SEPARATED WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR DIESEL FUEL ENGINE

• US 20080110812A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mahle Tennex Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mahle Tennex Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Jensen, Hans, Xia, Zhouxuan, Mulkeran, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/760,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20080110812A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/143
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/50 Arrangement of reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/043 without contact between liquid and exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0222 Water recovery or storage
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/028 into the charge intakes
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/28 with means activated by the presence of water, e.g. alarms or means for automatic drainage
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/30 characterised by heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/32 characterised by filters or filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A method for treating water separated from diesel fuel, and a diesel fuel filter or water trap for a fuel water collection system are disclosed. A water trap may generally include a primary reservoir, a drain in fluid communication with the primary reservoir, and a controller for the drain that is operable to selectively exhaust a quantity of water from the primary reservoir to one or more water treatment locations located on the vehicle. A method of removing water from a fuel may generally include accumulating a quantity of water removed from a fuel supply in a primary reservoir, selectively draining a portion of the quantity of water from the primary reservoir, and receiving the portion of the quantity of water at a water treatment location in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A water trap for a water treatment system for a vehicle comprising:

a primary reservoir;

a drain in fluid communication with said primary reservoir; and

a controller for said drain, said controller operable to selectively exhaust a quantity of water from said primary reservoir to a water treatment location located on the vehicle.

2. The water trap of claim 1, further comprising a secondary reservoir having a volume less than a volume of said primary reservoir.

3. The water trap of claim 1, further comprising a heating mechanism disposed within said primary reservoir operable to heat one of the water contained within said primary reservoir and fuel associated with the water treatment system.

4. The water trap of claim 1, wherein said drain is located at a lower bottom surface of said primary reservoir.

5. The water trap of claim 1, wherein said drain includes one of a solenoid and an actuator.

6. The water trap of claim 1, wherein said controller is an electronic control module for a vehicle, said electronic control module automatically metering water to at least one water treatment location in the vehicle.

7. The water trap of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor operable to determine a quantity of water present in said primary reservoir.

8. The water trap of claim 1, further comprising a display operable to provide a notification to a user that a water level of said primary reservoir exceeds a predetermined amount.

9. A system for removing water from fuel, comprising:

a water trap including a primary reservoir, a drain in fluid communication with said primary reservoir, and a controller for said drain;

a water passage in fluid communication with said drain; and

at least one water treatment location in fluid communication with said passage;

wherein said controller is operable to selectively exhaust a quantity of water from said primary reservoir to said at least one water treatment location.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a secondary reservoir in fluid communication with said primary reservoir and said water passage, said secondary reservoir having a volume less than a volume of said primary reservoir.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said primary reservoir is one of a blow-molded reservoir and a molded reservoir.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a heating element disposed within said primary reservoir operable to heat one of water contained within said primary reservoir and fuel associated with the system.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a hydrophobic media for accumulating water in said primary reservoir.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said drain is located at a bottom surface of said primary reservoir.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said drain includes one of a solenoid valve and an actuator.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein said controller is an electronic control unit for a vehicle, said electronic control unit automatically metering water to at least one water treatment location in the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein said at least one water treatment location includes at least one of an engine air cleaner, an engine air intake, an exhaust component, and a windshield washer fluid reservoir.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein said at least one water treatment location includes multiple water treatment locations, each water treatment location selectively receiving water at one of varying rates and times as compared to another water treatment location.

19. The system of claim 9, further comprising a tip disposed in said water passage adjacent said at least one water treatment location, said tip having a diameter configured to meter flow of water to said at least one water treatment location.

20. The system of claim 9, further comprising an aperture disposed in said water passage, said aperture disposed adjacent a relatively low pressure area of the vehicle to draw water from said water trap to said at least one water treatment location.

21. The system of claim 9, further comprising a material disposed in said water passage, said material operable to provide a capillary effect to water received from said water trap.

22. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one sensor operable to determine a quantity of water present in said primary reservoir.

23. The system of claim 9, further comprising a display operable to provide a notification to a user that a water level of said primary reservoir exceeds a predetermined amount.

24. A method, comprising:

accumulating a quantity of water removed from a fuel supply in a primary reservoir;

selectively draining a portion of said quantity of water from said primary reservoir; and

receiving said portion of said quantity of water at a water treatment location in a vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving said portion of said quantity of water in a secondary reservoir having a volume less than a volume of said primary reservoir.

26. The method of claim 24, said at least one water treatment location including at least one of an engine air cleaner, and engine air intake, an exhaust pipe, an exhaust muffler, and a windshield washer fluid reservoir.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining a quantity of water present in said primary reservoir.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising notifying a user when said quantity of water present in said primary reservoir exceeds a predetermined amount.