Description:Complete Specification

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a hydrogen pressure sensor, and more specifically to an algorithm for correction of the hydrogen pressure sensor over its lifetime.

Background of the invention
[0002] US Patent Application Number 2022190366 AA describes a hydrogen pressure sensor offset correction system and a correction method for a fuel cell. A correction value of a hydrogen pressure sensor is derived through a flow rate variation value of an air flow sensor generated when discharging an anode off gas by opening a hydrogen discharge valve during operation of a fuel cell system. The hydrogen pressure sensor is corrected through the derived correction value to thereby perform offset correction of the hydrogen pressure sensor.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a hydrogen injection system for a hydrogen engine in one embodiment of the invention.
[0004] Figure 2 illustrates an algorithm for correction of the hydrogen pressure sensor over its lifetime in one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0004] Figure 2 illustrates an algorithm 100 for correction of the hydrogen pressure sensor over its lifetime. The algorithm 100 comprises controlling 110 a flow of hydrogen gas from a hydrogen tank to a hydrogen fuel rail via a pressure regulator that is in flow communication with the hydrogen tank by means of a shut off valve, controlling 120 the flow of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen fuel rail to at least one hydrogen fuel injector that is in flow communication with the hydrogen fuel rail, and running 130 a hydrogen engine after the ignition is switched off until the pressure of hydrogen gas in the hydrogen fuel rail attains atmospheric pressure. The algorithm 100 further comprises measuring 140 a pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail by means of a hydrogen fuel pressure sensor hat in in flow communication with the hydrogen fuel rail, transmitting 150 the pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor to an electronic control unit, and determining 160 a deviation of the pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor with atmospheric pressure by the electronic control unit. The algorithm 100 therein comprises determining 170 a difference between pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor and atmospheric pressure by the electronic control unit, and correcting 180 the measured value of pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail by subtracting the difference between pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor and atmospheric pressure by the electronic control unit from the pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor.

[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a hydrogen injection system for a hydrogen engine in one embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment, a hydrogen tank 12 is in flow communication with a pressure regulator 14 of the hydrogen tank 12. More specifically, the hydrogen tank 12 is in flow communication with the pressure regulator 14 of the hydrogen tank 12 and supply pressurized hydrogen to the pressure regulator 14. Therein, the pressure regulator 14 controls a pressure and a mass flow rate of the hydrogen gas that is supplied to a shut off valve 16 that is in flow communication with the pressure regulator 14. From the shut off valve 16, the hydrogen gas is supplied to a hydrogen fuel rail 18. From the hydrogen fuel rail 18, pressurized hydrogen is supplied to a plurality of fuel injectors 20 for injecting the hydrogen gas into a plurality of cylinders of the hydrogen engine for combustion. A hydrogen fuel pressure sensor 22 is in flow communication with the hydrogen fuel rail 18 and measures a pressure of the hydrogen fuel in the hydrogen fuel rail 18. An electronic control unit 24 is in electronic communication with the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor 22 and senses a pressure of the hydrogen fuel that flows through the hydrogen fuel rail 18.

[0006] Figure 2 illustrates an algorithm 100 for correction of the hydrogen pressure sensor over its lifetime in one embodiment of the invention. The algorithm 100 for correction of the hydrogen pressure sensor over its lifetime comprises controlling 110 a flow of hydrogen gas from a hydrogen tank to a hydrogen fuel rail via a pressure regulator 16 that is in flow communication with the hydrogen tank 12 by means of a shut off valve 16. More specifically, the shut off valve 16 controls the flow of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank 12 to the hydrogen fuel rail 18 via the pressure regulator 14. The pressure regulator 14 that is in flow communication with the hydrogen tank 12 at its upstream end and with the shut off valve 16 at its downstream end controls a mass flow rate and consequently the pressure of hydrogen gas that flows from the hydrogen tank 12 to the hydrogen fuel rail 18 via the shut off valve 16.

[0007] The algorithm 100 for correction of the hydrogen pressure sensor over its lifetime comprises controlling 120 the flow of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen fuel rail to at least one hydrogen fuel injector that is in flow communication with the hydrogen fuel rail. Therefore, the at least one hydrogen fuel injector that receives pressurized fuel from the hydrogen fuel rail delivers the pressurized hydrogen gas to the engine. In an exemplary embodiment, the hydrogen engine is run 130 for a brief duration of time or a predetermined number of cycles until the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the hydrogen fuel rail is decreased to a pressure that is equal to the atmospheric pressure after the ignition is switched off. Once the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the hydrogen fuel rail decreases to the pressure that is equal to its atmospheric pressure, the algorithm further comprises measuring 140 the pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail by means of a hydrogen fuel pressure sensor that is in flow communication with the hydrogen fuel rail. The measured pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail is transmitted 150 by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor to an electronic control unit.

[0008] The algorithm 100 for correction of the hydrogen pressure sensor over its lifetime comprises determining 160 a deviation of the pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor with atmospheric pressure by the electronic control unit. The algorithm 100 therein comprises determining 170 a difference between pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor after the hydrogen engine is run for the brief duration of time and the atmospheric pressure by the electronic control unit. Once the difference between pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail and the atmospheric pressure is determined by the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit corrects 180 the measured value of pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail by subtracting the difference between pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor and atmospheric pressure by the electronic control unit. More specifically, this difference between the pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor and atmospheric pressure is used to correct the offset in the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor to obtain its corrected value that is subsequently utilized in the measurement of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail.

[0009] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

, Claims:CLAIMS

We Claim

1. An algorithm (100) for correction of the hydrogen pressure sensor over its lifetime, the algorithm (100) comprising:
controlling (110) a flow of hydrogen gas from a hydrogen tank to a hydrogen fuel rail via a pressure regulator that is in flow communication with the hydrogen tank by means of a shut off valve;
controlling (120) the flow of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen fuel rail to at least one hydrogen fuel injector that is in flow communication with the hydrogen fuel rail;
running (130) a hydrogen engine after the ignition is switched off until the pressure of hydrogen gas in the hydrogen fuel rail attains atmospheric pressure;
measuring (140) a pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail by means of a hydrogen fuel pressure sensor that in in flow communication with the hydrogen fuel rail;
transmitting (150) the pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor to an electronic control unit;
determining (160) a deviation of the pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor with atmospheric pressure by the electronic control unit;
determining (170) a difference between pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor and atmospheric pressure by the electronic control unit; and
correcting (180) the measured value of pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail by subtracting the difference between pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor and atmospheric pressure by the electronic control unit from the pressure of hydrogen gas present in the hydrogen fuel rail as measured by the hydrogen fuel pressure sensor.