Dynamic Target Pressure Control for Gas Tank Refueling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current refueling methods for pressurized gas tanks face challenges in maintaining safe temperature and State Of Charge (SOC) levels due to uncertainties in refueling time, leading to potential overfilling or incomplete refueling, especially when refueling station capacity is low, resulting in inefficient and costly operations.

Innovation Solution

The method involves continuously adjusting the target pressure during refueling based on actual refueling time, ambient temperature, and initial tank pressure, eliminating the need for lower refueling time tolerances and ensuring a full tank capacity utilization by using a timer-controlled calculation of target pressure at intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a predefined target pressure is used to stop refueling, then the refueling process can be stopped before the tank is overfilled, but the tank may not be completely filled when refueling time is longer than expected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of overfillingVSAvoidrefueling completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the target pressure a dynamic parameter that changes continuously during the refueling process based on actual refueling time, ambient temperature, and initial tank pressure. Instead of using a fixed predefined target pressure, the system calculates and adjusts the target pressure in real-time, allowing the refueling process to adapt to actual conditions and ensure the tank is completely filled while preventing overfilling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If refueling time is extended to ensure complete filling, then the tank can be fully filled, but the gas temperature increases due to compression heat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefueling completenessVSAvoidgas temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring the actual refueling time and using this information to adjust the target pressure calculation. The system measures the elapsed refueling time and feeds this information back into the target pressure calculation algorithm, which also considers ambient temperature and initial tank pressure. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt the target pressure dynamically, ensuring complete filling while accounting for temperature increases due to compression heat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If refueling speed is increased to improve productivity, then the refueling process is faster, but the gas temperature inside the tank increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefueling speedVSAvoidgas temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the target pressure parameter based on actual refueling conditions. The system calculates the target pressure as a function of refueling time, ambient temperature, and initial tank pressure, allowing the target pressure parameter to change continuously during the refueling process. This dynamic parameter adjustment enables the system to optimize between refueling speed and temperature control, ensuring safe and efficient refueling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach ensures safe and reliable refueling without overfilling or overheating, allowing full utilization of refueling station capacity and providing a complete gas tank even with low station capacity, thereby improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Implementation Method 1

the compression heat from the compression of the gas causes the temperature of the gas inside the tank and, consequently, also the temperature of the tank material to increase significantly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression heating: Adiabatic Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3058265B1A method for refueling of gas into a pressurized gas tank
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 NEL HYDROGEN AS
  • EP3058265B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3058265B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3058265B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

A method for refueling of gas into a pressurized gas tank with repeated adjustment of a target pressure(Ptarget) for the refueling is disclosed, said method comprising the steps of: recording starting conditions for the refueling, establishing a mathematical relation between the recorded starting conditions, the actual refueling time (t_refueling) passed and the target pressure for the refueling, starting the refueling, and repeatedly calculating the target pressure corresponding to the actual refueling time passed and measuring the nozzle pressure of the refueling station, until the calculated target pressure has been reached.