GASEOUS FUEL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE

• US 20050193989A1
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MOORHEAD, BRIAN C., MOHAMMED, MAJED, VEENSTRA, MICHAEL J., WALESKY, DANIEL J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,350,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/527
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03006 Gas tanks B60K15/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/022 to adjust the fuel pressure, temperature or composition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/027 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or volume flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0221 Fuel storage reservoirs, e.g. cryogenic tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/029 Arrangement on engines or vehicle bodies; Conversion to gaseous fuel supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/025 having the pressure as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/026 having the temperature as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/123 for gas bottles, cylinders or reservoirs for tank vehicles or for railway tank wagons
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0104 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/035 with substantially horizontal main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0107 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0126 One vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0176 with ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/055 by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/057 by chips
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 : gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/035 : High pressure, i.e. between 10 and 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/036 : Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 : using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/034 : using wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0478 : Position or presence
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/036 : Avoiding leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/042 : Reducing risk of explosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/066 : for feeding engines for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 : by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 : Cars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/007 : for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles filling with liquid fuel not under pressure, B60S5/02, B67D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 : for filling with compressed gases
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/00 : Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 : Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/944 : Characterized by control of fuel cell

Abstract

A gaseous fuel system for an automotive vehicle includes a gaseous fuel storage tank and an associated pressure sensor for monitoring pressurized gas contained within the storage tank. A parameter-driven routine monitors the integrity of the tank by tracking filing cycles marked by the increase of the tank pressure from a first threshold to a second threshold. Mitigation actions may be taken in the event that the filling cycles exceed a predetermined number, or in the event that other system integrity monitoring indicates that mitigation is in order.

Claims

1. A gaseous fuel system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a gaseous fuel storage tank;

a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure of gas contained within said storage tank and for generating a gas pressure signal corresponding to said pressure;

a controller for receiving said gas pressure signal and for recording each filling cycle wherein said pressure signal indicates that the pressure within said storage tank has been increased from below a first threshold value to a value above a second threshold value, with said controller initiating mitigation in the event that the number of recorded filling cycles exceeds a predetermined number of cycles.

2. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 1, wherein said mitigation comprises limiting the pressure to which the storage tank may be filled.

3. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 1, wherein said mitigation comprises limiting the quantity of compressed fuel which may be introduced into the storage tank.

4. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 1, wherein said controller initiates mitigation in the event that at least one of the pressure of the stored gas, the temperature of the stored gas, and the temperature of said fuel storage tank exceed predetermined threshold values.

5. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 1, wherein said controller determines the quantity of fuel within said storage tank as a function of at least the temperature and pressure of the gas stored in the tank.

6. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 1, further comprising a fill valve connected with said fuel storage tank and with said controller, with said controller further being connected to a transmission range sensor such that said controller prevents filling of said fuel system unless said transmission sensor indicates that a vehicle transmission is in a park range.

7. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 1, further comprising a fill valve connected with said fuel storage tank and with said controller, with said controller further being connected with a plurality of fugitive fuel gas sensors, and with said controller closing said fill valve in the event that the presence of fugitive fuel gas is detected by at least one of said sensors during refueling.

8. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 1, further comprising a fuel transfer line extending from said storage tank to a prime mover, with said transfer line having a fuel pressure sensor connected with said controller, with said controller tracking the pressure within said transfer line when fuel is not being withdrawn from said storage tank.

9. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 1, further comprising a fill valve having a variable fill orifice operated by said controller.

10. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication link embedded in said controller for advising an electronically controlled fuel filler of at least one fuel fill parameter.

11. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 10, wherein said controller and said communication link advise said electronically controlled fuel filler as to the maximum pressure to which said fuel tank is to be filled.

12. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a gaseous fuel storage tank containing a quantity of compressed gas;

a prime mover comprising at least one rotating machine and an associated transmission, with said prime mover being fueled by gaseous fuel from said fuel storage tank;

a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure of gas contained within said storage tank and for generating a gas pressure signal corresponding to said pressure; and

a controller for receiving said gas pressure signal and for recording each filling cycle wherein said pressure signal indicates that the pressure within said storage tank is increased from below a first threshold value to a level above a second threshold value, with said controller initiating mitigation in the event that the number of recorded filling cycles exceeds a predetermined number of cycles.

13. An automotive vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising a fill valve connected with said fuel storage tank, with said fill valve having a sensor for detecting the presence of a fill nozzle and for sending a refueling signal to said controller, and with said controller preventing movement of said vehicle in the event that said refueling signal is present.

14. An automotive vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said prime mover comprises a reciprocating internal combustion engine and an associated transmission.

15. An automotive vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said prime mover comprises a fuel cell, an electrodrive motor, and an associated transmission.

16. An automotive vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said compressed gas comprises natural gas.

17. An automotive vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said compressed gas comprises hydrogen.

18. A method for monitoring the operating condition of a gaseous fuel storage system and an associated prime mover, comprising the steps of:

monitoring the number of filling cycles of a gaseous fuel storage tank by recording each instance in which the gas pressure within the tank is increased from below a first threshold value to a value above a second threshold value;

monitoring the integrity of a fuel transfer line extending from said storage tank to said prime mover by tracking the pressure within said transfer line when fuel is not being withdrawn from said storage tank; and

initiating mitigation in the event that either the number of filling cycles exceeds a predetermined number, or in the event that the tracked pressure within said fuel transfer line decreases at a rate in excess of a predetermined maximum permissible rate.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said mitigation comprises the step of limiting the maximum filling pressure of said storage tank in the event that said predetermined number of filling cycles has been exceeded.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said mitigation comprises the step of limiting the discharge of gas from said storage tank into said fuel transfer line in the event that said tracked pressure decreases at a rate in excess of said predetermined maximum permissible rate.

21. A gaseous fuel system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a gaseous fuel storage tank;

a plurality of sensors for determining the values of a plurality of operating parameters of said gaseous fuel system, with said sensors including at least a pressure sensor for determining the gas pressure within said storage tank; and

a controller operatively connected with said plurality of sensors, with said controller comprising a parameter-driven routine, using as input data at least the output of said pressure sensor, for monitoring the operating condition of said fuel storage tank.

22. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 21, wherein said controller monitors the useful life of said storage tank by recording each filling cycle wherein the output of said pressure signal indicates that the pressure within said storage tank has been increased from a first threshold value to a second threshold value.

23. A gaseous fuel system according to claim 22, wherein said controller initiates mitigation in the event that the number of recorded filling cycles exceeds a predetermined number of cycles.