Characterizing a mixed fuel flow period

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837374-B2
Application number	US-201615780944-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Jan 6, 2016
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

A method of characterizing a mixed fuel flow period is provided. The method includes flowing a mixed fuel, the mixed fuel being comprised of at least a first fuel type and a second fuel type, the mixed fuel flow period being determined where the fuel is switched from the first fuel type to the second fuel type, determining a density of the first fuel type and a density of the second fuel type, and determining a total flow, the total flow being determined from the density of the first fuel type and the density of the second fuel type.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of characterizing a mixed fuel flow period, the method comprising:
flowing a mixed fuel during the mixed fuel flow period when fuel is switched from a first fuel type to a second fuel type;
determining a density of the first fuel type and a density of the second fuel type; and
determining a total flow of the mixed fuel flow period, the total flow being determined from the density and a concentration of the first fuel type and the density and a concentration of the second fuel type.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a mixed fuel flow start time and a mixed fuel flow end time.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a concentration of the first fuel type and the concentration of the second fuel type during the mixed fuel flow period.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding the total flow of the mixed fuel flow period with a total flow of a single fuel flow of at least one of the first fuel type and the second fuel type.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the total flow of the mixed fuel flow period is comprised of a total flow of at least one of the first fuel type, the second fuel type, and the mixed fuel flow.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixed fuel flow period is determined from at least one of a temperature change, a density change, and a signal associated with the mixed fuel flow.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixed fuel flow period is comprised of a mixed fuel flow start time and a mixed fuel flow end time.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the total flow is comprised of a total mass flow.

9. A fuel control system ( 300 ) for characterizing a mixed fuel flow period, the system ( 300 ) comprising:
a first fuel source ( 312 ) having a first fuel type;
a second fuel source ( 314 ) having a second fuel type;
a flow meter ( 5 ) fluidly coupled to the first fuel source ( 312 ) and the second fuel source ( 314 ), the flow meter ( 5 ) being configured to measure a mixed fuel flow during a mixed fuel flow period when fuel is switched from the first fuel type and the second fuel type and measure a density of the first fuel type and a density of the second fuel type; and
a controller ( 360 ) communicatively coupled to the flow meter ( 5 ), the controller ( 360 ) being configured to determine a total flow of the mixed fuel flow period, the total flow being determined from the density and a concentration of the first fuel type and the density and a concentration of the second fuel type.

10. The fuel control system ( 300 ) of claim 9 , further comprising a first valve ( 322 ) fluidly coupled to the first fuel source ( 312 ) and a second valve ( 324 ) fluidly coupled to the second fuel source ( 314 ), the first valve ( 322 ) and the second valve ( 324 ) being communicatively coupled to the controller ( 360 ).

11. The fuel control system ( 300 ) of claim 9 , further comprising a re-circulator ( 350 ) fluidly coupled to the flow meter ( 5 ) and an engine ( 20 ), the re-circulator ( 350 ) being configured to recirculate unconsumed fuel provided by the engine ( 20 ) back to the engine ( 20 ).

12. The fuel control system ( 300 ) of claim 9 , wherein the controller ( 360 ) is further configured to determine a mixed fuel flow start time and a mixed fuel flow end time.

13. The fuel control system ( 300 ) of claim 9 , wherein the controller ( 360 ) is further configured to determine the concentration of the first fuel type and the concentration of the second fuel type.

14. The fuel control system ( 300 ) of claim 9 , wherein the controller ( 360 ) is further configured to add the total flow of the mixed fuel flow period with a total flow of a single fuel flow of at least one of the first fuel type and the second fuel type.

15. The fuel control system ( 300 ) of claim 9 , wherein the total flow of the mixed fuel flow period is comprised of a total flow of at least one of the first fuel type, the second fuel type, and the mixed fuel flow.

16. The fuel control system ( 300 ) of claim 9 , wherein the mixed fuel flow period is determined from at least one of a temperature change, a density change, and a signal associated with the mixed fuel flow.

17. The fuel control system ( 300 ) of claim 9 , wherein the mixed fuel flow period is comprised of a mixed fuel flow start time and a mixed fuel flow end time.

18. The fuel control system ( 300 ) of claim 9 , wherein the total flow is comprised of a total mass flow.

Assignees

• Micro Motion Inc

Inventors

• Zimmer Patrick John
• Scott Taylor Robert

Classifications

• G01F1/74

  Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid · CPC title

• F02D41/0025 Primary

  Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures · CPC title

• F02D19/081 Primary

  Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other · CPC title

• F02D19/0634

  Determining a density, viscosity, composition or concentration (F02D19/087 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02D19/0628

  Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position · CPC title