Fueling Module Ventilation for Tank Gas Dilution at Refueling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel refueling processes at gas stations release fuel fumes that cause unpleasant odors and pose health risks, and residual fuel can contaminate the nozzle and surrounding area, leading to continued nuisance.
Innovation Solution
An energy module with an integrated air management system that blows fresh air through a ventilation opening to remove or dilute tank gases, featuring a controlled airflow and optional fragrance addition, along with a swivel arm design for convenient refueling and a compact refueling and supply system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a gas extraction system is incorporated into the nozzle to minimize fuel fume escape, then air quality around the pump is improved, but fuel fumes remain perceptible to users during refueling and residual fuel contamination continues to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the air management function from the nozzle itself and creates a separate ventilation system with a ventilation opening in the pump housing. This allows fresh air to be supplied and tank gases to be extracted independently of the refueling operation, removing the harmful factors from the user's environment without compromising refueling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary air management system that acts as a mediator between the refueling process and the user environment. The ventilation system with fresh air supply and tank gas extraction creates a buffer zone, preventing direct contact between users and harmful fumes while allowing the refueling process to continue uninterrupted.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the nozzle seals the filler neck effectively to minimize fuel fume escape, then air quality is improved, but residual fuel leaks from the nozzle after refueling, contaminating the nozzle and floor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problem of residual fuel contamination by providing a separate extraction opening that actively removes tank gases and residual fuel vapors from the pump area. This allows the nozzle to maintain its sealing function without being the sole mechanism for preventing contamination, as the extraction system independently handles residual fuel removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system operates continuously or throughout the refueling process, maintaining continuous extraction of tank gases and residual fuel vapors. This continuous action ensures that even after refueling completes, any residual fuel contamination is immediately removed, preventing accumulation and odor development.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an air management system blows fresh air through a ventilation opening to remove tank gases, then air quality and user comfort are improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a localized ventilation system specifically at the pump housing level, rather than requiring a comprehensive building-wide ventilation system. The ventilation opening and extraction opening are positioned locally to address the specific problem area around the nozzle and filler neck, minimizing the overall system complexity while effectively managing tank gases.
Solution Approach 2:
The air management system is integrated into the pump housing itself, allowing the refueling station to self-manage its air quality. The pump structure incorporates the ventilation and extraction openings directly, making the system self-contained and reducing dependency on external ventilation infrastructure, thereby limiting 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
The system effectively removes fuel fumes during refueling, maintains air quality, reduces contamination, and enhances user comfort by providing a clean and safe refueling experience.
Implementation Method 1
an air management system (6), at least for blowing out fresh air (FL) through a ventilation opening (61), which is arranged in one side (13a) of the housing (13) facing the vehicle (10) to be refueled, wherein the ventilation opening (61) and the quantity of blown-out fresh air (FL) are designed such that an airflow of blown-out fresh air (FL) removes any tank gases from the energy module (1) or at least dilutes them
Implementation Method 2
the ventilation opening (61) and the quantity of blown-out fresh air (FL) are designed such that an airflow of blown-out fresh air (FL) removes any tank gases from the energy module (1) or at least dilutes them
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an energy module (1) for the clean refueling of vehicles (10) comprising a receiving device (2) integrated into a housing (13) of the energy module (1) at least for holding fuel nozzles (3) for the refueling process of the vehicles (10) and at least an air management system (6) at least for blowing off fresh air (FL) through a ventilation opening (61) which is arranged in one side of the housing facing the vehicle (10) to be refueled, wherein the ventilation opening (61) and the amount of blown-off fresh air (FL) are designed such that an airflow of blown-off fresh air (FL) removes or at least dilutes any tank gases from the energy module (1).