranged in such a way that escaping light from the UV lamp 6b almost completely into the interior of the tank 3 is directed.

This allows a high durability and low production costs for the UV system 6 and high efficiency during operation of the UV system 6 ,

3 schematically shows a third embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention 1 , The cleaning device 3 includes a chemical device 7 for introducing a chemical into the tank 2 , The chemical device 7 includes a first chemical tank 7a to provide the first chemical.

By the chemical device 7 will be an adjustment of the pH of the water in the tank 2 allows. This allows a smooth use of the water for the internal combustion engine. In the process, damaging pH values for the internal combustion engine are reduced and / or prevented.

The sensor 7d is formed in this embodiment as an electrically operable pH sensor. The pH sensor is operated via the vehicle electrical system. This allows a determination of the pH of the water in the tank 2 ,

In this embodiment, the first chemical tank comprises 7a an acidic liquid. By means of the sensor value of the sensor 7d it is possible to control the pH of the water, whereby basic pH values can be neutralized. This advantageously reduces and / or prevents the effects of basic liquids on the internal combustion engine.

The chemical device 7 includes a second chemical tank 7b to provide a second chemical. The cleaning device 3 is designed and arranged such that the Introduction of the first and the second chemical can be carried out independently.

In this embodiment, the second chemical tank comprises 7b a basic liquid. This allows bidirectional control of the pH, which also reduces and / or prevents the effects of acids on the internal combustion engine.

The chemical device 7 includes an electrically operable mixing valve 7c , The mixing valve 7 c is operated via the vehicle electrical system. Through the mixing valve 7c is a separate control of chemicals from the first chemical tank 7a and the second chemical tank 7b allows which the tank 2 be supplied.

In the previously mentioned embodiments, the water supply system comprises 1 a recovery system 4 , which is designed to recover water from the internal combustion engine and / or an environment of the internal combustion engine and the tank 2 supply.

In this embodiment, the recovery system 4 designed and set up to recover water from an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine. In this case, hot exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine is cooled by means of a cooler. Subsequently, water from the cooled exhaust gas by means of a condenser. The water thus condensed is passed through an opening 2a in the tank 2 initiated.

After cleaning, the water is supplied as needed to an injector of the internal combustion engine. It will allow a manual refilling of the tank 2 is advantageously avoided with water for operating the injector. This allows a reduction of maintenance costs for the internal combustion engine.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 5466425 [0002]

Claims (10)

A water supply system (1) for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising a tank (2) for providing water to the internal combustion engine and a cleaning device (3) for purifying water in the tank (2). Water supply system (1) after Claim 1 comprising a recovery system (4), which is designed to recover water from the internal combustion engine and / or an environment of the internal combustion engine and to supply the tank (2). Water supply system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning device (3) is arranged and configured such that it can be operated with electrical energy from an electrical system of the vehicle. Water supply system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning device (3) comprises a sensor (7d) for detecting properties of water in the tank (2), and wherein the cleaning device (3) is designed and set up, a cleaning of Water on the basis of the determined properties of the water perform. Water supply system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning device (3) comprises a heater (5) operable with electrical energy for heating water in the tank (2). Water supply system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning device (3) comprises a UV system (6) for irradiating water in the tank (2) with UV radiation. Water supply system (1) after Claim 6 wherein the tank (2) at least in sections, a UV-transparent outer shell (6a), and wherein the UV system (6) is adapted to introduce the UV radiation through the UV-permeable outer shell (6a) in the tank (2). Water supply system (1) according to one of Claims 6 or 7 wherein the UV system (6) comprises a UV-operated UV lamp (6b). A water supply system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning device (3) comprises a chemical device (7) for introducing a chemical into the tank (2), and wherein the chemical device (7) comprises a first chemical tank (7a) for providing the first Includes chemical. Water supply system (1) after Claim 9 wherein the chemical device (7) comprises a second chemical tank (7b) for providing a second chemical, and wherein the cleaning device (3) is designed and arranged such that the introduction of the first and the second chemical can take place independently of each other.

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