Liquefied gas storage tank metering device with positioning and weighing functions
By integrating positioning and weighing functions into the liquefied gas tank metering device, the problem of remote management and safety monitoring of liquefied natural gas storage tanks has been solved, realizing remote status monitoring and abnormal response of the gas tanks, and improving metering accuracy and safety.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HANGZHOU RUIHE IOT TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing small liquefied natural gas storage tanks lack remote management, have inaccurate gas inventory measurement, insufficient leak monitoring and safety status feedback, and lack location tracking capabilities, making it difficult to respond to abnormal events in a timely manner.
Design a liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions, integrating a Beidou positioning module, a weighing system, a safety monitoring unit and a 4G communication unit. Real-time data monitoring is achieved through a four-axis accelerometer attitude sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor and a leakage sensor, and remote status monitoring and valve control are realized through the 4G module.
It enables remote status monitoring and valve control of gas cylinders, eliminates blind spots in manual inspections, improves the accuracy of inventory measurement, and provides timely response in abnormal situations to ensure safety.
Smart Images

Figure CN224245950U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of liquefied natural gas supply equipment, specifically a liquefied gas tank metering device with positioning and weighing functions. Background Technology
[0002] Small LNG (liquefied natural gas) storage tanks are typically used in industrial, commercial, or residential applications, providing flexible natural gas storage and supply solutions.
[0003] Currently, small LNG storage tanks in remote areas generally suffer from the following deficiencies: they are only equipped with manual on / off valves, making it impossible to remotely manage gas usage; they lack accurate gas inventory measurement, leak detection, and safety status feedback; and they lack location tracking capabilities, making it difficult to respond promptly to abnormal events (such as tank tipping). No integrated device combining weighing and metering, multi-parameter safety monitoring, and 4G remote control is currently available in the technology.
[0004] To address this, this technical solution designs a liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions. Utility Model Content
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:
[0007] A liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions includes a main control board, a weighing system, a safety monitoring unit and a 4G communication unit;
[0008] The main control board integrates a Beidou positioning module and is connected to a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is installed at the opening of the liquefied gas storage tank. The solenoid valve is normally closed and automatically cuts off the gas circuit when the power is off.
[0009] The weighing system includes four weighing sensors evenly installed at the bottom of the liquefied gas tank. The weighing sensors are connected to a weighing processing board, which analyzes and processes the data received from the weighing sensors to calculate the weight of the liquefied gas tank. The weighing processing board is connected to the main control board via an RS485 bus to transmit the calculated weight data of the liquefied gas tank.
[0010] The safety monitoring unit is electrically connected to the main control board and includes a six-axis accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a leak sensor.
[0011] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: by uploading weight, position, attitude, temperature, pressure and leakage data in real time through the 4G module, remote status monitoring and valve control can be realized, eliminating blind spots in manual inspection.
[0012] By using four weighing sensors evenly distributed at the bottom of the tank and a weighing processing plate that independently analyzes the data, the accuracy of inventory measurement is improved.
[0013] By setting the solenoid valve to a normally closed type, the gas circuit is automatically cut off when power is cut off, ensuring safety in extreme situations. Attached Figure Description
[0014] Figure 1 This is a partial structural diagram of a liquefied gas tank metering device with positioning and weighing functions.
[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a metering device for liquefied gas tanks with positioning and weighing functions.
[0016] The components include: main control board 1, weighing processing board 2, RS485 bus 3, weighing sensor 4, 4G module 5, Beidou module 6, solenoid valve 7, six-axis acceleration and attitude sensor 8, temperature sensor 9, pressure sensor 10, and leakage sensor 11. Detailed Implementation
[0017] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other.
[0018] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.
[0019] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.
[0020] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0021] Please see Figures 1-2 A liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions includes a main control board 1, a weighing system, a safety monitoring unit and a 4G communication unit.
[0022] The main control board 1 integrates a Beidou positioning module 6 and is connected to a solenoid valve 7. The solenoid valve 7 is installed at the opening of the liquefied gas storage tank. The solenoid valve 7 is normally closed and automatically cuts off the gas circuit when the power is off.
[0023] The weighing system includes four weighing sensors 4 evenly installed at the bottom of the liquefied gas tank. The weighing sensors 4 are connected to a weighing processing board 2. The weighing processing board 2 is used to analyze and process the data received from the weighing sensors 4 to calculate the weight of the liquefied gas tank. The weighing processing board 2 is connected to the main control board 1 via an RS485 bus to transmit the weight data of the liquefied gas tank it calculates.
[0024] The safety monitoring unit is electrically connected to the main control board 1 and includes a six-axis accelerometer attitude sensor 8, a temperature sensor 9, a pressure sensor 10, and a leakage sensor 11.
[0025] The six-axis accelerometer attitude sensor 8 is built into the main control board 1, which is directly bolted to the metal shell on the top of the tank. The axis of the six-axis accelerometer attitude sensor 8 is parallel to the axis of the tank. When the tank tilts, the six-axis accelerometer attitude sensor 8 tilts synchronously with the tank, with no relative displacement error. It can detect abnormal states in real time when the tilt angle is >15° (tank collapse) or acceleration is >2G (collision / transportation). The main control board 1 immediately shuts off the solenoid valve 7 to prevent gas leakage, thus solving the blind spot of manual inspection and with a response speed of <3 seconds.
[0026] Temperature sensor 9 is located in the middle of the outer wall of the gas storage tank (avoiding temperature difference interference between the liquid and gas phases). It uses an explosion-proof PT100 platinum resistance thermometer and is tightly attached to the tank wall with thermally conductive silicone and stainless steel clamps to avoid direct contact with the gas and prevent corrosion. It monitors whether the tank temperature exceeds the limit (-40℃~+60℃). When the temperature is >50℃ (at risk of environmental fire), it automatically closes the valve to prevent the tank pressure from rising suddenly and causing an explosion due to high temperature.
