Pneumatic Fuel Accumulator Boosting for On-Demand Engine Fuel Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel delivery systems for high-performance engines face inefficiencies and potential failures when trying to increase fuel delivery, leading to engine damage or wasted energy, and are not well-suited for extreme conditions.
Innovation Solution
A fuel booster system with a fuel accumulator and pneumatic accumulator, controlled by a control system, that provides additional fuel on demand by using pressurized gas to discharge accumulated fuel to the engine when needed, independent of the existing fuel pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If voltage is increased on the existing fuel pump motor to push it beyond factory-designed speed, then fuel delivery is increased, but the fuel pump motor burns out
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel delivery system is segmented into two independent components: the factory fuel pump for normal operation and the booster pump for high-demand situations. This segmentation allows each pump to operate within its designed parameters, preventing the factory pump from burning out while enabling increased fuel delivery when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The booster pump is pre-installed and pre-configured in the fuel system, ready to activate when high fuel delivery is required. This preliminary preparation allows the system to instantly provide additional fuel capacity during high-performance situations without overloading the factory pump.
2Productivity
If multiple fuel pumps are added to supplement the factory fuel pump, then fuel delivery is increased, but energy is wasted when the motor operates below maximum output
Solution Approach 1:
The booster pump is designed to be dynamically controllable, allowing it to be activated only when high fuel delivery is required and deactivated during normal operation. This dynamic control eliminates energy waste during everyday driving while maintaining the capability for high-performance fuel delivery when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the fuel delivery system by introducing a second pump that can be independently controlled. This allows the system to adapt fuel delivery capacity to match actual engine demands, avoiding the constant energy consumption associated with running multiple pumps at full capacity.
3Ease of operation
If multi-fuel pump systems with ON/OFF control or speed controls are implemented, then fuel delivery control is improved, but system complexity increases with multiple points of possible failure
Solution Approach 1:
The booster pump system is designed to be self-regulating, using feedback from the engine's fuel demand to automatically activate or deactivate the booster pump. This self-service capability provides intelligent fuel delivery control without requiring complex external control systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
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
Ensures efficient, safe, and cost-effective fuel delivery to the engine under heavy loads, reducing the risk of engine damage and parasitic losses, and allowing for increased performance without complex systems.
Implementation Method 1
Fuel directed into the fuel accumulator forces the piston to move from the first end of the fuel accumulator to the second end of the fuel accumulator
Implementation Method 2
A source of pressurized gas is fluidically coupled to the fuel accumulator to deliver pressurized gas through the gas port. Pressurized gas forces the piston to move from the second end to the first end of the fuel accumulator, discharging accumulated fuel
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel booster system having a fuel inlet port, a fuel outlet port, and a fuel accumulator fluidically coupled to both ports. The fuel inlet port allows fuel to be delivered to the fuel accumulator and the fuel outlet port is in fluid communication with a combustion engine to deliver fuel from the fuel booster system to the combustion engine. A source of pressurized gas is also fluidically coupled to the fuel accumulator to deliver pressurized gas through a gas port in one end of the fuel accumulator. A piston is located within the fuel accumulator and the source of pressurized gas can be discharged into the fuel accumulator to force accumulated fuel from the fuel accumulator and to the engine when the fuel booster system determines that the engine needs more fuel.