Fuel Line Cooling Air Arrangement for Hybrid Engine Heat Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, particularly plug-in hybrids, the fuel line to the vehicle heater is prone to evaporation and bubble formation due to its proximity to the drive motor and engine compartment, leading to potential flame failure and impaired combustion, resulting in increased pollutant emissions.
Innovation Solution
A cooling air line arrangement envelops the fuel line to provide a cooling air flow channel, utilizing air pressure differences created by the vehicle's motion to dissipate heat and prevent excessive heating, with an inlet opening area positioned at the vehicle front end and an outlet opening area at the rear, and optionally using a flexible hose to adapt to the fuel line's shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fuel line is positioned close to the drive motor in the engine compartment, then the vehicle heater can be supplied with fuel efficiently, but the fuel line is exposed to high temperatures causing fuel evaporation and bubble formation
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling air line arrangement is introduced as an intermediary element between the fuel line and the hot engine compartment environment. This arrangement conducts cooling air from the vehicle front (lower temperature zone) through a cooling air flow channel that surrounds the fuel line, thereby mediating the thermal interaction and preventing excessive heating of the fuel line while maintaining its proximity to the drive motor for efficient fuel supply
2Ease of operation
If the fuel line is positioned in the engine compartment, then the vehicle heater can be operated, but fuel evaporation leads to flame failure and increased pollutant emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling air line arrangement serves as a protective intermediary that shields the fuel line from the hot engine compartment environment. By conducting cool air from the vehicle front through the cooling air flow channel surrounding the fuel line, it prevents fuel evaporation and bubble formation, thereby ensuring stable combustion in the vehicle heater and reducing harmful pollutant emissions while maintaining ease of operation
3Reliability
If a cooling air line arrangement is added to cool the fuel line, then fuel evaporation is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling air line arrangement is designed to utilize the existing vehicle air flow conditions and pressure differences. The inlet opening area is positioned in the vehicle front end area where air pressure is higher during driving, and the outlet opening area is positioned in the vehicle rear area or underbody where air pressure is lower, allowing the system to leverage the vehicle's natural motion and air flow to drive cooling air through the channel, thereby achieving reliable fuel line cooling without requiring additional active cooling components or increasing device complexity
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
This solution effectively prevents fuel evaporation and bubble formation in the fuel line, ensuring stable combustion and reduced pollutant emissions by maintaining the fuel line at a lower temperature, even in the thermally challenging engine compartment environment.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling air line arrangement which at least partially envelops the fuel line to provide a cooling air flow channel for the cooling air flowing around the fuel line
Implementation Method 2
an inlet opening area of the cooling air line arrangement be positioned in front of an outlet opening area of the cooling air line arrangement in a vehicle longitudinal direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A vehicle comprises a drive motor arranged in an engine compartment, a fuel-operated vehicle heater arranged in the engine compartment, a fuel tank, a fuel line (22) leading from the fuel tank to the vehicle heater, and a cooling air line arrangement (46) at least partially enclosing the fuel line (22) to provide a cooling air flow channel (50) for cooling air flowing around the fuel line (22).