CNG Dispenser Priority Control Using Segmented Lanes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CNG filling stations do not effectively prioritize the filling of vehicles, leading to extended fill times for early arrivals due to simultaneous filling operations, which can result in dispenser timeouts and underutilization of storage banks.
Innovation Solution
A CNG dispensing system with a site controller and dispenser controllers that manage fluid communication with storage tanks using valves to prioritize vehicle tank filling based on arrival order, assigning integer place values to determine access to High, Mid, and Low pressure storage tanks, ensuring earlier arriving vehicles are filled before later ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple vehicles are filled simultaneously from the same storage bank, then the storage bank is underutilized and fill times are extended, but allowing vehicles to advance to higher pressure banks prematurely causes later arrivals to steal flow and complete filling at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the filling process by creating virtual lanes (Lane 1, Lane 2, etc.) that assign priority based on arrival order. Each lane independently manages vehicle progression through the cascade banks, preventing flow stealing between vehicles. This segmentation ensures that Vehicle 1 completes filling from High bank before Vehicle 2 begins advancing, eliminating the time extension problem while maintaining high storage bank utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assignment of vehicles to numbered lanes based on arrival order before filling begins. This preliminary action establishes a fixed priority sequence that prevents later arrivals from interfering with earlier vehicles' filling process. The lane assignment is made in advance and maintained throughout the filling operation, ensuring predictable fill times and proper storage bank utilization.
2Productivity
If later arriving vehicles are allowed to fill from High bank simultaneously with earlier vehicles, then storage banks are better utilized, but early arriving vehicles experience extended fill times and dispenser timeouts
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into priority-based lanes, the invention ensures that each vehicle has dedicated access to storage banks in sequence. Lane 1 vehicles have priority access to High bank, preventing Lane 2 vehicles from stealing flow. This segmentation maintains high storage bank utilization while preventing dispenser timeouts for priority vehicles, as each lane's vehicle completes filling before the next lane begins advancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of flow allocation by introducing priority-based lane assignment. Instead of equal flow distribution, the system dynamically allocates flow based on lane priority and vehicle pressure requirements. This parameter change ensures that High bank flow is reserved for Lane 1 vehicles until completion, preventing timeouts while maintaining optimal storage bank utilization through controlled simultaneous filling in different lanes.
3Device complexity
If vehicles advance through cascade banks based solely on pressure equalization, then the filling process is simple, but vehicles prematurely advance off Low and Mid banks due to other vehicles, causing underutilization
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary lane assignment based on arrival order before the filling process begins. This preliminary action establishes a fixed priority sequence that controls vehicle progression through the cascade banks. Vehicles in Lane 1 must complete filling from High bank before Lane 2 vehicles can advance, preventing premature advancement and ensuring proper utilization of Low, Mid, and High banks without complex real-time pressure monitoring and control.
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
The system ensures predictable and fair filling order, reducing fill times for early arrivals and optimizing the use of storage banks, preventing premature advancement of vehicles and minimizing dispenser timeouts.
Implementation Method 1
Filling a vehicle with a gaseous fuel is done based on differential pressure. The source pressure (storage) is higher than the vehicle pressure (tank). This causes the gas to flow from the storage to the tank and equalize pressure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of dispensing compressed natural gas (CNG) includes assigning a first priority to the filling of a first destination tank and assigning a second priority to the filling of a second destination tank. The second priority is lower than the first priority. The method also includes filling the first destination tank from a first CNG source while filling the second destination tank from a second CNG source. The second CNG source provides CNG at a lower pressure relative to the pressure at which the first CNG source provides CNG.