Alternate fuel blending system and associated method

• US 7,841,317 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Edward A. Payne, Rodger K. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Rodger K., Payne, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US12/105,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 123/304, 123575-578
• US Class Current: 123/304
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0607 to adjust the fuel mass or volume flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0618 depending on the engine's or vehicle's position, e.g. on/off road or proximity to a harbor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0628 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0652 Biofuels, e.g. plant oils
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0665 Tanks, e.g. multiple tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0676 Multi-way valves; Switch-over valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/081 Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other
• 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: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A fuel control system for controlling the use of primary fuel and alternate fuel in an internal combustion engine without cross-contamination of fuel types. Cross-contamination of fuel types may eliminate the ability to receive certain benefits or financial incentives associated with use of alternate fuel, including but not limited to RINs, credits, and subsidies. In one embodiment, primary and/or alternate fuel are controllably delivered from sources to a flow cell. If blending is desired, both primary and alternate fuels are delivered to the flow cell. The engine is fed with the resulting primary fuel, alternate fuel, or blended mixture of fuel from the flow cell. The flow cell contains a bypass inlet port adapted to receive excess fuel not consumed by the engine in lieu of the excess fuel being returned to the primary and/or alternate fuel sources. In this manner, cross-contamination of the fuel sources can be avoided.

Claims

1. A fuel control system for controlling delivery of a primary and an alternate fuel to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle without cross-contaminating primary and alternate fuel sources with bypassed fuel from the engine, comprising:

a primary fuel flow controller that controls delivery of the primary fuel from a primary fuel source to a primary fuel flow path;

an alternate fuel flow controller that controls delivery of the alternate fuel from an alternate fuel source to an alternate fuel flow path;

an electronic controller coupled to the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller, wherein the electronic controller is adapted to control the primary fuel flow controller to control delivery of the primary fuel in the primary fuel flow path to a flow cell and control the alternate fuel flow controller to control delivery of the alternate fuel in the alternate fuel flow path to the flow cell;

wherein the flow cell comprises;

at least one inlet port adapted to receive the primary fuel from the primary fuel flow path and the alternate fuel from the alternate fuel flow path to form an engine supply fuel;

an outlet port adapted to supply the engine supply fuel to an engine for consumption; and

at least one bypass inlet port adapted to receive excess fuel previously received from the outlet port that was not consumed by the engine, such that the excess fuel is not returned to the primary or alternate fuel sources to avoid cross-contamination of the primary and alternate fuel sources;

wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to receive RIN information comprising at least one RIN for the alternate fuel when the alternate fuel is delivered to the alternate fuel source.

2. The fuel control system of claim 1, further comprising a metering device coupled to the electronic controller and adapted to measure a volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to extract the at least one RIN available for use of the alternate fuel based on the volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell.

3. The fuel control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to communicate the at least one RIN for the alternate fuel to an external system.

4. The fuel control system of claim 1, wherein the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller are controllers comprised from the group consisting of a valve, a compound valve, a pump, and a piston.

5. The fuel control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to provide a blended mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell by being adapted to:

control the primary fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the primary fuel to the flow cell via the primary fuel flow path; and

control the alternate fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the alternate fuel to the flow cell via the alternate fuel flow path.

6. The fuel control system of claim 5, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to control the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller to not allow blending of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to operate in neat mode if the RIN information indicates that the at least one RIN for the alternate fuel delivered to the alternate fuel source has been extracted prior to the delivery of the alternate fuel to the alternate fuel source.

7. A fuel control system for controlling delivery of a primary and an alternate fuel to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle without cross-contaminating primary and alternate fuel sources with bypassed fuel from the engine, comprising:

a primary fuel flow controller that controls delivery of the primary fuel from a primary fuel source to a primary fuel flow path;

an alternate fuel flow controller that controls delivery of the alternate fuel from an alternate fuel source to an alternate fuel flow path;

an electronic controller coupled to the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller, wherein the electronic controller is adapted to control the primary fuel flow controller to control delivery of the primary fuel in the primary fuel flow path to a flow cell and control the alternate fuel flow controller to control delivery of the alternate fuel in the alternate fuel flow path to the flow cell;

wherein the flow cell comprises;

at least one inlet port adapted to receive the primary fuel from the primary fuel flow path and the alternate fuel from the alternate fuel flow path to form an engine supply fuel;

an outlet port adapted to supply the engine supply fuel to an engine for consumption; and

at least one bypass inlet port adapted to receive excess fuel previously received from the outlet port that was not consumed by the engine, such that the excess fuel is not returned to the primary or alternate fuel sources to avoid cross-contamination of the primary and alternate fuel sources;

wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to provide a blended mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell by being adapted to;

control the primary fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the primary fuel to the flow cell via the primary fuel flow path; and

control the alternate fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the alternate fuel to the flow cell via the alternate fuel flow path; and

control the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller based on a blend ratio of the blended mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel.

