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US 2021/0070164 A1Published application
Methods and systems for conformable fuel tank
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMichael J. Veenstra, Bert Hobein, Florian Huth, Stella Papasavva, Matthew Riley, Michael Conrad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Filling methods and systems are provided for a conformable fuel tank. In one example, a system comprises an active thermal management arrangement for the conformable fuel tank. The active thermal management arrangement comprises one or more recirculation passage for mixing hot fuel distal to an inlet port of the conformable fuel tank with cool incoming fuel flowing to the inlet port.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a conformable fuel tank comprising a multi-flow inlet configured to flow fuel to a first half and a second half of the conformable fuel tank, the conformable fuel tank further comprising a first recirculation passage having a first pump and a second recirculation passage having a second pump, wherein each of the first and second recirculation passages are fluidly coupled to a conduit upstream of the multi-flow inlet.
A storage vessel, comprising:
- a plurality of storage devices fluidly coupled in series, wherein the storage vessel comprises a plurality of inlet ports including a first inlet port and a second inlet port, a plurality of outlet ports including a first outlet port and a second outlet port, wherein the plurality of inlet ports is arranged between the plurality of outlet ports;
- a plurality of recirculation passages including a first recirculation passage configured to flow a product from the first outlet port to a feed passage via a first pump, and a second recirculation passage configured to flow product from the second outlet port to the feed passage via a second pump;
- a coolant passage in thermal contact with at least portions of the plurality of storage devices adjacent to the plurality of outlet ports;
- and
- a controller comprising computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory thereof that when executed enable the controller to:
- flow coolant to the coolant passage in response to a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor arranged proximally to the first outlet port or the second outlet port exceeding the threshold temperature.
3 more elements
A conformable fuel tank, comprising:
- a plurality of storage vessels fluidly coupled in series, each vessel of the plurality of storage vessels comprising an inner polymer liner encompassed by a carbon fiber composite, wherein the plurality of storage vessels receives incoming fuel via an inlet and expel fuel via an outlet, further comprising a recirculation passage fluidly coupling the outlet to the inlet, wherein a pump is arranged in the recirculation passage;
- and
- a controller comprising computer-readable instructions stored thereon that when executed enable the controller to:
- activate the pump in response to a temperature of fuel in the conformable fuel tank exceeding a threshold temperature.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.