Hydrogen Reservoir Sensor Cross-Check via Gas Density Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack an effective method to accurately determine the abnormality of pressure sensors in fuel cell systems, which can affect the performance and safety of fuel cell vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An abnormality determination device and method that utilizes first and second gas density acquisition units to determine the density of hydrogen gas in a fuel cell system's gas reservoir unit, using pressure and temperature sensors to identify any abnormalities in the pressure sensors based on comparisons with a stored map, allowing for precise determination of sensor functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure sensors are used to detect gas pressure in fuel cell systems, then gas supply control is enabled, but sensor abnormalities may occur undetected affecting system safety
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by comparing the relationship between pressure sensor readings and gas density measurements. The abnormality determination unit continuously monitors whether pressure sensor outputs align with expected values derived from gas density, creating a self-checking mechanism that improves reliability without requiring additional external sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor abnormality detection is achieved through self-service by using the existing gas density measurement system to validate pressure sensor readings. The system serves itself by using its own operational data (gas density from flow rate and pressure measurements) to check the integrity of its pressure sensing components, eliminating the need for separate dedicated abnormality detection hardware.
2Measurement precision
If gas density is calculated using pressure and temperature sensors, then accurate gas supply monitoring is achieved, but sensor abnormalities may lead to incorrect density calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by establishing the expected relationship between pressure, temperature, and gas density before actual gas supply operations. The abnormality determination unit pre-establishes the correlation between pressure sensor readings and gas density measurements, allowing it to proactively detect deviations that indicate sensor abnormalities before they affect system operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies parameter changes by monitoring the relationship between multiple parameters (pressure, temperature, gas density, flow rate) to detect abnormalities. By observing how changes in one parameter should correlate with changes in others according to gas laws, the system can identify when a pressure sensor is providing incorrect readings, thereby maintaining measurement precision even when individual sensors may drift.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are deployed for gas monitoring, then system safety is improved, but the complexity of determining sensor abnormalities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas density measurement system serves multiple functions: it monitors gas supply quantity, validates pressure sensor readings for abnormality detection, and provides feedback for system control. This multi-functionality allows the system to improve safety through existing measurements rather than requiring dedicated separate systems for each function, reducing the overall difficulty of abnormality detection.
Solution Approach 2:
Gas density acts as an intermediary that connects pressure sensor readings with actual gas supply conditions. By using gas density (derived from flow rate and pressure measurements) as a mediating parameter, the system can indirectly validate pressure sensor performance without requiring direct comparison with another pressure sensor, simplifying the abnormality detection approach while maintaining system safety.
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
Enables accurate and reliable detection of pressure sensor abnormalities, enhancing the safety and efficiency of fuel cell systems by ensuring the integrity of hydrogen gas supply.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure of the gas detected by a first pressure sensor provided in the gas filling path
Implementation Method 2
a temperature of the gas detected by a temperature sensor provided in the gas reservoir unit
Implementation Method 3
a pressure of the gas detected by a second pressure sensor provided in the gas supply path
Implementation Method 4
acquire a first gas density, which is a density of a gas in a gas reservoir unit when the gas reservoir unit has been filled with the gas via a gas filling path, based on a pressure of the gas detected by a first pressure sensor and a temperature of the gas detected by a temperature sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An abnormality determination device includes: a first gas density acquisition unit that acquires a first gas density, which is a density of a gas in a gas reservoir unit when the gas reservoir unit has been filled with the gas via a gas filling path; a second gas density acquisition unit that acquires a second gas density, which is a density of the gas in the gas reservoir unit when the gas is supplied from the gas reservoir unit via a gas supply path; and an abnormality determination unit that determines whether or not a first pressure sensor or a second pressure sensor is abnormal, based on the first gas density acquired by the first gas density acquisition unit and the second gas density acquired by the second gas density acquisition unit.