U.S. patent application number 12/355447 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-22 for fueling system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Invention is credited to Hasdi R. Hashim, Shahid Ahmed Siddiqui.
Application Number | 20100180983 12/355447 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42336000 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100180983 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hashim; Hasdi R. ; et
al. |
July 22, 2010 |
FUELING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
A fuel storage system includes a fuel tank, a fueling receptacle
in fluid communication with the tank, and a coil adjacent the
fueling receptacle. The system also includes a controller
configured to determine information about a state of fuel in the
tank, and to cause a modulated current to be driven into the coil
to generate an electromagnetic field. The modulated current
represents the information about the state of fuel in the tank.
Inventors: |
Hashim; Hasdi R.; (Ann
Arbor, MI) ; Siddiqui; Shahid Ahmed; (Northville,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C./FGTL
1000 TOWN CENTER, 22ND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075-1238
US
|
Assignee: |
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Dearborn
MI
|
Family ID: |
42336000 |
Appl. No.: |
12/355447 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/98 ;
141/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 2015/03197
20130101; B60K 2015/03217 20130101; B60K 15/04 20130101; B60K
2015/03223 20130101; B60K 15/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/98 ;
141/347 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/04 20060101
B65B003/04; B65B 1/04 20060101 B65B001/04 |
Claims
1. A fuel storage system comprising: a fuel tank; a fueling
receptacle in fluid communication with the tank; a coil adjacent
the fueling receptacle; and a controller configured to determine
information about a state of fuel in the tank and to cause a
modulated current to be driven into the coil to generate an
electromagnetic field, the modulated current representing the
information about the state of fuel in the tank.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the fueling receptacle
concentrates the electromagnetic field.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the state comprises a pressure in
the tank.
4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a pressure sensor
configured to sense the pressure in the tank.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the state comprises a temperature
in the tank.
6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a temperature sensor
configured to sense the temperature in the tank.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic field is
capable of inducing a current flow in another coil.
8. An automotive fuel storage system comprising: a tank; a fueling
port in fluid communication with the tank; a coil wrapped around
the fueling port; a sensor configured to sense a condition of fuel
in the tank; and a controller configured to drive a modulated
current into the coil based on the condition of the fuel to
generate an electromagnetic field.
9. The system of claim 9 wherein the fueling port concentrates the
electromagnetic field.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the condition comprises a
pressure of the fuel in the tank.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the condition comprises a
temperature of the fuel in the tank.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor comprises a pressure
sensor.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor comprises a
temperature sensor.
14. The system of claim 9 wherein the electromagnetic field is
capable of inducing a current flow in another coil.
15. A method for refueling an automotive vehicle comprising: while
receiving fuel into a fueling receptacle in fluid communication
with a tank, (i) determining information about a state of fuel in
the tank and (ii) driving a modulated current into a coil
surrounding the fueling receptacle based on the information to
generate an electromagnetic field.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein determining information about a
state of fuel in a tank includes sensing the state of fuel in the
tank.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the state comprise a
temperature.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the state comprises a
pressure.
19. The system of claim 1 wherein the coil surrounds the fueling
receptacle.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] The invention relates to fueling systems and methods.
[0003] 2. Discussion
[0004] Modulation may be described as the process of varying a
periodic waveform in order to use that signal to convey a message.
Analog modulation uses a high-frequency sinusoid waveform as its
carrier signal. Certain parameters of that sine wave, e.g.,
amplitude, phase and frequency, may be modified in accordance with
a low frequency information signal to obtain the modulated signal.
Digital modulation also uses a high-frequency sine wave as its
carrier signal. The wave parameters, however, are modified in a
discrete manner.
[0005] A device that performs modulation may be referred to as a
modulator and a device that performs the inverse operation of
modulation may be referred to as a demodulator. A device that can
do both operations may be referred to as a modem.
SUMMARY
[0006] A fuel storage system includes a fuel tank, a fueling
receptacle in fluid communication with the tank, and a coil
adjacent the fueling receptacle. The system also includes a
controller configured to determine information about a state of
fuel in the tank and to cause a modulated current to be driven into
the coil to generate an electromagnetic field. The modulated
current represents the information about the state of fuel in the
tank.
[0007] An automotive fuel storage system includes a tank, a fueling
port in fluid communication with the tank, a coil wrapped around
the fueling port and a sensor configured to sense a condition of
fuel in the tank. The fuel storage system also includes a
controller configured to drive a modulated current into the coil
based on the condition of the fuel to generate an electromagnetic
field.
[0008] A method for refueling an automotive vehicle includes, while
receiving fuel into a fueling receptacle in fluid communication
with a tank, (i) determining information about a state of fuel in
the tank and (ii) driving a modulated current into a coil
surrounding the fueling receptacle based on the information to
generate an electromagnetic field.
[0009] While example embodiments in accordance with the invention
are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be
construed to limit the invention. It is anticipated that various
modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing
from the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an
automotive fueling system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] To minimize refueling times associated with a fuel cell
vehicle, it may be desirable to quickly fill the vehicle's on-board
fuel storage vessel. The time it takes to fill the storage vessel
depends on the flow rate at which fuel is provided to the storage
vessel (and the amount of fuel already in the vessel at the time of
refueling).
[0012] It is known that a temperature of the fuel in the storage
vessel during refueling is related to a flow rate (and duration) at
which fuel is provided to the storage vessel. It is also known that
certain storage vessels are rated for certain recommended maximum
temperatures. For example, a storage vessel may be designed to
provide pressurized storage of a gaseous fuel at maximum storage
vessel temperatures less than 85 degrees Celsius.
[0013] The temperature at which fuel is provided to a storage
vessel is typically less than the rated temperature of the storage
vessel. The rated temperature of the storage vessel may thus limit
the flow rate at which fuel is provided to the storage vessel.
