Compressed Gas Delivery Bypass Conduit for Variable Tank Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressed gas delivery systems face challenges when multiple vehicles with differing tank pressures seek gas from the same storage bank, leading to periods where vehicles with higher tank pressures receive little or no gas, resulting in incomplete fills and user frustration.
Innovation Solution
A compressed gas delivery system with a control system, backpressure apparatus, and bypass conduit that directs a bypass fill portion of gas directly to vehicles with higher tank pressures, ensuring continuous flow by creating a pressure differential and bypassing the control system, allowing non-bypass fill portions to flow through the backpressure apparatus for vehicles with lower tank pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single storage bank is used to supply multiple vehicles with differing tank pressures, then system complexity is reduced, but vehicles with higher tank pressures receive insufficient gas flow resulting in incomplete fills
Solution Approach 1:
The single storage bank is segmented into multiple independent storage banks (first storage bank, second storage bank, etc.), each capable of supplying gas to vehicles with different tank pressures. This segmentation allows simultaneous servicing of multiple vehicles without flow interference, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and fueling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acts as an intermediary between storage banks and vehicles, dynamically directing gas flow from appropriate storage banks based on real-time tank pressure measurements. This mediator ensures that vehicles with higher tank pressures receive sufficient flow while maintaining overall system coordination.
2Measurement precision
If gas flow is directed through a control system for pressure regulation, then pressure control precision is improved, but flow rate to vehicles with higher tank pressures decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented to provide dedicated control pathways for different storage banks. Each storage bank has its own control circuitry that can independently regulate pressure while maintaining high flow rates, eliminating the bottleneck effect of a single centralized control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial pressure regulation by using multiple storage banks with slightly different pressure levels. Vehicles with higher tank pressures receive gas from storage banks optimized for their specific pressure requirements, providing sufficient flow without requiring maximum pressure control precision for all vehicles.
3Reliability
If the control system terminates fill based on predetermined pressure characteristics, then safety is improved, but fills are prematurely terminated before complete tank filling
Solution Approach 1:
The fill termination criteria are made dynamic rather than static. The control system continuously monitors real-time tank pressure and adjusts termination thresholds based on the specific vehicle's tank characteristics and current pressure state. This allows safe completion of fills that would otherwise be prematurely terminated by fixed predetermined limits.
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback mechanism continuously monitors tank pressure during filling and communicates with the control system to adjust termination decisions. This closed-loop feedback ensures that fills are terminated only when truly complete or when safety limits are reached, preventing premature termination while maintaining safety through continuous verification.
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
This solution ensures continuous fueling for vehicles with varying tank pressures, preventing premature termination of fills and allowing for complete tank filling, maintaining temperature-compensated set points and providing a consistent user experience.
Implementation Method 1
directs a bypass fill portion of gas directly to vehicles with higher tank pressures, ensuring continuous flow by creating a pressure differential
Data Source
AI summary
A method of continuously conveying compressed gas to a plurality of vehicles, where the plurality of vehicles includes at least a first vehicle having a higher tank pressure and a second vehicle having a lower tank pressure that are simultaneously seeking compressed gas from the same delivery conduit. The method includes compressing gas using at least one compressor, conveying the compressed gas from the at least one compressor to a backpressure apparatus, conveying a non-bypass fill portion through the backpressure apparatus, diverting a bypass fill portion through a bypass conduit to at least one distributor, conveying the bypass fill portion through the at least one distributor to at least one of the one or more delivery conduits and subsequently to at least the first vehicle, and conveying the non-bypass fill portion through at least one of the one or more the delivery conduits to at least the second vehicle.