Method and device for filling an LPG-fueled vehicle

Abstract

Device for filling a liquid gas (LPG) fuel vehicle, comprising: a solenoid valve (20) attached to an LPG tank (10) for an LPG vehicle in an openable and closable manner, a ventilation line (22) connecting an outlet of the solenoid valve (20) and a combustion chamber of an engine (30); a pressure detection sensor (15) configured to detect a pressure in the LPG tank (10); and a controller (24) configured to operate the solenoid valve (20) to temporarily open the solenoid valve (20) and operate the engine (30) to temporarily start the engine (30) to supply LPG fuel in the LPG tank (10) to the engine (30) when the pressure in the LPG tank (10) is greater than or equal to the filling pressure of a filling device (3), based on a detection result of the pressure detection sensor (15), characterized by a device group configured to provide a warning signal regarding a reserve fuel filling condition until the pressure in the LPG tank (10) becomes less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (3).

Description

BACKGROUND(a) Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a generic device and a method for filling a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel vehicle. (b) Technical background

[0002] Generally, a method for filling an LPG fuel vehicle as described in Fig. 1 illustrates operating a filling pump 2 of an LPG fuel station, supplying the LPG fuel through a filling device 3 from an LPG container 1 of the LPG fuel station by operating the filling pump 2, and filling an LPG tank of a vehicle with the LPG fuel by means of LPG filling pressure of the filling device 3.

[0003] However, LPG fuel cannot be filled if the pressure in the vehicle's LPG tank exceeds the LPG filling pressure when the outside temperature rises rapidly during warmer weather. For example, if the ambient temperature during the summer months is approximately 40°C or higher, the pressure (e.g., approximately 16.5 bar) in the vehicle's LPG tank will rise to greater than or equal to the LPG filling pressure of the filling device (e.g., 16.3 bar = 8.3 bar pressure in the LPG tank of the LPG fuel station + 8.0 bar LPG pump pressure caused by operation of the filling pump), and as a result, the LPG tank may not be able to be filled with LPG fuel from the filling device.

[0004] A generic device for filling a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuel vehicle is known from DE 10 2012 013 015 A1. DE 10 2012 102 840 A1 further discloses the use of a sensor to detect the state of an electric flap. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a method, and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium for filling an LPG-fueled vehicle, which are capable of reducing pressure in the LPG tank to the filling pressure of a filling device or lower and filling the LPG tank more smoothly with LPG fuel from the filling device. This is achieved by retaining a portion of the LPG fuel in the LPG tank and allowing the LPG fuel to be combusted in the engine when pressure in the LPG tank of the vehicle is greater than an LPG filling pressure of the filling device.

[0006] The object of the present invention is achieved by a device according to claim 1, a method according to claim 5 and a non-volatile, computer-readable medium according to claim 7. Further developments can be found in the subclaims.

[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for filling an LPG fuel vehicle, comprising: a solenoid valve attached to be opened and closed on an LPG tank of an LPG vehicle; a vent line connecting an outlet of the solenoid valve and a combustion chamber of an engine; a pressure detection sensor configured to detect pressure in the LPG tank; and a controller configured to operate the solenoid valve to temporarily open the solenoid valve and operate the engine to temporarily start the engine to supply LPG fuel in the LPG tank to the engine when the pressure in the LPG tank is equal to or greater than the filling pressure of a filling device, based on a detection result of the pressure detection sensor.The device further comprises a device group configured to provide a warning signal regarding a reserve fuel filling condition until the pressure in the LPG tank becomes less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device.

[0008] In one embodiment, an electric valve of a filling port may be provided, which is opened by the controller when pressure in the LPG tank increases to less than or equal to a filling pressure of a filling device. Additionally, a valve opening detection sensor may be provided, which is configured to detect an opening state of an electric valve. The pressure detection sensor may be mounted on a regulator configured to adjust the pressure of fuel supplied from the LPG tank.

[0009] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for filling an LPG fuel vehicle, comprising: detecting pressure in an LPG tank in which LPG fuel is stored; adjusting pressure in the LPG tank to be the filling pressure of a filling device, and combusting the LPG fuel by starting the engine when pressure in the LPG tank is less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device; by temporarily supplying the LPG fuel in the LPG tank to an engine, and combusting the LPG fuel by starting the engine when pressure in the LPG tank is greater than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device; and operating an electric flap of a filling port to open the electric flap to fill the LPG tank with the LPG fuel when the pressure in the LPG tank drops to be less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device.In addition, the method further comprises providing a warning signal regarding a reserve fuel filling condition until the pressure in the LPG tank becomes less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device.

[0010] The method may further include detecting an open condition of the electric flap by a flap opening detection sensor mounted in the filling port to determine whether the electric flap is failing.

