Fuel Stability Methods and Systems

• US 20100300551A1
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Buczynksky, Andrew E., Kemp, Steven P., Yuen, Pui-Kei
• Granted Patent: US 8,290,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/223 Ridable lawn mowers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/00 Controlling engines characterised by their use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures the non-fuel substances being gaseous F02D21/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0088 Multiple separate fuel tanks or tanks being at least partially partitioned
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0329 Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/27 Liquid level responsive

Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fuel stabilizer system is provided. The fuel stabilizer system includes a fuel additive storage unit that stores fuel stability fluid. A fuel stability fluid supply system supplies fuel stability fluid from the fuel additive storage unit to a fuel storage unit. A control module estimates an age of fuel in the fuel storage unit and selectively controls the fuel stability fluid supply system to supply fuel stability fluid to the fuel storage unit based on the age of the fuel.

Claims

1. A fuel stabilizer system, comprising:

a fuel additive storage unit that stores fuel stability fluid;

a fuel stability fluid supply system that supplies fuel stability fluid from the fuel additive storage unit to a fuel storage unit; and

a control module that estimates an age of fuel in the fuel storage unit and that selectively controls the fuel stability fluid supply system to supply fuel stability fluid to the fuel storage unit based on the age of the fuel.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module estimates an amount of fuel stability fluid to supply to the fuel storage unit based on a current fill level of fuel in the fuel storage unit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module estimates the age of the fuel based on ambient air temperature.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the control module estimates an average ambient air temperature since a last refuel event and wherein the control module further estimates the age of the fuel based on the average ambient air temperature.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module estimates the age of the fuel based on a weighted average of new fuel and old fuel in the fuel storage unit.

6. A vehicle, comprising:

a fuel storage unit that stores engine fuel;

a fuel additive storage unit that stores fuel stability fluid;

a fuel stability fluid supply system that supplies fuel stability fluid from the fuel additive storage unit to the fuel storage unit; and

a control module that estimates an age of the fuel in the fuel storage unit and that selectively controls the fuel stability fluid supply system to supply fuel stability fluid to the fuel storage unit based on the age of the fuel.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the control module estimates an amount of fuel stability fluid to supply to the fuel storage unit based on a current fill level of fuel in the fuel storage unit.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the control module estimates the age of the fuel based on ambient air temperature.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the control module estimates an average ambient air temperature since a last refuel event and wherein the control module further estimates the age of the fuel based on the average ambient air temperature.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the control module estimates the age of the fuel based on a weighted average of new fuel and old fuel in the fuel storage unit.

11. A control method for stabilizing fuel, comprising:

estimating a time since a last refuel event;

estimating a fuel age based on the time since last refuel event; and

commanding a supply of fuel stability fluid to a fuel storage unit based on the fuel age.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the estimating the fuel age is further based on an ambient air temperature.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the estimating the fuel age is further based on a current fill level of the fuel.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining when a refuel event occurs.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein when the refuel event occurs, the estimating the fuel age is based on a weighted average of the fuel age of existing fuel and new fuel.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a supply amount based on a current fill level of fuel and wherein the commanding the supply of fuel stability fluid is based on the supply amount.