Fuel additive dosing system, apparatus, and method

• US 8,061,383 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TI Fluid Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: TI Fluid Systems Plc
• Inventors: de Monts de Savasse, Humbert, Gouzou, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr.; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rost; Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US11/150,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20060278283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 137/571, 137/572, 137/614.05, 123/1.A, 222/56
• US Class Current: 137/572
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/12 peculiar to engines working with non-fuel substances or with anti-knock agents, e.g. with anti-knock fuel
• 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 25/00 Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding secondary air to fuel-air mixture F02M23/00; adding exhaust gases F02M26/00; fuel-injection apparatus operating simultaneously on two or more fuels or on a liquid fuel and another liquid F02M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/006 involving a first fluid acting on the feeding of a second fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86187 Plural tanks or compartments connected for serial flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86196 Separable with valved-connecting passage

Abstract

A fuel additive system of a fuel delivery system of a vehicle includes an additive tank assembly, and a dosing unit in communication with the additive tank assembly to control the amount of additive dosed to the fuel tank. The additive tank assembly includes a pressurized tank of generally torispherical or ellipsoidal shape, a tank conduit with one end in communication with a sump in the pressurized tank and an opposite end extending out of the pressurized tank, and a valve in communication with the tank conduit near the opposite end thereof and being normally closed under pressure from the pressurized tank. The dosing unit includes a housing having an inlet passage in communication with the tank conduit, and a valve actuator in the inlet passage to displace the valve of the additive tank assembly to an open position once the dosing unit is assembled to the additive tank assembly.

Claims

1. A fuel additive system, comprising:

a fuel level sensor sensing the level of fuel in a fuel tank and providing an electric signal indicative of the level of fuel in the fuel tank;

a pressurized additive tank having at least one wall defining an interior receiving a pressurized propellant gas and with a low-lying collection area receiving a liquid additive pressurized by the gas with the pressure of the liquid additive changing in response to each dispensing of liquid additive from the pressurized additive tank and change in temperature of the propellant gas in the pressurized additive tank, and further having an opening through the at least one wall;

a tank conduit having one end in communication with the low-lying liquid additive collection area of the pressurized additive tank, extending at least partially through the opening of the pressurized additive tank, and terminating in an opposite end to the outside of the pressurized additive tank; and

a valve in communication with the tank conduit substantially at the opposite end thereof and being normally closed under fluid pressure in the pressurized additive tank;

a dosing unit in communication with the pressurized additive tank assembly, including;

a housing having an inlet passage in communication with the tank conduit of the pressurized additive tank downstream of the valve; and

a valve actuator disposed in the inlet passage of the housing to displace the valve of the pressurized additive tank to an open position for the flow of pressurized liquid additive from the pressurized additive tank through the tank conduit to the inlet passage of the dosing unit;

at least one electric sensor of an additive pressure sensor sensing the pressure of the additive in the pressurized additive tank and providing an electric signal indicative of the pressure of the additive therein or an additive temperature sensor sensing the temperature of the gas pressurizing the additive in the pressurized additive tank and providing an electric signal indicative of the temperature of the gas therein;

a metering valve in communication with the inlet passage of the housing to control a desired amount of additive to flow therethrough to the fuel tank; and

an electronic control module in communication with and utilizing the electric signal of the fuel level sensor to determine that a refueling event of the fuel tank has occurred and in response to the refueling event utilizing at least an electric signal of the at least one sensor to determine for an injection event a pressure of the liquid additive in the pressurized additive tank;

the control module having an electronic processor determining an injection period of time for the liquid additive for the injection event based on the determined pressure of the liquid additive in the pressurized additive tank and electric signals from the fuel level sensor; and

the control module controls opening of the metering valve for the determined injection period of time for the injection event to supply liquid additive to the fuel tank.

2. The fuel additive system of claim 1, wherein the metering valve is a solenoid actuated valve.

3. The fuel additive system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor of the dosing unit is a pressure sensor and is in fluid communication with the inlet passage of the housing.

4. The fuel additive system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor of the dosing unit is an additive temperature sensor disposed therein.

5. The fuel additive system of claim 1 further comprising:

the housing of the dosing unit including a mounting socket; and

a mounting bracket attached to the pressurized additive tank and having a mounting flange for cooperation with the mounting socket of the dosing unit housing.

