Vehicle supply system and use of a thermo-hydraulic unit in a vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle supply system including a reservoir for storing a fluid; and a supply circuit arranged for being in fluid communication with the reservoir. The supply circuit is such that it includes a thermo-hydraulic section configured for generating a temperature difference between a first portion and a second portion of the thermo-hydraulic section, the temperature difference being capable of causing evaporation in the first portion and of causing condensation in the second portion such that an oscillating flow is generated between the first portion and the second portion. The supply circuit is such that it is configured for using the oscillating flow for sucking fluid from the reservoir.

1 . A vehicle supply system, comprising:
 a reservoir for storing a fluid; and   a supply circuit arranged for being in fluid communication with said reservoir;   wherein said supply circuit comprises a thermo-hydraulic section configured for generating a temperature difference between a first portion and a second portion of said thermo-hydraulic section, said temperature difference being capable of causing evaporation in said first portion and of causing condensation in said second portion such that an oscillating flow is generated between said first portion and said second portion;   wherein said supply circuit is configured for using said oscillating flow for sucking fluid from said reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the supply circuit comprises a valve between an inlet of the supply circuit and the thermo-hydraulic section, said valve being configured for blocking a flow from the thermo-hydraulic section to the reservoir and for allowing a flow from the reservoir to the thermo-hydraulic section. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the supply circuit comprises a buffer for storing the fluid in the supply circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 3 , wherein the supply circuit comprises at least one control valve for controlling the pressure in the buffer. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , further comprising an injector configured for injecting or spraying pressurized fluid from the supply circuit into a fluid consuming device. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermo-hydraulic section comprise any one or more of the following components for heating the first portion: exhaust pipe, engine block, engine cooling system, fuel cell cooling system. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermo-hydraulic section comprise any one or more of the following components for cooling the second portion: a cooling component using air from the environment, air conditioning system. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermo-hydraulic section comprises a tube with an inlet for receiving fluid from the reservoir, wherein a heating device is arranged for heating the tube at a first location for evaporating said fluid at said first location, and a cooling device is arranged for cooling the tube at a second location for condensing said evaporated fluid at said second location. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermo-hydraulic section comprises a chamber and a tube section, said chamber being in fluid communication with a first end and a second end of the tube section, wherein the thermo-hydraulic section is configured for generating a temperature difference between a first portion of the tube section and a second portion of the tube section, said temperature difference being capable of causing evaporation in said first portion and of causing condensation in said second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the supply circuit comprises a loop circuit. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 4 , wherein said loop circuit comprises the first control valve upstream of the buffer and a second control valve downstream of the buffer, said first and said second control valves being configured for controlling the pressure in said buffer. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 10 , wherein the loop circuit comprises a valve for controlling the flow in the loop circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is connected to the supply circuit via a connecting tube comprising a valve for controlling the flow to the supply circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is any one of the following: a buffer reservoir, a tank, a decomposition unit, a buffer containing aqua-ammonia, a chemical conversion unit producing aqua-ammonia, a gasoline or diesel tank, a ammonia precursor tank. 
     
     
         15 . Use of a thermo-hydraulic section in a vehicle supply system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A thermo-hydraulic section for use in a vehicle supply system comprising a tube with an inlet for receiving fluid from a reservoir, wherein a heating device is arranged for heating the tube at a first location for evaporating said fluid at said first location, and a cooling device is arranged for cooling the tube at a second location for condensing said evaporated fluid at said second location. 
     
     
         17 . A thermo-hydraulic section for use in a vehicle supply system comprising a chamber and at least one tube section, said chamber being in fluid communication with a first end and a second end of each tube section, wherein the thermo-hydraulic section is configured for generating a temperature difference between a first portion of each tube section and a second portion of each tube section, said temperature difference being capable of causing evaporation in said first portion and of causing condensation in said second portion.