EA031600B1 - Method for control of a leak-tight vessel filling with a fluid medium - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for filling a leak-tight vessel with a fluid medium consists in that the vessel is filled through a quick-release two-channel connection wherein the filling process is represented as two phases: a pressure build-up phase and a pressure release phase; before starting the filling process, the following is entered in the memory of the controller that controls the vessel filling process: the value of vapour-air mixture pressure in the vessel Pat which opening of the air channel of the quick-release connection takes place; the value of vapour-air mixture pressure in the vessel Pat which closing of the air channel of the quick-release connection takes place; the number of pulses Impregistered by the controller in the pressure build-up phase and corresponding to the desired residual free volume in the vessel; the value of pressure in the vessel is measured by means of a pressure transducer in each phase; the number of pulses transmitted by the flow meter in each phase is registered; as soon as the number of pulses in the pressure build-up phase reaches the preset value Impfluid feed is stopped.

Description

The invention relates to the field of filling sealed containers with fluid and can be used, in particular, when fueling vehicles, pouring oils, acids, alkalis and any other fluid in tanks, tanks and other containers through a two-channel quick coupling.

Prior art

It is known that hermetic containers are commonly used to store corrosive media such as acids, alkalis, various types of oils and fuels, detergents and solvents. If they are released into the environment leads to serious environmental consequences, therefore, special attention is paid to the issues of controlling the filling of containers. As a rule, the control of filling a sealed container through a quick-disconnect connection, the use of which excludes the possibility to look inside the container and visually assess its filling level, is carried out using sensors installed in the container and, or fluid level analyzers (Sorokin PV, Liquid level control system media in sealed tanks, thesis for the competition of Candidate of Technical Sciences, GOU VPO TPU, Tomsk, 2011). As a rule, they are placed at the mark of a predetermined filling level, upon reaching which the sensor / analyzer delivers the appropriate signal, and the flow of fluid is stopped. Accounting for the amount of released fluid produced by the flow meter.

The disadvantage of this method of control is that the readings of the sensors and analyzers may be distorted depending on the temperature and density of the fluid due to mechanical effects and damage, pressure drops, ambient temperature. Among other things, fluid level meters, which come into direct contact with it, during operation are subject to the formation of deposits on a sensitive element, which leads to interruptions in the operation of the device. In this case, the risk of the contents entering the environment as a result of overflow of the container increases dramatically.

In addition, it is worth noting that filling to the desired level through sealed quick-disconnecting of containers that are not equipped with at least one fluid level metering device without risk of spilling the contents is possible only with exactly known initial fluid level. Accurately determine the initial level of fluid in such a container is extremely difficult.

However, even in the presence of a fluid level metering device in the tank, spillage is possible during filling, for example, when refueling vehicle tanks. As a rule, the initial fuel level in the tank is known only approximately and is based on the readings of the fuel level sensors, the error of which increases in proportion to the service life. The inclination angle of the vehicle also plays a big role - when the tank is filled with the inclination, the readings of the fluid level meters are distorted, which can lead to a strait.

This method was chosen as a prototype of the claimed invention.

Summary of Invention

The technical task to be solved by the claimed invention is the creation of a more reliable method of controlling the filling of a sealed container with fluid through a two-channel quick disconnect connection, including one not equipped with special devices for taking into account the content level and with an unknown initial level of fluid in the tank.

The technical result is achieved by the fact that when filling a sealed container with a fluid medium, which consists in filling the container through a quick-disconnecting two-channel connection, the process of filling the container is represented as two phases: pressure build-up phase and pressure release phase; before starting to fill in the memory of the controller that controls the process of filling the tank, make the value of pressure P _max vapor-air mixture in the tank, at which the opening of the air channel of the quick-release coupling occurs;

the value of pressure P _min vapor-air mixture in the tank, at which the closure of the air channel of the quick coupling;

the number of imp _min pulses recorded by the controller in the pressure build-up phase corresponding to the desired residual free volume in the tank;

using the pressure sensor measure the pressure in the tank in each phase; register the number of pulses transmitted by the flow meter in each phase;

when reaching the number of pulses in the pressure buildup phase of a predetermined Imp _{min, the} flow of fluid is stopped.

List of figures, drawings and other materials

The entire process of filling the tank is presented in the form of alternation of two phases: the phases of pressure build-up (1) in the tank and the phases of its discharge (2), which is illustrated by the graph shown in FIG. 1. The filling process begins with the stage of pressure buildup (1), when a fluid enters the tank, as a result of which the pressure of the vapor-air mixture increases.

To measure the pressure of the steam-air mixture inside the tank, a pressure sensor is used, which is installed at the outlet of the tank in the air duct of the quick coupling. With his

- 1 031600 using the estimated way to determine the approximate amount of residual free volume in the tank.

