Gas Supply System Dynamic Pressure Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gas supply systems for fuel cell systems face challenges in accurately monitoring pressure within high-pressure tanks due to large error ranges in pressure sensors, leading to reduced detection accuracy and increased weight and cost when trying to prevent gas shortages.
Innovation Solution
A gas supply system that includes a high-pressure tank, a regulator, an injector, a high-pressure sensor, and a mid-pressure sensor, with a control section that performs initial and secondary monitoring steps, adjusting the injector's valve-open and valve-closed periods to enhance detection accuracy and reduce weight and cost by suitably operating the injector based on pressure thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the pressure adjustment range of the regulator is set higher than the lack-of-gas threshold value to improve detection accuracy, then the detection accuracy of the mid-pressure sensor is improved, but the pressure resistance capabilities of downstream devices must be increased, leading to increased weight and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator dynamically adjusts its pressure adjustment range based on the current pressure level in the high-pressure tank. When pressure is high, the regulator maintains a higher pressure adjustment range. When pressure drops below a threshold, the regulator switches to a lower pressure adjustment range that aligns with the mid-pressure sensor's detection range, eliminating the need for downstream devices to withstand high pressures continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of the regulator by switching between different pressure adjustment ranges based on pressure conditions. This allows the mid-pressure sensor to operate within its optimal detection range while reducing the pressure resistance requirements for downstream components, thereby reducing weight and cost.
2Measurement precision
If the pressure adjustment range of the regulator is set higher than the lack-of-gas threshold value to improve detection accuracy, then the detection accuracy of the mid-pressure sensor is improved, but the cost of the system increases due to higher pressure resistance capabilities required
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator dynamically adjusts its pressure adjustment range based on the current pressure level in the high-pressure tank. When pressure is high, the regulator maintains a higher pressure adjustment range. When pressure drops below a threshold, the regulator switches to a lower pressure adjustment range that aligns with the mid-pressure sensor's detection range, eliminating the need for downstream devices to withstand high pressures continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of the regulator by switching between different pressure adjustment ranges based on pressure conditions. This allows the mid-pressure sensor to operate within its optimal detection range while reducing the pressure resistance requirements for downstream components, thereby reducing weight and cost.
3Quantity of substance
If the mid-pressure sensor is used to monitor pressure when the high-pressure tank pressure is low, then the error range is reduced, but the detection accuracy is reduced when the pressure adjustment range is included in the error range
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator dynamically adjusts its pressure adjustment range based on the current pressure level in the high-pressure tank. When pressure is high, the regulator maintains a higher pressure adjustment range. When pressure drops below a threshold, the regulator switches to a lower pressure adjustment range that aligns with the mid-pressure sensor's detection range, eliminating the need for downstream devices to withstand high pressures continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of the regulator by switching between different pressure adjustment ranges based on pressure conditions. This allows the mid-pressure sensor to operate within its optimal detection range while reducing the pressure resistance requirements for downstream components, thereby reducing weight and cost.
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 approach improves the detection accuracy of pressure sensors, reduces the weight and cost of the system, and effectively monitors gas levels in high-pressure tanks, preventing gas shortages while minimizing the impact on fuel cell power generation.
Implementation Method 1
a regulator configured to reduce pressure of a gas released from the high-pressure tank to be within a pressure adjustment range and cause the gas to flow to a downstream side
Implementation Method 2
an injector that is provided on a downstream side of the regulator and is configured to adjust a flow rate of the gas by repeatedly opening and closing a valve
Implementation Method 3
a first pressure sensor configured to detect the pressure of the gas on an upstream side of the regulator
Implementation Method 4
a second pressure sensor configured to detect the pressure of the gas between the regulator and the injector
Data Source
AI summary
In a gas supply system of one embodiment, a gas control ECU performs an initial monitoring step of comparing first detection information of a high-pressure sensor to a first threshold value and, after it is determined that the first detection information has become less than or equal to the first threshold value, performs a secondary monitoring step of comparing second detection information of a mid-pressure sensor to a second threshold value. The gas control ECU causes a valve-open period and a valve-closed period of an injector in the secondary monitoring step to be longer than the valve-open period and the valve-closed period of the injector in the initial monitoring step.