Dual Pressure Sensor Differential Evaluation for Fuel Tank Abnormality Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for evaluating the output of pressure sensors in gas tank systems, particularly those supplying fuel gas to fuel cells, fail to reliably detect abnormalities in pressure sensors due to deviations in detection characteristics over time, leading to potential inaccuracies in failure evaluation and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A tank device equipped with a first pressure sensor for detecting gas pressure during filling and a second pressure sensor for detecting gas pressure during supply, along with a sensor output evaluation unit that calculates the gas pressure differential to determine if any output abnormality exists, ensuring reliability by canceling out deviations in detection characteristics and preventing false judgments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure sensors are used to detect gas pressure in the fuel gas tank and during supply, then gas pressure monitoring is enabled, but detection characteristic deviations occur over time leading to unreliable abnormality detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by detecting gas pressure with both the first pressure sensor (in the fuel gas tank) and the second pressure sensor (in the supply pipeline) when the tank is filled to a standard level. The detected pressure values are stored as baseline data before normal operation begins, enabling subsequent abnormality detection to compare against these pre-established reference values.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the pressure sensors by operating them under different conditions: the first pressure sensor operates at the high pressure environment inside the fuel gas tank, while the second pressure sensor operates at the lower supply pressure. By detecting pressures at these different parameter states and comparing the differential, the system can identify sensor drift and abnormalities.
2Measurement precision
If detection characteristics of pressure sensors deviate over time, then false abnormality judgments occur, but implementing correction mechanisms increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the sensor output evaluation unit continuously monitors the pressure differential between the first and second pressure sensors. When the differential exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system generates an abnormality indication and can trigger corrective actions, creating a closed-loop feedback system that automatically detects and responds to sensor drift without requiring complex manual calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis by using the pressure differential information to automatically evaluate sensor abnormality. The sensor output evaluation unit processes the pressure data and determines whether sensor drift or failure has occurred, enabling the system to self-monitor and self-diagnose sensor health without requiring external intervention or complex additional diagnostic equipment.
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
The solution effectively prevents deterioration in the reliability of output evaluations by accurately determining sensor abnormalities and maintaining consistent gas pressure measurements, ensuring reliable fuel gas supply to fuel cells.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure sensor that detects gas pressure when the fuel gas is filled in the fuel gas tank
Implementation Method 2
a second pressure sensor that detects the gas pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the gas consuming device from the fuel gas tank
Data Source
AI summary
This tank device comprises a fuel gas tank that stores fuel gas to be supplied to a gas consuming device, a first pressure sensor that detects the gas pressure when the fuel gas tank is filled with gas, a second pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the fuel gas tank to the gas consuming device, and a sensor output evaluation unit. The sensor output evaluation unit determines the gas pressure differential between the gas pressure detected by the first pressure sensor when the fuel gas tanks is filled with gas and the gas pressure detected by the second pressure sensor when the fuel gas is first supplied from the fuel gas tank to the gas consuming device after the gas filling, makes a judgment that there is not an output abnormality is any of the first and second pressure sensors if the gas pressure differential is within a given threshold value, and makes a judgement that there is an output abnormality in either of the first and second pressure sensors if the gas pressure differential is beyond the given threshold value.