Hybrid vehicle with a liquefied light hydrocarbon or hydrogen fuel system and methods thereto
OwnerAlberto Martin Perezinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hybrid vehicle comprising a liquefied light hydrocarbon or hydrogen (LLH) fuel system is disclosed. The fuel system comprises an insulated fuel tank having a buffer space containing vaporized fuel, an orifice plate and a fuel coil conveying a first fuel vapor to a buffer tank through a first solenoid valve; a fuel line conveying a second fuel vapor through a second solenoid valve to the buffer tank and a pressure regulator, wherein an outlet to the buffer tank connects to the pressure regulator and wherein an outlet of the pressure regulator is adapted to connect to a fuel inlet to an energy conversion device selected from the group of fuel cells, Stirling engines and internal combustion engines. Methods of using the hybrid vehicle are also disclosed.
Claims19
A hybrid vehicle comprising:
- a liquefied light hydrocarbon or hydrogen fuel system fluidly connected to an energy conversion device selected from the group consisting of internal combustion engines, fuel cells and sterling engines, the liquefied light hydrocarbon or hydrogen fuel system comprising:
- a. a fuel tank comprising:
- (i) a chamber containing a liquified fuel selected from the group of light hydrocarbons, hydrogen and mixtures thereof;
- (ii) a buffer space, within the chamber configured to contain a vaporized fuel within the buffer space;
- (iii) a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface is in contact with the chamber and the buffer space;
- (iv) an orifice plate in the buffer space adapted to enable expansion of the vaporized fuel through the orifice plate whereby the pressure and temperature of the vaporized fuel are reduced and provide a cooling effect as the vaporized fuel flows from the buffer space through the orifice plate;
- (v) a fuel coil connected to the orifice plate adapted to provide heat transfer from the fuel tank to the vaporized fuel inside the fuel coil whereby heat is removed by the vaporized fuel flowing through the fuel coil as the orifice plate creates a pressure and temperature differential between the fuel tank and the inside of the fuel coil;
- b. a heat transfer chamber adjacent to the outer surface of the wall wherein the heat transfer chamber is in thermal contact with the outer surface of the wall;
- c. a first fuel line attached to the fuel tank conveying a first fuel vapor from the buffer space wherein an inlet to the first fuel line is connected to an outlet of the fuel coil;
- d. a second fuel line connected to the fuel tank wherein the second fuel line conveys a second fuel vapor from the buffer space;
- e. a first solenoid valve configured to control the flow of the first fuel vapor whereby the amount of cooling from the fuel coil can be controlled;
- f. a second solenoid valve configured to control the flow of the second fuel vapor;
- g. a buffer tank for receiving the first and second fuel vapors;
- h. a pressure sensor for detecting pressure of the first and second fuel vapors in the buffer tank;
- i. a pressure regulator to regulate the flow of combined fuel vapor through a third fuel line, wherein a first end of the third fuel line is connected to the buffer tank and a second end of the third fuel line is connected to an inlet to the pressure regulator, and an outlet of the pressure regulator conveys fuel vapor to the energy conversion device;
- j. a thermal insulation surrounding the fuel tank and the heat transfer chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.