8. The fuel control system of claim 7, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to receive a programmable signal setting the blend ratio.

9. The fuel control system of claim 7, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to determine the blend ratio that provides a lowest cost for the engine supply fuel as a function of a cost of the primary fuel, a cost of the alternate fuel, and any financial incentive available for use of the alternate fuel.

10. The fuel control system of claim 9, wherein the financial incentive is an incentive comprised from the group consisting of a credit, a subsidy, a credit and a subsidy, and at least one RIN.

11. The fuel control system of claim 10, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to determine the financial incentive available based on a jurisdiction of the vehicle.

12. The fuel control system of claim 11, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to determine the jurisdiction of the vehicle based on a signal from a global positioning satellite (GPS) providing a current location of the vehicle.

13. A fuel control system for controlling delivery of a primary and an alternate fuel to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle without cross-contaminating primary and alternate fuel sources with bypassed fuel from the engine, comprising:

a primary fuel flow controller that controls delivery of the primary fuel from a primary fuel source to a primary fuel flow path;

an alternate fuel flow controller that controls delivery of the alternate fuel from an alternate fuel source to an alternate fuel flow path;

an electronic controller coupled to the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller, wherein the electronic controller is adapted to control the primary fuel flow controller to control delivery of the primary fuel in the primary fuel flow path to a flow cell and control the alternate fuel flow controller to control delivery of the alternate fuel in the alternate fuel flow path to the flow cell;

wherein the flow cell comprises;

at least one inlet port adapted to receive the primary fuel from the primary fuel flow path and the alternate fuel from the alternate fuel flow path to form an engine supply fuel;

an outlet port adapted to supply the engine supply fuel to an engine for consumption; and

at least one bypass inlet port adapted to receive excess fuel previously received from the outlet port that was not consumed by the engine, such that the excess fuel is not returned to the primary or alternate fuel sources to avoid cross-contamination of the primary and alternate fuel sources;

wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to provide a blended mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell by being adapted to;

control the primary fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the primary fuel to the flow cell via the primary fuel flow path; and

control the alternate fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the alternate fuel to the flow cell via the alternate fuel flow path;

a primary fuel metering device coupled to the electronic controller and adapted to measure a volume of the primary fuel delivered to the flow cell; and

an alternate fuel metering device coupled to the electronic controller and adapted to measure a volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell,

wherein the electronic controller is adapted to control the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller to provide a desired blend ratio of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell based on the volume measurements received from the primary fuel metering device and the alternate fuel metering device.

14. The fuel control system of claim 13, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to communicate a financial incentive available for use of the alternate fuel based on the volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell, to an external system.

15. The fuel control system of claim 14, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to communicate the financial incentive in real time as the alternate fuel metering device measures the volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell.

16. The fuel control system of claim 14, wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to communicate the financial incentive to a device via wireless communication.

17. The fuel control system of claim 13, wherein the primary fuel metering device is a metering device comprised from the group consisting of a level sensor in the primary fuel source, a meter coupled inline to the primary fuel flow path, and a pump that pumps fuel from the primary fuel source to the primary fuel flow path.

18. The fuel control system of claim 13, wherein the alternate fuel metering device is a metering device comprised from the group consisting of a level sensor in the alternate fuel source, a meter coupled inline to the alternate fuel flow path, and a pump that pumps fuel from the alternate fuel source to the alternate fuel flow path.

19. A fuel control system for controlling delivery of a primary and an alternate fuel to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle without cross-contaminating primary and alternate fuel sources with bypassed fuel from the engine, comprising:

a primary fuel flow controller that controls delivery of the primary fuel from a primary fuel source to a primary fuel flow path;

an alternate fuel flow controller that controls delivery of the alternate fuel from an alternate fuel source to an alternate fuel flow path;

an electronic controller coupled to the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller, wherein the electronic controller is adapted to control the primary fuel flow controller to control delivery of the primary fuel in the primary fuel flow path to a flow cell and control the alternate fuel flow controller to control delivery of the alternate fuel in the alternate fuel flow path to the flow cell;

wherein the flow cell comprises;

