Fuel Tank Loss Detection Using Dispense and Volume Reconciliation
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for systems and methods to accurately identify and confirm fuel losses from fuel tanks, whether mobile or stationary, due to leakage, inappropriate engine conditions, or theft, to prevent such losses and optimize fuel consumption cycles for individual vehicles and fleets.
Innovation Solution
A system that continuously determines the volume of fuel in a tank by receiving periodic measurements and comparing them with dispensed fuel volumes, generating an alert if a predetermined threshold of fuel loss is exceeded, and using onboard computer assemblies and remote servers to verify discrepancies in fuel purchases and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fuel volume is monitored continuously to detect fuel loss events, then fuel loss detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments fuel loss detection into multiple independent measurement components: a first measurement device for initial fuel volume, a second measurement device for final fuel volume, and a separate calculation device that processes these measurements to determine fuel loss events. This segmentation allows each component to be simple while achieving accurate overall detection through their coordinated operation.
2Reliability
If multiple measurement devices are used to verify fuel purchases, then fuel theft detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a calculation device as an intermediary that receives measurements from multiple measurement devices and dispensed volume data from fueling station data. This intermediary processes and reconciles the data from different sources to verify fuel purchases and detect theft, centralizing the complexity in a single processing unit rather than distributing it across multiple complex devices.
3Productivity
If fuel volume measurements are taken frequently to optimize fuel consumption, then fuel consumption optimization is improved, but data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements of fuel volume at specific predetermined times (initial measurement before fueling, final measurement after fueling) rather than continuous monitoring. This preliminary action approach captures the essential data needed for fuel consumption optimization while minimizing data processing requirements by only measuring at critical moments in the fueling cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method and a corresponding system for identifying a fuel loss event, periodic measurements of a measured volume of fuel stored in a fuel tank (mobile or stationary) are received, and a measurement of a dispensed volume of fuel dispensed into the fuel tank is received from a fueling station. A total volume of fuel is determined equal to the sum of the dispensed volume of fuel and the measured volume of fuel last measured prior to receiving from a fueling station. A difference is determined between the total volume and the measured volume of fuel first measured subsequent to determining the total volume. If the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold indicating a fuel loss event, an alert is generated indicating that there is a fuel loss event.