[0011] Through the above technical solutions, the present invention provides the effects below.

[0012] According to the present invention, when LPG pressure in the LPG tank of the vehicle rises to be greater than the LPG filling pressure of the filling device under conditions where an outside temperature, for example, during the hot summer months, a part of the LPG fuel in the LPG tank is allowed to be burned in the engine to lower the pressure in the LPG tank to less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device, and as a result, the LPG tank can be filled more smoothly with the LPG fuel from the filling device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other features of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are given below for illustrative purposes only and thus do not limit the present invention; and in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a method of filling an LPG fuel vehicle according to the related art; Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an apparatus for filling an LPG fuel vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for filling an LPG fuel vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The reference symbols indicated in the drawings refer to the elements explained in more detail below: 10 LPG tank 12 Fuel pump 14 controllers 15 Pressure detection sensor 16 Filling pipe 18 Filling connection 20 Solenoid valve 22 Ventilation duct 24 controllers 26 electric flap 28 flap opening detection sensor 30 engine

[0015] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale and present a somewhat simplified representation of various exemplary features illustrating the basic principles of the invention. The specific embodiments of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and environment of use. In the figures, reference numerals refer to like or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the various figures of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] It should be noted that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other equivalent term as used herein includes motor vehicles in general, such as passenger cars including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft and the like, and hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum).

[0017] Although the embodiment is described herein as utilizing a plurality of units to perform the exemplary method, it should be noted that the exemplary methods may also be performed by one or a plurality of modules. Furthermore, it should be noted that the terms controller / control unit refer to hardware that includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store the modules, and the processor is specifically configured to execute said modules to perform one or more of the methods described below.

[0018] Furthermore, the control logic of the present invention may be embodied as a non-transferable, computer-readable storage medium comprising executable program instructions executable by a processor, controller, or the like. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash memory, smart cards, and optical storage devices. The computer-readable medium may also be distributed in network-coupled computer systems such that the computer-readable media is stored and executed in a distributed manner, for example, by a telematics server or a controller area network (CAN).

[0019] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0020] It should be further noted that the terms "comprise, include" and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of recited features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more associated listed elements.

[0021] Unless otherwise stated or obvious from the context, the terms "about" and "approximately" as used herein should be understood as within a normal engineering tolerance range, for example, two standard deviations of meaning. "About" and "approximately" may be understood as within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context, all numerical values ​​provided herein may be modified by the terms "about."

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an apparatus for filling an LPG fuel vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes an LPG tank filled with and configured to store LPG fuel, and reference numeral 30 denotes an engine for an LPG vehicle. The LPG tank 10 (e.g., pressure vessel) is a device configured to contain LPG fuel and may alternatively be referred to as a "pressure vessel," LPG reservoir, or receptacle.

[0023] A fuel pump 12 configured to supply LPG fuel to the engine 30 may be installed in the LPG tank 10, and a regulator 14 configured to constantly adjust the fuel supply pressure may be mounted in a fuel supply line connecting the LPG tank 10 to the engine 30. A filling pipe 16 may be connected to the LPG tank 10, and a filling port 18, into which a filling device of an LPG fuel station is inserted, may be mounted in an inlet of the filling pipe 16. In particular, the regulator 14 may include a pressure detection sensor 15 configured to detect a fuel pressure supplied from the LPG tank 10, i.e., pressure (fuel pressure) in the LPG tank.

[0024] A solenoid valve 20 may be openably and closably mounted (i.e., mounted to be opened and closed) in a fuel discharge port of the LPG tank 10. Specifically, the solenoid valve 20 may be mounted at an outlet position of the fuel pump 12 mounted in the LPG tank 10. Additionally, a vent line 22, through which the LPG fuel in the LPG tank 10 is supplied when the solenoid valve 20 is opened, may be connected to an outlet of the solenoid valve 20 and a combustion chamber of the engine.

[0025] Therefore, when the pressure in the LPG tank detected by the pressure detection sensor 15 is equal to or greater than the filling pressure of the filling device (for example, when LPG pressure in the LPG tank increases to be equal to or greater than the filling pressure of the filling device under a condition where an outside temperature rises rapidly), the solenoid valve 20 can be temporarily opened by a controller 24, and thus the LPG fuel in the LPG tank 10 can be supplied to the engine through the vent line 22.

[0026] In other words, the controller 24 may be configured to receive a detection signal from the pressure detection sensor 15 and may be configured to operate the solenoid valve 20 to temporarily open the solenoid valve 20 when the pressure in the LPG tank is greater than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device, and thus the LPG fuel in the LPG tank 10 can be supplied to the engine via the opened solenoid valve 20 and the vent line 22. In particular, the controller 24 may be configured to operate the engine to start the same while the LPG fuel is being supplied to the engine. The engine control unit (ECU) may be configured to operate the engine to start the engine, in particular when the controller 24 sends a control signal to open the solenoid valve 20 to a separate engine control unit (ECU, not shown).

