Fuel Tank Venting Estimation During Vehicle Standstill
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately determine if fuel gas has been vented from vehicle tanks during parking, leading to environmental and financial losses, as existing sensors are not sufficiently accurate and reliable.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes existing vehicle sensors to store data on pressure and fuel level during shutdown, estimate the time of potential venting, and check if venting occurs during a standstill period, allowing for accurate estimation of fuel gas venting without adding significant complexity or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing level sensors are used to detect fuel gas venting, then the system can provide some indication of fuel level, but the measurement accuracy is insufficient to conclusively determine if venting has occurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple existing sensors (pressure sensors, level sensors, temperature sensors) that are already present in the fuel gas system into an integrated monitoring solution. By merging the data from these existing sensors with a mathematical model, the system achieves accurate venting detection without adding significant complexity or cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mathematical model as an intermediary that processes sensor data to infer venting events. The model acts as a mediator between the raw sensor measurements and the final determination of whether venting has occurred, enabling accurate detection even when individual sensors have limited precision.
2Reliability
If pressure relief valves are installed to prevent excessive pressure buildup, then tank safety is ensured, but fuel gas is vented into the atmosphere causing environmental harm and financial loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors pressure, temperature, and level parameters to detect when pressure relief valve activation is imminent. By providing early warning feedback, the system allows operators to take preventive measures (such as relocating the vehicle or adjusting storage conditions) before venting occurs, thus maintaining safety while preventing harmful atmospheric releases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of conditions that would lead to pressure relief valve activation. By identifying trends in pressure, temperature, and fuel level before the threshold is reached, the system enables preliminary actions to be taken to prevent venting, such as moving the vehicle to a cooler location or reducing the fuel load.
3Productivity
If vehicles are left unattended during shutdown periods, then operational efficiency is improved, but fuel gas venting cannot be monitored in real-time leading to environmental and financial losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the monitoring system to operate autonomously during vehicle shutdown periods using the vehicle's existing battery power. The system self-monitors pressure, temperature, and level parameters continuously without requiring external power sources or manual intervention, providing automatic detection and reporting of venting events even when the vehicle is unattended.
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
Enables owners and operators to take preventive measures against future venting, enhancing environmental responsibility and reducing operational costs by providing accurate and efficient fuel gas venting detection.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure relief valve configured to initiate venting of fuel gas from the first pressure tank when the pressure in the first pressure tank reaches above a first threshold pressure
Implementation Method 2
ambient temperatures inevitably cause gradual heating of the fuel. This process leads to a progressive increase in pressure within the tank
Implementation Method 3
level sensors, which commonly measure the dielectric properties of the fuel gas to infer its level. The dielectric properties vary between the liquid and gaseous phases
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A method (100) of estimating occurrences of venting of fuel gas from a fuel gas system (1) of a vehicle (2) is disclosed. The method (100) comprises the steps of storing (110) data representative of current time and date, a current pressure (p1) in a first pressure tank (3), and a current fuel level in the first pressure tank (3) during a shutdown phase (ph1) of the vehicle (2), obtaining (120) a first time estimate (t1) at which a first pressure relief valve (rv1) is estimated to initiate venting based on the stored data and a model for the state of fuel gas in the first pressure tank (3), and after a standstill period (Sp) of the vehicle (2), estimating (130) if the first pressure relief valve (rv1) has initiated venting during the standstill period (Sp) by checking if the first time estimate (t1) is within the standstill period (Sp). The present disclosure further relates to a computer program, a computer-readable medium, a control arrangement (21), and a vehicle (2).