Regenerative Fuel Heating with Accumulator-Based Thermal Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal management systems in vehicles and engines often face a mismatch between fuel heating capacity and demand, leading to inefficiencies during varying operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a heat source, fuel flowpath with a heat exchanger and accumulator to heat and store fuel, allowing for selective operation during different modes to match demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If thermal management systems generate more fuel heating capacity during high-demand operating conditions, then fuel temperature increases and propulsion efficiency improves, but the system cannot store excess heated fuel for use during low-heating-capacity periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of fuel during operating conditions with high heating capacity (such as engine startup or high power modes) and stores the heated fuel in a fuel accumulator for later use during periods when heating capacity is low or demand is high, proactively preparing thermal energy before it is needed
Solution Approach 2:
A fuel accumulator serves as an intermediary thermal storage component between the fuel heater and the engine fuel system, decoupling the heating process from fuel consumption and enabling temporal shifting of thermal energy availability
2Temperature
If the thermal management system continuously heats fuel at maximum capacity, then fuel temperature is always optimized, but energy is wasted during periods when sufficient heated fuel is already stored or heating capacity exceeds demand
Solution Approach 1:
The control system monitors the temperature and quantity of fuel in the fuel accumulator, as well as current engine operating conditions and heating capacity, using this feedback information to dynamically adjust the fuel heating rate and prevent unnecessary energy consumption when thermal energy is already sufficient
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the fuel heating capacity based on real-time operating conditions, transitioning between different heating modes (high capacity, medium capacity, low capacity) to match actual fuel heating demand and avoid energy waste
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
Enhances fuel heating efficiency by storing heated fuel for later use, optimizing thermal energy utilization and reducing the risk of ignition.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger for heat transfer between the first hot fluid and the fuel
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for operating systems are provided. For example, a system comprises a heat source for providing a flow of a hot fluid and a fuel flowpath for a flow of a fuel. The fuel flowpath includes a fuel accumulator and a heat exchanger for heat transfer between the hot fluid and fuel. The heat exchanger includes a hot fluid inlet for receipt of the hot fluid at an inlet temperature and a fuel inlet for receipt of the fuel at an inlet temperature. The hot fluid inlet temperature is greater than the fuel inlet temperature such that the fuel is heated through heat transfer with the hot fluid in the heat exchanger. The fuel accumulator accumulates at least a portion of the heated fuel. An exemplary system is selectively operated to heat and circulate the fuel through the fuel flowpath for consumption and/or accumulation in the fuel accumulator.