Natural gas engine supply method and apparatus
OwnerJeff Davisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus providing for efficient operation of gas engines in non-ideal temperature conditions. An apparatus is provided in fluid communication with a source of gas, and with the gas input of a gas engine. The apparatus accepts gas from the source, and allows the gas to reach the gas engine via one or two reservoirs. Pressure regulators can be mounted with the input ports, output ports, or combinations thereof, of the reservoirs. An exhaust channel accepts exhaust from the gas engine and passes it along a path that is in thermal communication with the reservoirs, such that the exhaust encourages a more uniform and higher operating temperature of the gas supplied to the pressure regulators and to the gas engine.
Claims20
A gas engine supply apparatus, comprising:
- a) a first reservoir, defining an enclosure suited for containing gas, and having an input port adapted to connect to a supply of gas, and an output port;
- b) a second reservoir, defining an enclosure suited for containing gas, and having an input port in communication with the output port of the first reservoir, and an output port;
- c) an exhaust channel, adapted to receive exhaust from a gas engine and mounted with the first and second reservoirs such that the exhaust channel is in thermal communication with the first and second reservoirs.
A gas engine system, comprising:
- a) a first reservoir, defining an enclosure suited for containing gas, and having an input port adapted to connect to a supply of gas, and an output port;
- b) a second reservoir, defining an enclosure suited for containing gas, and having an input port in communication with the output port of the first reservoir, and an output port;
- c) a gas engine, having an input port in communication with the output port of the second reservoir, and an exhaust port;
- d) an exhaust channel, in thermal communication with the first and second reservoirs and in fluid communication with the exhaust port of the gas engine.
A method of operating a gas engine, comprising:
- a) supplying gas to a first reservoir,
- b) supplying gas from the first reservoir to second reservoir;
- c) supplying gas from the second reservoir to the gas engine;
- d) supplying exhaust from gas engine to an exhaust channel in thermal communication with the first and second reservoirs.
An apparatus for supply of gas to a gas engine, comprising:
- a) First and second reservoirs, each comprising:
- i) A cylinder;
- ii) First and second caps, sealingly mounted with first and second ends of the cylinder;
- iii) A drain device mounted with the second end of the cylinder;
- iv) A gas input port mounted with the cylinder at a distance from the second end of the cylinder and allowing fluid communication through the gas input port with the interior volume of the cylinder;
- v) A gas output port mounted with the cylinder at a distance from the second end of the cylinder and allowing fluid communication through the gas output port with the interior volume of the cylinder;
- b) A pressure regulator mounted with the first and second reservoirs in fluid communication with the gas output port of the first reservoir and the gas input port of the second reservoir;
- c) An exhaust channel, comprising a cylinder mounted in physical contact with the first and second reservoirs, and defining an exhaust input port adapted to connect with a gas exhaust of a gas engine, and defining an exhaust output port adapted to allow fluid communication through the exhaust output port with the interior volume of the exhaust channel.
A gas engine supply apparatus, comprising:
- a) first reservoir means for storing gas;
- b) second reservoir means for storing gas;
- c) means for accepting gas from a supply into the first reservoir means;
- d) means for communicating gas from the first reservoir means to the second reservoir means in a pressure-regulated manner;
- e) means for communicating gas from the second reservoir means to a gas input of a gas engine;
- f) means for communicating thermal energy from exhaust of a gas engine to gas in the first and second reservoir means.
A gas engine supply apparatus, comprising:
- a) a reservoir, defining an enclosure suited for containing gas, and having an input port adapted to connect to a supply of gas, and an output port adapted to connect to a gas input of a gas engine;
- b) an exhaust channel, adapted to receive exhaust from a gas engine and mounted with the reservoir such that the exhaust channel is in thermal communication with the reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.