Pulsed Fuel Pump Control for Portable Liquid Fuel Heaters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid fuel portable heaters require significant electricity for operation, leading to high battery capacity and bulkiness, and oversized pumps result in excessive energy consumption and unnecessary fuel diversion, hindering portability and autonomy.
Innovation Solution
A liquid fuel portable heater with an electric pump controlled by a sequence of pulses and pause intervals, reducing the duty cycle and frequency of power supply to minimize electricity absorption, combined with an expansion chamber to manage excess fuel and maintain nebulization pressure, thereby reducing energy consumption and eliminating unnecessary fuel diversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If high-capacity batteries are used to supply electricity for heater operation, then the heater can operate independently of mains electricity, but the heater becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical battery system with a thermoelectric generator that converts thermal energy directly into electrical energy. The generator uses the temperature difference between the combustion chamber and ambient environment to produce electricity, eliminating the need for heavy batteries while maintaining operational independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater system generates its own electricity through the thermoelectric generator using waste heat from combustion. The system serves itself by converting its own thermal output into electrical power, eliminating external power requirements and heavy battery dependencies.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of thermoelectric cells are installed to generate electricity, then the heater can operate standalone, but the heater dimensions and costs increase extensively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the thermoelectric generator by optimizing the temperature differential across the cells. By maximizing the temperature difference between the combustion chamber side and ambient side, the generator produces sufficient electricity with a manageable number of cells, avoiding excessive volume and cost increases.
3Stress or pressure
If an oversized electric pump is used to supply fuel at required pressure, then the pump can deliver sufficient flow, but the pump consumes excessive electricity and requires diversion of surplus fuel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic control system that adjusts the pump's operational parameters based on real-time feedback. The control unit monitors fuel flow requirements and adjusts pump speed or pressure output accordingly, allowing the pump to operate efficiently at varying loads rather than running continuously at maximum capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the control unit receives information about actual fuel consumption and pressure requirements, then adjusts pump operation to match demand. This closed-loop system prevents oversupply and reduces the need for surplus fuel diversion, optimizing energy consumption.
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 significantly reduces electricity consumption, doubling the operational autonomy on batteries or halving the number of thermoelectric cells needed, while maintaining sufficient fuel flow and pressure for nebulization, thus achieving a compact, lightweight, and efficient portable heater.
Implementation Method 1
converter devices of the temperature difference between the combustion chamber and the external environment into electricity, such as for example thermoelectric cells
Implementation Method 2
Said pump is used to generate a pressure of liquid fuel upstream of a nebulizer nozzle high enough to nebulise the fuel through the nebulizer
Implementation Method 3
At said pressure the nozzle nebulises the fuel by generating an aerosol with the combustion air
Implementation Method 4
thus feeding the combustion of the flame triggered by an ignition system
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A liquid fuel portable heater comprises: a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet with a nebuliser (13); an electric pump (10) having an inlet (11) for suctioning said liquid fuel from a tank (6), and an outlet (12) connected to said nebuliser (13); a control unit (20) configured so that, when the heater is turned on, said control unit (20) supplies the electric pump (10) with a sequence of pulses with a non-zero voltage, and pause intervals with a substantially zero voltage alternating with said pulses, wherein the average duration of the pulses is less than the average duration of the pause intervals. The heater may furthermore comprise a thermoelectric power generator. In addition, a method for controlling an electric power supply of a fuel electric pump (10) of a liquid fuel portable heater by means of an electric control unit (20) configured to control said electric power supply, comprising a step of electrically supplying said electric pump (10), once the heater is turned on, with a sequence of pulses with a non-zero voltage, and pause intervals with a substantially zero voltage alternating with said pulses, wherein the average duration of the pulses is less than the average duration of the pause intervals.