Power system having fuel-based cooling
AssigneeElectro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
InventorAaron Gamache FOEGE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power system is disclosed. The power system may have a cryogenic tank configured to hold a supply of liquid fuel, and an engine configured to combust gaseous fuel. The power system may also have a coolant circuit configured to cool the engine, and at least one heat exchanger isolated from the coolant circuit and configured to receive a fluid passing through the engine. The power system may further have a first fuel line extending from the cryogenic tank to the at least one heat exchanger, and a second fuel line extending from the at least one heat exchanger to the engine.
Claims20
A power system, comprising:
- a cryogenic tank configured to hold a supply of liquid fuel;
- an engine configured to combust gaseous fuel;
- a coolant circuit configured to cool the engine;
- at least one heat exchanger isolated from the coolant circuit and configured to receive a fluid passing through the engine;
- a first fuel line extending from the cryogenic tank to the at least one heat exchanger;
- and
- a second fuel line extending from the at least one heat exchanger to the engine.
A train consist, comprising:
- a tender car having a cryogenic tank configured to hold a supply of liquid fuel;
- a locomotive having an engine configured to combust gaseous fuel;
- a coolant circuit configured to cool the engine;
- an exhaust manifold extending from the engine to the atmosphere;
- an intake manifold extending from the atmosphere to the engine;
- an EGR passage connecting the exhaust and intake manifolds;
- at least one heat exchanger isolated from the coolant circuit and disposed in the EGR passage;
- a first fuel line extending from the cryogenic tank to the at least one heat exchanger;
- a second fuel line extending from the at least one heat exchanger to the intake manifold;
- an accumulator disposed in the second fuel line;
- and
- a regulator disposed in the second fuel line downstream of the accumulator.
A method of cooling an engine, comprising:
- directing coolant through the engine to cool the engine;
- directing heated fluid from the engine to transfer heat to a fuel to vaporize the fuel;
- thermally isolating the heated fluid from the coolant;
- and
- directing fuel vaporized with heat from the heated fluid into the engine for combustion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.