High-Pressure Tank Valve Diagnostic via Sequential Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure tank systems in vehicles face safety hazards due to potential malfunctions and excessive pressures, requiring effective methods to detect defective valves without complex software algorithms and to prevent unnecessary triggering of external overpressure protection.
Innovation Solution
A method and diagnostic facility that utilize existing high-pressure sensors and controllers to sequentially activate and measure valves, identifying defective magnetic valves by pressure drops, and storing error codes or issuing service signals, allowing for efficient and reliable detection of blind tanks without complex software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional valve checking methods are used, then safety monitoring is provided, but complex software algorithms are required and temperature deviations during checks cannot be effectively eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex software-based diagnostic algorithms with a purely mechanical/physical measurement approach. By sequentially closing valves and measuring pressure changes with a high-pressure sensor, the system determines valve functionality through direct physical measurement rather than complex computational analysis, thereby reducing software complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing high-pressure sensor and controller to perform self-diagnosis of the valves. The controller sequentially actuates each valve and the high-pressure sensor measures the resulting pressure changes, allowing the system to automatically identify defective valves without requiring external diagnostic equipment or complex third-party software algorithms
2Reliability
If external overpressure protection is continuously triggered, then safety is ensured, but unnecessary protection triggers reduce system efficiency and increase operational interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary diagnostic checks by sequentially testing each valve's functionality before normal operation proceeds. By proactively identifying and flagging defective valves through pressure measurements, the system prevents situations that would trigger unnecessary overpressure protection, thereby maintaining safety while avoiding operational interruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The high-pressure sensor provides continuous feedback on system pressure conditions during valve testing. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to accurately determine whether pressure changes are due to valve defects or actual system overpressure conditions, enabling differentiated responses that prevent unnecessary safety triggers while maintaining genuine safety protection
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 simplifies the diagnosis of defective valves, reduces unnecessary overpressure protection triggers, and ensures safety by using existing sensors and information, making it a more efficient and reliable solution compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a high-pressure sensor (14) for continuously measuring and/or monitoring a pressure present in the high-pressure tank system (2)
Data Source
AI summary
A method and diagnostic facility for checking a plurality of magnetic valves in a high-pressure tank system of a motor vehicle is described. A magnetic valve is activated for opening the magnetic valve. A pressure in a high-pressure tank system is measured while activating the magnetic valve. A valve is determined to be defective if during measuring the pressure a drop in pressure is found.