LPG Bombe Cooling via Gasoline Spray for Bi-Fuel Refilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In bi-fuel vehicles, high external temperatures cause the pressure in the LPG bombe to exceed the filling pressure, preventing LPG refilling due to the check valve's failure to open, especially during hot seasons when temperatures exceed 40°C.
Innovation Solution
The system introduces a gasoline pressurization line connected to the LPG bombe, equipped with a solenoid valve, nozzle, and pressure sensors, allowing gasoline from the tank to be sprayed into the bombe to cool and reduce vapor pressure, enabling refilling by controlling the solenoid valve based on pressure and LPG amount measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the external temperature is very high (e.g., 40°C or higher), then the pressure in the LPG bombe increases (e.g., 16.5 bar), but the LPG filling pressure remains lower (e.g., 16.3 bar), making it impossible to refill the LPG bombe
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action by spraying gasoline into the LPG bombe before the refilling operation. This preliminary action reduces the temperature and pressure inside the bombe, creating favorable conditions for subsequent LPG filling. The controller activates the solenoid valve to allow gasoline flow through the nozzle into the bombe, cooling it in advance before the refilling process begins.
Solution Approach 2:
Gasoline serves as an intermediary substance to transfer cooling effect from the environment into the LPG bombe. The gasoline, being at a lower temperature than the heated LPG, acts as a thermal mediator that absorbs heat from the LPG and bombe walls, thereby reducing the overall temperature and pressure without directly removing the LPG or adding complex cooling equipment.
2Stress or pressure
If the pressure in the LPG bombe is higher than the LPG filling pressure, then the check valve of the excess flow valve remains closed, but this prevents LPG filling through the filling gun
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the pressure parameter inside the LPG bombe by introducing cooler gasoline that reduces the vapor pressure of the LPG. As the temperature decreases, the vapor pressure of LPG drops according to its pressure-temperature relationship, allowing the internal pressure to fall below the filling pressure threshold. This parameter change enables the check valve to open and refilling to proceed.
3Ease of operation
If a gasoline pressurization line with solenoid valve and nozzle is added to cool the LPG bombe, then the refilling capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gasoline pressurization line, solenoid valve, and nozzle components serve multiple functions: they are used during the cooling phase before refilling, and also during normal gasoline supply operations to the engine. By making these components multi-functional, the system avoids adding dedicated single-purpose cooling equipment, thereby reducing overall system complexity while still achieving the refilling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing gasoline supply infrastructure to provide the cooling function, rather than requiring an external or dedicated cooling system. The gasoline already present in the vehicle's fuel system serves its own cooling purpose, and the same pressurization line and control mechanisms are used for both cooling and fuel delivery, making the system self-sufficient and reducing 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
This solution effectively cools the LPG bombe and lowers its vapor pressure, allowing for seamless refilling even in high-temperature conditions by utilizing the lower temperature of gasoline to reduce pressure, ensuring efficient LPG replenishment.
Implementation Method 1
supplying some gasoline from a gasoline tank into the LPG bombe to cool the inside of the LPG bombe and to reduce the vapor pressure of LPG
Implementation Method 2
utilizing the lower temperature of gasoline to reduce pressure
Implementation Method 3
a nozzle mounted in the LPG bombe for spraying gasoline that has been supplied from the gasoline tank and passed through the gasoline pressurization line into the LPG bombe
Data Source
AI summary
A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling system of a bi-fuel vehicle is provided. The LPG filling system may be configured for reducing the temperature and pressure in an LPG bombe for storing LPG in the case in which the external temperature is very high, e.g. in the hot season, whereby it is possible to easily refill the LPG bombe with LPG. The LPG filling system is configured to cool the inside of an LPG bombe and to reduce the vapor pressure of LPG by supplying some gasoline from a gasoline tank into the LPG bombe using the fact that the temperature of gasoline in the gasoline tank is lower than the temperature of LPG in the LPG bombe, whereby it is possible to easily refill the LPG bombe with LPG even in the case in which the external temperature is very high, e.g. in the hot season.