Fuel Tank Control Unit for Precise Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tank systems for motor vehicles lack the ability to accurately determine the necessary fuel amount for a trip, leading to either insufficient or excessive fuel carrying, which increases fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and causes fuel aging, resulting in increased pollutant emissions and potential tank corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A method and tank system that uses electronic data memory and actuator control to determine and precisely fill the vehicle tank with the required amount of fuel based on destination distance, consumption variables, and initial tank level, ensuring accurate fuel quantity without excessive pressure buildup, thus reducing emissions and tank complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle's fuel tank is completely filled, then the driver ensures sufficient fuel for the journey, but too much fuel is carried leading to increased fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the exact fuel quantity needed before refueling begins, using stored destination data and consumption parameters. This preliminary determination allows the refueling process to stop precisely when the calculated amount is reached, avoiding both insufficient and excessive fueling.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors the refueling process and compares the actual fuel quantity added against the pre-calculated target amount. When the target is reached, the system provides feedback to stop the refueling process, ensuring precise fuel quantity control and preventing overfilling.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle's fuel tank is filled based on driver estimate or money carried, then refueling is simple and quick, but the driver may not reach the destination with available fuel due to increased consumption from weather conditions, traffic, or elevation
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-stores destination information and calculates the required fuel quantity before refueling begins. This preliminary calculation accounts for various consumption factors, ensuring that sufficient fuel is provided to reach the destination while maintaining simple operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically manages the refueling process by monitoring fuel quantity and stopping refueling when the calculated target amount is reached. This self-service approach eliminates the need for driver estimation or manual intervention, simultaneously improving ease of operation and fuel sufficiency reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If unused fuel is carried in the tank for extended periods in plug-in hybrid vehicles, then the vehicle can operate in combustion mode when needed, but the fuel ages leading to increased pollutant emissions, reduced energy release, and potential tank component corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and determines the precise fuel quantity needed before refueling, based on the planned journey and current battery charge state. This preliminary determination ensures that only the necessary amount of fuel is added to the tank, minimizing fuel storage time and preventing aging-related emissions and corrosion while maintaining adaptability for combustion mode operation when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a method for filling a motor vehicle tank (10) comprising the following method steps: establishing a data exchange connection between a vehicle-side tank controller (60) and an electronic data memory (71); determining an amount of fuel to be filled into the motor vehicle tank (10) by means of data transmitted from the electronic data memory (71) via the data exchange connection; starting a filling process; and ending the filling process after reaching the amount of fuel to be filled. In addition, the present invention discloses a motor vehicle tank (10) which comprises a tank controller (60) with a data receiving unit (61), via which data stored in an electronic data memory (71) is transmittable to the tank controller (60), wherein the tank controller (60) is adapted to execute the method steps according to the invention.