INTENSIFIER APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING HIGH PRESSURE GASEOUS FUEL TO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

摘要

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for supplying high pressure gaseous fuel from a storage vessel to a vehicle's internal combustion engine. More particularly, the invention is a fuel supply system with three main components: the storage vessel; an intensifier; and, an accumulator vessel. Fuel passages connect each one of the components directly with the other two components. The intensifier has a plurality of compression chambers and one of the compression chambers can be by-passed when the intensifier is operating in a low capacity mode, depending upon the pressure in the storage vessel. The intensifier operates continuously. When no fuel compression is required, the intensifier runs in an idle mode with the respective inlets and outlets of the compression chambers connected by fuel passages, thus preventing any fuel compression. The loading to the intensifier actuating mechanism is balanced in all modes of operation.