Hydrogen Gas Quantity Determination via Digital Meter Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reliable determination of hydrogen gas quantity delivered to vehicles at hydrogen refueling stations is technically complex, requiring improved methods to accurately assign gas quantities to specific refueling processes and assess time courses and anomalies.

Innovation Solution

A method involving digital gas release information from a gas meter, combined with refueling process information, is transmitted to a control unit and central data processing system, using security features like digital signatures to ensure data integrity and correct assignment, allowing for continuous and accurate measurement of gas delivery during refueling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

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

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas quantity determinationVSAvoidtechnical complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary data processing system that receives data from the gas meter and performs the complex calculations for determining delivered gas quantity. This intermediary layer handles the technical complexity of compensating for compressibility effects and pressure/temperature variations, while the gas meter itself remains a relatively simple measuring device. The system separates the measurement function from the complex determination function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces purely mechanical/measurement-based gas quantity determination with an electronic/data-based system. Instead of relying solely on the gas meter's mechanical measurement capabilities, the system uses electronic data processing, stored reference data, and computational algorithms to determine the actual delivered gas quantity, accounting for real gas behavior deviations from ideal gas laws.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If gas delivery information is transmitted to a control unit, then the gas quantity can be assigned to specific refueling processes, but data integrity and security become concerns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation assignment accuracyVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-verification capabilities where the control unit automatically validates received data against stored reference data and predefined criteria. The system performs self-checks for data consistency, detects anomalies in the time course of gas delivery, and ensures proper assignment of gas quantities to refueling processes without requiring external verification for each transaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the control unit continuously monitors incoming gas delivery information, compares it with expected patterns and stored reference data, and can detect anomalies or deviations. The system provides feedback on data quality and can trigger alerts or corrections when inconsistencies are detected, ensuring reliable information assignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3923220A1Method for determining a gas quantity delivered to a vehicle at a hydrogen delivery point
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 WESTENERGIE AG
  • EP3923220A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3923220A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3923220A1 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 repeatedly performed during the refueling process to communicate the quantity of gas: - providing gas delivery information (230) from a gas meter (130) about the quantity of gas delivered during the refueling process, - providing refueling process information (240) that is specific to the initiated refueling process, - providing acquisition information (270) based on the gas delivery information (230) and the refueling process information (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 refueling process information (240) to the control unit (140).