Infrared Hydrogen Charging Detection for FCEV Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell electric vehicles face safety risks due to the inability to accurately sense whether hydrogen is charged, leading to potential high-pressure hydrogen leaks and unintended vehicle starting during charging, which can result in accidents.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using infrared transmission and reception units to sense the fuel door and hydrogen charging nozzle connection state, allowing for non-contact detection of hydrogen charging, thereby preventing accidental vehicle starting and ensuring safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If high-pressure hydrogen charging is performed to increase vehicle mileage, then the traveling distance is improved, but the risk of hydrogen leakage and accidental vehicle starting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the charging state before allowing vehicle starting. The infrared transmission and reception units detect whether the fuel door is open and whether the charging nozzle is connected in advance, and the controller prohibits vehicle starting when charging is detected, preventing accidental hydrogen leakage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an infrared detection system as an intermediary between the charging system and the vehicle control system. The infrared transmission unit emits signals and the reception unit receives reflected signals to indirectly detect the charging state without direct contact, enabling safe monitoring of high-pressure hydrogen charging
2Reliability
If non-contact infrared sensing is used to detect charging state, then safety is improved by preventing accidental vehicle starting, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared transmission unit and reception unit serve multiple functions: they detect both the fuel door opening state and the charging nozzle connection state using the same hardware components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate detection systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing infrared communication infrastructure of the vehicle for dual purposes: both for wireless communication with the charging station and for detecting the charging state. The infrared units already present in the vehicle are made to serve the additional function of safety detection, avoiding the need for completely separate detection hardware
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
The system accurately determines if hydrogen is charged, preventing vehicle starting during high-pressure hydrogen charging and reducing the risk of leaks and accidents by using non-contact infrared sensing, thus ensuring safe charging operations.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared transmission unit configured to transmit a fuel door sensing infrared signal to sense whether a fuel door is open while charging hydrogen and a nozzle sensing infrared signal to sense a charging station-side hydrogen charging nozzle
Implementation Method 2
an infrared reception unit configured to receive the fuel door sensing infrared signal transmitted from the infrared transmission unit and thereafter, reflected on a fuel door and the nozzle sensing infrared signal transmitted from the infrared transmission unit and thereafter, reflected on the hydrogen charging nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for sensing hydrogen charge state of a fuel cell electric vehicle are provided. The system includes an infrared transmission unit that transmits a fuel door sensing infrared signal for sensing a fuel door opened while charging hydrogen and a nozzle sensing infrared signal for sensing a charging station-side hydrogen charging nozzle connected to a hydrogen charging inlet of a vehicle. An infrared reception unit receives the fuel door sensing infrared signal and thereafter, reflected on a fuel door and the nozzle sensing infrared signal transmitted from the infrared transmission unit and thereafter, reflected on the hydrogen charging nozzle. A controller determines that the vehicle is being charged with hydrogen when sensing an open state of the fuel door and a hydrogen charging inlet connection state of the hydrogen charging nozzle.