In-line fuel cooling system and method for a motor vehicle

A motor vehicle comprising, in combination:

• an onboard fuel tank for storing a liquid fuel;
• an onboard internal-combustion engine powered by the liquid fuel;
• a fuel supply line for passage of the liquid fuel at least partially from the onboard fuel tank to the onboard internal-combustion engine;
• an onboard direct-current electric power source;
• and
• an onboard fuel cooling system comprising:
• a chiller powered by the onboard direct-current electric power source;
• wherein the chiller is a vapor-compression refrigeration system comprising an evaporator having a fuel conduit through which the fuel flows and a refrigerant conduit through which refrigerant flows and in thermal transfer relation with the fuel conduit, a direct-current powered compressor that receives the refrigerant from the evaporator, and condenser that receives the refrigerant from the direct-current powered compressor, and wherein the fuel conduit within the evaporator receives the refrigerant from the condenser;
• wherein the vapor-compression refrigeration system is separate distinct from any air-conditioning system of the motor vehicle;
• and
• wherein the fuel conduit within the evaporator forms at least portion of the fuel supply line between the onboard fuel tank and the onboard internal-combustion engine and is in thermal communication with the refrigerant to cool the liquid fuel as it is passing through the fuel conduit from the onboard fuel tank to the onboard internal-combustion engine so that cooled fuel is pushed out of the fuel conduit within the evaporator and passes to the onboard internal-combustion engine.

A method for cooling fuel onboard a motor vehicle having a fuel supply line for passage of fuel at least partially from an onboard fuel tank for storing the fuel to an onboard internal-combustion engine powered by the fuel, the method comprising the steps of:

• passing the fuel through a fuel conduit adapted to form at least a portion of the fuel supply line between the onboard fuel tank and the onboard internal-combustion engine;
• cooling the fuel passing through the fuel conduit from the onboard fuel tank to the onboard internal combustion engine with an onboard chiller in thermal communication with the fuel conduit;
• wherein the chiller is a vapor-compression refrigeration system comprising an evaporator having the fuel conduit therein through which the fuel flows and a refrigerant conduit through which refrigerant flows and in thermal transfer relation with the fuel conduit, a direct-current powered compressor that receives the refrigerant from the evaporator, and condenser that receives the refrigerant from the direct-current powered compressor, and wherein the fuel conduit within the evaporator receives the refrigerant from the condenser;
• wherein the vapor-compression refrigeration system is separate distinct from any air-conditioning system of the motor vehicle;
• wherein the fuel conduit within the evaporator forms at least portion of the fuel supply line between the onboard fuel tank and the onboard internal-combustion engine and is in thermal communication with the refrigerant to cool the liquid fuel as it is passing through the fuel conduit from the onboard fuel tank to the onboard internal-combustion engine so that cooled fuel is pushed out of the fuel conduit within the evaporator and passes to the onboard internal-combustion engine;
• and
• powering the direct-current powered compressor of the onboard chiller with an onboard direct-current electric power source.