Fuel Pump Stack Effect Cooling via Segmented Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel pumps for motor vehicles, such as motorcycles, experience reduced delivery and potential failure due to fuel gasification at low suction pressure and high temperatures, leading to inefficient operation and potential total failure.
Innovation Solution
The fuel pump design incorporates a heat-generating actuator that utilizes waste heat to create a stack effect for improved flow conduction and cooling, featuring a pump housing with a deflector element and cone filter to prevent vapor bubbles from entering the delivery space, and a recirculation line to pre-accelerate fuel and remove vapor bubbles, ensuring efficient operation even with hot fuel near its boiling point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If fuel is supplied to the delivery space under high temperature and low suction pressure conditions, then the pump can operate continuously, but fuel gasification occurs at the inlet valve reducing delivery level and pump function
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel supply path is segmented into multiple routes: a first fuel path leading directly to the delivery space and a second fuel path leading past the actuator to the housing opening. This segmentation allows fuel to be supplied through different paths under different conditions, preventing gasification in the delivery space while maintaining continuous operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The second fuel path acts as an intermediary route that allows fuel to bypass the actuator and enter the housing opening above the inlet. This intermediary path enables fuel to be supplied without passing through the actuator's heat-generating zone, preventing gasification while maintaining supply continuity.
2Productivity
If waste heat from the actuator is used to create stack effect for improved flow conduction, then fuel delivery is enhanced, but the actuator temperature increases risking fuel gasification
Solution Approach 1:
The waste heat from the actuator, which would otherwise be harmful and cause fuel gasification, is converted into a beneficial stack effect that improves flow conduction. The heat creates natural convection currents that enhance fuel delivery while the second fuel path ensures fuel bypasses the hottest zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fuel pump are assigned different thermal characteristics: the first fuel path provides a direct cooling route for fuel, while the second fuel path utilizes the actuator's heat for stack effect generation. This local differentiation allows simultaneous cooling and heating functions within the same system.
3Reliability
If a filter is added to prevent vapor bubbles from entering the delivery space, then pump reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter function is merged with the existing housing opening structure. The housing opening serves dual purposes: it provides access for fuel supply through the second fuel path and simultaneously functions as a vapor bubble removal point. This merging eliminates the need for separate filter components while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing opening is designed with multi-functionality: it serves as both a structural component of the pump housing and a functional element for vapor bubble removal and fuel supply. This universal design reduces device complexity by eliminating dedicated filter components while maintaining pump reliability.
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
The solution enhances fuel pump delivery behavior, prevents vapor bubble entry, reduces suction losses, and maintains pump function by utilizing waste heat for cooling and pre-acceleration, resulting in improved performance and reliability, especially with hot fuel.
Implementation Method 1
waste heat from the heat-generating actuator is used to create a stack effect. This creates an improved flow conduction in the fuel pump and allows subsequent cooling of the fuel in a suction region of the fuel pump
Implementation Method 2
a deflector element is arranged on the pump housing which deflects fuel after the inlet in the direction of the second fuel path. This supports the stack effect
Implementation Method 3
the cone filter ensures that any vapor bubbles occurring are kept away from the first fuel path. This prevents the vapor bubbles from entering the delivery space
Implementation Method 4
a recirculation line to pre-accelerate fuel and remove vapor bubbles, ensuring efficient operation even with hot fuel near its boiling point
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fuel pump (1) which comprises a pump housing (2), a delivery element (3) for delivering fuel, a heat-generating actuator (4) for actuating the delivery element (3), a first fuel path (5) which leads from an inlet (20) to a delivery space (7), and a second fuel path (6) which leads from the inlet (20) past the heat-generating actuator (4) to a first housing opening (21), wherein the first housing opening (21) is arranged above the inlet (20) in the vertical direction (V). The present invention also relates to a fuel pump arrangement which comprises a fuel pump (1) according to the invention and a fuel tank (10) in which the fuel pump (1) is at least partially and preferably entirely arranged. The present invention also relates to a method for operating a fuel pump (1).