at least one inlet port adapted to receive the primary fuel from the primary fuel flow path and the alternate fuel from the alternate fuel flow path to form an engine supply fuel;

an outlet port adapted to supply the engine supply fuel to an engine for consumption; and

at least one bypass inlet port adapted to receive excess fuel previously received from the outlet port that was not consumed by the engine, such that the excess fuel is not returned to the primary or alternate fuel sources to avoid cross-contamination of the primary and alternate fuel sources;

wherein the electronic controller is further adapted to provide a blended mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell by being adapted to;

control the primary fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the primary fuel to the flow cell, via the primary fuel flow path; and

control the alternate fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the alternate fuel to the flow cell via the alternate fuel flow path; and

a metering device coupled to the electronic controller and the flow cell, wherein the metering device is adapted to measure a volume of fuel inside the flow cell,

wherein the electronic controller is adapted to sequentially control the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller to provide a desired blend ratio of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell based on the volume measurement received from the metering device.

20. The fuel control system of claim 19, wherein the electronic controller is adapted to sequentially control the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller to provide the desired blend ratio of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell, by being adapted to:

control either the primary fuel flow controller or the alternate fuel flow controller to deliver only either the primary fuel or the alternate fuel to the flow cell as a first fuel;

determine a volume of the first fuel inside the flow cell using the metering device;

control the other controller between the primary fuel flow controller or the alternate fuel flow controller to deliver the other of the primary fuel or the alternate fuel to the flow cell as a second fuel;

determine a volume of mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel inside the flow cell using the metering device; and

determine a volume of the second fuel by determining the difference in volume between the first fuel and the volume of the mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel.

21. The fuel control system of claim 19, wherein the metering device is comprised of a metering device located inside the flow cell comprised from the group consisting of a sensor, a level sensor, a float, an optical sensor, a refractive index optical sensor, redundant sensors, redundant level sensors, redundant optical sensors, and redundant refractive index optical sensors.

22. A method for

controlling delivery of a primary and an alternate fuel to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle without cross-contaminating a primary and an alternate fuel source with bypassed fuel from the engine, comprising the steps of:

controlling delivery of a primary fuel from a primary fuel source to a flow cell;

controlling delivery of an alternate fuel from an alternate fuel source to the flow cell;

delivering, from an outlet port in the flow cell, an engine supply fuel contained in the flow cell to an engine for consumption;

returning excess fuel from the previously received engine supply fuel not consumed by the engine to the flow cell for recombination with the engine supply fuel, such that the excess fuel is not returned to the primary fuel source or the alternate fuel source to avoid cross-contamination of the primary fuel source and the alternate fuel source;

providing a blended mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell by;

controlling a primary fuel flow controller coupled to the primary fuel source to deliver a desired amount of the primary fuel to the flow cell; and

controlling an alternate fuel flow controller coupled to the alternate fuel source to deliver a desired amount of the alternate fuel to the flow cell; and

controlling the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller to not allow blending of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to operate in neat mode if RIN information comprising at least one RIN regarding the alternate fuel delivered to the alternate fuel source indicates that the at least one RIN has been extracted prior to the delivery of the alternate fuel to the alternate fuel source.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising determining a financial incentive available for use of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising measuring a volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell, wherein the financial incentive is based on the volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising communicating the financial incentive for the alternate fuel to an external system.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising controlling the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller based on a blend ratio of the blended mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining the blend ratio used to control the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller that provides a lowest cost engine supply fuel as a function of a cost of the primary fuel, a cost of the alternate fuel, and a financial incentive available for use of the alternate fuel.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

measuring a volume of the primary fuel delivered to the flow cell using a primary fuel metering device; and

measuring a volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell using an alternate fuel metering device; and

controlling the primary fuel flow controller and the alternate fuel flow controller to provide a desired blend ratio of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell based on the volume measurements received from the primary fuel metering device and the alternate fuel metering device.

