Method and device for heating fuel for an internal combustion engine

• US 9,719,442 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Gerard, David, Rampanarivo, Fano, Emery, Pascal
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torchinsky, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/758,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20150337776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/00 Input parameters relating to vehicle conditions or values, not covered by groups B60W2510/00 or B60W2520/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/08 Electric propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/194 related to low temperature conditions, e.g. high viscosity of hydraulic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0606 Fuel temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/064 at cold start F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/16 Other apparatus for heating fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/04 by heating of fluids used in engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/122 Atmospheric temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a hybrid vehicle combustion engine, in which method temperature of fuel and temperature outside the vehicle are compared against a first threshold below which starting of the vehicle is forbidden, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine will start without the fuel being heated. The fuel is heated by exchange of heat with a cooling circuit for the vehicle battery when the external temperature is between the two thresholds.

Claims

1. A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a vehicle combustion engine, the method comprising:

comparing temperature of fuel against a first threshold beneath which the vehicle is prevented from starting up, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine is started without the fuel being heated; and

heating the fuel by heat exchange with a cooling circuit of a battery of the vehicle when the temperature of the fuel is between the two thresholds.

2. The fuel heating method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating of the fuel is stopped once the temperature of the fuel exceeds the second threshold.

3. The fuel heating method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling circuit of the battery is used to limit heating of fuel returning from the engine via a return circuit of same to a tank.

4. The fuel heating method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle moves using only an electric drive source if the temperature of the fuel is less than the second threshold.

5. The fuel heating method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the combustion engine is started when the vehicle is moving, once the temperature of the fuel has reached the second threshold.

6. A fuel heating device between a fuel tank and a combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a fuel temperature sensor;

an outside temperature sensor; and

a heat exchanger;

wherein fuel is heated by passing through the heat exchanger traversed by a cooling water circuit of a battery of the vehicle when temperature of the fuel is between a first threshold and a second threshold, the vehicle prevented from starting up beneath the first threshold, and the second threshold being higher than the first threshold and above which the engine is started without the fuel being heated.

7. The fuel heating device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fuel circuit includes a bypass for the heat exchanger.

8. The fuel heating device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fuel return circuit also passes through the heat exchanger to make it possible to limit temperature of fuel returning from the engine to the tank.

9. The fuel heating device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a battery-cooling-water temperature sensor.

10. A hybrid vehicle comprising at least one combustion engine and an electric machine powered by a traction battery including a cooling water circuit, and a fuel heating device as claimed in claim 6.

11. A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a vehicle combustion engine, the method comprising:

comparing temperature outside the vehicle against a first threshold beneath which the vehicle is prevented from starting up, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine is started without the fuel being heated; and

heating the fuel by heat exchange with a cooling circuit of a battery of the vehicle when the outside temperature is between the two thresholds.

12. The fuel heating method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the heating of the fuel is stopped once the outside temperature exceeds the second threshold.