JP2018112174A - Fuel supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inhibit a foreign matter contained in biofuel from clogging a fuel filter.SOLUTION: A fuel supply device 10 supplies biofuel pumped up from a fuel tank 11 by a fuel supply pump 14 to an injector 17 via a fuel filter 13. The fuel supply device 10 includes a centrifugal separation device 30 provided on a fuel supply passage between the fuel tank 11 and the fuel filter 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The technology of the present disclosure relates to a fuel supply apparatus, and more particularly to a fuel supply apparatus that supplies biofuel pumped from a fuel tank by a fuel supply pump to an injector via a fuel filter.

  Generally, fossil fuels such as gasoline and light oil are widely used as engine fuel (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, these fossil fuels have a problem that CO2 generated by combustion affects global warming and the like. In recent years, in view of the problem of such fossil fuels, so-called biodiesel fuel (hereinafter referred to as “biofuel”) that does not count the CO2 emission generated by combustion has been used. As biofuels, for example, those derived from plant-derived ethanol, methanol, fatty acid methyl esters and the like are widely put into practical use (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2010-156275 A JP 2006-144736 A

  However, biofuels have a problem that precipitates such as monoglycerides are generated at low temperatures where the fuel temperature is 20 ° C. or lower. There is a problem that precipitates generated from biofuel at a low temperature become a relatively large foreign matter, which may cause clogging of the fuel filter and cause damage to the engine. In addition, foreign matter in biofuel, such as sludge generated when biofuel is oxidized and deteriorated, foreign matter mixed in when fueling from a fueling station, and other foreign matter mixed in biofuel are also the cause of clogging of the fuel filter. There is also a problem of causing damage to the engine.

  An object of the technology of the present disclosure is to prevent the fuel filter from being pinched by foreign matter in the biofuel.

  In order to achieve the above object, the technology of the present disclosure is a fuel supply device that supplies biofuel pumped from a fuel tank by a fuel supply pump to an injector through a fuel filter, and the fuel supply device is a fuel tank. And a centrifugal separator provided on a fuel supply path between the fuel filter and the fuel filter.

  In the technology of the present disclosure, preferably, the technology further includes a capturing portion provided inside the outer peripheral portion of the centrifugal separator.

  In the technology of the present disclosure, it is preferable that the capturing unit is further attached to the centrifuge so as to be removable from the inside of the outer peripheral portion of the centrifuge.

  In the technology of the present disclosure, it is preferable that a heater provided outside the outer peripheral portion of the centrifugal separator is further provided.

  According to the technique of the present disclosure, the fuel filter is prevented from being pinched by foreign matter in the biofuel.

It is a typical whole block diagram which shows the fuel supply apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of the technique of this indication. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a centrifugal separator, a capturing unit, and a heater of a fuel supply device according to an embodiment of the technology of the present disclosure.

  Hereinafter, a fuel supply device according to an embodiment of the technology of the present disclosure will be described based on the accompanying drawings. The same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  First, based on FIG. 1, it demonstrates from the whole structure of the fuel supply apparatus 10 which concerns on this embodiment. The fuel supply device 10 is a device that supplies biofuel to a diesel engine (hereinafter simply referred to as an engine) E of a vehicle. The fuel supply device 10 includes a fuel tank 11, a fuel intake pipe (fuel supply path) 12, a fuel filter 13, a fuel pump (fuel supply pump) 20, a centrifugal separator 30, and a high-pressure pump (supply pump). 14, a fuel supply pipe 15, a common rail 16, a plurality of injectors 17 that inject fuel into each cylinder of the engine E, a pressure control valve 18, and a return pipe 19.

  The fuel tank 11 stores biodiesel fuel. Biofuel is a fuel made from bio-derived oil as a raw material, and includes, for example, fatty acid methyl ester. One end of the fuel suction pipe 12 is immersed in the biofuel in the fuel tank 11, and the other end is connected to the suction port of the high-pressure pump 14. The fuel filter 13 is interposed in the fuel suction pipe 12 and removes foreign matters in the fuel pumped up by the fuel pump 20.

  A fuel temperature sensor 21 for measuring the temperature of the biofuel is provided in the fuel tank 11. The fuel temperature sensor 21 is electrically connected to an engine control unit (hereinafter referred to as “ECU”) 50 and transmits temperature information of the biofuel to the ECU 50.

