Flexible fuel system

• US 8,984,856 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Rhoden, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wongwian, Phutthiwat
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALTHOUR, SCOTT J
• Application Number:
  US13/020,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 602/33, 602/43, 607/76, 607/90, 607/34, 60/392.81
• US Class Current: 60/39.281
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/40 specially adapted to the use of a special fuel or a plurality of fuels

Abstract

An example fuel system includes a fuel sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic of a fuel provided to an engine. The fuel is selected from a plurality of different fuel types. The fuel system also includes a controller that is configured to meter the fuel in response to the at least one characteristic of the fuel.

Claims

1. A fuel system comprising:

a fuel sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic of a fuel provided to an engine, the fuel selected from a plurality of different fuel types;

a controller configured to meter the fuel in response to the at least one characteristic of the fuel; and

at least one heat exchanger, the controller configured to adjust the temperature of the fuel provided to the engine using the heat exchanger, the adjustments to temperature made in response to the at least one characteristic, wherein the plurality of different fuel types comprises an aviation fuel, a jet fuel, a bio-based fuel, or some blend of these, wherein the controller comprises a full authority digital engine control.

2. A fuel system comprising:

a fuel sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic of a fuel provided to an engine, the fuel selected from a plurality of different fuel types;

a controller configured to meter the fuel in response to the at least one characteristic of the fuel;

at least one heat exchanger, the controller configured to adjust the temperature of the fuel provided to the engine using the heat exchanger, the adjustments to temperature made in response to the at least one characteristic, wherein the plurality of different fuel types comprises an aviation fuel, a jet fuel, a bio-based fuel, or some blend of these, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises the energy density of the fuel provided to the engine, wherein the fuel sensor comprises a fuel density meter that measures fuel density properties to determine the energy density.