Redundant adaptive algorithm for electrical pressure regulated high pressure tank systems

摘要

A method and system for controlling a pressure regulator in a gas storage system using a pressure switch as a pressure measurement device. A controller uses supply pressure data and gas flow demand data to compute a feed-forward control term, and uses data from a pressure sensor downstream of the pressure regulator to compute a feedback control term. During normal operation, with pressure downstream of the regulator oscillating about a set point pressure, on-time and off-time periods of a pressure switch are monitored, and an adaptive control term is computed which balances on-time and off-time. If the pressure sensor fails, excessive switch on-time or off-time will be detected; in response to this, the feedback control term is disregarded, and an adaptive control term is computed which aims to restore balanced on-time and off-time of the switch, thus indicating that the actual pressure is oscillating about the set point.

主权项

1. A system for controlling a pressure regulator comprising:
a pressure sensor for providing a measurement signal quantifying a pressure downstream of the pressure regulator; a pressure switch for providing an off signal that indicates that the pressure downstream of the pressure regulator is above a set point pressure, or an on signal that indicates that the pressure downstream of the pressure regulator is below the set point pressure; and a controller responsive to the measurement signal from the pressure sensor and the signals from the pressure switch, said controller being configured to use a combination of a feedback control term, a feed-forward control term and an adaptive control term to control the pressure regulator such that the pressure downstream of the pressure regulator seeks the set point pressure and such that on-time and off-time periods of the pressure switch are balanced.