The pressure P _max at which the air channel opens at the quick disconnect connection (hereinafter BRS), the pressure P _min at which it closes and the number of pulses Imp _min recorded by the controller in the pressure build-up phase at which the filling process stops empirically, based on the design of the container and the type of medium, it is poured into it and contribute to the memory of the controller. For example, the pressure P _max at which the air valve opens when the tank is filled with water is 20 mm Hg, the P _min value is 3-5 mm Hg, and the number of pulses recorded by the controller in the pressure build-up phase is Imp _min , in which the process of filling stops, is equal to five, which corresponds to 1-2 liters of free residual volume in the tank, not filled with liquid.

As soon as the pressure in the tank reaches the specified value P _max , the controller proceeds to the pressure release phase (2) and gives the command to open the air channel BRS. The pressure in the tank drops until it reaches the minimum specified value Pmin, at which the controller gives the command to close the air channel and again goes to the pressure build-up phase (1).

In each phase, the controller records the number of pulses transmitted by the flow meter, which directly depends on the residual free volume in the tank that is not filled with liquid: the smaller the residual free volume in the tank, the shorter the phase and the smaller the number of pulses recorded during it. Since the container is sealed, then filling it with a fluid medium leads to an increase in pressure in it, respectively, as it is filled, the phases of increase and depressurization will become shorter.

During each phase, the controller calculates the amount of residual free volume in the tank based on the incoming data on the number of pulses recorded during each phase.

As soon as the number of pulses recorded by the controller in the pressure buildup phase reaches a predetermined minimum value of Impmin, the flow of fluid is stopped.

The claimed method assumes the presence of some error at the initial stage of loading, which decreases as the tank is filled.

Information confirming the possibility of carrying out the invention

The claimed method has been applied in practice when refueling a vehicle tank through a two-channel power unit. FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the process of filling a vehicle's fuel tank with gasoline.

Before starting the refueling, the following data was entered into the controller's memory:

the value of pressure P _max vapor-air mixture in the tank, at which the opening of the air channel of the quick coupling and the release of pressure = 15 mm Hg;

the pressure Pmin of the vapor-air mixture in the tank, at which the air duct of the quick-release coupling closes = 5 mm Hg;

the number of Impmin pulses recorded by the controller in the pressure build-up phase, at which the fluid supply is automatically stopped by shutting off the BRS <85 liquid channel, which corresponds to 2.5 liters of free residual volume in the tank.

During refueling, the amount of fuel dispensed is determined in a standard way using a flow meter that fixes the number of pulses, which the controller then processes and converts to liters, but at the same time, the number of pulses recorded in each phase of increase and pressure release is counted. Special attention is paid to the pressure build-up phase and the number of pulses recorded during it. This is necessary to determine the residual free volume in the tank during its filling for the timely shutdown of the fuel supply.

In the practical application of the method for fueling vehicles using the CRUs, the amount of residual free volume in the tank can also be determined by drastically changing the length of the phases when filling due to the design features of the car tanks, which provides for a large residual free volume in the tank even when refueling to full.

As can be seen from the graph shown in FIG. 2, the less free volume remains in the vehicle tank, the shorter the phases become. When the number of Impmin pulses in the pressure build-up phase reached 85, the controller gave the command to close the fuel channel to the RLL and stop the filling process.

The use of the claimed invention allows to increase the reliability of monitoring the filling of an airtight container with fluid through a two-channel quick-disconnect connection, including not equipped with special meters for monitoring the level of contents due to the absence of the need to install additional equipment inside the container and the absence of contact of metering devices with the fluid.

It is also worth noting that in the process of loading the controller continuously monitors the rate of change of pressure, comparing it with the calculated one - this allows you to respond in a timely manner to the leakage of the vessel or the flow of the pipelines, as well as interruptions in the fuel supply.

- 2 031600

Claims (1)

CLAIM A method of filling a sealed container with a fluid, which consists in filling the container through a quick disconnect two-channel connection, characterized in that the filling process of the container is presented in two phases: a pressure rise phase and a pressure relief phase; before filling, into the memory of the controller that controls the process of filling the tank, enter the pressure value P _{max of the} vapor-air mixture in the tank at which the air channel of the quick-connect is opened; the pressure value P _{min of the} vapor-air mixture in the tank at which the air channel of the quick-connect connection is closed; the number of imp _min pulses recorded by the controller in the pressure rise phase corresponding to the desired value of the residual free volume in the tank; using a pressure sensor measure the pressure in the tank in each phase; register the number of pulses transmitted by the flow meter in each phase; when the number of pulses in the phase of the pressure rise reaches a predetermined value of Imp _{min the} flow of fluid is stopped.