Compressed Fluid Tank Valve Current Control for Pressure Faults
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank devices for storing compressed fluids, such as hydrogen in fuel cell systems, face challenges in ensuring faultless opening and closing of shut-off valves, particularly in accident scenarios where unregulated gas escape can occur due to pressure and flow forces.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a valve device with a magnet coil and a control unit using a characteristic map to adjust electrical current intensity based on pressure differences, ensuring the valve remains open under normal conditions and closes when pressure differences exceed stored references, thereby preventing gas escape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shut-off valve is installed in the tank device to prevent gas escape in accident scenarios, then safety is improved, but the complexity of ensuring faultless opening and closing operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a purely mechanical valve operation system with an electromechanical system. A magnet coil is integrated into the valve device to generate magnetic forces that act on a magnet armature, enabling controlled opening and closing of the shut-off valve. This substitution allows for more reliable and controllable valve operation compared to purely mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the valve by introducing variable electrical current intensity to the magnet coil. The control unit adjusts the current intensity based on pressure differences between the tank and feed line, dynamically modifying the magnetic force to ensure faultless valve operation under different operating conditions and accident scenarios.
2Reliability
If electrical current is applied to the magnet coil to control valve opening, then valve operation reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the magnet coil's electrical current intensity based on real-time pressure conditions. The control unit monitors the pressure difference between the tank and feed line and adjusts the current accordingly - applying higher current when pressure differences require stronger magnetic force to keep the valve open, and reducing or eliminating current when lower forces suffice. This dynamic approach optimizes energy consumption while maintaining reliable valve control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback control where the control unit continuously monitors pressure parameters and adjusts the magnet coil's electrical current intensity based on the actual operating conditions. This feedback mechanism ensures the valve operates reliably only when necessary, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining safety and control reliability.
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
This method ensures reliable operation of the valve device, preventing unregulated gas escape and maintaining safety by adapting magnetic force to counteract pressure and flow forces, ensuring the valve remains closed in abnormal conditions like line breakages.
Implementation Method 1
the applied electrical current intensity at the magnet coil will no longer suffice to generate a sufficiently high magnetic force that counteracts the pressure and flow forces on the valve device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method (200) for operating a tank device (1) for storing compressed fluids, having a tank (2), a valve device (100), a feed line (29), a flow-regulating element (27) situated in the feed line (29), and a control unit (64). The valve device (100) comprises a magnet apparatus (11), by means of which magnet apparatus (11) the opening and closing process of the valve device (100) can be controlled, the magnet apparatus (11) comprising a solenoid (10). A characteristic map (80) is stored in the control unit (64), in which characteristic map (80) reference pressure differences (70) with associated electrical current strengths for the solenoid (10) are stored, the electrical current strength being selected such that the valve device (100) is still open, an initial electrical current strength being stored in the characteristic map (80). The method is characterised by the following steps: a. applying (60) the initial electrical current strength to the solenoid (10); b. determining (61) the pressure p0 in the tank (2) and determining (61) the pressure p1 in the feed line (29) between the valve device (100) and the flow-regulating element (27); c. determining (62) the difference between the pressure p0 in the tank (2) and the pressure p1 in the feed line (29) between the valve device (100) and the flow-regulating element (27); d. assigning the determined difference between the pressure p0 in the tank (2) and the pressure p1 in the feed line (29) between the valve device (100) and the flow-regulating element (27) to one of the reference pressure differences (70) in the characteristic map (80) such that,—if the determined difference between the pressure p0 in the tank (2) and the pressure p1 in the feed line (29) between the valve device (100) and the flow-regulating element (27) can be assigned to one of the reference pressure differences (70): i. selecting (64) an electrical current strength assigned to the determined reference pressure difference (70) for the solenoid (10); ii. applying (65) the selected electrical current strength to the solenoid (10); iii. cyclically repeating (66) steps a. to d.; —if the determined difference between the pressure p0 in the tank (2) and the pressure p1 in the feed line (29) between the valve device (100) and the flow-regulating element (27) cannot be assigned to one of the reference pressure differences (70): returning (67) to step a.