PRESSURIZED LIQUID FUEL TANK SYSTEM AND VEHICLE INCLUDING SAME

• US 20180222315A1
• Filed: 08/11/2015
• Published: 08/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Hoover, Dale
• Granted Patent: US 11,014,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03 Fuel tanks chassis frame comprising fluid storage compartment B62D21/16 ; Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank F02M37/0076
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/035 characterised by venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/067 Mounting of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/077 with means modifying or controlling distribution or motion of fuel, e.g. to prevent noise, surge, splash or fuel starvation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03118 Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks supplementary tanks inside the fuel tank B60K2015/03105
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03138 Pumping means between the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03144 Fluid connections between the tanks

Abstract

A pressurized liquid fuel tank system arranged to contain a first mass of liquid fuel such, as Dimethyl-Ether (DME) is provided. The system includes a first tank having a first volume, a second tank having a second, volume, a first conduit, between a top of the first tank and a top of the second tank, and a second conduit between the first tank and a bottom of the second tank, wherein a sum of the first volume and the second volume is designed to equal a sum of a first mass volume of the first mass of liquid fuel plus an expansion volume equal to at least 5% of the first mass volume. A vehicle with such a fuel tank system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A pressurized liquid fuel tank system, the fuel tank system being arranged to contain a first mass of liquid fuel, comprising:

a first tank having a first volume;

a second tank having a second volume;

a first conduit between a top of the first tank and a top of the second tank; and

a second conduit between the first tank and a bottom of the second tank;

wherein a sum of the first volume and the second volume is designed to equal a sum of a first mass volume of the first mass of liquid fuel plus an expansion volume equal to at least 5% of the first mass volume.

2. The pressurized liquid fuel tank system as set forth in claim 1, comprising a one-way pressure relief valve in the first conduit, the pressure relief valve only permitting flow from the first tank to the second tank through the first conduit when pressure in the first tank exceeds a first pressure.

3. The pressurized liquid fuel tank system as set forth in claim 1, comprising a valve in the second conduit and means for opening the valve when a liquid level in the first tank is below a point where the second conduit opens into the first tank.

4. The pressurized liquid fuel tank system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the opening means comprises at least one of a float and an electronic sensor in the first tank.

5. The pressurized liquid fuel tank system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the opening means comprises a controller linked to the float and arranged to send a signal to the valve when the liquid level is below the point where the second conduit opens into the first tank.

6. The pressurized liquid fuel tank system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the valve is a normally closed valve.

7. The pressurized liquid fuel tank system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first mass volume is at least as large as the first volume and is greater than the second volume.

8. The pressurized liquid fuel tank system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first mass volume is less than the first volume and is greater than the second volume.

9. The pressurized liquid fuel tank system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second conduit extends to both of the first tank and the bottom of the second tank.

10. A vehicle comprising a pressurized liquid fuel tank system, the fuel tank system being arranged to contain a first mass of liquid fuel, comprising:

a vehicle frame; and

the pressurized liquid fuel tank system mounted on the frame, comprising

a first tank having a first volume,

a second tank having a second volume,

a first conduit between a top of the first tank and a top of the second tank, and

a second conduit between the first tank and a bottom of the second tank,

wherein a sum of the first volume and the second volume is designed to equal a sum of a first mass volume of the first mass of liquid fuel plus an expansion volume equal to at least 5% of the first mass volume.

11. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein the frame comprises at least one rail, and the first tank and the second tank are mounted on the frame on opposite sides of the at least one rail.

12. The vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein the frame comprises at least two rails, and the first tank and the second tank are mounted to different ones of the at least two rails.

13. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein the frame comprises at least two rails, and the first tank and the second tank are mounted to different ones of the at least two rails.

14. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, comprising a one-way pressure relief valve in the first conduit, the pressure relief valve only permitting flow from the first tank to the second tank through the first conduit when pressure in the first tank exceeds a first pressure.

15. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, comprising a valve in the second conduit and means for opening the valve when a liquid level in the first tank is below a point where the second conduit opens into the first tank.

16. The vehicle as set forth in claim 15, wherein the valve is a normally closed valve.

17. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, comprising a port for introducing a fueling nozzle into the first tank or a fill line for the first tank, a valve in the second conduit, and means for closing the valve when the fueling nozzle is introduced into the first tank or the fill line.

18. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, comprising an engine fueled by DME in the fuel tank system, the engine being adapted to be turned on and off, a valve in the second conduit, and means for closing the valve when the engine is turned off.

19. The vehicle as set forth in claim 18, wherein the closing means is arranged, after closing the valve when the engine is turned off, to keep the valve closed when the engine is turned back on.

20. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein the second tank comprises a plurality of second tanks.

21. The vehicle as set forth in claim 20, wherein the first conduit comprises a plurality of first conduits between the top of the first tank and the tops of each of the plurality of second tanks.

22. The vehicle as set forth in claim 20, comprising at least one first conduit between the top of the first tank and the top of at least one of the plurality of second tanks.

23. The vehicle as set forth in claim 20, comprising at least one second conduit between the first tank and the bottom of at least one of the plurality of second tanks.

24. The vehicle as set forth in claim 20, wherein the second conduit extends to both of the first tank and the bottom of the second tank.