Hydrogen Refueling Gas Meter Data Transmission and Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Determining the quantity of hydrogen gas delivered to a vehicle at a hydrogen refueling station is technically complex and often unreliable due to measurement challenges and transmission losses.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a hydrogen filling station that uses a gas meter to provide digital gas delivery information and a unique transaction identifier, which is transmitted to a control unit for processing, along with a data transmission system to determine the gas quantity accurately, and includes security features like digital signatures to ensure integrity and authenticity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a gas meter is used to measure the quantity of hydrogen gas delivered, then the gas quantity can be determined, but the determination becomes technically complex and unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas quantity determinationVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a data transmission system as an intermediary component that receives measurement data from the gas meter and transmits it to a control unit. This intermediary handles the complex data processing and validation tasks, separating the measurement function from the processing function, thereby reducing the complexity burden on the gas meter itself while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the control unit receives transmitted data, validates it against predefined criteria, and can request re-transmission or correction if validation fails. This feedback loop ensures measurement reliability without requiring the gas meter to be overly complex, as the validation logic is distributed to the control unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If gas delivery information is transmitted to a control unit, then the gas quantity can be determined reliably, but security risks arise from potential manipulation of transmission data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas quantity determination reliabilityVSAvoiddata manipulation risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by implementing data validation checks before the transmission data is accepted and processed. The control unit validates received data against predefined criteria (such as plausibility checks, range validation, and consistency verification) before using it for gas quantity determination. This preliminary validation prevents manipulated or erroneous data from affecting the reliability of the measurement, countering potential harm before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If validation checks are performed on transmitted data, then data integrity is ensured, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements partial validation by performing different levels of checks based on the situation. Critical validation checks are always performed, while less critical checks may be skipped or performed asynchronously. This partial action approach ensures data integrity for essential parameters without unnecessarily extending processing time for all possible validation scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3923221A1Method for determining a gas quantity delivered to a vehicle at a hydrogen delivery point
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 WESTENERGIE AG
  • EP3923221A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3923221A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3923221A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining the quantity of hydrogen gas delivered to a vehicle (1) during a refueling process initiated by a user (2) at a hydrogen filling station (100), wherein the following steps are carried out: - providing gas delivery information (230) from a gas meter (130) about the quantity of gas delivered during the refueling process, - providing a transaction identifier (240) which is specific to the initiated refueling process, - providing acquisition information (270) based on the gas delivery information (230) and the transaction identifier (240), - transmitting the provided acquisition information (270) to a control unit (140) of the hydrogen filling station (100) in order to provide the gas delivery information (230) associated with the transaction identifier (240) to the control unit (140).