Fuel vapor reclamation system for diesel locomotives
a technology for diesel locomotives and fuel vapor, which is applied in indirect heat exchangers, lighting and heating apparatuses, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve the problems of fuel cost savings that could potentially exceed millions of dollars per year, and achieve the effects of fuel cost savings, less environmental pollution, and improved fuel economy
Inactive Publication Date: 2012-12-13
FOSTER-MILLER
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Benefits of technology
[0008]In one aspect, the subject invention features an on board locomotive reclamation system which maintains a low fuel vapor concentration in the diesel locomotive fuel tank to prevent fire and explosive hazards and to provide fuel vapor recovery to lessen environmental pollution and to improve fuel economy. Even if only 0.1% of the fuel is recovered, the fuel cost savings could potentially exceed millions of dollars per year.
[0009]Featured is an on-board vapor reclamation system comprising an air inlet into an on-board diesel fuel tank, a fuel vapor / air mixture outlet from the fuel tank, and a pump or a suction fan operable to drive air from the air inlet through the tank and a fuel vapor / air mixture out the fuel vapor / air mixture outlet at a flow rate which maintains a fuel vapor concentration in the tank to less than a predetermined value below the explosive limit to prevent explosions and fires and to reduce emissions. A condenser subsystem is fluidly connected to the fuel vapor / air mixture tank outlet and is configured to condense fuel vapor in the fuel vapor / air mixture delivered to the condenser subsystem at the required flow rate. A return line delivers condensed fuel vapor from the condenser subsystem to the fuel tank to reduce fuel loss and to increase mileage.
Problems solved by technology
Even if only 0.1% of the fuel is recovered, the fuel cost savings could potentially exceed millions of dollars per year.
Method used
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[0024]Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer.
[0025]FIG. 1 shows locomotive fuel tank 10 and fuel pump 12 delivering liquid diesel fuel to engine manifold 14. Fuel which is not used depending on the engine RPM is returned to fuel tank 10 on one or more lines 16. This fuel is heated by the hot fuel injectors and the engine manifold, however, and by other engine componen...
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An on-board vapor reclamation system and method includes an air inlet into an on-board diesel fuel tank and a fuel vapor / air mixture outlet from the fuel tank. A pump or a suction fan is operable to drive air from the air inlet through the tank and a fuel vapor / air mixture out the fuel vapor / air mixture outlet at a flow rate which maintains a fuel vapor concentration in the tank to less than a predetermined value corresponding to the lower explosive limit to reduce fire and explosive hazards and to reduce harmful emissions. A condenser subsystem is fluidly connected to the fuel vapor / air mixture tank outlet and is configured to condense fuel vapor in the fuel vapor / air mixture delivered to the condenser subsystem at the required flow rate. Condensed fuel vapor from the condenser subsystem is returned to the fuel tank to save fuel and increase mileage.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 520,580 filed Jun. 9, 2011 under 35 U.S.C. §§119, 120, 363, 365, and 37 C.F.R. §1.55 and §1.78, which is incorporated herein by this reference.GOVERNMENT RIGHTS[0002]This invention was made with U.S. Government support under Contract No. DTF53-07-D-0003 awarded by Federal Railroad Administration. The Government may have certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention relates, in one embodiment, to diesel vapor reclamation in locomotive fuel tanks.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]It is known that diesel vapor emissions at locomotive refueling stations is problematic. In addition, the inventors hereof discovered that en route the diesel fuel temperature in the locomotive diesel fuel tank can reach temperatures higher than 100° F. This is due to the fact that the fuel pump delivers fuel to the engine manifold at a certain rate but, at any e...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): F28D15/00F28F27/00
CPCF28D7/085
Inventor PARIDA, BASANT K.ZAOUK, ABDULLATIF K.CARTER, JAMES
Owner FOSTER-MILLER