Dual Fuel Refueling Profiles for Ethanol-Gasoline Blends
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart fueling systems for vehicles with multiple fuel tanks often fail to account for varying fuel usage rates based on fuel properties and environmental conditions, leading to suboptimal engine performance and premature fuel depletion.
Innovation Solution
A method that displays fueling profiles to the operator based on predicted future environmental conditions, vehicle trip plans, and engine operating conditions, allowing for selective fueling of dual fuel tanks with gasoline and ethanol, adjusting fuel ratios to optimize engine performance and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If refueling options are biased towards fueling options available at the fueling station, then the refueling process is simplified, but engine performance and fuel economy are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of optimal fuel ratios before refueling by analyzing future environmental conditions along the planned route. The engine controller computes the ideal mixture of ethanol and gasoline based on predicted temperature, humidity, altitude, and other environmental factors that will affect fuel consumption rates, ensuring optimal engine performance is maintained from the outset rather than reacting to performance issues after they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the recommended fuel ratio based on real-time inputs including vehicle trip plans, environmental conditions, and fuel properties. Rather than using a static refueling recommendation, the system continuously updates the optimal fuel mixture composition to match changing operational conditions, ensuring the vehicle maintains peak performance across varying driving scenarios.
2Device complexity
If refueling is based on average vehicle drive history, then the refueling system is simplified, but fuel depletion occurs prematurely under different driving conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on historical averages, the system performs preliminary analysis of the specific upcoming trip plan and environmental conditions before generating refueling recommendations. By predicting future fuel consumption rates based on the actual route, temperature, humidity, and altitude conditions that will be encountered, the system ensures accurate fuel ratio recommendations that prevent premature depletion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the basis for refueling recommendations from static historical averages to dynamic predictions based on future environmental parameters. By incorporating temperature, humidity, altitude, and other environmental variables into the fuel consumption calculations, the system adapts its recommendations to match the specific conditions under which the fuel will be consumed, extending effective fuel tank duration.
3Use of energy by moving object
If ethanol fuel is provided in higher amounts, then charge cooling effects are reduced, but fuel economy is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the ethanol-to-gasoline ratio in the fuel mixture based on predicted environmental conditions and vehicle operational requirements. By optimizing this parameter combination, the system achieves the最佳 balance between fuel economy (improved by higher ethanol content) and engine performance (maintained through adequate charge cooling effects from ethanol's evaporative cooling properties).
Solution Approach 2:
The recommended fuel ratio is dynamically adjusted based on real-time inputs including environmental conditions, vehicle load, and driving patterns. This dynamic optimization ensures that the system captures fuel economy benefits from ethanol's higher efficiency while maintaining sufficient ethanol in the mixture to provide charge cooling effects when needed for engine performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for facilitating refueling operations in vehicles operating with multiple fuels. A vehicle operator may be assisted in refueling the multiple fuel tanks of the vehicle by being provided one or more refueling profiles that take into account the vehicle's future trip plans, the predicted environmental conditions along a planned route, and the operator's preferences.