Alternate fuel storage system and method

• US 8,640,678 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Immixt, LLC
• Inventors: Payne, Edward A., Williams, Rodger K.
• Primary Examiner(s): McMahon, M.
• Application Number:
  US13/567,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20130025574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 123543-557, 123/575, 123/578
• US Class Current: 123/557
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/10 by hot liquids, e.g. lubricants or cooling water
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/125 Fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0064 for engines being fed with multiple fuels or fuels having special properties, e.g. bio-fuels; varying the fuel composition controlling engines working with pluralities of fuels F02D19/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A fuel tank for storing an alternate fuel and providing the fuel to an internal combustion engine includes: an inner shell with an internal cavity designed to store fuel; an outer shell configured and positioned relative to the inner shell such that an interstitial volume is created between the inner and outer shells; and a heating unit positioned in the interstitial volume. In some embodiments, the interstitial volume is filled with air; in other embodiments, the interstitial volume is filled with a thermally insulative material.

Claims

1. A fuel tank for storing fuel containing an alternate fuel for delivery to an internal combustion engine, the fuel tank comprising:

an inner shell with an internal cavity configured to store fuel containing an alternate fuel;

an outer shell configured and positioned relative to the inner shell such that an interstitial space is created closed between the inner shell and the outer shell; and

a heating unit positioned in the interstitial space, the heating unit configured to transfer heat energy to the fuel stored within the inner shell.

2. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the fuel is comprised of at least one of biodiesel fuel and vegetable oil.

3. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the fuel also contains diesel fuel.

4. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the interstitial space is filled with a gas.

5. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the interstitial space is filled with at least one thermally insulative material.

6. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the interstitial space is evacuated.

7. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the heating unit is a heat exchanger.

8. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the heating unit is mounted on an outer surface of the inner shell.

9. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the heating unit includes a control device that prevents coolant from reaching a portion of the heat exchanger.

10. The fuel tank defined in claim 9, wherein the control device is operatively associated with a temperature sensor positioned to detect the temperature of coolant in circulation.

11. The fuel tank defined in claim 9, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to detect the temperature of fuel in the inner shell, the temperature sensor being operatively associated with the control device.

12. The fuel tank of claim 11, wherein the control device is configured to control the heating unit based on the temperature of the fuel in the inner shell.

13. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to detect the temperature of fuel in the inner shell.

14. The fuel tank of claim 13, wherein the control device is configured to control disable heating unit from heating the fuel in the inner shell when the temperature of the fuel in the inner shell exceeds a temperature threshold.

15. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the heating unit comprises an electrical heating element.

16. The fuel tank defined in claim 15, wherein the heating element is configured to be connected to power through electrical conductors that extend outside the outer shell.

17. The fuel tank defined in claim 15, further comprising a thermostat operatively associated with the heating element.

18. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, wherein the inner shell is thermally conductive.

19. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, further comprising a fuel volume sensor configured to provide a representation of the volume of the fuel stored in the inner shell.

20. The fuel tank defined in claim 1, further comprising a fuel viscosity sensor configured to provide a representation of the viscosity of the fuel stored in the inner shell.

21. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the heating unit, inner shell and outer shell are mounted on a common mounting structure.