Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Cooling of combustible mixture
Patent
1997-06-17
2000-02-15
McMahon, Marguerite
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Cooling of combustible mixture
F02M 3704
Patent
active
060240741
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of fueling a vehicle engine, and in particular to a method of providing liquid fuel to aircraft and other vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Air travel has become one of the most preferred modes of transportation when traveling over great distances. Modern jet aircraft are well equipped for sustained air travel at high speeds, enabling them to travel long distances in fairly short periods of time. Since jets and other aircraft can carry only a limited quantity of fuel, one of the major factors in limiting the distance over which aircraft can fly is the necessity for refueling. While in-flight refueling is possible today with some types of aircraft, most refueling is performed on the ground. These refueling stops prolong travel time. It is therefore desirable to increase the amount of fuel that can be stored on the aircraft, preferably with no or only minimal alterations to the existing aircraft structure.
It is known that the performance of reciprocating engines utilizing a fuel/air combustion mixture is improved with the introduction of cooled air. This is due to the increased density of the air, which results in higher oxygen availability for combustion. The cooled air also prevents premature combustion during the compression of the combustion mixture. Cooling of fuel for these engines utilizing existing air-conditioning equipment is also known and is used to reduce fuel vapors that may create vapor locks in fuel lines or to reduce lost fuel to the atmosphere as it evaporates from the fuel tank. The prior art also teaches the use of fuel cooled by means of an air conditioning system to cool the air introduced into the engine, and to retard vaporization of the fuel during compression to thus improve engine efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method of fueling an engine of a vehicle having a fuel storage tank is accomplished by providing a liquid fuel for fueling the engine. The fuel is cooled to reduced temperatures which are substantially less than ambient temperatures, such that the volume of the fuel is reduced. The fuel is stored in the storage tank while the fuel is at the reduced temperatures, with the reduced volume of the fuel thereby allowing more fuel to be held in the storage tank and increasing the energy value of the fuel per unit volume. The fuel can be transferred from the storage tank to the engine while the fuel is at the reduced temperatures.
In one embodiment an aircraft having a fuel storage tank and an engine is fueled by providing a liquid fuel for fueling the aircraft. The fuel is cooled externally to the aircraft at a ground location. The fuel is cooled to reduced temperatures which are substantially less than ambient temperatures, such that the volume of the fuel is reduced. The fuel is transferred into the storage tank of the aircraft while the fuel is at the reduced temperatures, with the reduced volume of the fuel thereby allowing more fuel to be held in the storage tank of the aircraft and increasing the energy value of the fuel per unit volume.
In still another embodiment, a fuel powered vehicle having a passenger compartment and a fuel storage tank is fueled while providing conditioned air to the passenger compartment. This is accomplished by providing a liquid fuel in the storage tank of the vehicle for fueling the vehicle. The fuel is then cooled in the storage tank of the vehicle to reduced temperatures, which are substantially less than ambient temperature, using a coolant fluid. A heat transfer surface is also cooled below ambient temperature using the coolant fluid while maintaining the fuel at the reduced temperatures. Ambient air is passed over the heat transfer surface so that the air is cooled, and then the cooled air is passed into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the acc
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Fuel Dynamics
Handley Mark W.
McMahon Marguerite
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