Cold start system for a motor vehicle

A cold start system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a primary fuel tank configured to store a mixed fuel and an auxiliary fuel tank configured to receive a portion of the mixed fuel from the primary fuel tank;
• a separating device disposed within the auxiliary fuel tank for separating the mixed fuel into a first fuel and a second fuel;
• the auxiliary fuel tank including a first compartment formed within the auxiliary fuel tank and configured to store the first fuel;
• the auxiliary fuel tank including a second compartment formed within the auxiliary fuel tank and configured to store the second fuel, the first compartment sharing at least one wall with the second compartment and the separating device being disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment such that the separating device divides the auxiliary fuel tank into the first compartment and the second compartment;
• the primary fuel tank and the auxiliary fuel tank being further connected to a valve that controls flow to an engine of the motor vehicle;
• the valve including a first position wherein the first compartment is in fluid communication with the engine and wherein the primary fuel tank is blocked from fluid communication with the engine;
• the valve including a second position wherein the primary fuel tank is in fluid communication with the engine and wherein the first compartment is blocked from fluid communication with the engine;
• and
• wherein the valve is disposed in the first position whenever the engine temperature is below a predetermined temperature and wherein the valve is disposed in a second position whenever the engine temperature is above the predetermined temperature.

A method of operating a cold start system for a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• delivering a portion of a mixed fuel from a primary fuel tank to an auxiliary fuel tank having a chamber divided into a first compartment and a second compartment by a membrane;
• wherein the first compartment of the auxiliary fuel tank shares at least one wall with the second compartment of the auxiliary fuel tank;
• using the membrane to separate the mixed fuel into a first fuel disposed in the first compartment of the auxiliary fuel tank and a second fuel disposed in the second compartment of the auxiliary fuel tank;
• receiving information related to a current engine temperature;
• comparing the current engine temperature with a predetermined engine temperature;
• placing the first compartment of the auxiliary fuel tank in fluid communication with an engine and blocking fluid communication between the primary fuel tank and the engine whenever the current engine temperature is less than the predetermined engine temperature;
• and
• placing the primary fuel tank in fluid communication with the engine and blocking fluid communication between the auxiliary fuel tank and the engine whenever the current engine temperature is above the predetermined engine temperature.

A cold start system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a primary fuel tank configured to store a mixed fuel and an auxiliary fuel tank disposed within the primary fuel tank, the auxiliary fuel tank configured to receive a portion of the mixed fuel from the primary fuel tank;
• a membrane for separating the mixed fuel into a first fuel and a second fuel, the membrane being disposed between the auxiliary fuel tank and the primary fuel tank such that the membrane forms a boundary between the auxiliary fuel tank and the primary fuel tank;
• the membrane allowing the second fuel to pass from the auxiliary fuel tank to the primary fuel tank and the membrane preventing the mixed fuel from passing from the primary fuel tank to the auxiliary fuel tank;
• a first fuel path configured to deliver the first fuel directly from the auxiliary fuel tank to an engine;
• and
• wherein the primary fuel tank is in fluid communication with the engine when the engine temperature is above a predetermined engine temperature and wherein the auxiliary fuel tank is in fluid communication with the engine when the engine temperature is below a predetermined engine temperature.