Car fueling up a gas stationFuel dispensers are interesting pieces of technology. You begin pumping gas into your vehicle, and somehow the pump knows when to turn off to avoid overfilling your tank and causing the gas to overflow.
Two Main Components
Fuel dispensers are composed of two different components. One part consists of the electronics. This component controls the displays, reading from sensors in order to display the fuel volume and pressure. The second component is a mechanical system consisting of a pump and valves, and an electric motor that controls the fuel.
The most common fuel dispenser type works using unequal pressure to create suction. The lower pressure inside the fuel tank causes the fuel to push up the pipe to the nozzle. It is a surprisingly simple way to move the fuel, but it is incredibly efficient.