Onboard CNG/CFG Vehicle Refueling and Storage Systems and Methods

• US 20140182561A1
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jr., Eghosa Gregory Ibizugbe
• Original Assignee: Jr., Eghosa Gregory Ibizugbe
• Inventors: Ibizugbe, Eghosa Gregory Jr.
• Application Number:
  US14/137,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20140182561A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/511
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/00 Engines characterised by operating on gaseous fuels; Plants including such engines engines characterised by the gas-air charge being ignited by compression ignition of an additional fuel F02B7/06; engines convertible from gas to other fuel consumption F02B69/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/12 Methods of operating
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0221 Fuel storage reservoirs, e.g. cryogenic tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0227 Means to treat or clean gaseous fuels or fuel systems, e.g. removal of tar, cracking, reforming or enriching
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/023 Valves; Pressure or flow regulators in the fuel supply or return system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a mobile refueling solution to vehicles that run on natural gas (CNG) or other gaseous fuels (CFG) through an integrated system of onboard compression, storage, interface modules and a central control architecture.

Claims

1. A compressed gas fuel system for a vehicle, wherein an engine of the burns higher pressure gas fuel, the system comprising:

a compressor, which is mounted on the vehicle, for compressing lower pressure gas fuel into the higher pressure gas fuel;

at least one storage tank, which is mounted on the vehicle, for storing the high pressure gas fuel; and

an electronic control module, which is mounted on the vehicle, that controls the compressor and controls delivery of high pressure gas fuel from the at least one storage tank to the engine.

2. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of safety shutoff valves, each of which operates to shut off a flow of gas in the compressed gas fuel system, wherein each safety shutoff is controlled by the electronic control module.

3. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of check valves, each of which operates to prevent back flow of gas in the compressed gas fuel system.

4. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of pressure relief valves, wherein at least one pressure relief valve is located adjacent to the compressor and at least another one pressure relief valve is located adjacent to the at one fuel storage tank, each of which operates to provide alternate pressure outlet.

5. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a three port diverter valve that provides a by-pass path for high pressure gas fuel from a high pressure source to by-pass the compressor and fill the at least one storage tank, wherein the three port diverter value is controlled by the electronic control module.

6. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of temperature sensors, each of which monitors at least one of an ambient temperature and a temperature of a portion of the compressed gas fuel system, wherein each temperature sensor provides data to the electronic control module.

7. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of pressure sensors, each of which monitors a pressure of a portion of the compressed gas fuel system, wherein each pressure sensor provides data to the electronic control module.

8. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of filters, each of which removes contaminate from the gas fuel.

9. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of filter sensors, each of which monitors a respective one of the plurality of filters, wherein each filter sensor provides data to the electronic control module.

10. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first gas accumulator located upstream of the compressor, wherein the first gas accumulator stores low pressure gas to stabilize the compression of the compressor; and

a second gas accumulator located downstream of the at least one storage tank, wherein the second gas accumulator provides higher pressure gas during startup of the engine.

11. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of gas detector sensors, each of which detects gas leaks in a portion of the compressed gas fuel system, wherein each gas detector sensor provides data to the electronic control module.

12. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

an accelerometer sensor that detects movement of the compressed gas fuel system, wherein the accelerometer sensor provides data to the electronic control module.

13. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, wherein the compressor is a multiple stage compressor.

14. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 13, further comprising:

an intercooler that removes heat from compression of the gas fuel after each stage of compression in the compressor.

15. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 13, further comprising:

a revolution per minute sensor that measures the speed of the compressor, wherein the revolution per minute sensor provides data to the electronic control module;

a chronometer sensor that measure a runtime of the compressor, wherein the chronometer sensor provides data to the electronic control module;

a wattage meter that measures a voltage and an amperage of electrical power provided to the compressor, wherein the wattage meter provides data to the electronic control module; and

a flow meter which measures the flow rate of compressed gas discharged from the compressor, wherein the flow meter provides data to the electronic module.

16. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a high strength, lightweight container for the compressor to provide mechanical protection for the compressor, wherein the container provides acoustic reduction for vibrations associated with an operation of the compressor; and

a plurality of vibration dampeners that connect the container to the vehicle and reduce vibrations from the container that are exerted on the vehicle.

17. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electric power delivery subsystem that provides electrical power to the compressor, wherein the electric power delivery subsystem comprises an electric power intake receptacle located on an exterior of the vehicle.

18. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module comprises:

an internal memory unit;

wherein the internal memory unit stores at least one of;

event logs, maintenance data, data captured during operation of the system, set points for the system, onboard refueling operation algorithm, and shutdown algorithm.

19. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage tank is one of a cylindrical tank and conformal tank.

20. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage tank is an adsorbed fuel gas storage tank.

21. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 20, further comprising:

a heater that is located adjacent to the adsorbed fuel gas storage tank, wherein the heater provides heat to the adsorbed fuel gas storage tank to release the stored gas fuel, wherein the heat is controlled by the electronic control module.

22. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 21, wherein the heater uses at least one of exhaust gas from the engine and electricity to provide heat.

23. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

an user interface module that is connected to the electronic control module, wherein the user interface module displays data from the electronic control module and allows a user to input commands to the electronic control module.

24. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 23, where the user interface module is operative to provide one or more of:

process indicators which provide readouts on sensor data, system shutdown/startup indicators, fault indicators, control settings, audio signal processing, set point adjustment controls, wireless interface and control circuits, network interface and control circuits.

25. The compressed gas fuel system of claim 1, wherein the gas fuel is one of natural gas, hydrogen, dimethyl ether (DME), syngas, ethane, propane, a combustible, and combinations thereof.

26. A method of using a compressed gas fuel system for a vehicle comprising:

receiving lower pressure gas fuel from a source external to the vehicle;

compressing the lower pressure gas fuel into higher pressure gas fuel, wherein the compressing is performed onboard the vehicle;

storing the high pressure gas fuel in at least one storage tank;

delivering the high pressure gas fuel from the at least one storage tank to an engine of the vehicle; and

controlling the compressing, storing, and delivering by an electronic control module located onboard the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the receiving comprises:

connecting the vehicle to the source with a breakaway hose, wherein the source is an outlet for utility fuel gas; and

opening a plurality of safety valves, each of which operates to shut off a flow of gas in the system, via the electronic control module.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving comprises:

switching a three port diverter valve that provides a by-pass path for high pressure gas fuel from a high pressure source to by-pass the compressor and fill the at least one storage tank to provide a path to the compressor, via the electronic control module; and

an closing a safety valve to shut off a flow of gas in the by-pass path, via the electronic control module.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the compressing is performed by compressor, wherein the compressor is a multiple stage compressor, and the compressing comprises:

providing electrical power to a compressor; and

removing heat from each stage of the compressor by an intercooler.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the removing heat comprises:

using one of air, liquid, gas, or a phase change material to remove heat.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the storage tank is one of a cylindrical tank and conformal tank.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one storage tank is an adsorbed fuel gas storage tank.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein delivering comprises:

heating the adsorbed fuel gas storage tank to release the stored fuel gas, wherein the heating is controlled by the electronic control module.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the heating comprising:

bleeding exhaust gas from the engine;

passing the bled exhaust gas adjacent to the adsorbed natural gas storage tank to transfer heat from the bled exhaust gas to the adsorbed natural gas storage tank; and

returning the cooled exhaust gas back to an exhaust system.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

shutting down the compressing by the electronic control module.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein shutting down comprises:

closing a plurality of safety valves, each of which operates to shut off a flow of gas in the system, via the electronic control module.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein shutting down comprises:

initiating the shutting down when the electronic control module receives a signal from a sensor that indicates that a threshold has been exceeded.

38. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

displaying a status of the system to a user via a user interface module; and

providing commands to the electronic control module via the user interface module.

39. A compressed gas fuel system for a vehicle, wherein an engine of the burns higher pressure gas fuel, the system comprising:

a compressor that compresses lower pressure gas fuel into the higher pressure gas fuel;

a least one storage tank that stores the high pressure gas fuel;

a first sensor that measures and ambient air temperature;

a second sensor that measures a temperature of the at least one storage tank;

means for controlling the system to optimize an amount of higher pressure gas fuel that is stored in the at least one storage tank using information from the first and second sensor.