Pressurized Gas Cylinder Autonomy Calculation with Adaptive Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas cylinder systems provide imprecise and fluctuating displays of remaining autonomy, leading to user uncertainty due to sensor precision variations, temperature phenomena, energy consumption, and low flow rates, making it difficult to calculate reliable and precise fluid autonomy.
Innovation Solution
A gas cylinder with a flow rate selection member and an electronic device that includes pressure and temperature sensors, microprocessors, and a display, performing successive pressure measurements at a given frequency to determine fluid autonomy by processing pressure variations, temperature, and flow rate selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If successive pressure measurements are performed at high frequency to improve autonomy calculation precision, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic measurement frequency adjustment where the pressure measurement frequency is adapted based on the current state of the gas cylinder. When the cylinder is nearly full or nearly empty, measurements are performed at lower frequency (e.g., every 5-30 minutes). When the cylinder is at intermediate levels where autonomy calculation is most critical, measurements are performed at higher frequency (e.g., every 1-5 minutes). This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing precision only when most needed while conserving energy during less critical periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of measurement frequency based on the pressure range and autonomy calculation requirements. By monitoring the current pressure level and comparing it with threshold values, the system adjusts the measurement interval parameter dynamically. This allows the system to maintain high precision during critical autonomy calculation phases while reducing energy consumption during stable states, effectively resolving the contradiction between precision and energy use.
2Measurement precision
If pressure sensor precision is improved to reduce measurement variations, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary temperature compensation by measuring the temperature of the gas and using this information to compensate for temperature-induced pressure variations before calculating autonomy. By performing this compensation action in advance and using algorithms to correct the pressure readings, the system achieves high measurement precision without requiring expensive temperature-stabilized sensors or complex hardware solutions, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces temperature measurement as an intermediary parameter that mediates between the pressure sensor and the autonomy calculation. By measuring temperature and using it to compensate for environmental variations, the system achieves high pressure measurement precision without needing to upgrade to more complex or expensive pressure sensors. The temperature data acts as a mediator that allows simple sensors to achieve precision comparable to expensive specialized sensors.
3Ease of operation
If display reactivity is increased to show autonomy in less than one second, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision decreases due to insufficient data collection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations by maintaining a history of pressure measurements and pre-calculating autonomy values based on consumption patterns. When a display update is requested, the system can immediately present a pre-computed estimate while continuing to collect data for refined calculations. This preliminary action allows the display to show reactive updates without waiting for complete data collection cycles, resolving the contradiction between reactivity and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial autonomy calculations using available data subsets rather than waiting for complete data sets. By calculating autonomy based on recent measurement trends and extrapolating from partial data when necessary, the system provides timely display updates. The calculation is refined as more data becomes available, but the initial partial result is displayed immediately, achieving both reactivity and eventual precision.
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
Provides precise and reliable minute-by-minute fluid autonomy calculations, enhancing user confidence by reducing measurement inaccuracies and fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure of the fluid contained in the fluid container
Implementation Method 2
at least one additional parameter chosen from the position of the flow rate selection member, the temperature of the fluid and the volume of the fluid container
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a pressurized fluid container (1), in particular a gas cylinder, having a given internal volume (2), comprising a fluid distribution valve (3) including a flow selection member (12) capable of adopting several distinct positions each corresponding to a given fluid flow rate, and an electronic device (7) including pressure measurement means, microprocessor (15) data processing means (5) for processing pressure measurements, and display means (6) for displaying the fluid autonomy calculated by the data processing means (5).