[0027] As described above, when the pressure in the LPG tank is equal to or greater than the filling pressure of the filling device, a portion of the fuel in the LPG tank can be supplied to the engine for combustion, and thus, the pressure in the LPG tank can be reduced to be equal to or less than the filling pressure of the filling device, and as a result, the LPG tank can be filled more smoothly with LPG fuel from the filling device. Meanwhile, an electric damper 26, which is opened by the controller when the pressure in the LPG tank drops to be equal to or less than the filling pressure of a filling device, may be attached to an inlet of the filling port 18 connected to the LPG tank 10 via the filling pipe 16.

[0028] The electric door 26 may be kept continuously closed in a state where LPG fuel cannot be filled (for example, when LPG pressure in the LPG tank of the vehicle rises to be equal to or greater than the LPG filling pressure of the filling device, in a state where an outside temperature rises rapidly), and thus a driver can recognize the state where LPG fuel cannot be filled, and when pressure in the LPG tank drops to be equal to or less than the filling pressure of the filling device and the LPG tank can be filled, the electric door 26 may be opened by the controller 24, and thus the driver can recognize a state where the LPG tank can be filled normally.

[0029] In particular, when the LPG fuel cannot be filled, a warning message or the like may be displayed by means of a device group (not shown) arranged in front of a driver's seat, which informs a driver of the reserve fuel filling state, to enable the driver to recognize whether the LPG fuel can be filled until the pressure in the LPG tank decreases to be equal to or less than the filling pressure of the filling device and the LPG tank can be filled.

[0030] A door opening detection sensor 28 configured to detect whether the electric door 26 is open may be attached to the inlet of the filling port 18, and thus, the door opening detection sensor 28 may be configured to determine whether the electric door 26 is open and whether the electric door 26 is failing (e.g., failure or malfunction). In other words, if the door opening detection sensor 28 fails to detect an open state of the electric door 26 when the electric door 26 is opened by the controller 24, the controller 24 may be configured to determine that the electric door 26 is failing and operate the device group to display a warning or the like to enable the driver to recognize a failure of the electric door 26.

[0031] A method of filling an LPG vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is based on the above configurations, will be described below with reference to the attached Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 described.

[0032] First, a filling switch configured to fill the LPG fuel may be operated (S101). Whether the engine is on or off may then be determined when the filling switch is operated (S102), and a warning message providing a warning to a driver to turn off the engine may be displayed on the device group if the engine is not turned off (S103). When the engine is turned off, the pressure in the LPG tank for storing the LPG fuel may be detected.

[0033] The detection of the pressure in the LPG tank may primarily be performed by the pressure detection sensor 15 included in the regulator 14, which is configured to adjust a fuel supply pressure. In other words, the pressure detection sensor 15 may be configured to detect LPG fuel pressure supplied to the regulator 14 from the LPG tank 10 as the internal pressure in the LPG tank when an inlet side of the regulator 14 communicates with an interior of the LPG tank 10. Subsequently, the controller 24 may be configured to receive the pressure in the LPG tank detected by the pressure detection sensor 15 and compare the pressure in the LPG tank with the reference pressure (for example, with a filling pressure of about 10 bar of the filling device provided at the fuel filling station) (S104).

[0034] As a result of the comparison, in response to determining that pressure in the LPG tank is greater than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device, the solenoid valve 20 may be opened by a control command from the controller 24 (S105). Therefore, since the solenoid valve 20 may be opened, the LPG fuel in the LPG tank 10 may be supplied to the engine through the vent line 22 (S106), and the fuel supplied to the engine may be combusted and consumed once the engine starts (S107). Since a portion of the LPG fuel in the LPG tank may be supplied to the engine and combusted as described above, it may be possible to reduce the pressure in the LPG tank to less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (for example, about 8 bar or lower).In particular, since the engine start can be carried out temporarily in such a way that the pressure in the LPG tank drops slightly, there is no problem with regard to damage such as fire hazard or excessive LPG consumption.

[0035] Subsequently, it may be determined (S108) whether the pressure in the LPG tank decreases to be less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device. If the pressure in the LPG tank is less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (S109), the electric damper 26 of the filling port 18 may be opened by the controller 24. Thus, the filling device can be inserted into the filling port 18 and the LPG tank can be filled with LPG fuel more smoothly. Meanwhile, a warning signal regarding a reserve fuel filling state may be provided until the pressure in the LPG tank becomes less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device.

