Compressed Gas Tank Filling with Reference Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for filling compressed gas containers require a special reference gas container with additional bores and a safety check, which is costly and not compatible with conventional containers, limiting the ability to use them as references for precise gas mixing.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a conventional compressed gas container as a reference by fluidically connecting it to the container to be filled, with sensors measuring variables like pressure to control the filling process, allowing for high-precision gas mixing without the need for additional bores or safety checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a special reference compressed gas tank with additional bores is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate piece as a mediator that connects the sensor to the compressed gas tank through the existing opening. This intermediary component allows the sensor to measure pressure inside the tank without requiring additional bores or modifications to the tank structure, thus maintaining measurement precision while avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The reference compressed gas tank is designed to be an exact copy of the conventional tank to be filled, including identical volume and opening configuration. This copying approach eliminates the need for special reference tanks with additional bores, as the sensor can be introduced through the same opening type, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If a special reference compressed gas tank with additional bores is used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate piece serves as a mediator that enables sensor installation through the conventional opening without requiring additional bores to be drilled in the tank. This approach maintains measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of manufacture, as no special drilling or safety checks for additional bores are needed
Solution Approach 2:
By designing the reference tank as a copy of the conventional tank with identical opening specifications, the invention eliminates the need for special manufacturing processes such as drilling additional bores and performing safety checks. This copying strategy maintains measurement precision while significantly improving ease of manufacture
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional compressed gas tank is used as reference, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate piece acts as a mediator that enables the sensor to access the interior of the conventional tank through the existing opening. This intermediary component ensures that measurement precision is maintained despite using a conventional tank design, as the sensor can still accurately measure pressure inside the tank without compromising the tank structure
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system is segmented into separate components: the conventional tank, the intermediate piece, and the sensor. This segmentation allows the use of conventional tanks while maintaining measurement precision, as the sensor and intermediate piece can be precisely manufactured and calibrated independently to ensure accurate measurements
4Measurement precision
If additional bores are drilled in the reference tank, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to safety checks
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate piece serves as a mediator that allows sensor installation through the conventional opening without requiring additional bores to be drilled in the tank. This approach maintains measurement precision while improving reliability, as no additional bores need to be drilled and no extra safety checks are required
Solution Approach 2:
By designing the reference tank as a copy of the conventional tank with identical opening specifications, the invention eliminates the need for special reference tanks with additional bores. This copying approach maintains measurement precision while improving reliability, as the tank undergoes the same safety checks as conventional tanks without requiring additional modifications
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 high-precision gas mixing with accuracy of 1-2% and faster filling times compared to conventional methods, suitable for producing mixtures with gases at varying pressures, including those with low partial pressures, while avoiding the need for specialized equipment and safety checks.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor (4) is introduced through the opening into the reference compressed gas tank and at least one measured variable is measured with this sensor at least during part of the filling process
Implementation Method 2
the compressed gas tank and reference compressed gas tank are at least partially fluidically connected, with each compressed gas tank and the reference compressed gas tank each have an opening through which a gas can be filled and removed
Data Source
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AI summary
The method according to the invention for filling at least one compressed gas tank (8) with at least one gas, wherein a reference pressure gas tank (9) is formed in which a measurement can take place of at least one measurement variable which is relevant for the state in the reference pressure gas tank (9), wherein the compressed gas tank (8) and reference pressure gas tank (9) are flow-connected at least at times, wherein each compressed gas tank (8) and the reference pressure gas tank (9) have in each case one opening through which a gas can be filled and extracted, wherein in a filling process, at least one gas is filled through the opening into the at least one compressed gas tank (8) and at least at times into the reference pressure gas tank (9), is characterized in that a measuring sensor (4, 5) is inserted through the opening into the reference pressure gas tank, and at least one measurement variable is measured by means of said measuring sensor at least during a part of the filling process. The method according to the invention advantageously permits the production of highly accurate gas mixtures. Here, the connector (1) according to the invention can particularly advantageously be used to form a reference pressure gas tank (9) from a conventional compressed gas tank (8) such as for example a compressed gas cylinder. Measuring sensors (4) for determining the temperature and measuring sensors (5) for determining the pressure, and here in particular capacitive pressure pick-ups, have been proven to be particularly advantageous as measuring sensors.