Pump Control for Reformate Fuel Storage Tank
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsThomas G. Leone, Robert Walter McCabe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various systems and methods are described for a controlling a flow of reformate fuel in a fuel system which includes a reformer and a storage tank coupled to an engine in a vehicle. The system includes a pump located between the reformer and the storage tank that is selectively operated in order to reduce parasitic losses on the system.
Claims19
1-21. (canceled)
A method for a fuel system including a reformer and a storage tank coupled to an engine in a vehicle, comprising:
- generating a gaseous fuel in the reformer;
- under a first condition, opening a valve to transfer the gaseous fuel from the reformer to the storage tank;
- under a second condition, operating a pump to transfer the gaseous fuel from the reformer to the storage tank;
- and
- increasing gaseous fuel injection from the storage tank to the engine when a pressure in the storage tank is greater than a threshold pressure.
A method for a fuel system including a reformer and a storage tank coupled to an engine in a vehicle, comprising:
- generating a gaseous fuel in the reformer;
- under a first condition, opening a valve to transfer the gaseous fuel from the reformer to the storage tank, and adjusting an engine operating parameter to facilitate the flow of gaseous fuel from the reformer to the storage tank when the valve is open;
- under a second condition, operating a pump to transfer the gaseous fuel from the reformer to the storage tank;
- and
- when a pressure in the storage tank exceeds a threshold pressure, increasing injection of the gaseous fuel from the storage tank to at least one cylinder of the engine.
A method for a fuel system including a reformer and a storage tank coupled to an engine in a vehicle, comprising:
- generating a gaseous fuel in the reformer from an alcohol;
- under a first condition, opening a valve to transfer the gaseous fuel from the reformer to the storage tank without assistance from a pump;
- and
- under a second condition, operating the pump to transfer the gaseous fuel from the reformer to the storage tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.