US 2015/0083055 A1 · Supplying Gaseous Fuel from a Liquid State to an Internal Combustion Engine

Abstract

An improved apparatus supplies gaseous fuel from a liquid state to an internal combustion engine comprising an electrical energy generating apparatus for generating electrical energy from a store of chemical energy. A liquid pumping apparatus for pumping the gaseous fuel in the liquid state includes an energy converter for converting the electrical energy to mechanical energy which drives the liquid pumping apparatus. The liquid pumping apparatus also includes a first heat exchanger for vaporizing the gaseous fuel received from the pumping apparatus and a controller programmed to operate the liquid pumping apparatus to maintain a pressure of the gaseous fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine within a predetermined range.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for supplying gaseous fuel from a liquid state to a first internal combustion engine comprising:

(a) generating electrical energy from a store of chemical energy comprising a combustible fuel;
(b) pumping said gaseous fuel in said liquid state by transforming said electrical energy into mechanical work;
(c) vaporizing said gaseous fuel pumped from said liquid state;
and
(d) delivering said gaseous fuel vaporized from said liquid state to said first internal combustion engine, wherein a pressure of said gaseous fuel delivered to said first internal combustion engine is maintained within a predetermined range by:
(i) said pumping;
(ii) consuming said combustible fuel in a second internal combustion engine;
and
(iii) driving an electrical generator with said second internal combustion engine, whereby said electrical generator generates said electrical energy.

6 more elements

An apparatus for supplying gaseous fuel from a liquid state to a first internal combustion engine comprising:

(a) an electrical energy generating apparatus for generating electrical energy from a store of combustible fuel;
(b) a liquid pumping apparatus for pumping said gaseous fuel in said liquid state comprising an energy converter for converting said electrical energy to mechanical energy which drives said liquid pumping apparatus;
(c) a first heat exchanger for vaporizing said gaseous fuel received from said pumping apparatus;
(d) a controller programmed to operate said liquid pumping apparatus to maintain a pressure of said gaseous fuel supplied to said first internal combustion engine within a predetermined range;
(e) a second internal combustion engine for consuming said combustible fuel;
(f) an electrical generator driven by said second internal combustion engine for generating said electrical energy;
and
(g) piping conduit for communicating waste heat in a first heat exchange fluid from said second internal combustion engine to said first heat exchanger, whereby said waste heat in said first heat exchange fluid vaporizes said gaseous fuel.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Supplying Gaseous Fuel from a Liquid State to an Internal Combustion Engine

Life of this patent

Supplying Gaseous Fuel from a Liquid State to an Internal Combustion Engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19