Gas Engine Pressure Switch Abnormality Detection via Preliminary Valve Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas engine systems with b-contact pressure switches fail to detect abnormalities such as pressure switch failures or signal line disconnections, leading to potential operational issues and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A gas engine system with a control device that includes determination sections to assess gas pressure and valve states, using a transfer mechanism with a logic circuit to generate combined signals for detecting abnormalities and preventing engine operation in case of detected issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a b-contact pressure switch is used for power saving, then power consumption is reduced and battery life is extended, but the system cannot detect abnormalities such as pressure switch failure or signal line disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by closing the gas valve before engine start and after engine stop to create known pressure states. This allows the control device to verify pressure switch functionality and signal line integrity in advance, detecting abnormalities before they affect normal operation while maintaining power-saving b-contact mode
Solution Approach 2:
The control device receives feedback signals from the pressure switch at specific timing (before start, after stop) and compares them against expected values. This feedback mechanism enables abnormality detection without requiring continuous power consumption, resolving the contradiction between power saving and reliability
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the pressure switch operates in b-contact mode with low power consumption, then battery life is extended, but the control device cannot determine whether the pressure switch or signal line is faulty when no signal is received
Solution Approach 1:
The control device closes the gas valve in advance before engine start and after engine stop to create predetermined pressure conditions. Under these known conditions, it checks the pressure switch output signals to establish baseline functionality, enabling future fault diagnosis without additional power consumption during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuously monitoring pressure switch signals to detect faults, the system inverts the approach by using the pressure switch to detect its own abnormalities through self-checking at specific timing. The pressure switch essentially monitors itself by responding to known pressure states created by the control device
Data Source
AI summary
A gas engine system has a control unit including: a first determination section for determining, as a first determination, whether the gas pressure is a low pressure less than a predetermined pressure, while the control device recognizes the gas valve is closed; a second determination section for determining, as a second determination, whether the gas pressure is a high pressure equal to or more than the predetermined pressure, while the control device recognizes that the gas valve is open, if the first determination determines the gas pressure is the low pressure; a start-up section for performing the first and second determinations before start of engine operation when receiving a start-up command; and an operation start section for opening the valve and starting the engine, if the first determination determines the gas pressure is the low pressure, and if the second determination determines the pressure is the high pressure.