Dual fuel system having overflow buffer for hastening fuel switchover

A dual fuel engine system comprising:

• an engine including an engine housing having a plurality of cylinders formed therein;
• a dual fuel system including a first fuel conduit for a first fuel, a second fuel conduit for a second fuel, and a plurality of fuel injectors each arranged to inject the first fuel and the second fuel into the engine for combustion in the plurality of cylinders;
• and
• the dual fuel system further including an overflow buffer, and a normally closed valve movable from a closed position to an open position fluidly connecting the second fuel conduit to the overflow buffer to receive a volume of the second fuel expelled from the second fuel conduit and hasten switchover of the engine from operation on the second fuel to operation on the first fuel.

A method of operating an engine system comprising:

• feeding a fuel having a first fuel composition into a plurality of fuel injectors;
• injecting the fuel having the first fuel composition from the plurality of fuel injectors into the engine for combustion;
• feeding a fuel having a second fuel composition into the plurality of fuel injectors;
• injecting the fuel having the second fuel composition from the plurality of fuel injectors into the engine for combustion;
• opening a valve to expel the fuel having the first fuel composition from a fuel supply conduit to an overflow buffer;
• and
• hastening switchover of the engine from operation on the fuel having the first fuel composition to operation on the fuel having the second fuel composition, based on the opening the valve to fluidly connect the fuel supply conduit to the overflow buffer.