Calibration of a pressure sensor in a hydrogen storage system

A method for calibrating a pressure sensor in a hydrogen storage system for a fuel cell in a vehicle, said hydrogen storage system including one or more pressure vessels for storing hydrogen gas, where the hydrogen gas is provided by the hydrogen storage system to the fuel cell, said method comprising;

• operating the hydrogen storage system and the fuel cell;
• monitoring pressure of the hydrogen gas at a first pressure sensor in the hydrogen storage system and a second pressure sensor in the fuel cell;
• allowing the pressure of the hydrogen gas at the first pressure sensor to drop to a regulation pressure of a pressure regulator which is located downstream of the first pressure sensor;
• verifying that the pressure regulator is fully open;
• and
• calibrating the first pressure sensor to the second pressure sensor, including adjusting for a pressure drop between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.

A self-pressure-calibrating hydrogen storage system for a fuel cell, said hydrogen storage system comprising:

• one or more pressure vessels for storing hydrogen gas;
• a vessel shut-off valve for each of the pressure vessels;
• a first pressure sensor for measuring pressure of the hydrogen gas in the pressure vessels;
• a pressure regulator for reducing the pressure of the hydrogen gas from the pressure vessels to a regulation pressure;
• a second pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the hydrogen gas at an inlet to the fuel cell;
• and
• a controller in communication with the pressure sensors, the shut-off valves, and the pressure regulator, said controller being configured to receive signals from the pressure sensors, the shut-off valves, and the pressure regulator, control opening and closing of the shut-off valves, and calibrate the first pressure sensor, where the controller is configured to calibrate the first pressure sensor to the second pressure sensor when the pressure regulator is in a fully open position, and the controller determines that the pressure regulator is in the fully open position by detecting a pressure drop at the second pressure sensor.

A self-pressure-calibrating hydrogen storage system for a fuel cell, said hydrogen storage system comprising:

• one or more pressure vessels for storing hydrogen gas;
• a vessel shut-off valve for each of the pressure vessels;
• a first pressure sensor for measuring pressure of the hydrogen gas in the pressure vessels;
• a pressure regulator for reducing the pressure of the hydrogen gas from the pressure vessels to a regulation pressure;
• a second pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the hydrogen gas at an inlet to the fuel cell;
• and
• a controller in communication with the pressure sensors, the shut-off valves, and the pressure regulator, said controller being configured to receive signals from the pressure sensors, the shut-off valves, and the pressure regulator, control opening and closing of the shut-off valves, and calibrate the first pressure sensor, where the controller adjusts for a pressure drop between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor when calibrating the first pressure sensor.