  The fuel pump 20 is provided in the fuel tank 11. The fuel pump 20 is provided on a fuel intake pipe 12 that extends from the lower part in the fuel tank 11. The fuel pump 20 pumps the biofuel from the fuel tank 11 and pumps it to the centrifugal separator 30 via the fuel suction pipe 12. The fuel pump 20 is an electric pump and is electrically connected to the ECU 50, and the fuel pump 20 is controlled by the ECU 50. The fuel pump 20 supplies biofuel in response to an instruction from the ECU 50 when biofuel supply is required. In the present embodiment, the fuel pressure pump 20 is provided in the fuel tank 11. However, in other embodiments, the fuel pressure pump 20 is omitted and the feed pump is formed by the fuel filter 13 and the high pressure pump 14. You may arrange | position between.

  Each of the high-pressure pumps 14 includes a plunger that reciprocates by rotation of a shaft (not shown), and pressurizes and discharges fuel by reciprocating movement of the plunger. The high-pressure fuel pressurized by the high-pressure pump 14 is supplied to the common rail 16 via the fuel supply pipe 15.

  The common rail 16 accumulates the high-pressure fuel supplied from the high-pressure pump 14 and distributes it to the injectors 17. Further, the common rail 16 is provided with a pressure control valve 18 so that when the pressure in the common rail 16 reaches a predetermined value, high-pressure fuel is returned to the fuel tank 11 via the return pipe 19.

  The ECU 50 controls an input interface (not shown) that receives data sent from each part of the vehicle, a CPU (not shown) that executes a calculation for controlling each part of the vehicle, and each part of the vehicle. A memory (not shown) for storing programs, data and control signals for execution, and an output interface (not shown) for sending control signals to each part of the vehicle are provided. A program for realizing the fuel supply device of the technology of the present disclosure, and data and tables used for executing the program are stored in a memory. Further, the memory is provided with a work area for calculation by the CPU, and data sent from each part of the vehicle and control signals sent to each part of the vehicle are stored in the memory.

  Next, based on FIG. 2, the centrifugal separator, the capturing unit, and the heater of the fuel supply device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the centrifugal separator 30 of the fuel supply device 10 is provided on the fuel suction pipe 12 between the fuel pump 20 and the fuel filter 13.

  The centrifugal separator 30 introduces biofuel into the centrifugal rotor 32 from the inlet 31A, the housing 31 provided with the inlet 31A and the outlet 31B, the centrifugal rotor 32 provided rotatably in the housing 31, and the inlet 31A. And an introduction path 33.

  The housing 31 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and the outer peripheral portion 35 of the centrifugal separator 30 is formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof. At least the outer peripheral portion 35 of the housing 31 is formed of metal or ceramic that can withstand the heating of the heater 42. A plurality of jets 34 are formed on the side wall of the centrifugal rotor 32. When the centrifugal rotor 32 rotates, the foreign matter F in the biofuel, for example, deposits from the biofuel, sludge generated when the biofuel is oxidized and deteriorated, and other foreign matters mixed in the biofuel with respect to the rotation center axis. Centrifugation is performed on the outer side, and flows toward the outer peripheral side toward the inner wall of the housing 31. In FIG. 2, a state in which the foreign matter F flows toward the outer peripheral portion 35 outside the centrifugal rotor 32 is illustrated by an arrow A1.

  In the present embodiment, the outlet 31 </ b> B of the centrifugal separator 30 is connected to the fuel intake pipe 12 that supplies biofuel to the fuel filter 13. Further, the fuel intake pipe 12 on the fuel tank 11 side is connected to the inlet 31 </ b> A of the centrifugal separator 30.

  In the present embodiment, the centrifugal rotor 32 of the centrifugal separator 30 is rotated by a driving force generated by a motor or a driving force transmitted from an engine. When the centrifugal rotor 32 is driven by a motor, the operation of this motor is controlled by the ECU 50.

  The fuel supply device 10 further includes a capturing unit 40 provided in an inner portion of the outer peripheral portion 35 of the centrifugal separator 30. The capturing part 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape that extends over substantially the entire inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral part 35 of the centrifugal separator 30. The capturing part 40 may be formed so as to cover a part of the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral part 35 of the centrifugal separator 30.

