Charge-Tank Fuel Supply for Low-Pressure Engine Operation
Solution Overview
Problem
When the internal pressure of a fuel tank in an internal combustion engine system drops below a predetermined value, the fuel supply to the engine is insufficient, leading to the tank being perceived as empty despite the presence of fuel, which reduces the amount of fuel available for combustion.
Innovation Solution
A system with multiple fuel tanks, a charge tank, and a compressor that pressurizes fuel from lower-pressure tanks into the charge tank, allowing continuous fuel supply to the engine by alternating between filling the charge tank and supplying fuel from it when the main tanks' pressure drops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fuel gas is supplied from the fuel storing source to the internal combustion engine, then the engine can operate, but when the internal pressure of the fuel storing source lowers below a predetermined value, the fuel supply becomes insufficient and the tank is perceived as empty
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel storing source is divided into multiple fuel tanks (first fuel tank, second fuel tank, third fuel tank, fourth fuel tank) with separate supply channels. This segmentation allows the system to manage fuel from different tanks independently, enabling the charge tank to be filled from one tank while another tank supplies the engine, thereby increasing the total amount of fuel that can be utilized before the system is perceived as empty.
Solution Approach 2:
A charge tank is introduced as an intermediary component between the fuel tanks and the internal combustion engine. The charge tank receives fuel gas from the fuel tanks through compression and then supplies it to the engine. This intermediary allows the system to maintain reliable fuel supply to the engine even when the pressure in the original fuel tanks drops below the predetermined value, because the charge tank can provide pressurized fuel from previously stored fuel.
2Quantity of substance
If a compressor is used to pressurize fuel gas from the fuel storing source, then the fuel gas can be filled in the charge tank, but the compressor size and required power increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system dynamically switches between multiple fuel tanks and manages the compression process in stages. By filling the charge tank from one fuel tank while another tank supplies the engine, the system optimizes the compression requirements. The compressor only needs to compress fuel to the charge tank pressure, not to the full engine supply pressure, as the charge tank then acts as a buffer. This dynamic management reduces the compression ratio and power requirements compared to a direct compression system.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor performs preliminary compression of fuel gas into the charge tank in advance, before the fuel is needed by the engine. This preliminary action allows the system to store pressurized fuel in the charge tank, reducing the instantaneous compression power requirement. The charge tank serves as a buffer that was pre-filled, allowing the engine to operate continuously without requiring the compressor to maintain high power output at all times.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures consistent fuel supply to the engine, increases the amount of fuel available, optimizes compressor operation, and reduces its size and power requirements by effectively utilizing supply times for pressurization.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor that pressurizes the fuel gas of the charge channel toward the charge tank
Data Source
AI summary
Processing circuitry of an internal combustion engine system is configured to perform: first control in which a valve system and a compressor are controlled such that while a fuel gas from a fuel storing source is being supplied to an internal combustion engine, the fuel gas from the fuel storing source is pressurized and filled in a charge tank; and second control in which the valve system is controlled such that the fuel gas from the charge tank is supplied to the internal combustion engine.