Gaseous Fuel Management System for Automotive Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for automotive vehicles using gaseous fuel do not effectively manage fugitive emissions, as they are not designed to detect and mitigate unwanted releases of hydrogen or other gaseous fuels, and lack a strategy to disable the prime mover while allowing limited operation of the traction motor/generator in case of fugitive fuel detection.
Innovation Solution
A gaseous fuel management system with electronically controlled valves, gas sensors, and an atmospheric circulator that ventilates the vehicle to remove fugitive fuel, including the use of movable glazing panels and fans to purge the interior spaces, and a fuel management controller that disables the prime mover's fuel supply while allowing the traction motor/generator to operate, ensuring fuel economy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If gaseous fuel is used in automotive vehicles, then fuel economy is improved, but fugitive emissions of gaseous fuel become difficult to handle and detect
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of fugitive gaseous fuel emissions using gas sensors positioned in strategic locations throughout the vehicle. Before emissions can accumulate to dangerous levels, the controller receives signals from these sensors and activates mitigation measures, including closing fuel valves and activating atmospheric circulators, thereby preventing harmful buildup of fugitive emissions while maintaining fuel economy benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring through gas sensors that detect fugitive emissions in real-time. The controller receives ongoing signals from these sensors and dynamically adjusts system operations accordingly - closing fuel valves when emissions are detected and activating atmospheric circulators to mitigate emission accumulation, thereby maintaining fuel economy while managing the harmful effects of fugitive emissions
2Reliability
If the prime mover is deactivated due to detected fugitive hydrogen, then safety is improved, but vehicle operation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the vehicle's powertrain into separate functional components - the prime mover (internal combustion engine or fuel cell) and the traction motor/generator. When fugitive hydrogen is detected, the controller selectively deactivates only the prime mover's fuel supply through electronically controlled valves, while preserving the ability to operate the traction motor/generator using stored energy in the energy storage device, thereby maintaining limited vehicle operation while ensuring safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality control by selectively managing different parts of the powertrain system based on detection results. When fugitive emissions are detected, the controller closes fuel valves specifically associated with the prime mover while leaving the traction motor/generator system operational, allowing the vehicle to continue operating in electric mode only, thus maintaining safety in the affected area while preserving overall vehicle functionality
3Manufacturing precision
If electronically controlled valves are installed to control fuel flow, then fuel management precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and isolates the fuel control function into separate electronically controlled valves positioned at specific locations in the fuel delivery system. These valves can be independently actuated by the controller based on sensor inputs, allowing precise control of fuel flow to the prime mover without requiring complex mechanical fuel management systems, thereby achieving high fuel management precision while keeping the overall device architecture relatively simple through functional decomposition
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
Effectively handles fugitive fuel emissions by maintaining vehicle reliability and fuel economy, allowing safe operation with the traction motor/generator even when fugitive gases are detected, and can be used with various types of gaseous fuels and prime movers.
Implementation Method 1
at least one atmospheric circulator operated by a fuel management controller in response to a gas detection signal from a gas sensor... for moving atmospheric air through a space in the vehicle so as to remove fugitive fuel gas from the space being ventilated
Data Source
AI summary
A gaseous fuel management system for an automotive vehicle includes at least one gas sensor for detecting the presence of gaseous fuel outside of the confines of the vehicle's fuel storage tank, fuel lines, and prime mover. In the event that fugitive gas is detected and the concentration exceeds a predetermined threshold, the fuel supply to the vehicle's prime mover will be shut off and, if so equipped, the vehicle may then be operated in a battery power mode for the convenience of the driver.