6. The fuel additive system of claim 1, wherein:

the tank conduit includes an exterior surface having a retaining barb; and

the housing of the dosing unit includes a retaining finger that, upon assembly to the tank conduit, resiliently deflects over the retaining barb to secure the dosing unit to the tank conduit.

7. The fuel additive system of claim 1, wherein:

the tank conduit includes a tank tube extending from the low-lying collection area within the pressurized additive tank, through the opening of the pressurized additive tank, and out of the pressurized additive tank; and

the valve is disposed within the tank tube.

8. The fuel additive system of claim 7, wherein the dosing unit mounts to and is retained by the tank tube.

9. The fuel additive system of claim 1, wherein:

the tank conduit includes;

a tank tube extending from the low-lying collection area within the pressurized additive tank, and at least partially through the opening of the pressurized additive tank; and

a valve tube having one end extending at least partially into the opening of the pressurized additive tank in fluid communication with the tank tube and further having an opposite end; and

the valve is disposed within the valve tube.

10. The fuel additive system of claim 9, wherein the dosing unit mounts to the valve tube.

11. The fuel additive system of claim 1, wherein the pressurized additive tank is of generally torispherical or ellipsoidal shape.

12. The fuel additive system of claim 1 wherein the control module:

calculates a residual volume of additive;

compares the residual volume with a predetermined low limit value; and

communicates at least one alarm signal to a vehicle driver if the residual volume is lower than the low limit value.

13. The fuel additive system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor includes an additive pressure sensor and determining the pressure of the liquid additive in the pressurized tank includes the control module determining a beginning pressure utilizing a signal of the additive pressure sensor.

14. A fuel delivery system, comprising:

a fuel tank containing fuel;

an additive system in fluid communication with the fuel tank to deliver a fuel additive to the fuel tank and including;

a fuel additive tank assembly mounted to an under surface of the fuel tank, comprising;

a pressurized tank having at least one wall defining an interior with a low-lying collection area, and further having an opening through the at least one wall;

a tank conduit having one end in communication with the low-lying collection area of the pressurized tank, extending at least partially through the opening of the pressurized tank, and terminating in an opposite end;

a valve in communication with the tank conduit substantially at the opposite end thereof and being normally closed under pressure from the pressurized tank; and

the fuel additive tank assembly is isostatically mounted to the under surface of the fuel tank at three points.

15. The fuel delivery system of claim 14, wherein the additive system further includes:

a dosing unit in communication with the additive tank assembly, including;

a housing having an inlet passage in communication with the tank conduit of the additive tank assembly; and

a valve actuator disposed in the inlet passage of the housing to displace the valve of the additive tank assembly to an open position.

16. The fuel delivery system of claim 15, wherein the dosing unit further comprises:

a metering valve in communication with the inlet passage of the housing to control a desired amount of additive to flow therethrough;

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the inlet passage of the housing; and

a temperature sensor disposed therein.

17. The fuel delivery system of claim 14 wherein the fuel additive tank assembly further includes a first mounting bracket attached to the pressurized tank and having forked ends establishing first and second mounting points and a second mounting bracket attached to the pressurized tank and establishing a third mounting point.

18. A fuel additive system, comprising:

a removable additive tank assembly, including;

a pressurized tank having at least one wall defining an interior receiving a pressurized propellant gas and with a low-lying collection area receiving a liquid additive pressurized by the gas, and further having an opening through the at least one wall;

a tank conduit having one end in communication with the low-lying liquid additive collection area of the pressurized tank, extending at least partially through the opening of the pressurized tank, and terminating in an opposite end to the outside of the pressurized tank; and

a valve in communication with the tank conduit substantially at the opposite end thereof and being normally closed under fluid pressure in the pressurized tank; and

a dosing unit in communication with the additive tank assembly, including;

a housing having an inlet passage in communication with the tank conduit of the additive tank assembly downstream of the valve;

an additive temperature sensor;

a valve actuator disposed in the inlet passage of the housing to displace the valve of the additive tank assembly to an open position for the flow of pressurized liquid additive from the tank through the tank conduit to the inlet passage of the dosing unit; and

a metering valve in communication with the inlet passage of the housing to control a desired amount of additive to flow therethrough to a fuel tank; and

a control module utilizing a signal of the additive temperature sensor in determining a pressure in the fuel additive system by measuring the temperature in the fuel additive system;

calculating a beginning pressure based on the measured temperature, substantially at the beginning of the injection period;

the control module determines an injection period for the additive based on the determined pressure; and

the control module controls opening the metering valve in communication with the pressurized additive tank for a duration corresponding to the determined injection period.

