Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Cooling of combustible mixture
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-02
2003-09-30
McMahon, Marguerite (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Cooling of combustible mixture
C123S557000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06626162
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED SYSTEM
The present disclosed system relates to a re-circulating fuel system for diesel power plants and, in particular, for a closed diesel fuel system.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED SYSTEM
There are various types of fuel delivery systems for many types of diesel power plants. Often, such systems rely on a fuel injection system, rather than a carburetor system, to mix the fuel with air and meter the resultant fuel-air mixture into the diesel power plant. Fuel injection systems often require a continuously circulating supply of fuel, unlike the carburetor system. Continuously circulating fuel systems often route any unused fuel from power plant to the fuel tank, this process is known as constant re-circulation.
Constant re-circulation has been seen as an “Achilles Heel” of diesel power plants. This is because the power plant often use fuel injector systems that are mounted on the power plant, thus the heat emitted by the power plant may cause the fuel injector system to capture some of the heat in the system. Consequently, the fuel recycling through the fuel injector system can be come quite hot. This heated fuel, upon its return to the fuel tank, transfers the power plant generated heat to the fuel in the fuel tank. The elevation of the temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank during operation is problematic for a variety of reasons and is known to cause disruption in the delivery of fuel in the diesel fuel delivery system.
Accordingly, there have been many attempts to lower the temperature of the returning fuel to avoid overheating the fuel in the fuel tank. These attempts include utilizing a acompartmentalized fuel tank, utilizing a return device in the fuel tank that slowly releases heated fuel into the main compartment of the tank, utilizing a heat exchanger/fuel cooler that that transfers the heat from returning fuel returning to another system that dispenses the heat to the outside environment.
Due to the recent environmental concerns, and a corresponding increase in environmental regulations of diesel fuel systems, there is also an issue regarding the reduction of fuel vapor emissions. In particular, the heated return fuel raises the temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank to the fuel's evaporative temperature, thereby increasing the amount of vapor emissions emitted by the fuel. This vapor emission may be allowed to escape to the outside atmosphere, which may be considered harmful to the environment. Thus, there is a need for reducing the fuel vapor emissions of diesel-powered vehicles.
Correspondingly, there is therefore a need for fuel cooling means especially with fuel re-circulation systems for diesel fuels and diesel fuel derivatives such as: water/diesel fuel injection; water in diesel fuel emulsions; and diesel and natural gas mixtures. This need requires a solution that can prevent the heating of diesel fuel in fuel tanks. One advantageous aspect of the solution may be that it can be done with as little change as possible to the existing fuel delivery system and as simply as possible to prevent such a complex system that may interfere with the proper operation of the fuel delivery system. Another advantageous aspect of the solution to this need is that it may be accomplished with a low cost of manufacture, installation and maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED SYSTEM
The presently disclosed method and apparatus relate to the operation of a fuel flow system, including a recycling path and a cooler, comprising: sensing the temperature of the fuel; and inserting the cooler in the recycling path when the temperature of the fuel exceeds a threshold temperature.
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Bell Ronald J.
Shelor Frederick M.
Clean Fuels, Inc.
McMahon Marguerite
Sierra Patent Group Ltd.
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