System and method for heat exchange between gaseous fuel tank and heat transfer medium
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorDallas K. Fox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus for an active fuel cooling system (“fuel cooling system”). The fuel cooling system includes a fuel tank configured to store fuel. The fuel cooling system includes one or more pipes positioned adjacent to, in contact with, or within the fuel tank that are configured to deliver refrigerant that cools the fuel tank. The fuel cooling system includes a compressor for pumping the refrigerant through the one or more pipes to cool the fuel stored within the fuel tank. The fuel cooling system includes an electronic control unit connected to the compressor and configured to operate the compressor to pump the refrigerant through the one or more pipes to cool the fuel stored in the fuel tank.
Claims20
A fuel cooling system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a fuel tank configured to store fuel;
- one or more pipes positioned adjacent to or in contact with the fuel tank that are configured to deliver refrigerant that cools the fuel tank;
- a compressor for pumping the refrigerant through the one or more pipes to cool the fuel stored within the fuel tank;
- and
- an electronic control unit connected to the compressor and configured to operate the compressor to pump the refrigerant through the one or more pipes to cool the fuel stored in the fuel tank.
A method for heat exchange between a fuel tank and a heat transfer medium, comprising:
- obtaining, by a processor, a temperature within the fuel tank;
- determining, by the processor, a speed of a compressor or blower that pumps or blows the heat transfer medium based on the temperature within the fuel tank;
- and
- controlling, using the processor, the compressor or the blower to pump or blow the heat transfer medium in proximity to the fuel tank based on the speed of the compressor or the blower.
A fuel cooling system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of fuel tanks configured to store a gaseous fuel;
- a fuel cooling matrix that is positioned in proximity to the plurality of fuel tanks and is configured to cool the gaseous fuel stored within the plurality of fuel tanks;
- at least one of a compressor for pumping a refrigerant or a blower for moving air through the fuel cooling matrix;
- and
- an electronic control unit connected to the at least one of the compressor or the blower and configured to:
- determine a speed of the at least one of the compressor or the blower;
- and
- control the at least one of the compressor or the blower based on the determined speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.