Vehicle Fuel Range Estimation Using Segmented Tank Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy vehicles with large fuel tanks face issues of fuel stalling due to fuel sloshing and air intake during inclines, requiring a large residual volume that is often unnecessary, leading to increased weight and psychological refueling prompts despite ample fuel remaining.
Innovation Solution
A method that estimates a vehicle's range by using data on road inclination and residual fuel, employing a smaller transfer tank as a buffer, and electrically controlled fuel pumps to optimize fuel usage and reserve management based on driving conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large residual volume is applied in the fuel tank to prevent fuel stalling during inclines, then the reliability of fuel supply is improved, but the weight of the vehicle increases and the useful fuel capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank system is segmented into a main fuel tank and a smaller auxiliary fuel tank. The armature inlet is positioned in the auxiliary tank, which maintains sufficient fuel coverage during vehicle inclines. This segmentation allows the main tank to hold larger fuel volumes while the auxiliary tank ensures reliable fuel supply to the pump, resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight.
2Reliability
If a large residual volume is required in the fuel tank to avoid air intake, then the reliability of fuel supply is improved, but the productivity of fuel usage decreases due to unnecessary refueling
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank is divided into a main tank for bulk fuel storage and a smaller auxiliary tank for maintaining pump inlet coverage. The auxiliary tank's smaller volume means it can be completely utilized before refueling is needed, providing accurate refueling timing information to the driver and eliminating the psychological refueling prompt issue.
3Reliability
If the armature inlet is surrounded by sufficient fuel to prevent air intake, then the reliability of fuel supply is improved, but the volume available for fuel storage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank system is divided into a main fuel tank for bulk storage and a smaller auxiliary fuel tank containing the armature inlet. This segmentation allows the main tank to maximize storage volume while the auxiliary tank maintains sufficient fuel coverage around the inlet, resolving the contradiction between storage volume and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary fuel tank acts as an intermediary between the main fuel tank and the fuel pump. It receives fuel from the main tank and ensures the pump inlet is always surrounded by fuel, preventing air intake while allowing the main tank to maintain large storage capacity.
4Weight of moving object
If a smaller transfer tank is used as a buffer, then the weight and volume penalties are reduced, but the complexity of the fuel system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel system is segmented into a main tank, auxiliary tank, and transfer tank. The transfer tank acts as a buffer that simplifies fuel management by maintaining a ready supply for the pump, reducing the need for complex control mechanisms while keeping weight and volume penalties minimal.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for estimating a range for a vehicle (100), wherein said vehicle (100) comprises a combustion engine (101) and a fuel supply system associated with said combustion engine (101), wherein the vehicle (100) also comprises a first main tank (215A) for receiving fuel, and a first fuel pump (212) for transfer of fuel from said first main tank (215A) to said fuel supply system. The method comprises: - based on data relating to the road ahead of the vehicle (100) and a first measure of the residual fuel in said first main tank (215A), estimating a range for said vehicle (100).