Fuel Separator for Solubilized CNG Injection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in conjunction with liquid fuels in a single fuel tank leads to decreased fuel metering accuracy due to solubilization and bubble formation, affecting fuel dispersion and engine efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fuel system with a fuel separator that desolubilizes gaseous fuel from liquid fuel, allowing separate injection of gaseous and liquid fuels, and a bypass mechanism to maintain accurate fuel injection control under varying engine conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If CNG is stored solubilized in liquid fuel in a single fuel tank, then space constraints are relieved and fuel storage capacity is increased, but fuel metering accuracy decreases due to bubble formation and inconsistent fuel composition
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel delivery system is segmented into separate pathways: a first fuel line delivers solubilized CNG from the fuel tank to a first fuel injector, while a second fuel line delivers liquid fuel from the fuel tank to a second fuel injector. This segmentation allows independent control and metering of gaseous and liquid fuel streams, resolving the metering accuracy problem while maintaining the space-efficient single-tank storage configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
A fuel separator is introduced as an intermediary component between the fuel tank and the fuel injectors. The fuel separator removes bubbles and excess gaseous fuel from the liquid fuel stream, providing a stable, bubble-free liquid fuel supply to the injectors. This intermediary device ensures consistent fuel metering and injection while allowing the single-tank storage system to maintain its space efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If gaseous fuel is solubilized in liquid fuel, then energy density is increased and storage volume is reduced, but fuel dispersion consistency deteriorates due to bubble formation during injection
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel separator extracts and removes gaseous fuel bubbles from the liquid fuel stream before injection. By taking out the gaseous phase, the system ensures that only stable, bubble-free liquid fuel reaches the injectors, maintaining consistent fuel dispersion and combustion characteristics while preserving the high energy density benefits of solubilized CNG storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system segments the fuel delivery into separate gaseous and liquid fuel injection pathways. This allows the gaseous fuel to be injected separately where it can be properly atomized and mixed with air, while the liquid fuel is injected separately to provide consistent dispersion. This segmentation prevents bubble formation issues in the liquid fuel stream while maintaining the energy density advantages of the solubilized storage system.
3Measurement precision
If a fuel separator is added to separate gaseous and liquid fuel, then fuel injection control accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel separator is designed to perform multiple functions: it separates gaseous fuel bubbles from liquid fuel, provides bubble removal, and ensures stable fuel supply to the injectors. By making this single component multi-functional, the system achieves improved fuel injection control accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity. The separator handles multiple tasks that would otherwise require separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel separator merges the separation function with the fuel delivery function in a single integrated component. Rather than adding separate bubble removal systems, check valves, and pressure regulation devices, the separator combines these functions into one device that directly interfaces with the fuel injectors. This merging approach improves injection control accuracy while minimizing the increase in overall system 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 approach ensures consistent fuel dispersion, reduces engine emissions, and enhances fuel economy and efficiency by maintaining robust fuel injection control.
Implementation Method 1
desolubilizing the gaseous fuel from the liquid fuel in the fuel separator
Implementation Method 2
separating the gaseous fuel from the liquid fuel in the fuel separator
Implementation Method 3
CNG is substantially soluble in gasoline or diesel fuel when stored together at a relatively low pressure (∼100 psi)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for an engine may comprise, on board a vehicle, supplying fuel from a fuel tank to a fuel separator, wherein the fuel comprises a gaseous fuel solubilized in a liquid fuel, desolubilizing the gaseous fuel from the liquid fuel in the fuel separator, and separating the gaseous fuel from the liquid fuel in the fuel separator.