Onboard LP Gas Refueling via Vehicle Fuel Pump
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The widespread adoption of liquefied petroleum gas (LP) vehicles is hindered by the scarcity of refueling stations and the high cost of installing an LP gas fueling station, making refueling less convenient and more expensive compared to conventional gasoline or diesel vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle fuel system that includes a tank inlet port, a connection detector, a fuel pump input selector, a vehicle fuel pump, a fill/run fuel selector, and a controller, allowing for self-refueling without an external pump by selectively directing fuel between the storage tank and the engine supply line, and controlling the refueling process to prevent overfilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an external refueling pump and station are used, then refueling speed is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the refueling pump function from the external station and relocates it to the vehicle's onboard fuel system. The vehicle's existing fuel pump is repurposed to perform both its original function of supplying fuel to the engine and the additional function of refueling the vehicle tank from the storage tank, thereby eliminating the need for an external refueling pump and station while maintaining refueling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel pump is designed to perform multiple functions: it supplies fuel to the engine during normal operation and also performs refueling by transferring fuel from the storage tank to the vehicle tank. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated refueling equipment, simplifying the overall system while maintaining refueling productivity.
2Ease of operation
If an external refueling station is installed, then refueling convenience is improved, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the requirement for an external refueling station by extracting the refueling function and integrating it into the vehicle's onboard system. This eliminates the need for expensive external infrastructure installation while maintaining the ability to refuel the vehicle from the storage tank.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle performs its own refueling operation using its onboard fuel pump and control systems. The controller automatically manages the refueling process by directing the fuel pump to transfer fuel from the storage tank to the vehicle tank, enabling the vehicle to service itself without requiring external station infrastructure.
3Device complexity
If the vehicle fuel pump is used for refueling, then device complexity is reduced, but refueling time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the fuel pump operation during refueling, optimizing its performance to transfer fuel efficiently from the storage tank to the vehicle tank. By actively controlling the pump's operation rather than passive transfer, the system maximizes refueling speed within the constraints of using the existing fuel pump, thereby reducing refueling time while maintaining system simplicity.
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 enables safe and cost-efficient refueling of LP gas vehicles, reducing the need for external refueling stations and lowering conversion costs, while allowing for unattended refueling operations and extended vehicle tank filling times.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel pump operable to pump fuel to the tank outlet port from one of the source tank or the in-tank fuel pickup
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle has a fuel system that includes a controller that determines when the vehicle is in a refuel mode or a run mode based on a connection of a refuel nozzle to a vehicle connection of the vehicle. The controller controls a fuel pump input selector, a vehicle fuel pump, and a fill/run fuel selector such that fuel is pumped from a storage tank external to the vehicle into a vehicle fuel tank by way of the vehicle fuel pump in the refuel mode, and fuel is pumped to an engine of the vehicle from the vehicle fuel tank by way of the vehicle fuel pump in the run mode.