Nested Bi-Fuel Tank Design for Emission Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bi-fuel vehicles require separate tanks for liquid and gas-phase fuels, leading to inefficiencies and increased emissions due to the need for separate storage and handling systems.
Innovation Solution
A dual fuel tank design where a pressurizable gas-phase fuel tank is entirely within the liquid fuel tank, allowing gas-phase fuel to permeate through the wall into the liquid fuel tank, where it is absorbed or dissolved, enhancing energy density and reducing emissions by maintaining low pressure in the ullage space through a liquid discriminating vent valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If separate tanks are used for liquid and gas-phase fuels, then storage and handling are simplified, but energy density and emissions performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-phase fuel tank is nested within the liquid fuel tank, with the gas tank positioned inside the liquid tank's interior space. This nested configuration allows both fuel types to be stored in a compact dual-tank arrangement that reduces overall vehicle space requirements while maintaining separate storage compartments, thereby improving energy density without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the storage functions of two separate fuel tanks into a integrated dual-tank system where the gas tank is housed within the liquid tank. This merging approach consolidates the fuel storage system, reducing the number of external components and improving energy density while the internal separation maintains functional simplicity
2Device complexity
If separate tanks are used for liquid and gas-phase fuels, then storage is simplified, but hydrocarbon emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-phase fuel tank is nested within the liquid fuel tank, allowing hydrocarbons from the liquid fuel to act as a barrier and reduce evaporative emissions from the gas-phase fuel. This nested configuration enables the liquid fuel to suppress harmful emissions while maintaining simplified storage architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of evaporative emissions from the gas-phase fuel into a benefit by allowing the liquid fuel to suppress these emissions. The liquid fuel acts as an emission control mechanism, transforming the storage configuration into an emission reduction strategy
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 design increases energy density per gallon of liquid fuel, reduces hydrocarbon emissions, and eliminates the need for an electric fuel pump, providing a cost-effective and efficient bi-fuel vehicle operation with reduced emissions.
Implementation Method 1
A gas-phase fuel is permeable through the wall. The pressurizable gas-phase fuel tank is to receive the gas-phase fuel, contain the gas-phase fuel, and supply the gas-phase fuel for combustion in the ICE
Implementation Method 2
allowing gas-phase fuel to permeate through the wall into the liquid fuel tank, where it is absorbed or dissolved
Implementation Method 3
allowing gas-phase fuel to permeate through the wall into the liquid fuel tank, where it is absorbed or dissolved
Implementation Method 4
maintaining low pressure in the ullage space through a liquid discriminating vent valve
Data Source
AI summary
A bi-fuel vehicle has an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to provide motive power to the vehicle by combustion of a liquid fuel and gas-phase fuel. The vehicle has a dual fuel tank including a liquid fuel tank to receive liquid fuel, contain the liquid fuel, and supply the liquid fuel for combustion in the ICE. The vehicle has a pressurizable gas-phase fuel tank defined by a wall. A gas-phase fuel is permeable through the wall. The pressurizable gas-phase fuel tank is to receive the gas-phase fuel, contain the gas-phase fuel, and supply the gas-phase fuel for combustion in the ICE. A shell envelops the pressurizable gas-phase fuel tank and defines an interior space of the liquid fuel tank. The wall is in fluid communication with the interior space. The interior space is to receive the permeated gas-phase fuel.