Hydrogen Filling Flowmeter Failure Detection Using Tank Expansion Data
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The accuracy of flowmeter failure determination is compromised due to the variable expansion rate of fuel tanks, which affects the difference between measured and calculated filling amounts, leading to inaccurate determination of flowmeter failures.
Innovation Solution
A method that considers the expansion rate of the fuel tank by measuring pressure and temperature to calculate the filling amount, using an error value between the measured and calculated filling amounts to determine flowmeter failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a constant offset amount is used to determine flowmeter failure, then the determination process is simple, but the accuracy deteriorates because the expansion rate of the fuel tank is not constant and depends on filling pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a static offset value to a dynamic offset value that changes with filling pressure. The system now calculates offset amounts based on the actual filling pressure conditions, making the determination process adaptive rather than fixed. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining simplicity through automated calculation while improving accuracy through pressure-dependent adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by making the offset amount variable based on filling pressure. Instead of using a constant offset parameter, the system adjusts the offset parameter according to the filling pressure conditions, thereby improving determination accuracy without significantly increasing system complexity through automated parameter adjustment.
2Measurement precision
If the expansion rate of the fuel tank is considered in the calculation, then the accuracy of filling amount calculation improves, but the complexity of the calculation process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing expansion rate data in a storage device before the actual filling process. The expansion rates at different filling pressures are predetermined and stored, allowing the calculation process to simply retrieve and apply these pre-calculated values during operation. This reduces real-time calculation complexity while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (the storage device containing pre-stored expansion rate data) that mediates between the complex expansion characteristics of the fuel tank and the simplified calculation process. Instead of performing complex real-time expansion calculations, the system uses pre-stored expansion rate data as an intermediary to achieve accurate filling amount calculations with simpler processing.
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
Improves the accuracy of flowmeter failure determination by reducing the error value and variation, enabling quicker identification of flowmeter failures.
Implementation Method 1
an expansion rate of the fuel tank is considered... it has been found that an expansion rate of the fuel tank is not necessarily constant and depends on a filling pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A flowmeter failure determination method includes: a step (S114) of measuring a filling amount of hydrogen gas filled in a fuel tank of an automobile, using a flowmeter; a step (S102) of acquiring information of a pressure and a temperature of the fuel tank; a step (S104 and S112) of calculating the filling amount of the hydrogen gas filled in the fuel tank based on the acquired pressure and temperature and a capacity of the fuel tank in which an expansion rate of the fuel tank is considered; and a step (S118) of determining presence or absence of a failure of the flowmeter using an error value between the measured filling amount and the calculated filling amount.