Fuel Pump Assembly Valve Control for Evaporation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump arrangements for fuel delivery to common rail systems face challenges in maintaining efficient operation due to fuel evaporation at low pressures and high temperatures, leading to gas bubbles that can hinder the high-pressure pump's ability to generate the necessary pressure for fuel delivery.
Innovation Solution
A pump arrangement featuring a low-pressure pump with an electrically controllable magnetic valve drive and a status sensor, connected to a pump control unit, which adjusts supply pressure based on the valve's opening state to prevent gas formation and ensure reliable fuel delivery, utilizing a high-pressure pump driven mechanically by an internal combustion engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the admission pressure from the low-pressure pump is kept low to achieve energy efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but fuel evaporates quickly and gas bubbles form at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The low-pressure valve closes in advance before the pump chamber reaches maximum pressure, preventing fuel from being exposed to high temperatures and pressures that would cause evaporation and gas bubble formation. This preliminary action maintains fuel integrity while allowing the system to operate at lower admission pressures for energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the opening status of the low-pressure valve and adjusts the supply pressure dynamically based on operating conditions such as temperature and pressure. This feedback mechanism ensures that the admission pressure is optimized to prevent evaporation while minimizing energy consumption of the low-pressure pump.
2Reliability
If the low-pressure valve closes early to prevent fuel evaporation, then fuel delivery reliability is maintained, but the pump chamber pressure increases which requires more energy
Solution Approach 1:
The low-pressure valve timing is dynamically adjusted based on real-time operating conditions including temperature, pressure, and engine load. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize the balance between preventing fuel evaporation and minimizing the pressure increase that would require excessive energy from the high-pressure pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes the timing parameter of the low-pressure valve closure based on detected operating conditions. By adjusting this timing parameter, the system prevents fuel evaporation while optimizing the pressure profile to reduce energy consumption of the high-pressure pump during compression and delivery phases.
3Reliability
If a status sensor and control unit are added to monitor and adjust the low-pressure valve, then fuel delivery reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it monitors the opening status of the low-pressure valve via the status sensor, adjusts the supply pressure based on temperature and pressure conditions, and optimizes the timing of valve closure to prevent fuel evaporation. This multi-functionality consolidates control responsibilities into a single unit, reducing overall system complexity despite the addition of sensing and control capabilities.
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 configuration enables energy-efficient and safe operation by minimizing electrical energy consumption and maintaining high-pressure fuel delivery, even at elevated temperatures, by adjusting supply pressure to prevent gas bubbles and ensure continuous liquid fuel flow.
Implementation Method 1
the low-pressure valve (2) having an electrically controllable magnetic valve drive (18)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
Pump arrangement (19) for conveying fuel comprising a high-pressure pump (1) for providing fuel under high pressure and a low-pressure pump (6) for supplying the high-pressure pump (1) with fuel, wherein the low-pressure pump (6) is configured to extract fuel from a tank (7) and supply the fuel to the high-pressure pump (1) at a supply pressure (36), and wherein the high-pressure pump (1) has a pump chamber (10) with a low-pressure valve (2) on a low-pressure side (3) and a high-pressure valve (4) on the high-pressure side (5), wherein the low-pressure valve (3) has an electrically controllable magnetic valve actuator (18) and is normally open, normally closed when energized, and normally closed when de-energized when a pressure difference between the pump chamber (10) and the low-pressure side (3) is greater than a threshold value, wherein the low-pressure valve (2) has a status sensor (23).with which the opening state of the low-pressure valve (2) can be monitored, wherein the status sensor (23) and the low-pressure pump (6) are connected to each other via a pump control unit (15) and the pump control unit (15) is configured to adjust the supply pressure (36) depending on the opening state of the low-pressure valve (2).