FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

摘要

A number of variations of the invention may include a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine and/or method, wherein heat is exchanged from gaseous fuel in a gaseous fuel line and at least one of a liquid fuel in a liquid fuel feed line or a liquid fuel return line which are connected to an injection fuel rail of an internal combustion engine. In a number of variations, a regulator or throttling valve is provided in the gaseous fuel line to expand gas flowing therein and reduce the temperature of the gas to further cool the liquid fuel flowing in the liquid fuel feed line or the liquid fuel return line. Another variation may include a method comprising exchanging heat from gaseous fuel in a gaseous fuel line and a liquid fuel in a liquid fuel feed line or a liquid fuel return line which are connected to an injection fuel rail of an internal combustion engine. Another variation may further include throttling the flow through the gaseous fuel line to adiabatically expand the gas flowing and reduce the temperature of the gas to further cool the liquid fuel flowing in the liquid fuel feed line or the liquid fuel return line.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a storage tank constructed and arranged to store a liquid fuel therein, wherein the fuel is a gas at standard room temperature and pressure; a combustion engine having a plurality of combustion chambers, a liquid injection fuel rail connected to the combustion engine, and a plurality of liquid fuel injectors coupled to the liquid injection fuel rail; a liquid fuel feed line constructed and arranged to have a portion thereof extending into the storage tank a distance sufficient to be submerged in the liquid fuel when the liquid fuel is carried in the storage tank and connected to the liquid injection fuel rail to deliver the liquid fuel thereto; a liquid fuel return line connected to the liquid injection fuel rail and the storage tank to recirculate the liquid fuel from the liquid injection fuel rail back into the storage tank; a gaseous line connected to the storage tank to remove the gas from the storage tank and a throttling valve connected to the gaseous line, wherein the gaseous line and the throttling valve are constructed and arranged to expand the gas flowing through the gaseous line to reduce the temperature of the gas and to provide a cooled gas stream; a gaseous line connected to a heat exchanger, and at least one of the liquid fuel feed line or liquid fuel return line connected to the heat exchanger so that heat is exchanged between the liquid fuel in the liquid fuel feed line or liquid fuel return line and the cooled gas stream.