Insulated Fuel Line Layout for Uniform Pressure Vessel Temperatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure vessel systems for motor vehicles face challenges in achieving cost-effectiveness, lightweight design, and uniform fuel temperatures across multiple pressure vessels, particularly in the underfloor installation space, while withstanding high pressures and maintaining efficient fueling processes.
Innovation Solution
A pressure vessel system comprising multiple composite overwrapped pressure vessels connected by a fuel line with thermal insulation and a fuel rail, where the fuel line is reinforced to handle mechanical loads and features a thin-walled pipe for thermal insulation, reducing thermal transfer and ensuring similar fuel temperatures across vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If multiple small pressure vessels are used instead of a few large ones to fit the underfloor installation space, then the installation space utilization is improved, but the fuel temperature uniformity across vessels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel line is divided into multiple heating zones with independent heating elements, allowing each pressure vessel to receive fuel at optimized temperatures. The segmentation of the heating system compensates for the segmentation of pressure vessels, ensuring uniform fuel temperatures across all vessels despite their distributed locations in the underfloor space.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the fuel line are equipped with localized heating zones that can independently adjust temperature. This local quality control ensures that each pressure vessel receives fuel at the appropriate temperature, addressing the temperature uniformity issue while maintaining the multiple small vessel configuration for optimal space utilization.
2Weight of moving object
If the fuel line wall is made thinner to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but the mechanical load bearing capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel line wall is constructed as a composite structure combining a thin-walled pipe with an insulating material layer. The thin metal pipe provides the necessary mechanical strength while the insulating layer compensates for the reduced wall thickness, allowing the fuel line to withstand high fuel pressures and thermal gradients without requiring excessive material thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulating material is introduced as an intermediary layer between the thin-walled pipe and the fuel. This intermediary layer protects the thin pipe wall from direct exposure to high fuel temperatures and pressures, allowing the use of thinner walls while maintaining adequate mechanical and thermal performance.
3Temperature
If thermal insulation is added to the fuel line to maintain fuel temperature uniformity, then the fuel temperature uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal insulation function is merged with the structural wall of the fuel line. The insulating material is integrated into the wall construction itself rather than being added as a separate external layer, combining the structural and thermal management functions into a single integrated component. This reduces device complexity while maintaining fuel temperature uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel line wall is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: providing mechanical strength, providing thermal insulation, and enabling controlled heat transfer through integrated heating zones. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving the desired temperature uniformity.
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 enables efficient fueling and storage of gaseous fuels like CNG, LNG, or hydrogen, maintaining uniform fuel temperatures and reducing costs and weight, while effectively managing mechanical and thermal stresses within the installation space.
Implementation Method 1
A fuel line (200) is specified to fuel the pressure vessel system. The fuel line comprises a wall (202) which is specified to compensate all the mechanical loads which result from the internal pressure prevalent in the fuel line. A thermal insulation (204) is provided in the interior of the wall (202).
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure vessel system for a motor vehicle for storing fuel includes a plurality of pressure vessels that are combined to form a pressure vessel assembly. The pressure vessels, when mounted, are arranged substantially in parallel relative to one another, and the pressure vessels are fluidically interconnected via a common fuel line. The technology further relates to a fuel line comprising thermal insulation.