DYNAMIC VARIABLE FUEL OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM

• US 20150053304A1
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optimus Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Optimus Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Huwyler, Colin N., Rosenstraus, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,995,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0634 Determining a density, viscosity, composition or concentration F02D19/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0673 Valves; Pressure or flow regulators; Mixers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Present invention optimizes utilization of different fuels in various single and multi-fueled engines. The fuel system and optimization controller links fuel properties (physical, reactionary, combustion etc.) to on-board computer systems during the refueling process. This link enables fuel and additive producers an opportunity to optimize combustion parameters of their proprietary fuel blends to increase performance, fuel efficiencies and reduce emissions.

Claims

1. A method of refueling a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing the vehicle with a first fuel tank and an on-board electronic control unit having a processor, a database, and a communications module associated with the first fuel tank linked to the processor and the database, wherein a comprehensive fuel characterization table including a fuel combustion map for a remaining fuel stored in the first fuel tank is stored on the database, wherein the first fuel tank is in communication with a fuel system of the vehicle;

providing a fueling station with fuel storage tank, a processor, a database, and a fuel characterization table retrofit device with communications module, wherein a comprehensive fuel characterization table including a fuel combustion map for a replacement fuel stored in the fuel storage tank is stored on the fueling station database;

determining a quantity of the remaining fuel in the first fuel tank of the vehicle;

establishing communications between the vehicle communications module and the fueling station communications module;

refueling the first fuel tank of the vehicle with the replacement fuel from the fueling station to create a first mixed fuel of the remaining fuel and the replacement fuel;

transferring the fuel combustion map of the replacement fuel by the fueling station processor to the vehicle database;

transferring a quantity of the replacement fuel pumped from the fuel station into the vehicle by the fueling station processor to vehicle database upon completion of the step of refueling; and

creating a first unique mixed-fuel combustion map of the first blended fuel based on the fuel combustion map of the remaining fuel and the fuel combustion map of the replacement fuel when the remaining fuel is greater than a predetermined value or replacing the fuel combustion map of the remaining fuel with the fuel combustion map of the replacement fuel when the remaining fuel is less than the predetermined value,

wherein an original equipment manufacturer vehicle electronic control unit utilizes either the first unique fuel combustion map or the replacement fuel combustion map to operate the engine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is selected from a group consisting of value from 5% to 95% in increments of five percent.

3. The method according to claim 1, where the step of creating a first unique fuel combustion map of the first mixed-fuel based on the fuel combustion map of the remaining fuel and the fuel combustion map of the replacement fuel when the remaining fuel is greater than a predetermined value comprises the steps of:

a. utilizing a database on a remoter server to identify the appropriate linear or non-linear calculation for determining the first unique mixed-fuel combustion map and executing such calculation;

b. loading the first unique mixed fuel combustion map onto the vehicle on-board electronic control for operation of the engine;

c. tracking and logging operational characteristics of the engine on the first unique mixed-fuel combustion map for continual refinement and enhancement of characteristics.

4. The method according to claim 1,

further comprising:

a renewable fuel tank in communication with the fuel system of the vehicle, wherein the renewable fuel tank contains a known quantity of the renewable fuel having a renewable fuel blend map; and

further comprising the steps of;

determining a quantity of the first mixed fuel in the first fuel tank of the vehicle;

determining portions of each the renewable fuel and the first mixed fuel for a second blended fuel;

mixing the portions of the renewable fuel and the first mixed fuel to create the second blended fuel; and

creating a second unique fuel combustion map of the second mixed fuel based on the first unique mixed fuel combustion map and the renewable fuel combustion map,

wherein the original equipment manufacturer vehicle electronic control unit utilizes the second unique fuel combustion map to operate the engine.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of adjusting viscosity of the renewable fuel or the first mixed fuel or both to the level of a fuel for which the engine was designed for prior to the step of mixing.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of adjusting viscosity comprising the step of thermal adjustment of the first mixed fuel or the second mixed fuel or both fuels.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of adjusting viscosity comprising the step of blending the renewable fuel and the first mixed fuel based on specific fuel blend maps to reduce the viscosity of unique blended fuel.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing real-time feedback to a driver the optimal vehicle operating conditions associated with the first mixed fuel.

13. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of providing real-time feedback to a driver the optimal vehicle operating conditions associated with the second mixed fuel.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of tracking unique fuel combustion maps and correlating a emission profile for the fuel combustion map with various types of fuels used, the quantity of said fuels used and interpolating recorded usage metrics to quantify emissions performance.

8. A method to blend fuels comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle with two fuel tanks and an on-board electronic control unit having a processor, a database, wherein fuel combustion maps for fuels in the two fuel tanks are stored on the database, wherein each fuel tank is in communication with a fuel system of the vehicle;

determining portions of each the two fuels for a blended fuel map;

mixing the portions of the two fuels to create the blended fuel; and

creating a unique blended fuel combustion map of the blended fuel based on the fuel combustion maps of the two fuels,

wherein the original equipment manufacturer vehicle electronic control unit utilizes the unique fuel combustion map to operate the engine.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of adjusting viscosity of one or both of the two fuels to the level of a fuel for which the engine was designed for prior to the step of mixing.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of adjusting viscosity comprising the step of thermal adjustment of one or both the two fuels.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of adjusting viscosity comprising the step of blending the two fuels based on specific fuel blend maps located within comprehensive fuel characterization tables.

14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of providing real-time feedback to a driver the optimal vehicle operating conditions associated with the blended fuel.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein one fuel of the two fuels is diesel and the other fuel of the two fuels is an alternative fuel, and further comprising the step of detecting when a diesel particulate filter equipped engine engages a regeneration cycle and defaulting the fuel system to use only the diesel fuel.

17. A method for creating, tracking and retiring unique identification numbers of quantified emission performance metrics such that they are suitable for public sale.