Building Gas Cylinder Refilling With Remote Level-Triggered Refill
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas cylinder refilling systems require users to physically transport cylinders to refilling stations, leading to time loss and safety risks, especially in areas with limited infrastructure, and do not ensure cylinders are not completely emptied.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for refilling gas cylinders within a building using a refilling station connected via a hydraulic circuit, with sensors and processing units to automate the refilling process, ensuring cylinders are not completely emptied and allowing for remote command and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users transport LPG cylinders to refilling stations manually, then refilling can be performed, but time loss and physical effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic refilling where the LPG cylinder refills itself through a hydraulic connection to the refilling station. Sensors detect gas levels and automatically trigger refilling operations without requiring user presence or manual transport, making the system serve itself.
Solution Approach 2:
A hydraulic circuit acts as an intermediary between the refilling station and the LPG cylinder, enabling automatic fluid transfer. The system uses intermediate components like sensors, control units, and hydraulic connections to mediate the refilling process without direct user involvement.
2Ease of operation
If users manually disengage and transport LPG cylinders, then refilling is possible, but safety risks increase due to potential gas leakage and explosion hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic refilling system eliminates manual handling of LPG cylinders. The cylinder remains in place and refills automatically through sealed hydraulic connections, removing users from potential exposure to gas leakage and explosion hazards during the refilling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of manual handling into benefit by using automated sensors and hydraulic connections that detect and respond to gas levels safely. The very automation that eliminates manual risk also provides monitoring capabilities that prevent safety incidents.
3Productivity
If a refilling machine is deployed, then refilling capability is provided, but user presence is still required and cylinders must be transported
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves full automation where the LPG cylinder refills itself through automatic detection by sensors and activation of the hydraulic refilling mechanism. No user presence or intervention is required during the refilling operation, maximizing the extent of automation.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors continuously monitor the gas level in the LPG cylinder and provide feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables automatic decision-making for when and how to refill, eliminating the need for user assessment or presence while maintaining precise control over the refilling process.
4Loss of time
If LPG cylinders are refilled in place, then user time and effort are saved, but infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The refilling station is designed as a universal infrastructure that can serve multiple LPG cylinders simultaneously or sequentially. The hydraulic circuit and control system are configured to handle various refilling scenarios, making the infrastructure versatile and reducing per-unit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic circuits for automatic fluid transfer and connection mechanisms. This hydraulic approach simplifies the infrastructure compared to mechanical manual handling, as fluid-based actuation can be controlled remotely and automatically with simpler components than mechanical alternatives.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables automated, safe, and efficient refilling of gas cylinders without user intervention, reducing time loss and safety hazards, while maintaining cylinder integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor (30) for detecting the quantity of gas present in the gas cylinder (10)
Implementation Method 2
connecting the gas cylinder (10) to the refilling station (20), more in particular to the, or each, refilling socket (21)... through a hydraulic circuit (25)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A method and a system for refilling a gas cylinder (10) arranged in a user area (2) of a building (1) and connected to at least a gas burning apparatus (3). The method comprises a step of arranging a refilling station (20) in an external area (4) outside of said building (1), said refilling station (20) providing a refilling socket (21) associated to the user area by a user code (36). A refilling circuit(25) is arranged to hydraulically connect the gas cylinder (10) to a refilling socket (21) of the refilling station (20). A sensor (30) is also provided configured to detect the quantity of gas present in the gas cylinder (10) and to generate a corresponding quantity signal (31). A process unit (32) compares the quantity signal (31) with a refilling threshold value, generates a refilling signal (34) in case the quantity signal (31) is less than the refilling threshold value. The refilling signal (34) is transmitted by a transmission module (35) to a remote station (40), which is configured to receive the refilling signal (34) and to provide a refilling command (41) containing the user code to a refilling vehicle (50). Then, a refilling step is provided for refilling gas into the gas cylinder (10) by hydraulically connecting the refilling vehicle (50) to the refilling station (20) by the refilling socket (21), which is hydraulically connected to the gas cylinder (10) through the refilling circuit (25).