Fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine

A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, wherein a hydrogen gas is used as the fuel, the system comprising:

• a fuel tank in which a metal hydride is stored;
• a heat exchange device arranged in the fuel tank for controlling a temperature of the metal hydride in the tank;
• first control means for controlling an amount heating medium introduced into the heat exchange device so that a desired amount of hydrogen gas is generated from the metal hydride in the tank, wherein the first control means comprises:
• sensor means for detecting an amount of the hydrogen gas introduced into the engine, and
• valve means for controlling an amount of the heating medium introduced into the heat exchange means in accordance with a detected amount of the hydrogen introduced into the engine so that a desired amount of the heating medium is introduced into the heat exchange means;
• a fuel supply conduit connecting the fuel tank with the internal combustion engine for introducing the hydrogen gas into the engine;
• and
• second control means for controlling an amount of hydrogen gas flowing in the fuel supply conduit so that a desired amount of hydrogen gas is introduced into the engine in accordance with an operating condition of the engine.

A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, wherein a hydrogen gas is used as the fuel, the system comprising:

• a fuel tank in which a metal hydride is stored;
• a heat exchange device arranged in the fuel tank for controlling a temperature of the metal hydride in the tank;
• first control means for controlling an amount of heating medium introduced into the heat exchange device so that a desired amount of hydrogen gas is generated from the metal hydride in the tank;
• a fuel supply conduit connecting the fuel tank with the internal combustion engine for introducing the hydrogen gas into the engine, wherein no provision is made for a pressure regulator in the fuel supply conduit for obtaining a predetermined amount of the hydrogen;
• and
• second control means for controlling an amount of hydrogen gas flowing in the fuel supply conduit so that a desired amount of hydrogen gas is introduced into the engine in accordance with an operating condition of the engine.

A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, wherein a hydrogen gas is used as the fuel, the system comprising:

• a first fuel tank in which a metal hydride is stored;
• a heat exchange device arranged in the fuel tank for controlling a temperature of the metal hydride in the tank;
• first control means for controlling an amount of heating medium introduced into the heat exchange device so that a desired amount of hydrogen gas is generated from the metal hydride in the tank;
• a first fuel supply conduit connecting the first fuel tank with the internal combustion engine for introducing the hydrogen gas into the engine;
• a second fuel tank in which a metal hydride is stored;
• an auxiliary fuel supply conduit for connecting the first fuel supply conduit with the second tank;
• means arranged in the auxiliary fuel supply conduit for passing hydrogen gas from the first tank to the second tank when a pressure in the first tank exceeds a predetermined value;
• a second fuel supply conduit for connecting the second tank with the engine, providing a supplementary supply of fuel into the engine;
• and
• second control means for controlling a hydrogen gas flow amount through the first fuel supply conduit so that the amount of hydrogen gas passed through the first fuel supply conduit is compensated by an amount of hydrogen gas passed through the second fuel supply conduit.

A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, where a hydrogen gas is used as the fuel, the system comprising:

• a fuel tank in which a metal hydride is stored;
• a heat exchange device arranged in the fuel tank for controlling the temperature of the metal hydride in the tank;
• first control means for controlling the amount of heating medium introduced into the heat exchange device so that a desired amount of the hydrogen gas is generated from the metal hydride in the tank;
• a fuel supply conduit for connecting the fuel tank with the internal combustion engine for introducing the hydrogen gas into the engine;
• second control means for controlling a hydrogen gas flow amount in said fuel supply conduit so that a desired amount of the hydrogen gas is introduced into the engine in accordance with an operating condition of the engine;
• means for measuring a change in the volume of the metal hydride stored in the tank, and;
• means for calculating, from the detected change in the volume of the metal hydride, the amount of hydrogen gas remaining in the fuel tank.

A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, where a hydrogen gas is used as the fuel, the system comprising:

• a fuel tank in which a metal hydride is stored;
• a heat exchange device arranged in the fuel tank for controlling the temperature of the metal hydride in the tank;
• a fuel supply conduit for connecting the fuel tank with the internal combustion engine for introducing the hydrogen gas into the engine;
• control means for controlling a hydrogen gas flow amount in the fuel supply conduit so that a desired amount of the hydrogen gas is introduced into the engine in accordance with an operating condition of the engine;
• a source of a fluid medium for heating the metal hydride in the tank;
• a passageway connecting the source with the heat exchange device in the tank;
• valve means arranged in the passageway for controlling the fluid medium, and;
• a pressure sensitive actuator having a diaphragm connected to the valve means and defining a pressure chamber which is in communication with a fuel tank, the pressure of the fuel tank causing the diaphragm to operate the valve means so that a desired pressure of the hydrogen gas is obtained in the tank.

A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, where a hydrogen gas is used as the fuel, the system comprising:

• a fuel tank in which a metal hydride is stored;
• a first heat exchange device arranged in the fuel tank for controlling the temperature of the metal hydride in the tank;
• a fuel supply conduit for connecting the fuel tank with the internal combustion engine for introducing the hydrogen gas into the engine;
• control means for controlling a hydrogen gas flow amount in the fuel supply conduit so that a desired amount of the hydrogen gas is introduced into the engine in accordance with an operating condition of the engine;
• a recirculating line for a heating medium;
• a second heat exchange device for obtaining a heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the heating medium in the recirculating line;
• valve means arranged in an exhaust pipe of the engine for controlling the flow of the exhaust gas to the second heat exchange device;
• a pressure sensitive actuator having a diaphragm connected to the valve means and defining a pressure chamber which is in communication with a fuel tank the pressure at the fuel tank causing the diaphragm to operate the valve means such that, when the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the tank is lower than a predetermined value the exhaust gas is introduced into the second heat exchanger for heating the heating medium in the recirculating line, to heat the first heat exchange device in the tank, and such that, when the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the tank is higher than a predetermined value the exhaust gas bypasses the second heat exchange device, to prevent a heating of the second heat exchange device and prevent a heating of the first heat exchange device in the tank.