Integrated Fueling and Charging with Dual Connection Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refuse vehicles face risks of electrical and combustion hazards during simultaneous fueling and charging operations due to inadequate connections, which can lead to sparks and gas leaks, posing safety threats and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
An integrated fueling and charging system performs connection tests on both electrical and gas connections before simultaneously supplying fuel and electricity, ensuring safe operation by providing separate fueling and charging if tests fail, and simultaneous supply only when connections are secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If simultaneous fueling and charging operations are performed, then productivity is improved by reducing total service time, but reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of electrical and combustion hazards from inadequate connections
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary connection tests on both electrical and gas connections before initiating simultaneous fueling and charging operations. The processing circuit tests the electrical connection between the vehicle and fueling system, and separately tests the gas connection integrity, ensuring connections are secure before allowing concurrent operations to eliminate hazards while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The processing circuit acts as an intermediary that mediates between the fueling system and charging system by coordinating their operations. It sequentially controls the fueling and charging processes, allowing them to operate in a controlled manner that ensures safety while achieving the benefits of simultaneous service
2Reliability
If connection tests are performed on both electrical and gas connections, then reliability is improved by identifying potential hazards, but device complexity increases due to additional testing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The processing circuit performs multiple functions using a single integrated system: it tests electrical connections, tests gas connections, coordinates fueling operations, and manages charging operations. This multi-functionality approach achieves comprehensive safety verification without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification through automated connection tests that the processing circuit executes independently. The system tests its own connections and makes autonomous decisions about whether to proceed with simultaneous operations, reducing the need for external monitoring and simplifying overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an integrated fueling and charging system includes electrically coupling an electrical output of the integrated fueling and charging system with an electrical input of a vehicle, fluidly coupling a gas output of the integrated fueling and charging system with a gas input of the vehicle, performing a first connection test on a first connection between the electrical output and the electrical input, performing a second connection test on a second connection between the gas output and the gas input, and responsive to the first connection passing the first connection test and the second connection passing the second connection test, simultaneously providing electricity and fuel gas from the integrated fueling and charging system to the vehicle.