  The trapping portion 40 is formed in a mesh shape, but has other structures that can easily trap precipitates generated from biofuel, for example, a structure in which a plurality of holes are formed, a structure in which irregularities are formed on the surface, a filter A structure in which a liquid is filtered as described above, or a structure formed by a combination of some or all of these structures may be used. The capturing part 40 is made of metal, but may be made of ceramic. By forming the capturing unit 40 from metal or ceramic, it is possible to suppress damage due to heating of a heater described later, and to improve durability and reliability.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the centrifugal rotor 32 rotates, as shown by an arrow A <b> 1, the foreign matter F in the biofuel flows from the jet port 34 toward the outer capture unit 40 and adheres to the capture unit 40. It has been deposited and urged. Since the capturing unit 40 can capture the foreign matter F, for example, deposits from biofuel, the foreign matter F can be prevented from flowing out from the centrifugal separator 30 to the downstream side. Therefore, in the fuel filter 13 provided on the downstream side of the centrifugal separator 30, it is possible to suppress the foreign matter F from adhering and clogging the filter.

  The capturing part 40 is attached to the outer peripheral part 35 of the centrifugal separator 30 so as to be removable from the inner region of the outer peripheral part 35 of the centrifugal separator 30 and exchangeable. By making the trapping part 40 easily replaceable, it is removed from the centrifugal separator 30 together with the foreign matter F captured by the trapping part 40 and replaced with a new trapping part 40 not capturing the foreign matter. be able to. Therefore, the foreign matter F in the biofuel can be removed by a relatively simple method. Furthermore, foreign substances that cannot be dissolved again by heating with a heater (for example, sludge generated when biofuel is oxidized and deteriorated, foreign substances mixed when fuel is supplied from a fuel station) can be easily removed. Further, the number of replacements of the fuel filter 13 can be suppressed by capturing the foreign matter F in the capturing unit 40.

  The fuel supply device 10 further includes a heater 42 provided on an outer portion of the outer peripheral portion 35 of the centrifugal separator 30. The heater 42 can heat the capturing unit 40 via the outer peripheral portion 35 of the centrifugal separator 30. The heater 42 is electrically connected to the ECU 50 and is controlled by the ECU 50. The heater 42 is an electric heater. Although the heater 42 heats the capturing part 40, the heater 42 may heat the surrounding area of the capturing part including the capturing part 40. The heater 42 only needs to heat a part of the capturing unit 40. When the biofuel temperature measured by the fuel temperature sensor 21 is 20 ° C. or lower, the ECU 50 operates the heater 42. When the biofuel temperature measured by the fuel temperature sensor 21 is higher than 20 ° C., the ECU 50 42 is controlled not to operate. Therefore, when it is assumed that the biofuel temperature is higher than 20 ° C. and it is difficult for precipitates to be generated in the biofuel, it is possible to prevent the heater 42 from heating and consuming electric power wastefully. The heater 42 can be changed to other heating means that can heat the capturing unit 40.

  The heater 42 heats the capture unit 40 or the region of the capture unit 40, so that the precipitate from the biofuel is dissolved. Since the precipitate from the biofuel can be heated and dissolved again by increasing the temperature of the precipitate, the size of the precipitate can be reduced and / or the precipitate can be dissolved and returned to the biofuel. Thereby, in the fuel filter 13 provided in the downstream of the centrifugal separator 30, it can suppress that a deposit adheres and a filter is blocked.

  The technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the spirit of the technology of the present disclosure.

  For example, the engine E is not limited to a diesel engine of a vehicle, but can be widely applied to a diesel engine provided in facility equipment and a diesel engine of equipment (for example, agricultural equipment, work equipment).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel supply apparatus 11 Fuel tank 12 Fuel intake pipe 13 Fuel filter 14 High pressure pump 15 Fuel supply pipe 16 Common rail 17 Injector 18 Pressure control valve 19 Return pipe 20 Fuel pump pump 21 Fuel temperature sensor 30 Centrifugal apparatus 31A Inlet part 31B Outlet part 32 Centrifugal rotor 33 Introduction path 34 Spout 35 Outer part 40 Trapping part 42 Heater

Claims (4)

A fuel supply device for supplying biofuel pumped from a fuel tank by a fuel supply pump to an injector through a fuel filter,
The fuel supply apparatus includes a centrifugal separator provided on a fuel supply path between the fuel tank and the fuel filter. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a capturing portion provided inside an outer peripheral portion of the centrifugal separator. The fuel supply device according to claim 2, wherein the capture unit is attached to the centrifuge device so as to be removable and exchangeable from the inside of the outer peripheral portion of the centrifuge device. The fuel supply device according to claim 2, further comprising a heater provided outside an outer peripheral portion of the centrifugal separator.

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