Hydrogen Tank Mass Display Controller for Accurate Full Level Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for displaying the remaining amount of compressed gas in a tank do not reliably show the 'FULL' symbol when the gas is filled to its limit by temperature, leading to user confusion due to pressure and temperature variations without gas consumption.
Innovation Solution
A gas level display controller that calculates the mass of compressed gas based on pressure and temperature, sets a reference value for full capacity, and displays the remaining amount on a device, ensuring the 'FULL' symbol is shown even with pressure and temperature changes, using a mass computation module, reference value setting module, and display control module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the remaining amount of compressed gas is displayed based on pressure and mass, then the display reflects current gas state, but the 'FULL' symbol disappears when temperature decreases and pressure drops without gas consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the display parameter from direct pressure-based indication to mass-based indication. By calculating gas mass from pressure and temperature measurements and displaying the remaining amount as a percentage of the filled amount, the system accurately reflects the actual gas quantity regardless of temperature-induced pressure variations. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining display accuracy while ensuring reliable FULL symbol display.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring pressure and temperature, calculating the current gas mass, comparing it with the initial filled mass, and adjusting the display accordingly. This closed-loop approach ensures that the display always accurately represents the actual gas remaining amount, preventing the FALSE disappearance of the FULL symbol when temperature changes occur.
2Reliability
If gas filling is stopped when temperature reaches reference temperature, then safety standards are met, but the displayed remaining amount does not represent true full capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary recording of the gas mass at the moment filling stops (whether by pressure or temperature limit). This recorded mass serves as the reference full capacity value for subsequent display calculations. By capturing this information in advance, the system ensures that the FULL symbol displays correctly even when filling is terminated due to temperature constraints rather than pressure limits.
3Device complexity
If display is based on pressure ratio, then simple calculation is used, but temperature variations cause incorrect full level indication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the display basis from pressure-only ratio to mass-based ratio by incorporating temperature compensation. The system calculates gas mass using both pressure and temperature measurements, then displays the remaining amount as a percentage of the initial filled mass. This approach maintains relatively simple system complexity while dramatically improving full level detection precision by eliminating temperature-induced errors.
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
Reliably displays the 'FULL' symbol on the device, preventing user confusion and accurately showing the gas level, even with variations in temperature or pressure, and alerts users when the gas level approaches depletion.
Implementation Method 1
a mass computation module configured to calculate a mass of the compressed gas from a pressure of the compressed gas and a temperature of the compressed gas
Implementation Method 2
a mass computation module configured to calculate a mass of the compressed gas from a pressure of the compressed gas and a temperature of the compressed gas
Data Source
AI summary
A gas level display controller includes a mass computation module, a reference value setting module, and a display control module. The mass computation module obtains a pressure and a temperature of compressed hydrogen stored in a hydrogen tank and calculates a mass of the compressed hydrogen in the hydrogen tank, for example, according to a known gas state equation. The reference value setting module sets a reference value, which is used for display of a remaining amount of the compressed hydrogen in the hydrogen tank on a display device, to the mass of the compressed hydrogen calculated by the mass computation module on the occasion of filling the compressed hydrogen into the hydrogen tank to limitation of the hydrogen filling. The display control module calculates a ratio of the mass of the compressed hydrogen to the reference value and makes the remaining amount of the compressed hydrogen in the hydrogen tank displayed on the display device, based on the calculated ratio. This arrangement enables a symbol ‘FULL’ to be reliably displayed on a display device on the occasion of filling a compressed gas into a tank to limitation of the gas filling.