Method for activating/deactivating a biological catalyst used in a conversion system on board a vehicle

Abstract

It is proposed a method for activating/deactivating a biological catalyst used in a conversion system on board a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a source of energy adapted to activate the biological catalyst for converting a compound into reaction product. The method comprises the steps of: —detecting (SI) an event indicative of a filling/refilling of the conversion system with biological catalyst; —determining (S 2 ) an amount of energy available at the source of energy; —starting at least one conversion operation comprising the steps of: (i) verifying (S 3 ) whether the amount of energy available is greater than or equal to an amount of energy needed for activating the biological catalyst so as to achieve a predetermined level of conversion of said compound; (ii) if said verifying (i) is positive, activating (S 4 ) the biological catalyst; —terminating (S 7 ) said at least one conversion operation.

1 . A method for activating/deactivating a biological catalyst used in a conversion system on board a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a source of energy adapted to activate the biological catalyst for converting a compound into reaction product, the conversion system being configured to supply reaction product to a consuming unit on board the vehicle, wherein the method comprises:
 detecting (SI) an event indicative of a filling/refilling of the conversion system with biological catalyst;   determining (S 2 ) an amount of energy available at the source of energy;   starting at least one conversion operation comprising:   (i) verifying (S 3 ) whether the amount of energy available is greater than or equal to an amount of energy needed for activating the biological catalyst so as to achieve a predetermined level of conversion of said compound;   (ii) if said verifying (i) is positive, activating (S 4 ) the biological catalyst.   terminating (S 7 ) said at least one conversion operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of terminating said at least one conversion operation comprises:
 (iii) verifying (S 6 ) whether the amount of energy available is lower than the amount of energy needed for activating the biological catalyst so as to achieve the predetermined level of conversion of said compound;   (iv) if said verifying (iii) is positive, deactivating the biological catalyst.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of terminating said at least one conversion operation comprises:
 (v) determining a current quantity of reaction product available in the conversion system;   (vi) verifying whether the current quantity of reaction product available is greater than or equal to a predetermined target quantity of reaction product;   (vii) if said verifying (vi) is positive, deactivating the biological catalyst.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of terminating said at least one conversion operation comprises:
 starting a timer for a predetermined amount of time;   upon expiry of said timer, deactivating the biological catalyst.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of terminating said at least one conversion operation comprises:
 determining at least one parameter characteristic of the reaction product;   detecting an event indicative of end-of-conversion based on said at least one parameter;   deactivating the biological catalyst.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , the conversion system comprising a reactor, inside which the conversion of the compound into reaction product takes place, and a container for the storage of reaction product, wherein the method further comprises:
 after said terminating said at least one conversion operation, conveying reaction product from the reactor towards the container;   replenishing the reactor with biological catalyst and/or compound.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring at least one operating parameter of the conversion system;   and wherein the amount of energy needed for activating the biological catalyst is determined as a function of the measured operating parameter(s).   
     
     
         8 . A vehicle system comprising:
 a conversion system using a biological catalyst and being configured to supply reaction product to a consuming unit;   a source of energy adapted to activate the biological catalyst for converting a compound into reaction product;   an electronic controller configured to:
 detect an event indicative of the filling/refilling of the conversion system with biological catalyst; 
 determine an amount of energy available at the source of energy; 
 start at least one conversion operation and activate the biological catalyst, when the amount of energy available is greater than or equal to an amount of energy needed for activating the biological catalyst so as to achieve a predetermined level of conversion of said compound; 
 terminate said at least one conversion operation. 
   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to verify whether the amount of energy available is lower than the amount of energy needed for activating the biological catalyst so as to achieve the predetermined level of conversion of said compound. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the source of energy is either a fuel cell or a vehicle battery. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that said terminate said at least one conversion operation comprises:
 determining a current quantity of reaction product available in the conversion system;   verifying whether the current quantity of reaction product available is greater than or equal to a predetermined target quantity of reaction product;   if said verifying (vi) is positive, deactivating the biological catalyst.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that said terminate said at least one conversion operation comprises:
 starting a timer for a predetermined amount of time;   upon expiry of said timer, deactivating the biological catalyst.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that said terminate said at least one conversion operation comprises:
 determining at least one parameter characteristic of the reaction product;   detecting an event indicative of end-of-conversion based on said at least one parameter;   deactivating the biological catalyst.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that the conversion system comprising a reactor, inside which the conversion of the compound into reaction product takes place, and a container for the storage of reaction product, wherein the method further comprises:
 after said terminating said at least one conversion operation, conveying reaction product from the reactor towards the container;   replenishing the reactor with biological catalyst and/or compound.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
 measure at least one operating parameter of the conversion system;   and wherein the amount of energy needed for activating the biological catalyst is determined as a function of the measured operating parameter(s).