Abstract:
A fluid pressure regulation and conditioning module comprises a metal manifold including a fluid flow path between fluid inlet outlets, a pressure regulator assembled to the metal manifold and disposed along the fluid flow path for regulating the pressure of the fluid exiting the module, and a filter assembly. The metal manifold further includes, for heating of the metal manifold with an externally supplied heat exchange media, a heat exchange media flow path extending between heat exchange media inlet and outlet. The filter assembly includes a metal filter housing and a filter element contained within the metal filter housing, the metal filter housing being in direct thermal contact with the metal manifold whereby heat from the metal manifold can flow to the metal filter housing for heating of the fluid not only in the metal manifold but also within the metal filter housing.
Abstract:
A fuel supply assembly is provided that may allow for use of vaporized fuel to power an engine and enhance fuel efficiency. The fuel supply assembly may include a vaporizing tank, a heating source, a temperature control and a monitoring and control system configured to control intermixing of ambient air and vaporized gasoline to maintain a desired hydrocarbon level in an exhaust.
Abstract:
A method for controlling a fuel system of an internal combustion engine (810). The method is employed with a fuel system having a source (710) of alcohol-containing liquid fuel, at least one fuel injector (900), a heat source for heating the liquid fuel in the at least one fuel injector (900), the heat source capable of heating the liquid fuel to a level sufficient to convert at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and a metering valve operable to achieve a range of flow rates characterized by a valve open versus valve closed duty cycle. The method includes the steps of metering a predetermined amount of fuel based on engine operating conditions, controlling power supplied to the heat source of the at least one fuel injector (900) to achieve a target temperature, determining alcohol concentration of the fuel and adjusting the power supplied to the heat source of the at least one fuel injector based on the alcohol concentration determination. A method of determining alcohol concentration and a fuel system for use in an alcohol fueled internal combustion engine is also provided.
Abstract:
It is proposed a fuel tank leak detection system comprising: a test cell for receiving a portion of on-board fuel, said test cell comprising an inlet for receiving a portion of on-board fuel and an outlet for releasing fuel vapor into a vapor space within the fuel tank; a heater mounted within the test cell for heating the fuel in the test cell so as to create a pressure build-up within the fuel tank; and a controller for: - obtaining a first information relative to the amount of pressure build-up created within the fuel tank and a second information relative to the amount of energy introduced by the heater in the test cell; and - detecting a leak using said first and second information.
Abstract:
The problem arises of how to control a plurality of hydraulic pumps to achieve desired performance criteria, such as reduced wear and/or power consumption. The hydraulic pumps are operated in a hydraulic system for delivering hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor in a cryogenic pumping apparatus in an engine system fuelled with a gaseous fuel. A controller is operatively connected with the plurality of hydraulic pumps and is programmed to periodically determine a priority for each hydraulic pump as a function of predetermined criteria such as respective cumulative pumping cycles. Higher priority hydraulic pumps are operated before lower priority hydraulic pumps, that is in descending order of priority, to supply hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor. Hydraulic pumps are selected to operate according to the desired performance criteria.
Abstract:
A reciprocating piston cryogenic pump has been suspended from stroking when process fluid discharge temperature from a vaporizer dropped below a threshold to prevent freezing of a heat exchange fluid circulating through the vaporizer and damage to downstream components. Suspension of the pump results in a decrease of process fluid pressure downstream of the vaporizer, which is undesirable. In the present technique, a temperature is monitored correlating to process fluid temperature downstream of the vaporizer. The amount of process fluid discharged from the pump in each cycle is adjusted as a function of the temperature such that the average residence time of the process fluid in the vaporizer is increased as the discharge amount decreases, increasing process fluid discharge temperature. The average mass flow rate of the process fluid through the vaporizer is unchanged regardless of pump discharge amount such that process fluid pressure downstream of the vaporizer is maintained.
Abstract:
A fuel vaporizer including a mist vaporizer and a boiler, the boiler being integrated with the mist vaporizer, the mist vaporizer and the boiler including a housing, baffles joined to the housing, conduit extending through the baffles, fuel in a mist form adjacent the conduit and a pool of fuel contained between the housing and baffles.
Abstract:
A fuel system for use in an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors, each injector including at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat a liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to convert at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state, and a valve for metering fuel to the internal combustion engine, a controller to control the power supplied to the heat source of each of the plurality of fuel injectors to achieve a predetermined target temperature, a sensor for use in determining engine air flow and a sensor for measuring a value indicative of degree of engine warm-up of the internal combustion engine. The fuel system of the present invention also provides fault detection capabilities with respect to malfunctions within the capillary flow passage.