Fuel System Transfer Pump Pre-Filter Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel systems for combustion engines are prone to operational disruptions due to impurities in the fuel, particularly in markets with poor fuel quality, and suffer from inadequate pre-filtration and increased clogging risks in filters.
Innovation Solution
A fuel system design that includes a pre-filter arranged downstream of a transfer pump driven by an electric engine in the low-pressure circuit, combined with a coarse mesh sieve in the second fuel tank, ensures that fuel is pre-filtered before reaching the main feed pump, reducing the risk of clogging and operational disruptions. This system uses a fine mesh water-separating filter and a valve for efficient fuel flow and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pre-filter is arranged upstream of the main feed pump to pre-filter the fuel, then the fuel is filtered before reaching the pump, but the filter has an increased risk of clogging due to low pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the pre-filter downstream of the transfer pump instead of upstream. This reversal allows the filter to operate under positive pressure from the pump, eliminating the clogging risk associated with suction-side filtration while still providing effective fuel filtration before the main feed pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter at which the pre-filter operates. By locating the filter downstream of the transfer pump, the filtration process occurs under elevated pressure rather than low suction pressure, fundamentally altering the operating conditions to prevent clogging while maintaining filtration effectiveness.
2Ease of manufacture
If a coarse mesh sieve is used in the fuel tank to catch larger particles, then larger impurities are retained, but the sieve is not sufficient for adequate pre-filtration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a two-stage filtration system that segments the filtration process into coarse filtration (mesh sieve in the fuel tank) and fine pre-filtration (pre-filter downstream of transfer pump). This segmentation allows each filter to specialize in different particle sizes, with the coarse sieve handling large debris and the pre-filter providing thorough pre-filtration before the main feed pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing coarse filtration through the mesh sieve in the fuel tank before the fuel reaches the transfer pump, and then applying fine pre-filtration through the pre-filter downstream of the pump. This sequential preliminary filtration prepares the fuel in stages, ensuring both simplicity and effectiveness.
3Reliability
If the transfer pump feeds fuel from the second fuel tank through the pre-filter to the first fuel tank, then the fuel is pre-filtered and pressurized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the transfer pump multi-functional by having it perform both the fuel transfer function (from second tank to first tank) and the pre-filtration function (through the pre-filter arranged downstream). This universality allows a single pump to accomplish multiple tasks, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable fuel supply and filtration.
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 effectively reduces the risk of operational disruptions and clogging in the fuel filter, providing better filtration than prior art by pressurizing the fuel through the pre-filter and using a dual filtration step, ensuring reliable fuel supply to the combustion engine.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-filter (30) arranged downstream of the transfer pump (28)
Implementation Method 2
a coarse mesh sieve which is arranged inside the fuel tank... which catches and retains larger particles and impurities
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
AI summary
A fuel system (4) for a combustion engine (2) comprises a first fuel tank (20), a second fuel tank (22), a first fuel pipe (36) arranged in connection with the first fuel tank (20) and the second fuel tank (22), a second fuel pipe (40) arranged in connection with the first fuel tank (20), a main feed pump (26), and a trans¬ fer pump (28). The main feed pump (26) is arranged to feed fuel from the first fuel tank (20) through the second fuel pipe (40) and the transfer pump (28) is arranged to feed fuel from the second fuel tank (22) to the first fuel tank (20) via the first fuel pipe (36). A first electric engine (M1 ) is arranged to drive the transfer pump (28) and a second electric engine (M2) is arranged to drive the main feed pump (26). A pre-filter (30) is arranged downstream of the transfer pump (28), so that the transfer pump (28) feeds pressurised fuel through the pre-filter (30). The fuel system also enables a method to control a fuel system (4) with good filtration of the fuel, and which reduces the risk of operational disruptions in a combustion engine (2) and a motor vehicle.