초록 ▼

A fuel heating apparatus includes a fuel filter head having an upper side, a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. A fuel filter is disposed on the fuel filter head including an unfiltered fuel plenum and a filtered fuel plenum inside the fuel filter. A heating element is disposed inside the filtered fuel p

A fuel heating apparatus includes a fuel filter head having an upper side, a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. A fuel filter is disposed on the fuel filter head including an unfiltered fuel plenum and a filtered fuel plenum inside the fuel filter. A heating element is disposed inside the filtered fuel plenum inside the fuel filter. One or more temperature sensors are included inside the fuel filter in some embodiments. The heating element and temperature sensor are connected to a thermostat to regulate the temperature inside the fuel filter to prevent gelling of fuel. Additionally, in some embodiments, a heat exchanger is disposed on the fuel line between the fuel tank and the engine. A working thermal fluid passes through the heat exchanger in thermal contact with the fuel. Heat transfer between the working thermal fluid and the fuel preheats the fuel prior to delivery to the engine.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel heating apparatus, comprising: a fuel tank;an engine;a fuel line disposed between the fuel tank and the engine;a fuel filter head disposed on the fuel line between the fuel tank and the engine, the fuel filter head including a threaded filter mount, a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet;a replac

1. A fuel heating apparatus, comprising: a fuel tank;an engine;a fuel line disposed between the fuel tank and the engine;a fuel filter head disposed on the fuel line between the fuel tank and the engine, the fuel filter head including a threaded filter mount, a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet;a replaceable and disposable fuel filter disposed on the fuel filter head and screwed onto the threaded filter mount, the fuel filter including an unfiltered fuel plenum, a filter medium, and an interior filtered fuel plenum;a support rod extending from the fuel filter head into the interior filtered fuel plenum on the fuel filter;a heating element disposed on the support rod, the heating element positioned in the interior filtered fuel plenum in the fuel filter;a control switch placed remote from the fuel filter, wherein the control switch is operable to turn the heating device on and off;a first temperature sensor positioned in the fuel inlet;a second temperature sensor in the fuel outlet; anda thermostat connected to the control switch, the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the heating element, wherein the thermostat is operable to control the flow of electric current to the heating element. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the support rod including a hollow interior passage. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a heating element lead passing through the hollow interior passage of the support rod. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a central bore in the fuel filter head, wherein the support rod is positioned in the central bore of the fuel filter head. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a removable cover plate disposed on the fuel filter head above the central bore, wherein the heating element lead passes through the cover plate. 6. A fuel heating apparatus, comprising: a fuel filter head having an upper side, a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, the fuel filter head including a threaded filter mount extending downwardly from the fuel filter head;a central bore defined through the fuel filter head from the upper side downwardly through the threaded filter mount;a removable cover plate disposed on the fuel filter head above the central bore, wherein the cover plate blocks the central bore;a cover plate passage defined in the cover plate, the cover plate passage axially aligned with the central bore;an annular cover seal disposed between the cover plate and the fuel filter head;a support rod extending through the fuel filter head from the upper side of the fuel filter head downwardly through the central bore and out the threaded filter mount;a heating element disposed on the support rod below the threaded filter mount;a disposable fuel filter installed on the fuel filter head;a first temperature sensor positioned in the fuel inlet;a second temperature sensor in the fuel outlet;a control switch connected to the heating element, the control switch operable to turn the heating element on and off; anda thermostat connected to the heating element, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor, wherein the thermostat is operable to control the flow of electric current to the heating element. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support rod includes a hollow interior passage. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a heating element lead passing upwardly through the hollow interior passage. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed on the fuel filter head. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a first temperature sensor lead extending out of the cover plate. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a heat exchanger disposed on the fuel line upstream of the fuel filter head. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a heat exchanger reservoir in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a working thermal fluid in the heat exchanger. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising fuel in the heat exchanger in thermal contact with the working thermal fluid inside the heat exchanger. 15. A method of improving fuel efficiency in a diesel fuel internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a combustion system including a fuel tank, an engine, and a fuel line disposed between the fuel tank and the engine;(b) providing a heat exchanger on the fuel line between the fuel tank and the engine;(c) passing fuel from the fuel line through the heat exchanger;(d) simultaneously passing working thermal fluid through the heat exchanger such that the working thermal fluid transfers heat to the fuel in the heat exchanger prior to delivery of the fuel to the engine for combustion;(e) increasing the temperature of the fuel passing through the heat exchanger, wherein the fuel is heated in the heat exchanger;(f) measuring a temperature of the fuel by a temperature sensor downstream of the heat exchanger;(g) providing a measured fuel temperature measured at the temperature sensor to a controller, wherein the measured fuel temperature is the temperature of the fuel after passing through the heat exchanger;(h) regulating a flow rate of the working thermal fluid passing through the heat exchanger via the controller when the measured fuel temperature is outside a predetermined range of temperatures;(i) providing a vibration isolation mount installed between the heat exchanger and the vehicle(j) reducing vibration of the heat exchanger via the vibration isolation mount;(k) delivering the heated fuel from the heat exchanger to the engine; and(l) improving the fuel efficiency of the engine by burning the heated fuel. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the working thermal fluid is heated engine coolant from the engine. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising wherein the fuel is heated in the heat exchanger to a temperature between about 180 degrees F. and about 210 degrees F. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises reducing exhaust pollutants from the internal combustion engine. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises reducing exhaust pollutants from the internal combustion engine. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises reducing exhaust pollutants from the internal combustion engine. 21. An apparatus for improving fuel efficiency in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a fuel tank;an engine;a fuel delivery line disposed between the fuel tank and the engine;a fuel return line extending from the engine back to the fuel tank;a proportional bypass valve positioned between the fuel return line and the fuel delivery line;a heat exchanger housing;a heat exchanger disposed in the heat exchanger housing and disposed on the fuel delivery line, the heat exchanger including a fluid circuit and including a working thermal fluid in thermal contact with the fuel delivery line, wherein the heat exchanger is operable to heat the fuel travelling through the fuel delivery line;a heat exchanger reservoir remote from the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger reservoir having a working thermal fluid supply line and a working thermal fluid return line, wherein the heat exchanger reservoir circulates the working thermal fluid through the heat exchanger;a heat exchanger supply positioned in the heat exchanger housing and connected to the fluid circuit of the heat exchanger;a heat exchanger supply coupling positioned on the heat exchanger housing and connected to the heat exchanger supply, the heat exchanger supply coupling operable to connect with the working thermal fluid supply line;a heat exchanger return positioned in the heat exchanger housing and connected to the fluid circuit of the heat exchanger; anda heat exchanger return coupling positioned on the heat exchanger housing and connected to the heat exchanger return, the heat exchanger return coupling operable to connect with the working thermal fluid return line,wherein the proportional bypass valve is operable to deliver heated fuel from the fuel return line through the valve to the fuel delivery line for delivery of the heated fuel to the engine for combustion. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a temperature controller coupled to the proportional bypass valve, wherein the temperature controller is configured to control the proportional bypass valve such that the fuel in the fuel delivery line at maintained at a predetermined temperature.