Method for estimating a thawed volume present in liquid form in a tank
US10975751B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 2017 |
| Grant date | Apr 13, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 8, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/40
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for estimating a volume of thawed liquid in a motor vehicle tank, wherein the following operations are executed at regular time intervals: obtaining a temperature of the ambient air outside the tank using a thermometer; determining, according to said temperature outside the tank and by a first pre-established relation, a thermal energy transfer between the contents of the tank and the outside environment; determining, as a function of the power produced by a heating element, and by a second pre-established relation, a thermal energy transfer between the heating element and the contents of the tank; determining, as a function of the energy transfers, and by a third pre-established relation, an amount of thawed or refrozen liquid, during said time interval; the amounts of thawed and refrozen liquid are added during the preceding consecutive time intervals to estimate a volume of thawed liquid present in the tank.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.