Scroll Compressor Oil Separator for Natural Gas Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural gas fueled internal combustion engines face inefficiencies in utilizing the full capacity of stored natural gas, leading to premature switching to alternate fuels due to pressure limitations, which reduces the driving range and output power.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pressurizable tank with a natural gas adsorbent and a scroll compressor system that separates oil from compressed natural gas, allowing the use of natural gas below the cut-off pressure to boost fuel rail pressure, thereby extending driving range without reducing engine output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If natural gas is stored in pressurizable tanks with adsorbent, then the mass of natural gas that may be stored is increased, but the pressure limitations cause premature switching to alternate fuels, reducing driving range
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary compression of natural gas using a scroll compressor before it reaches the fuel rail, ensuring that gas below cut-off pressure can be pressurized on-demand. This preliminary action allows the system to utilize stored natural gas that would otherwise be unavailable, extending driving range while maintaining engine performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The scroll compressor acts as an intermediary device between the pressurizable tank and the fuel rail. It receives natural gas at lower pressures from the tank, compresses it to the required fuel rail pressure, and delivers it to the engine. This intermediary function enables the system to overcome pressure limitations and extend the usable natural gas supply beyond what would be available with direct tank-to-rail delivery.
2Stress or pressure
If a scroll compressor is used to compress natural gas, then fuel rail pressure can be maintained using natural gas below cut-off pressure, but oil contamination of the compressed natural gas occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-oil separator extracts and removes oil from the compressed natural gas stream after it leaves the scroll compressor. By taking out the harmful oil component before the gas enters the fuel rail, the system maintains clean natural gas delivery to the engine while preserving the pressure-boosting function of the compressor. This extraction process prevents oil contamination from affecting engine performance.
3Duration of action of moving object
If natural gas below cut-off pressure is utilized by boosting fuel rail pressure, then driving range is extended, but additional components (scroll compressor, separator) increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The scroll compressor is designed to perform multiple functions: it compresses natural gas to maintain fuel rail pressure, enables utilization of gas below cut-off pressure, and its integrated oil separation capability handles contaminant removal. By making the compressor a multi-functional component rather than adding separate dedicated devices, the system extends driving range while minimizing the increase in overall system 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 enables the efficient use of natural gas stored at lower pressures, extending the vehicle's driving range without compromising engine performance by ensuring a sufficient mass flow rate of natural gas to the engine.
Implementation Method 1
A natural gas adsorbent is disposed in the tank
Implementation Method 2
A scroll compressor is on the vehicle to receive the natural gas from the tank and to deliver a first mixture of compressed natural gas and an oil
Implementation Method 3
The gas and oil separator is to receive the first mixture of the compressed natural gas and the oil from the scroll compressor and to separate the oil from the compressed natural gas
Data Source
AI summary
A natural gas fueled vehicle, includes a natural gas fueled Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to provide motive power to the vehicle. A pressurizable tank is disposed on the vehicle to contain a natural gas. A natural gas adsorbent is disposed in the tank. A fuel supply tube is to convey the natural gas to the ICE. A scroll compressor is on the vehicle to receive the natural gas from the tank and to deliver a first mixture of compressed natural gas and an oil to a gas and oil separator. The gas and oil separator is to receive the first mixture of the compressed natural gas and the oil from the scroll compressor and to separate the oil from the compressed natural gas and to deliver the compressed natural gas to the fuel supply tube substantially free from the oil.