Pressure Storage Tank Life Estimation via Piston Movement Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack a method to determine the life of a pressure storage tank effectively, which is crucial for proper utilization.
Innovation Solution
A life determination device and method that calculates the movement amount of a piston in a pressure storage tank based on the volume change of its gas chamber, using temperature and pressure sensors to estimate gas chamber conditions, and determines the tank's life when the integrated movement amount exceeds a threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pressure storage tank is used without life determination, then the tank can operate continuously, but the reliability deteriorates due to unknown degradation state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical measurement of piston wear with a computational approach using gas law calculations. By measuring temperature and pressure changes of the gas chamber and calculating piston movement amount through PV=nRT relationships, the system determines tank life without complex mechanical sensors or direct wear measurement devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the gas chamber as an intermediary medium to indirectly measure piston degradation. Instead of directly monitoring piston wear, the system uses the gas chamber's pressure and temperature changes as intermediate indicators that reflect piston movement and seal degradation, enabling life determination through non-intrusive measurements.
2Measurement precision
If temperature and pressure sensors are added to monitor gas chamber conditions, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing temperature and pressure sensors serve dual purposes: they monitor general hydraulic system conditions and simultaneously provide data for piston movement calculation and life determination. This eliminates the need for dedicated sensors specifically for life monitoring, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the gas chamber's own physical properties (temperature and pressure) to self-diagnose its condition. The gas chamber effectively monitors itself through naturally occurring physical changes that occur during operation, eliminating the need for external diagnostic equipment or complex measurement systems.
3Measurement precision
If piston movement amount is calculated based on volume change, then life determination accuracy improves, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical measurement of piston displacement with computational calculation based on gas law principles. By using temperature and pressure measurements combined with the ideal gas law (PV=nRT), the system calculates volume change and derives piston movement amount, avoiding complex mechanical encoders or displacement sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the measurement problem from directly measuring mechanical displacement to measuring thermodynamic parameters (temperature and pressure) that are easier to measure accurately. By monitoring changes in these parameters and using gas law relationships, the system indirectly determines piston movement with high precision through computational methods.
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 determination of the pressure storage tank's life, ensuring appropriate usage and timely replacement, thereby optimizing its performance.
Implementation Method 1
a volume change calculation section that calculates the volume change of the gas chamber. The volume change calculation section may be configured to calculate the volume change of the gas chamber based on a temperature of the gas chamber before pressure storage, a pressure of the gas chamber before pressure storage, a temperature of the gas chamber after pressure storage, and a pressure of the gas chamber after pressure storage
Data Source
AI summary
An ECU is configured to determine the life of a pressure storage tank. The pressure storage tank has a gas chamber filled with gas, an oil chamber connected to a common passageway, and a piston dividing the gas chamber and the oil chamber. The pressure storage tank is configured to store hydraulic oil in the oil chamber and to release the hydraulic oil from the oil chamber. The ECU calculates a movement amount of the piston based on the volume change of the gas chamber. The ECU determines that the life of the pressure storage tank has ended when an integrated value of the calculated movement amount exceeds a threshold value.