[0027] Pressure sensor 10 is installed after the pressure regulating valve at the outlet of the gas pipeline (to monitor the actual gas supply pressure). The threaded interface is connected to the pipeline tee. The sensing diaphragm is in direct contact with the gas. A pulse damper is added to reduce pressure fluctuation interference.
[0028] Real-time monitoring to ensure the pressure does not exceed the safe range (0.2~0.8 MPa). When the pressure is <0.2MPa (pipeline leakage) or >0.8MPa (pressure regulation failure), the valve is shut off to prevent underpressure shutdown or overpressure pipe rupture.
[0029] Leakage sensor 11 is installed 30cm directly above the valve interface of the gas storage tank (methane density < air, leakage diffuses upwards).
[0030] The device is wall-mounted with the probe pointing downwards at the valve assembly, and the horizontal distance between the probe and the potential leak point is ≤20cm.
[0031] Used to trigger an audible and visual alarm when the methane concentration is >10% LEL (lower explosive limit 5%);
[0032] When the concentration is >25%LEL, the solenoid valve 7 will be shut off. This provides level 3 protection before the explosion threshold (100%LEL).
[0033] The 4G communication unit includes a 4G module 5. The main control board 1 uses the 4G module 5 to encrypt and upload data such as weight, position, attitude, pressure, temperature, and leakage status collected by the weighing sensor 4, six-axis accelerometer attitude sensor 8, temperature sensor 9, pressure sensor 10, and leakage sensor 11 to the background, and also receives remote valve control commands.
[0034] The working principle of this utility model is as follows: In the idle position of this device, all the aforementioned driving components (representing power elements, electrical devices, and compatible power supplies) are connected via wires. The electrical connections are completed in sequence between the working components. The detailed connection methods are well-known in the field. The following mainly describes the working principle and process, without further explanation of the electrical control.
[0035] Data Acquisition: Weighing System: Four weighing sensors 4 collect the pressure at the bottom of the gas storage tank in real time → Weighing processing board 2 independently calculates the tank weight and gas consumption → Sends the data to the main control board 1 via RS485 bus 3.
[0036] Safety monitoring:
[0037] The six-axis sensor 8 detects the tank's tilt angle / acceleration;
[0038] Temperature sensor 9 monitors the tank wall temperature;
[0039] Pressure sensor 10 reads the gas pipeline pressure;
[0040] Leakage sensor 11 scans for methane concentration.
[0041] Positioning module: Beidou module 6 updates the location of the gas storage tank in real time.
[0042] Local decision
[0043] Main control board 1 receives all sensor data and executes a three-level safety response:
[0044] Level 1 response: Immediate valve closure.
[0045] Tank tilting angle > 15°
[0046] Acceleration > 2G violent collision
[0047] Pipeline leakage / overpressure at pressures <0.2MPa or >0.8MPa
[0048] Fire risk at temperatures above 50℃
[0049] Level 2 response audible and visual alarm + pre-valve closure:
[0050] Methane concentration > 10% LEL leak warning
[0051] Level 3 response remote reporting:
[0052] Location movement > 50 meters anti-theft tracking
[0053] Abnormal gas usage due to sudden weight change
[0054] Remote Interaction
[0055] The 4G module 5 encrypts and uploads data including weight, location, attitude, temperature, pressure, and leakage status to the backend every 5 minutes.
[0056] The backend can issue commands:
[0057] Remotely open / close solenoid valve 7;
[0058] Adjust the sensor threshold, such as modifying the pressure safety range;
[0059] Trigger device self-test.
[0060] Power failure protection
[0061] When the device is powered off, the normally closed solenoid valve 7 automatically cuts off the gas path to prevent gas leakage.
[0062] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions, characterized in that, Includes main control board (1), weighing system, safety monitoring unit and 4G communication unit; The main control board (1) integrates a Beidou positioning module (6) and connects to a normally closed solenoid valve (7), which is installed at the opening of the liquefied gas tank. The weighing system includes four weighing sensors (4) evenly arranged at the bottom of the tank and a weighing processing plate (2). The weighing processing plate (2) is connected to the main control board (1) via an RS485 bus (3). The safety monitoring unit includes a six-axis accelerometer attitude sensor (8), a temperature sensor (9), a pressure sensor (10), and a leakage sensor (11), all of which are electrically connected to the main control board (1); The 4G communication unit encrypts and uploads sensor data to the background via the 4G module (5).
2. The liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The six-axis acceleration attitude sensor (8) is built into the main control board (1) and its axis is parallel to the tank body. The main control board (1) is fixed to the metal shell on the top of the tank by bolts.
3. A liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature sensor (9) is an explosion-proof PT100 platinum resistance thermometer, which is attached to the middle of the outer wall of the tank by thermally conductive silicone and stainless steel clamps. It monitors the temperature range of -40℃ to 60℃. When the temperature exceeds 50℃, it triggers the solenoid valve (7) to close.
4. A liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure sensor (10) is located after the pressure regulating valve of the gas pipeline and monitors the pressure range of 0.2~0.8 MPa. When the pressure exceeds the limit, the solenoid valve (7) is closed.
5. A liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The leakage sensor (11) is installed 30cm directly above the valve interface, with a horizontal distance of ≤20cm from the leakage point, to achieve a three-level alarm for methane concentration.
6. A liquefied gas cylinder metering device with positioning and weighing functions according to claim 1, characterized in that, The weighing processing board (2) independently analyzes the data from the four weighing sensors (4) and calculates the weight of the tank, which is then transmitted to the main control board (1) via the RS485 bus (3).