Fuel Dispenser Pressure Sensor for Steady-State Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel dispensers face inaccuracies in fuel measurement due to pressure variations caused by nozzle snaps and other non-steady state conditions, leading to false flow indications and measurement errors.
Innovation Solution
A system with pressure sensors in the fuel dispenser's metered fuel line, inlet manifold, and fuel supply line communicates pressure signals to a control system, which detects and compensates for pressure spikes by disregarding meter signals during disturbances, allowing the system to resume normal operation once steady-state conditions are restored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If inferential meters are used to measure fuel flow, then the device size is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates under non-steady state conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure sensor is introduced as an intermediary device to detect pressure variations in the fuel line. The pressure sensor monitors pressure spikes caused by nozzle snaps and communicates this information to the control system, which then compensates for measurement errors by disregarding meter signals during disturbed conditions. This intermediary pressure detection mechanism enables the compact inferential meter to maintain measurement accuracy under non-steady state conditions.
2Measurement precision
If the control system disregards meter signals during pressure variations, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to lost measurement data
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements periodic monitoring of pressure signals to detect when steady-state conditions are restored. Once normal pressure conditions are detected, the system automatically resumes converting meter signals to fuel volume measurements. This periodic checking mechanism ensures that measurement resumption occurs at the optimal moment, minimizing lost measurement data while maintaining accuracy during disturbed conditions.
3Measurement precision
If pressure sensors are added to detect pressure variations, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor serves multiple functions: it detects pressure spikes from nozzle snaps, provides information to the control system for compensation decisions, and helps identify when steady-state conditions are restored. The control system integrates pressure signal processing with existing meter signal conversion, allowing a single control unit to handle both pressure monitoring and fuel volume calculation. This multi-functionality approach minimizes the need for additional dedicated components.
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 solution enhances the accuracy of fuel flow measurement by mitigating the effects of pressure variations, preventing false registrations and ensuring accurate fuel volume dispensing, even during non-steady state conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A metered fuel line pressure sensor positioned downstream from a meter in a metered fuel line of a fuel dispenser communicates a metered fuel line pressure signal responsive to pressure in the metered fuel line to a control system of the fuel dispenser
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for compensating a calculated or flow rate of fuel dispensed to a vehicle via a fuel flow path in response to a determination of a non-steady state condition based on data corresponding to a signal transmitted by a pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path and configured to sense pressure therein, where the pressure sensor is adapted to transmit a signal representative of the sensed pressure.