[0036] As described above, a warning message or the like informing a driver of the reserve fuel filling state may be displayed by means of a device group (not shown) arranged in front of a driver's seat until the pressure in the LPG tank decreases to be equal to or lower than the filling pressure of the filling device and the LPG tank can be filled, and thus the driver can know whether the LPG fuel can be filled.

[0037] Further, to determine whether the electric door 26 is failing, the door opening detection sensor 28 mounted in the filling port 18 may be configured to detect an open state of the electric door. For example, if the door opening detection sensor 28 is unable to detect an open state (e.g., a closed state is detected) of the electric door 26 when the electric door 26 can be operated to be opened by the controller 24, the controller 24 may be configured to determine that the electric door 26 is failing and may be configured to operate the device group to display a warning message or the like to enable the driver to recognize a failure of the electric door 26.

[0038] As described above, when the LPG pressure in the LPG tank rises to greater than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device under conditions where an outside temperature rises rapidly, a portion of the LPG fuel in the LPG tank can be allowed to be combusted in the engine, and the pressure in the LPG tank can be reduced to less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device. As a result, the LPG tank can be filled more smoothly with the LPG fuel from the filling device. As a result, it may be possible to solve a related art problem in that the LPG fuel cannot be filled because the pressure in the LPG tank of the vehicle rises to be greater than the LPG filling pressure under a condition where an outside temperature rises rapidly due to the summer months.

Claims

[1] Device for filling a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel vehicle, comprising: a solenoid valve (20) attached to an LPG tank (10) for an LPG vehicle in an openable and closable manner, a ventilation line (22) connecting an outlet of the solenoid valve (20) and a combustion chamber of an engine (30); a pressure detection sensor (15) configured to detect a pressure in the LPG tank (10); and a controller (24) configured to operate the solenoid valve (20) to temporarily open the solenoid valve (20) and operate the engine (30) to temporarily start the engine (30) to supply LPG fuel in the LPG tank (10) to the engine (30) when the pressure in the LPG tank (10) is greater than or equal to the filling pressure of a filling device (3), based on a detection result of the pressure detection sensor (15), characterized by a device group configured to provide a warning signal regarding a reserve fuel filling condition until the pressure in the LPG tank (10) becomes less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (3). [2] The device according to claim 1, further comprising an electric flap (26) of a filling port (18) which is opened by the controller (24) to fill the LPG tank (10) with the LPG fuel when the pressure in the LPG tank (10) drops to be less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (3). [3] The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a door opening detection sensor (28) configured to detect an open state of the electric door (26). [4] Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the pressure detection sensor (15) is attached to a regulator (14) configured to adjust the pressure of fuel supplied from the LPG tank (10) to the engine (30). [5] A method for filling a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel vehicle, the method comprising: Detecting, by a pressure detection sensor (15), pressure in an LPG tank (10) configured to store LPG fuel, Adjusting, by a controller (24), pressure in the LPG tank (10) to be less than or equal to the filling pressure of a filling device (3) by temporarily supplying the LPG fuel in the LPG tank (10) to an engine (30) and by combusting the LPG fuel by starting the engine (30) when the pressure in the LPG tank (10) is greater than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (3); Operating, by the controller (24), an electric flap (26) of a filling port (18) to open the electric flap (26) to fill the LPG tank (10) with the LPG fuel when the pressure in the LPG tank (10) drops to be less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (3); and Providing, by the controller (24), a warning signal regarding a reserve fuel filling condition until the pressure in the LPG tank (10) becomes less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (3). [6] The method of claim 5, further comprising: Detecting, by the controller (24), an open state of the electric flap (26) by a flap opening detection sensor (28) to determine whether the electric flap (26) fails. [7] A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing program instructions executed by a controller (24) for filling a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel vehicle, the computer-readable medium comprising: Program instructions that control a pressure detection sensor (15) for detecting a pressure in an LPG tank (10) configured to store LPG fuel; Program instructions that adjust pressure in the LPG tank (10) to be less than or equal to the filling pressure of a filling device (3) by temporarily supplying the LPG fuel in the LPG tank (10) to an engine (30) and combusting the LPG fuel by starting the engine (30) when the pressure in the LPG tank (10) is greater than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device; Program instructions that operate an electric flap (26) of a filling port (18) to open the electric flap (26) to fill the LPG tank (10) with the LPG fuel when the pressure in the LPG tank (10) drops to be less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (3); and Program instructions that provide a warning signal regarding the reserve fuel filling condition until pressure in the LPG tank (10) becomes less than or equal to the filling pressure of the filling device (3). [8] The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising: Program instructions that detect an open state of the electric flap (26) by a flap opening detection sensor (28) to determine whether the electric flap (26) fails.

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