초록 ▼

A system and method is described for measuring fuel consumption by combustion engines operated in a manner wherein one component of fuel is used for the process of combustion itself and another complementary component of that same fuel is employed within a recirculation path for the purpose of cooli

A system and method is described for measuring fuel consumption by combustion engines operated in a manner wherein one component of fuel is used for the process of combustion itself and another complementary component of that same fuel is employed within a recirculation path for the purpose of cooling functions, for example, the cooling of fuel injectors. A fuel combiner is incorporated within the fuel delivery system having an output at the suction side of a fuel pump. One input to this fuel combiner is recirculated fuel, while the opposite input is make-up fuel from the fuel tank. The method and system employs a fluid meter which measures the flow of make-up fuel at the input to the combiner. Return or recirculating fuel is cooled and degassed with a gas phase separator in a preferred embodiment. Additionally, a thermally based flow meter provides for enhanced accuracies with the system and method.

대표청구항 ▼

The method for deriving a value for the consumption of fuel by an internal combustion engine operated with fuel from a fuel tank having a given tank pressure, said engine having a fuel injection assembly with a fuel supply pump having a suction input and a discharge output, said discharge output bei

The method for deriving a value for the consumption of fuel by an internal combustion engine operated with fuel from a fuel tank having a given tank pressure, said engine having a fuel injection assembly with a fuel supply pump having a suction input and a discharge output, said discharge output being coupled in fuel supply and cooling relationship with fuel injectors and said assembly having a return conduit carrying return fuel from said injectors, comprising the steps of: providing a fuel supply conduit between said fuel tank and said pump suction input, said supply conduit carrying make-up fuel from said fuel tank; providing a fuel combiner at a combiner location within said fuel supply conduit; providing a gas phase separator having an input and a fuel output coupled to convey fuel to said fuel combiner; directing return fuel from said return conduit to said gas phase separator; removing non-condensible gases from said return fuel at said gas phase separator; venting said removed non-condensible gases from said gas phase separator into said fuel tank to effect a substantial equalization of pressures therebetween; directing said return fuel from said gas phase separator output to said fuel combiner to combine said return fuel with said make-up fuel; and measuring the rate of flow of said make-up fuel at a measurement location within said fuel supply conduit intermediate said combiner location and said fuel tank.