Method and apparatus for calculating volume of compressed gas storage vessel, computer, and medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11604087-B2
Application number	US-202017027697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2020
Priority date	Sep 21, 2020
Publication date	Mar 14, 2023
Grant date	Mar 14, 2023

Abstract

Provided are a method and apparatus for calculating a volume of a compressed gas storage vessel, a computer, and a medium. According to the method, three test vessels with known volume and initial pressure are used to establish a pressure equilibrium with a compressed gas storage system, and pressure values in three equilibrium states are respectively detected. In this way, according to the three pressure values and the known volumes and initial pressures, a volume of the compressed gas storage system, a volume of a hose, and a pressure value of the compressed gas storage system in an initial state can be quickly and accurately calculated. By accurately obtaining the volume of the compressed gas storage system, the volume of the hose, and the pressure value of the compressed gas storage system in the initial state, a refueling rate can be increased as much as possible while ensuring safe refueling.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for calculating a volume of a compressed gas storage vessel, the method comprising:
establishing a connection between a compressed gas storage system and a gas dispenser, the gas dispenser comprising a hose and at least three test vessels with known volume and initial pressure, the three test vessels being in communication with the compressed gas storage system via the hose, wherein the three test vessels include a first vessel, a second vessel, and a third vessel, wherein the first vessel is in communication with the hose via a first valve, the second vessel is in communication with the hose via a second valve, the third vessel is in communication with the hose via a third valve, and in an initial state, the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve are in a closed state;
opening the first valve so that the first vessel is in communication with the compressed gas storage system, detecting a first pressure value when a pressure equilibrium state is reached between the first vessel, the hose, and the compressed gas storage system, and then closing the first valve;
opening the second valve so that the second vessel is in communication with the compressed gas storage system, detecting a second pressure value when a pressure equilibrium state is reached between the second vessel, the hose, and the compressed gas storage system, and then closing the second valve;
opening the third valve so that the third vessel is in communication with the compressed gas storage system, and detecting a third pressure value when a pressure equilibrium state is reached between the third vessel, the hose, and the compressed gas storage system; and
calculating the volume of the compressed gas storage system, a volume of the hose, and a pressure value of the compressed gas storage system in the initial state according to the volumes and initial pressures of the first, second and third vessels, the first pressure value, the second pressure value, and the third pressure value,
wherein a total mass of fuel contained in the three test vessels is less than or equal to a mass of fuel specified by an industry standard.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the compressed gas comprises one of gaseous hydrogen, vaporized liquid hydrogen, natural gas, vaporized liquefied natural gas, and gaseous propane.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gas dispenser further comprises a control valve, wherein the hose is in communication with the compressed gas storage system, and the control valve is provided on the hose.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the initial pressure of the first vessel, the initial pressure of the second vessel, and the initial pressure of the third vessel are configured such that:
the initial pressure of the first vessel, the initial pressure of the second vessel, and the initial pressure of the third vessel are equal;
alternatively, the initial pressure of the first vessel, the initial pressure of the second vessel, and the initial pressure of the third vessel are not equal; and wherein
the volume of the first vessel, the volume of the second vessel, and the volume of the third vessel are configured such that:
the volume of the first vessel, the volume of the second vessel, and the volume of the third vessel are equal;
alternatively, the volume of the first vessel, the volume of the second vessel, and the volume of the third vessel are not equal.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the initial pressure of the first vessel, the initial pressure of the second vessel, and the initial pressure of the third vessel are respectively 30% to 130% of a normal working pressure of the compressed gas storage system.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the initial pressure of the first vessel, the initial pressure of the second vessel, and the initial pressure of the third vessel are respectively 80% to 125% of a normal working pressure of the compressed gas storage system.

7. A non-transitory computer device comprising a memory and a processor, the memory having a computer program stored therein, wherein the computer program, when executed by the processor, implements steps of the method according to claim 1 .

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, implements steps of the method according to claim 1 .

9. An apparatus for calculating a volume of a compressed gas storage vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a connecting module configured to establish a connection between a compressed gas storage system and a gas dispenser, the gas dispenser comprising a hose and at least three test vessels with known volume and initial pressure, the three test vessels being in communication with the compressed gas storage system via the hose, wherein the three test vessels include a first vessel, a second vessel, and a third vessel, wherein the first vessel is in communication with the hose via a first valve, the second vessel is in communication with the hose via a second valve, the third vessel is in communication with the hose via a third valve, and in an initial state, the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve are in a closed state;
a first pressure value obtaining module configured to open the first valve so that the first vessel is in communication with the compressed gas storage system, to detect a first pressure value of the first vessel, the hose and the compressed gas storage system when a pressure equilibrium state is reached between the first vessel, the gas pipe, and the compressed gas storage system, and then to close the first valve;
a second pressure value obtaining module configured to open the second valve so that the second vessel is in communication with the compressed gas storage system, to detect a second pressure value of the second vessel, the hose and the compressed gas storage system when a pressure equilibrium state is reached between the second vessel, the hose, and the compressed gas storage system, and then to close the second valve;
a third pressure value obtaining module configured to open the third valve so that the third vessel is in communication with the compressed gas storage system, and to detect a third pressure value of the third vessel, the hose and the compressed gas storage system when a pressure equilibrium state is reached between the third vessel, the hose, and the compressed gas storage system; and
a volume and pressure calculating module configured to calculate the volume of the compressed gas storage system, a volume of the hose, and a pressure value of the compressed gas storage system in the initial state according to the volumes and initial pressures of the first, second and third vessels, the first pressure value, the second pressure value, and the third pressure value.

Assignees

• China Energy Investment Corp Ltd
• Nat Inst Clean & Low Carbon Energy

Inventors

• Youn Edward
• Li Xianming
• Hao Pingjiao
• Ku Anthony
• Stager Jerad Allen

Classifications

• F17C2223/0123

  gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC · CPC title

• F17C2250/043

  Pressure · CPC title

• F17C2225/036

  Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars · CPC title

• F17C2260/025

  Reducing transfer time · CPC title

• F17C2260/024

  Improving metering · CPC title