Method and Device for Determining the Quantity of Fuel in a Pressure Vessel

A device for determining quantity information with respect to a quantity of fuel in a pressure vessel of a pressure vessel system, wherein the pressure vessel system is designed to conduct fuel from the pressure vessel via a pressure converter to an energy converter, and wherein the pressure vessel system has a low-pressure sensor on a low-pressure side of the pressure converter, wherein the device is configured to determine a measured value for a pressure on the low-pressure side on the basis of the low-pressure sensor;

• and
• to determine the quantity information with respect to the quantity of fuel in the pressure vessel on the basis of the measured value of the low-pressure sensor, and
• wherein the pressure converter comprises:
• a first converter stage configured to set a pressure at an outlet of the first converter stage to a first setpoint pressure, wherein the first setpoint pressure is lower by a factor of 2 or more than the rated pressure of the pressure vessel, wherein the first setpoint pressure is higher by a factor of 2 or more than a required minimum pressure of the pressure vessel;
• and
• a second converter stage configured to set a pressure at an outlet of the second converter stage to a second setpoint pressure, wherein the second setpoint pressure is less than the first setpoint pressure, wherein the low-pressure sensor is arranged between the first converter stage and the second converter stage.

A method for determining quantity information with respect to a quantity of fuel in a pressure vessel of a pressure vessel system, wherein the pressure vessel system comprises:

• a pressure converter to conduct fuel from the pressure vessel to an energy converter;
• and a low pressure sensor on a low-pressure side of the pressure converter, the method comprising:
• determining, on the basis of the low-pressure sensor, a measured value for a pressure on the low-pressure side;
• and
• determining the quantity information with respect to the quantity of fuel in the pressure vessel on the basis of the measured value of the low-pressure sensor,
• wherein the pressure converter comprises:
• a first converter stage configured to set a pressure at an outlet of the first converter stage to a first setpoint pressure, wherein the first setpoint pressure is lower by a factor of 2 or more than the rated pressure of the pressure vessel, wherein the first setpoint pressure is higher by a factor of 2 or more than a required minimum pressure of the pressure vessel;
• and
• a second converter stage configured to set a pressure at an outlet of the second converter stage to a second setpoint pressure, wherein the second setpoint pressure is less than the first setpoint pressure, wherein the low-pressure sensor is arranged between the first converter stage and the second converter stage.