Multiple fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorWilliam T. Crothers
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Abstract
A multiple fuel supply or an internal combustion engine wherein phase separation of components is deliberately induced. The resulting separation permits the use of a single fuel tank to supply components of either or both phases to the engine. Specifically, phase separation of a gasoline/methanol blend is induced by the addition of a minor amount of water sufficient to guarantee separation into an upper gasoline phase and a lower methanol/water phase. A single fuel tank holds the two-phase liquid with separate fuel pickups and separate level indicators for each phase. Either gasoline or methanol, or both, can be supplied to the engine as required by predetermined parameters. A fuel supply system for a phase-separated multiple fuel supply contained in a single fuel tank is described.
Claims14
A method for supplying a combustion engine with fuel from a multiple liquid fuel supply contained in a single container, said multiple liquid fuel being phase-separable to form a two-phase liquid, the upper phase containing a major proportion of a first component of the multiple fuel and the lower phase containing a major proportion of a second component of the multiple fuel, which comprises:
- inducing phase separation of the multiple liquid fuel, thereby establishing the two-phase liquid in the container;
- supplying the combustion engine with liquid selected from the group consisting of liquid withdrawn from the upper phase, liquid withdrawn from the lower phase, and liquid withdrawn from both the upper phase and the lower phase.
A fuel supply system for supplying a combustion engine with fuel from a multiple liquid fuel supply which is phase-separable to form a two-phase liquid, the upper phase containing a major proportion of a first component of the multiple fuel and the lower phase containing a major proportion of a second component of the multiple fuel, which comprises a tank for containing a two-phase liquid, said tank being provided with inlet means admitting the introduction of multiple liquid fuel components and a phase separation inducing agent, first supply means communicating with an upper phase liquid for supplying a combustion engine therewith, and second supply means communicating with a lower phase liquid for supplying a combustion engine therewith.
In combination with a fuel delivery and metering system having computing means for providing a fuel delivery and metering command signal to control the actuation of valve means whereby the delivery and metering of fuel to an engine combustion chamber is controlled, a fuel supply system for supplying the internal combustion engine with fuel from a multiple liquid fuel supply which is phase-separable to form a two-phase liquid, the upper phase containing a major proportion of a first component of the multiple fuel and the lower phase containing a major proportion of a second component of the multiple fuel, said fuel supply system comprising a tank for containing a two-phase liquid, said tank being provided with inlet means admitting the introduction of multiple liquid fuel components and a phase separation inducing agent, first supply means communicating with an upper phase liquid for supplying an internal combustion engine therewith, and second supply means communicating with a lower phase liquid for supplying an internal combustion engine therewith;
- and control means operatively associated with said first supply means and said second supply means and responsive to a command signal provided by said computing means to control the quantity of liquid supplied from each phase in accordance with at least one predetermined engine parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.