# US 9,004,045 B2 · Tank ventilation and cooling system for hybrid vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,004,045 B2 - Document ID: US9004045B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/003,010 - Filed: 2012-02-27 - Published: 2013-12-26 - Granted: 2015-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-04 - Assignees: IAV GmbH Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr - Applicants: Joachim Seydell; Markus Seemayer; Frank Stegemann; Olaf Magnor; Daniel Beese; Daniel Reitebuch; Matthias Schultalbers - Inventors: Joachim Seydell; Markus Seemayer; Frank Stegemann; Olaf Magnor; Daniel Beese; Daniel Reitebuch; Matthias Schultalbers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9004045B2 ## CPC - F02M 31/20: for cooling ({F02M31/005 takes precedence; use of cold F02M17/52;} cooling of charging-air or of scavenging-air F02B29/04) - B60H 1/32011: {using absorption, e.g. using Li-Br and water} - B60K 15/035: characterised by venting means - F01N 5/02: the devices using heat - B60K 2015/03414: {associated with the fuel tank for cooling heated fuel} - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A deaeration and cooling system for a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine includes an absorption refrigerator configured to cool fuel in the fuel tank. The absorption refrigerator includes a burner, an evaporator and an exhaust-gas heat exchanger. Thermal energy for operating the absorption refrigerator is obtained from the combustion of evaporated fuel. The evaporated fuel is removed from the fuel tank and supplied to the burner of the absorption refrigerator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A deaeration and cooling system for a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine, the deaeration and cooling system comprising: an absorption refrigerator configured to cool fuel in the fuel tank, the absorption refrigerator comprising a burner, an evaporator and an exhaust-gas heat exchanger, wherein thermal energy for operating the absorption refrigerator is obtained from the combustion of evaporated fuel, the evaporated fuel being removed from the fuel tank and supplied to the burner of the absorption refrigerator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The deaeration and cooling system for a fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein thermal energy for operating the absorption refrigerator is also obtained from the waste heat of the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The deaeration and cooling system for a fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator of the absorption refrigerator is arranged inside the fuel tank. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The deaeration and cooling system for a fuel tank according to claim 2, wherein the evaporator of the absorption refrigerator is arranged inside the fuel tank. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The deaeration and cooling system for a fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust-gas heat exchanger of the absorption refrigerator is arranged on an exhaust-gas system of the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The deaeration and cooling system for a fuel tank according to claim 2, wherein the exhaust-gas heat exchanger of the absorption refrigerator is arranged on an exhaust-gas system of the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The deaeration and cooling system for a fuel tank according to claim 3, wherein the exhaust-gas heat exchanger of the absorption refrigerator is arranged on an exhaust-gas system of the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 8 A method for operating a deaeration and cooling system, the method comprising: providing an absorption refrigerator for cooling fuel in a fuel tank, the absorption refrigerator comprising a burner, an evaporator and an exhaust-gas heat exchanger; and selecting a source of thermal energy for the absorption refrigerator based on an state of an internal combustion engine, wherein the selecting includes selecting the use of thermal energy from the combustion of gaseous fuel when the internal combustion engine is in a stopped state, or selecting the use of thermal energy from waste heat of the internal combustion engine in addition to the use of thermal energy from the combustion of gaseous fuel during the operation of the internal combustion engine, with a preference of selecting the use of waste heat.