Method and system for tank refueling using dispenser and nozzle readings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11313514-B2
Application number	US-201916530415-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2019
Priority date	Dec 4, 2018
Publication date	Apr 26, 2022
Grant date	Apr 26, 2022

Abstract

A plurality of sensors detect a plurality of fuel temperatures at a filling station, and a controller communicates with the sensors to identify the fuel temperatures, uses the fuel temperatures to determine a plurality of candidate fill times, and compares the candidate fill times to identify a control value for controlling a delivery of fuel. The fuel temperatures include a first fuel temperature corresponding to a first location at the filling station and a second fuel temperature corresponding to a second location at the filling station, and the candidate fill times include a first candidate fill time corresponding to the first fuel temperature and a second candidate fill time corresponding to the second fuel temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method of filling a fuel tank, the method comprising:
monitoring a plurality of fuel temperatures using a first sensor at a first location at a filling station and a second sensor at a second location at the filling station, the plurality of fuel temperatures including a first fuel temperature corresponding to the first location at the filling station and a second fuel temperature corresponding to a second location at the filling station;
iteratively determining a plurality of candidate fill times based on the plurality of fuel temperatures, the plurality of candidate fill times including a first candidate fill time determined using the first fuel temperature and a second candidate fill time determined using the second fuel temperature;
comparing the plurality of candidate fill times at a first time to select a first control value for controlling a delivery of fuel to the fuel tank, the first control value associated with the first candidate fill time;
delivering the fuel to the fuel tank using a dispenser in accordance with the first control value;
comparing the plurality of candidate fill times at a second time to select a second control value for controlling the delivery of fuel to the fuel tank, the second control value associated with the second candidate fill time; and
delivering the fuel to the fuel tank using the dispenser in accordance with the second control value.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating a dispenser with the first location.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating a nozzle with the second location.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fuel temperatures are detected at a plurality of times including the first time and the second time.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of candidate fill times are determined at a plurality of times including the first time and the second time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first control value is selected at the first time, and the second control value is selected at the second time.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining when to change from delivering the fuel in accordance with the first control value to delivering the fuel in accordance with the second control value.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether to remove heat from the fuel based on the second fuel temperature.

9. A control system for controlling a filling station, the controller comprising:
a plurality of sensors detecting a plurality of fuel temperatures at the filling station, the plurality of fuel temperatures including a first fuel temperature corresponding to a first location at the filling station and a second fuel temperature corresponding to a second location at the filling station; and
a controller communicating with the plurality of sensors to monitor the plurality of fuel temperatures, using the plurality of fuel temperatures to iteratively determine a plurality of candidate fill times, comparing the plurality of candidate fill times at a first time to identify a first control value associated with a first candidate fill time for controlling a delivery of fuel, and comparing the plurality of candidate fill times at a second time to identify a second control value associated with a second candidate fill time for controlling the delivery of the fuel, the first candidate fill time corresponding to the first fuel temperature and the second candidate fill time corresponding to the second fuel temperature.

10. The control system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the plurality of sensors to identify the plurality of fuel temperatures at a plurality of times including the first time and the second time.

11. The control system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to use the plurality of fuel temperatures to determine the plurality of candidate fill times at a plurality of times including the first time and the second time.

12. The control system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to identify the first control value at the first time and identify the second control value at the second time.

13. The control system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine when to change delivering the fuel in accordance with the first control value to delivering the fuel in accordance with the second control value.

14. The control system of claim 9 , further comprising a heat exchanger, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to remove heat from the fuel based on the second fuel temperature.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mathison Steven R

Classifications

• F17C2250/0439

  Temperature · CPC title

• F17C2250/0673

  Time or time periods · CPC title

• F17C5/06 Primary

  for filling with compressed gases · CPC title

• F17C2270/0168

  by vehicles · CPC title

• F17C2227/04

  Methods for emptying or filling · CPC title