19. The fuel additive system of claim 18 wherein the control module:

estimates an ending pressure substantially at the end of the injection period; and

calculates an average pressure based on the beginning and ending pressures, wherein the average pressure is the determined pressure.

20. The fuel additive system of claim 18 wherein the at least one sensor includes an additive pressure sensor and determining the pressure of the liquid additive in the pressurized tank includes the control module determining a beginning pressure utilizing a signal of the additive pressure sensor.

21. The fuel additive system of claim 20 wherein the control module:

estimates an ending pressure substantially at the end of the injection period; and

calculates an average pressure based on the beginning and ending pressures, wherein the average pressure is the determined pressure.

22. A fuel additive system, comprising:

a removable additive tank assembly, including;

a pressurized tank having at least one wall defining an interior receiving a pressurized propellant gas and with a low-lying collection area receiving a liquid additive pressurized by the gas, and further having an opening through the at least one wall;

a tank conduit having one end in communication with the low-lying liquid additive collection area of the pressurized tank, extending at least partially through the opening of the pressurized tank, and terminating in an opposite end to the outside of the pressurized tank; and

a valve in communication with the tank conduit substantially at the opposite end thereof and being normally closed under fluid pressure in the pressurized tank;

a dosing unit in communication with the additive tank assembly, including;

a housing having an inlet passage in communication with the tank conduit of the additive tank assembly downstream of the valve; and

a valve actuator disposed in the inlet passage of the housing to displace the valve of the additive tank assembly to an open position for the flow of pressurized liquid additive from the tank through the tank conduit to the inlet passage of the dosing unit;

at least one sensor of an additive pressure sensor or an additive temperature sensor;

a metering valve in communication with the inlet passage of the housing to control a desired amount of additive to flow therethrough to a fuel tank; and

a control module utilizing a signal of the at least one sensor to determine for each injection event a pressure of the liquid additive in the pressurized tank;

the control module estimates an ending pressure substantially at the end of the injection period;

the control module calculates an average pressure based on the beginning and ending pressures, wherein the average pressure is the determined pressure;

the control module determining an injection period for the liquid additive for each injection event based on the determined pressure of the liquid additive in the pressurized tank; and

the control module controls opening of the metering valve for the determined injection period for each injection event to supply liquid additive to the fuel tank.

23. A fuel additive system, comprising:

a removable additive tank assembly, including;

a pressurized tank having at least one wall defining an interior receiving a pressurized propellant gas and with a low-lying collection area receiving a liquid additive pressurized by the gas with the pressure of the liquid additive changing in response to each dispensing of liquid additive from the tank and change in temperature of the propellant gas in the tank, and further having an opening through the at least one wall;

a tank conduit having one end in communication with the low-lying liquid additive collection area of the pressurized tank, extending at least partially through the opening of the pressurized tank, and terminating in an opposite end to the outside of the pressurized tank; and

a valve in communication with the tank conduit substantially at the opposite end thereof and being normally closed under fluid pressure in the pressurized tank;

a dosing unit in communication with the additive tank assembly, including;

a housing having an inlet passage in communication with the tank conduit of the additive tank assembly downstream of the valve; and

a valve actuator disposed in the inlet passage of the housing to displace the valve of the additive tank assembly to an open position for the flow of pressurized liquid additive from the tank through the tank conduit to the inlet passage of the dosing unit;

at least one additive temperature sensor sensing the temperature of the additive in the tank;

a metering valve in communication with the inlet passage of the housing to control a desired amount of additive to flow therethrough to a fuel tank; and

a control module in communication with and utilizing a signal of the at least one sensor to determine for each injection event a pressure of the liquid additive in the pressurized tank;

the control module having a processor determining an injection period for the liquid additive for each injection event based on the determined pressure of the liquid additive in the pressurized tank; and

the control module controls opening of the metering valve for the determined injection period for each injection event to supply liquid additive to the fuel tank.