Gaseous Fuel Storage Heating Using Exhaust Gas Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gaseous fuel storage arrangements for combustion engines or fuel cells are energy inefficient due to suboptimal temperature regulation of stored and supplied gaseous fuel, which can lead to inefficiencies in fuel consumption and potential damage to engine components.
Innovation Solution
A gaseous fuel storage arrangement that utilizes the heat from exhaust gas to efficiently heat the storage housing and gaseous fuel tank, featuring a controllable valve and control unit that adapt the supply of exhaust gas based on temperature thresholds to ensure optimal heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If exhaust gas is supplied to the storage housing for heating, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the storage gas temperature and adjusts the controllable valve position accordingly. When the temperature drops below a threshold, the valve opens to allow exhaust gas heating; when the temperature reaches the target range, the valve closes to stop heating. This closed-loop feedback control ensures both efficient heat utilization and precise temperature management.
Solution Approach 2:
The controllable valve dynamically adjusts its opening degree based on real-time temperature conditions. The system transitions from static temperature regulation to dynamic control, where the valve position continuously adapts to maintain optimal storage gas temperature while efficiently utilizing exhaust gas heat.
2Temperature
If the controllable valve is opened to supply exhaust gas for heating, then the storage gas temperature is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the vehicle's own exhaust gas, which would otherwise be wasted, to heat the storage gas. This self-service approach converts a waste resource into a useful heating medium, improving temperature control while avoiding the need for external heating systems or additional energy sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust gas system serves dual functions: emission control and thermal energy recovery. By integrating the heating function into the existing exhaust system, the patent avoids adding separate heating equipment, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving effective temperature regulation.
3Power
If exhaust gas temperature is high for efficient heating, then the heating performance is improved, but the risk of damaging storage housing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controllable valve regulates the amount of exhaust gas entering the storage housing, allowing partial heating action rather than full exposure to high-temperature exhaust gas. This partial action approach provides sufficient heating performance while limiting the excessive thermal exposure that could damage the storage housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The controllable valve acts as an intermediary between the high-temperature exhaust gas and the storage housing. It controls the flow and contact duration of exhaust gas with the storage housing, enabling efficient heat transfer to the storage gas while protecting the housing structure from direct exposure to damaging high temperatures.
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 provides an energy-efficient heating mechanism for the gaseous fuel storage arrangement, improving fuel consumption efficiency and preventing potential damage to engine components by maintaining optimal temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
by utilizing the heat from the exhaust gas from the combustion engine or fuel cell, the storage housing and/or the gaseous fuel tank arranged inside the storage housing may be heated
Implementation Method 2
the supply of exhaust gas from the exhaust gas system to the storage housing provides for an energy efficient heating of the storage housing and/or the gaseous fuel tank
Data Source
AI summary
A gaseous fuel storage arrangement for a combustion engine or fuel cell of a vehicle having an exhaust gas system, the gaseous fuel storage arrangement comprising: a storage housing and a gaseous fuel tank; an exhaust gas transportation line extending from the exhaust gas system to the storage housing; a controllable valve configurable in an open position for enabling supply of exhaust gas to the storage housing via the exhaust gas transportation line; and a control unit configured to determine an exhaust gas temperature in the exhaust gas system, and to determine a storage gas temperature in the storage housing, and in response to the determined storage gas temperature being below a first predefined temperature threshold and below the determined exhaust gas temperature, control the controllable valve in the open position.