Petrol Pump Release Time for Multi-Product Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas station operations face challenges in allowing customers to fill up with two different products, such as diesel and a urea-water mixture, at the same fueling point without requiring payment for the first filling process, while ensuring accurate pricing and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a release period is initiated after the first refueling process, allowing a second refueling process to start without immediate payment, with data from both processes stored locally until payment is made, and ensuring only compatible fuel products are filled consecutively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fueling point is blocked after the first refueling process until payment is made, then payment security is ensured, but the customer cannot perform a second refueling process without intermediate payment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing the data of the first refueling process locally in the price calculator and keeping the fueling point in a released state within a defined time window. This allows the customer to immediately start a second refueling process without intermediate payment, while the system has already prepared to process both transactions together when payment is eventually made.
2Ease of operation
If the fueling point is released immediately after the first refueling process, then the customer can perform a second refueling process, but payment security and data integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring whether a second refueling process is initiated within the defined time window after the first refueling. Based on this feedback, the system automatically decides whether to maintain the released state or block the fueling point. Additionally, the system provides feedback to the cash register system to ensure proper billing for one or both refueling processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The price calculator acts as an intermediary between the fueling point control and the cash register system. It stores the data of the first refueling process locally and manages the released state independently, allowing the fueling point to remain accessible while ensuring that payment will be processed correctly later through communication with the cash register system.
3Productivity
If data from the first refueling process is transmitted to the cash register system immediately, then the cash register system can process payment, but the fueling point must be blocked preventing a second refueling process
Solution Approach 1:
The price calculator performs preliminary action by storing the data of the first refueling process locally and maintaining the released state within a defined time window. This allows the system to adapt to multiple refueling processes while ensuring that payment will be processed correctly later, combining productivity with flexibility.
4Productivity
If the system allows multiple refueling processes without intermediate payment, then operational efficiency is improved, but the complexity of managing release periods and compatible products increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic control by defining a time window (release period) that automatically changes the state of the fueling point from released to blocked based on whether a second refueling process is initiated within that period. This dynamic approach allows operational efficiency while managing complexity through clearly defined temporal boundaries and automatic state transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of the fueling point state (released or blocked) based on the passage of time and the initiation of refueling processes. By using parameter changes rather than complex control logic, the system achieves operational efficiency while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple and manageable.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves transmitting fuel flow information of fuel products (A-C) to a price calculator (Ib), where fuel product contains urea. A decrease in price for a refueling operation is calculated based on fuel flow information for a customer. A purchase price for the fuel products is paid by the customer at a point-of-sale system (III). A time measurement is started after completion of a refueling operation, and a release time (21) is indicated within which another refueling operation is started at a same filling point (I) before payment of the purchase price. USE : Method for operating a filling pump of a gas station for a motor car i.e. diesel passenger car, in an automobile industry. ADVANTAGE : The time measurement is started after completion of the refueling operation, and the release time is indicated within which another refueling operation is started at the same filling point before payment of the purchase price, thus allowing the customer to carry out two successive refueling operations, without performing a payment while providing information about basic price, quantity of fuel, and total price for the refueling operations, and ensuring efficient and safe operation of the gas station. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : The drawing shows a schematic view illustrating a refueling operation with a column side controlled process. A-C : Fuel products I : Filling point III : Point-of-sale system Ib : Price calculator 21 : Release time.