[0014] During certain refueling operations, the temperature of the
fuel inside the storage vessel may exceed the temperature of the
storage vessel itself (provided the temperature of the storage
vessel itself is less than its temperature rated limit.) For
example, if the temperature of the storage vessel is 30 degrees
Celsius before a refueling operation, the fuel may be provided to
the storage vessel at relatively high flow rates to minimize
refueling times and thus yield fuel temperatures inside the storage
vessel significantly greater than 30 degrees Celsius. Such
refueling strategies may require the fuel temperature, flow rate,
etc., to be monitored to prevent exceeding the storage vessel rated
temperature. This information may be communicated to a fueling
station so that the fueling station may provide the fuel under
conditions that minimize refueling times and avoid exceeding the
storage vessel rated temperature.
[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle 10
includes a hydrogen storage tank 12, hydrogen port 14 and coil 16.
The tank 12 and port 14 are fluidly connected via a fuel line 18.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the coil 16, e.g., 30-gauge enameled
copper magnet wire, is wrapped 50 times around the port 14. Of
course, any suitable wire and/or winding scheme may be used. In
other embodiments, the coil 16 may surround the port 14 and reside
within/on a port housing (not shown). For example, the coil 16 may
be wrapped around a sleeve (not shown) that is fitted over the port
14. Other configurations are also possible. For example, the coil
16 may be disposed on a plate (not shown) adjacent the port 14,
etc.
[0016] The vehicle 10 also includes a controller 20, modulator 22
and sensors 24, 26. The modulator 22 of FIG. 1 is integrated with
the controller 20. In other embodiments, however, the modulator 22
may be separate from the controller 20. The controller 20 is in
communication with the sensors 24, 26. The modulator 22 is
electrically connected with the coil 16. (Of course, the elements
of FIG. 1 need not be located in the vehicle 10 and may, for
example, comprise a stand alone fuel system.)
[0017] The sensors 24, 26 illustrated in FIG. 1 detect,
respectively, a pressure and temperature of fuel within the tank
12. Other and/or different sensors, however, may be used. The
controller 20 may read the sensors 24, 26 to determine the pressure
and temperature of the fuel in the tank 12. Based on these
readings, the controller 20 may transmit information regarding the
temperature and pressure of the fuel to the modulator 22. The
modulator 22 may vary current flowing into the coil 16 according to
the information. As apparent to those of ordinary skill, this
modulated current flow through the coil 16 will generate an
electromagnetic field that is concentrated by the port 14 (provided
the port 14 is made of material with magnetic permeability).
[0018] A hydrogen fueling station 28 includes a hydrogen storage
tank 30, hydrogen nozzle 32 and coil 34. The tank 30 and nozzle 32
are fluidly connected via a fuel line 36. The coil 34, e.g.,
30-gauge enameled copper magnet wire, illustrated in FIG. 1 is
wrapped 50-times around an end portion 38 of the nozzle 32. (The
coils 16, 34 of FIG. 1 are wound so as to share the same axis.) Any
suitable wire and/or winding configuration/position, however, may
be used.
[0019] The station 28 also includes a controller 40 and demodulator
42. The controller 40 is configured to control a valve 44 in the
fuel line 36. The demodulator is electrically connected with the
coil 34 and in communication with the controller 40.
[0020] During a refueling operation, the end portion 38 of the
nozzle 32 may be placed over (and secured to) the port 14 to
establish a fluid pathway between the tank 30 of the station 28 and
the tank 12 of the vehicle 10. As discussed above, the controller
20 may continuously, periodically, etc. read the temperature,
pressure, capacity, etc. of fuel in the tank 12 and encode this
information into a current driven into the coil 16. With the end
portion 38 in contact with the port 14, the electromagnetic field
generated from the current flow through the coil 16 may permeate
into the end portion 38 of the nozzle 32 (provided the end portion
38 is made of material with magnetic permeability).
[0021] As discussed above, the flow of current within the coil 16
generates an electromagnetic field. A change in this
electromagnetic field may induce current flow in the coil 34.
Without another change in the electromagnetic field, however, the
current flow in the coil 34 will eventually decay due to the coil's
internal resistance. Thus, to continue to induce current flow in
the coil 34, the current in the coil 16 should change repeatedly to
generate a changing electromagnetic field. By changing the current
in the coil 16 according to, for example, a periodic waveform and
modulating this waveform with encoded information, the coil 34 may
be induced with current having a similar waveform. Demodulating the
waveform may reproduce the encoded information.
[0022] Pulse modulation may be used in conjunction with the
embodiment of FIG. 1. Any suitable modulation scheme, however, may
be used. The pulses may be shaped similar to impulse responses of a
slightly over-damped system. This may help reduce electromagnetic
energy from radiating further than intended--thus avoiding turning
port 14, for example, into a directional radio transmitter.
[0023] With information encoded in a stream of digital data, every
transition from `0` to `1` generates an `up` or positive pulse and
every transition from `1` to `0` generates a `down` or negative
pulse. The `up` pulse and `down` pulse may be identical in shape
but of opposite polarity--a mirror image along the time axis.
[0024] As discussed above, a change in the electromagnetic field
experienced by the end portion 38 induces current flow in the coil
34. The demodulator 42 may translate the current flow through the
coil 34 into information to be decoded by the controller 40. Based
on the decoded information, e.g., temperature, pressure, capacity,
etc. regarding the fuel in the tank 12, the controller 40 may
control, for example, the flow rate of the hydrogen dispensed from
the tank 30, via the valve 44, to minimize refueling time and avoid
exceeding a rated temperature of the tank 12.
[0025] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and
describe all possible forms of the invention. The words used in the
specification are words of description rather than limitation, and
it is understood that various changes may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *