Fluid Supply System for Vehicle Heaters with Defined Line States
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid supply systems in vehicles often experience undefined delivery states, such as empty lines or supersaturation, leading to increased pollutant emissions during combustion start, due to partial drainage, thermal expansion, or diffusion, especially after a longer stop period.
Innovation Solution
A fluid supply system with an on-off valve and two fluid delivery arrangements: a metering pump in the first fluid line and a sucking jet pump in the third fluid line, which connects back to the reservoir, ensuring defined filling and emptying of the lines to prevent fluid escape and ensure precise delivery to the vehicle heater or reformer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fluid line is kept connected to deliver fuel continuously, then the system is simple and ready for immediate operation, but the line may become emptied due to drainage, thermal expansion, or diffusion after stop periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by filling the fluid line with fuel before operation and emptying it after operation. The on-off valve switches between connecting the reservoir to the fluid line (filling) and connecting the fluid line to the atmosphere (emptying), ensuring the line is in the correct state before each operation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies periodic action by repeatedly cycling the on-off valve between filling and emptying modes. After each stop period, the valve is switched to fill the line; after operation, it is switched to empty the line, creating a periodic cycle that maintains reliability across multiple operation cycles.
2Speed
If hydrocarbon is supplied early to ensure immediate availability, then the system is ready for quick start, but supersaturation occurs leading to increased pollutant emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by monitoring the operational state (start-up, operation, stop) and adjusting the valve position accordingly. The control system receives information about the current state and switches the valve to appropriate positions to achieve the desired fuel delivery conditions without supersaturation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary filling of the fluid line only with the exact amount needed for immediate operation, not excessive amounts. This preliminary action ensures fuel availability for quick start-up while preventing supersaturation that would lead to pollutant emissions during combustion.
3Quantity of substance
If the fluid line volume is increased to ensure sufficient fuel supply, then immediate operation is possible, but the line takes longer to empty and fill, reducing response time
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a separate, smaller-volume fluid line specifically for the heater operation, distinct from the main fuel reservoir. This copied line can be quickly filled and emptied without affecting the larger reservoir, achieving fast response times while maintaining sufficient fuel quantity for operation.
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
Guarantees defined delivery conditions by filling and emptying the fluid lines precisely, preventing excessive fuel supply and reducing pollutant emissions during start-up, thus ensuring efficient and reliable operation of vehicle heaters and internal combustion engines.
Implementation Method 1
a sucking jet pump in the third fluid line, which connects back to the reservoir
Implementation Method 2
a metering pump in the first fluid line
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid supply system is provided, especially for delivering liquid hydrocarbon to a fuel-operated vehicle heater or to a reformer. The system includes a fluid reservoir (12), a first fluid line (28) from the fluid reservoir (12) to an on-off valve (30), a second fluid line (32) from the on-off valve (30) to a first system area (14) to be fed with fluid, and a third fluid line (34) from the on-off valve (30) to the reservoir (12). The on-off valve (30) establishes a connection between the first fluid line (28) and the second fluid line (32) in a first valve position and establishes a connection between the second fluid line (32) and the third fluid line (34) in a second valve position. A first fluid delivery arrangement (26) is provided for delivering fluid from the reservoir (12) into the second fluid line (12). A second fluid delivery arrangement (20, 24) is provided for delivering fluid from the third fluid line (34) into the reservoir (12).