用于监测一气瓶内可使用的资源之方法及设备;METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR, MONITORING THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES OF A GAS CYLINDER

摘要

本发明提供一种用于决定从具有固定内部容积的气瓶及阀组合件的预测气体使用量的方法。该方法包含下列步骤：使用感测器组合件进行决定在时间t在气瓶中的气体质量、进行决定在时间t从气瓶的平均气体流率、及进行决定在时间t直到在气瓶中气体量达到预定水准为止的剩余时间，该剩余时间是根据在时间t在气瓶中的气体质量、在时间t从气瓶的平均气体流率、及选自取决于在时间t在气瓶中剩余气体的比例的预定比例因数所决定。藉由提供如此的方法，该平均流率是根据先前测量，且此是与一取决于在气瓶中的剩余气体量的因数组合所决定。如此的方法可更准确决定气瓶的耗尽时间。; and determining, at time t, the time remaining until the quantity of gas in the gas cylinder reaches a predetermined level, the time remaining being determined from the mass of gas in the gas cylinder at time t, the average flow rate of gas from the gas cylinder at time t, and a predetermined scaling factor selected in dependence upon the proportion of gas remaining in the gas cylinder at time t. By providing such a method, the average flow rate is determined based on previous measurements, and this is combined with a factor dependent upon the amount of gas remaining in the gas cylinder. Such a method enables a more accurate determination of the time to run out of the gas cylinder.