29. A method for controlling delivery of a primary and an alternate fuel to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle without cross-contaminating a primary and an alternate fuel source with bypassed fuel from the engine, comprising the steps of:

controlling delivery of a primary fuel from a primary fuel source to a flow cell;

controlling delivery of an alternate fuel from an alternate fuel source to the flow cell;

delivering, from an outlet port in the flow cell, an engine supply fuel contained in the flow cell to an engine for consumption;

returning excess fuel from the previously received engine supply fuel not consumed by the engine to the flow cell for recombination with the engine supply fuel, such that the excess fuel is not returned to the primary fuel source or the alternate fuel source to avoid cross-contamination of the primary fuel source and the alternate fuel source; and

receiving RIN information comprising at least one RIN for the alternate fuel during the controlling of the delivery of the alternate fuel from the alternative fuel source to the flow cell.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

measuring a volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell; and

extracting the at least one RIN available for use of the alternate fuel based on the volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising communicating the extracted at least one RIN for the alternate fuel to an external system.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising blending a mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell by:

controlling the primary fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the primary fuel to the flow cell via the primary fuel flow path; and

controlling the alternate fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the alternate fuel to the flow cell via the alternate fuel flow path.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising not allowing blending of a mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to operate in neat mode if the RIN information indicates that the at least one RIN for the alternate fuel delivered to the alternate fuel source has been extracted prior to the delivery of the alternate fuel to the alternate fuel source.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the controlling of the primary flow fuel controller and the alternative fuel flow controller is based on a blend ratio of the blended mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising receiving a programmable signal setting the blend ratio.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising determining the blend ratio that provides a lowest cost for the engine supply fuel as a function of a cost of the primary fuel, a cost of the alternate fuel, and any financial incentive available for use of the alternate fuel.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the financial incentive is an incentive comprised from the group consisting of a credit, a subsidy, a credit and a subsidy, and at least one RIN.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining the financial incentive available based on a jurisdiction of the vehicle.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising determining the jurisdiction of the vehicle based on a signal from a global positioning satellite (GPS) providing the current location of the vehicle.

40. A method for controlling delivery of a primary and an alternate fuel to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle without cross-contaminating a primary and an alternate fuel source with bypassed fuel from the engine, comprising the steps of:

controlling delivery of a primary fuel from a primary fuel source to a flow cell;

controlling delivery of an alternate fuel from an alternate fuel source to the flow cell;

delivering, from an outlet port in the flow cell, an engine supply fuel contained in the flow cell to an engine for consumption;

returning excess fuel from the previously received engine supply fuel not consumed by the engine to the flow cell for recombination with the engine supply fuel, such that the excess fuel is not returned to the primary fuel source or the alternate fuel source to avoid cross-contamination of the primary fuel source and the alternate fuel source;

measuring a volume of the primary fuel delivered to the flow cell;

measuring a volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell; and

controlling a primary fuel flow controller and an alternate fuel flow controller to provide a desired blend ratio of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell based on the measured volumes of the primary fuel delivered to the flow cell and the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising communicating a financial incentive available for use of the alternate fuel based on the volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell, to an external system.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising communicating the financial incentive in real time during the measuring of the volume of the alternate fuel delivered to the flow cell.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising communicating the financial incentive to a device via wireless communication.

44. A method for controlling delivery of a primary and an alternate fuel to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle without cross-contaminating a primary and an alternate fuel source with bypassed fuel from the engine, comprising the steps of:

controlling delivery of a primary fuel from a primary fuel source to a flow cell;

controlling delivery of an alternate fuel from an alternate fuel source to the flow cell;

delivering, from an outlet port in the flow cell, an engine supply fuel contained in the flow cell to an engine for consumption;

returning excess fuel from the previously received engine supply fuel not consumed by the engine to the flow cell for recombination with the engine supply fuel, such that the excess fuel is not returned to the primary fuel source or the alternate fuel source to avoid cross-contamination of the primary fuel source and the alternate fuel source;

blending a mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel provided to the flow cell by;

controlling a primary fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the primary fuel to the flow cell via a primary fuel flow path; and

controlling an alternate fuel flow controller to deliver a desired amount of the alternate fuel to the flow cell via an alternate fuel flow path;

measuring a volume of fuel inside the flow cell; and

sequentially controlling the delivery of the primary fuel from the primary fuel source and the delivery of the alternate fuel from the alternate fuel source to provide a desired blend ratio of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel to the flow cell based on the volume of fuel inside the flow cell.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein sequentially controlling the delivery of the primary fuel from the primary fuel source and the delivery of the alternate fuel from the alternate fuel source comprises:

controlling either the primary fuel flow controller or the alternate fuel flow controller to deliver only either the primary fuel or the alternate fuel to the flow cell as a first fuel;

determining a volume of the first fuel inside the flow cell using a metering device;

controlling the other controller between the primary fuel flow controller or the alternate fuel flow controller to deliver the other of the primary fuel or the alternate fuel to the flow cell as a second fuel;

determining a volume of mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel inside the flow cell; and

determining a volume of the second fuel by determining a difference in volume between the first fuel and the volume of the mixture of the primary fuel and the alternate fuel.