JPH07224731A - Fuel cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stabilize the cooling efficiency without depending on a car speed by cooling fuel by means of the hygroscopic heat generation property of zeolite. CONSTITUTION:Air which is heat-exchanged with exhaust gas of an engine 1 by a heat exchanger 3 and heated passes a zeolite reaction vessel 8b through a switching valve 7 to activate the interior of the vessel. High humidity and low temperature air which is fed from a latent heat exchanger 15 through a blower 19 and a switching valve 6 into the zeolite reaction vessel 8a becomes high temperature dry air in the reaction vessel 8a to be fed into a heat exchanger 13 through a switching valve 9. The dry air which is heat-exchanged with the outside air by a heat exchanger 13 is forced to flow into the latent heat exchanger 15, water 16 in the latent heat exchanger 15 is evaporated by a water absorption cylinder 17 and cooled, and a fuel forced to flow thorugh a fuel pipe 18 wound round the water absorption cylinder 17 is indirectly cooled by the cooling water. Meanwhile, when the humidity in the reaction vessel 8a exceeds a designated value, the respective pipings are switched through the switching valves 6, 7, 9 by a switching control means to connect the latent heat exchanger 15 to the zeolite reaction vessel 8b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel cooling device for cooling liquid fuel such as gasoline and light oil supplied to a vehicle engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automobile equipped with a fuel injection device, fuel is constantly sent from a fuel tank to an engine and injected by a fuel pump, and fuel that has not been injected into the engine is returned to the fuel tank and used. Then, the solenoid coil of the injector for injection may be cooled.
However, since the fuel is constantly circulated between the fuel tank and the engine to supply the fuel to the engine, the temperature of the fuel rises due to heat in the engine room, etc. If the temperature exceeds 55 ° C., the volatilization of the fuel becomes severe, the fuel efficiency deteriorates, and problems such as environmental pollution easily occur.

Further, since gas is generated in the fuel pipe due to boiling of fuel, the supply of fuel becomes unstable,
There are also problems that the reliability of control is deteriorated due to lack of smoothness in engine operation, and it becomes difficult to restart the engine in a high temperature state after the engine is stopped.

In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to cool the fuel supplied to the engine or returned to the tank. Conventionally, the cold air of a car air conditioner is used,
The temperature rise of the fuel is suppressed by cooling the fuel pipe with the refrigerant.

[0005]

In the method of cooling the fuel by utilizing the cold air of the car air conditioner, the fuel consumption of the vehicle is deteriorated, and when the vehicle speed is lowered due to a traffic jam and the engine speed becomes low, the fuel consumption of the fuel is reduced. Although the temperature is likely to rise, there is a problem that in this state, the cooling efficiency of the car air conditioner decreases and the efficiency of fuel cooling deteriorates. In addition, in the method of cooling the fuel with the refrigerant, in order to improve the cooling efficiency, there is a problem in the maintenance cost of the refrigerant, and the refrigerant is leaked and released during use or at the time of discarding the device, which causes environmental pollution in recent years. Is generated.

The present invention has been made in view of the present situation of the fuel cooling of this kind as described above, and an object thereof is to make stable cooling independent of the vehicle speed by utilizing the moisture absorption and heat generation characteristics of zeolite. An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cooling device that is effective and can reduce maintenance costs.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a plurality of zeolite reaction vessels having zeolites of X type, Y type, A type and the like and a latent heat exchanger, The fuel to be supplied to the engine and the high temperature dry air obtained by the hygroscopic exothermic reaction of the dry activated zeolite reaction tank are supplied to the latent heat exchanger, and the water content in the latent heat exchanger becomes the dry air. A fuel cooling device that indirectly cools the fuel by absorbing heat of vaporization by absorbing moisture, wherein the temperature of the dry air heated in the first zeolite reaction tank is adjusted by the first heat exchanger, The conditioned air and the fuel are supplied to the latent heat exchanger to cool the fuel, and the air passing through the latent heat exchanger is returned to the first zeolite reaction tank, First Zeoli A fuel cooling circulation passage formed by connecting a reaction tank, the first heat exchanger and the latent heat exchanger in series with each other, and adjusting the temperature of the second zeolite reaction tank by the second heat exchanger. The activated flow path for drying the second zeolite reaction tank by allowing the outside air to flow thereinto and the zeolite reaction tank dry-activated in the activation flow path for the first
As a zeolite reaction tank of the present invention, which is switched and inserted into the fuel cooling circulation passage, and the zeolite reaction tank used in the fuel cooling circulation passage and humidified is switched to the activation passage as the second zeolite reaction tank. It is characterized in that it has a switching control means for performing switching control by selecting the plurality of zeolite reaction tanks so as to be inserted.

[0008]

In this configuration, the first zeolite reaction tank, the first
In the fuel cooling circulation channel formed by connecting the heat exchanger and the latent heat exchanger in series with each other in series, the moisture in the air is absorbed by the zeolite in the first zeolite reaction tank due to the heat absorption and exothermic action of the zeolite. At the same time, the dry air heated by the heat of reaction and heated to a high temperature is adjusted (decreased) to a temperature close to the atmospheric temperature by the first heat exchanger. , The fuel to be supplied to the engine is supplied to the latent heat exchanger, the moisture in the latent heat exchanger is absorbed by the dry air in the latent heat exchanger, and the heat of vaporization is deprived at this time to indirectly fuel the fuel. The cooled and cooled fuel is supplied to the engine or is recirculated to the tank, and the air that has passed through the latent heat exchanger and has a low temperature but is humidified is returned to the first zeolite reaction tank and is in the fuel cooling circulation passage. To To ring.

In addition, the outside air whose temperature (increased) is adjusted to a high temperature by using the heat of exhaust gas of the engine in the second heat exchanger is introduced into the second zeolite reaction tank, and the second zeolite reaction tank is introduced. The humidified second zeolite reaction tank is dried and activated by the activation flow path for dehydrating and drying the zeolite therein.

In this case, the zeolite control tank dry-activated by the switching control means is switched into the fuel cooling circulation flow path as the first zeolite reaction tank,
Switching control is performed by selecting a plurality of zeolite reaction tanks so that the zeolite reaction tank used in the fuel cooling circulation flow path and humidified is switched and inserted into the activation flow path as the second zeolite reaction tank. .

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the present embodiment during operation, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the present embodiment during stop.

As shown in these figures, the exhaust gas from the engine 1 is supplied to the second heat exchanger 3 through the pipe 2a, and the heat-exchanged exhaust gas whose temperature has dropped is the second heat exchanger 3. Is discharged from the pipe 2b to the atmosphere via the blower 4, and the outside air passes through the blower 4 to the pipe 5b.
A pipe 5b for guiding the air that has flowed in by a and has been heated by the heat exchanger 3 and has a high temperature is connected to the switching valves 6 and 7. Further, the switching valves 6 and 7 are connected to the inlet sides of the zeolite reaction tanks 8a and 8b containing zeolite therein, and the inlet sides of the switching valves 9 and 10 are connected to the outlet sides of the zeolite reaction tanks 8a and 8b, respectively. I am doing it. As the zeolite to be used, A type, X type, Y type and the like can be used, but X type zeolite having the maximum porous opening and water absorption is preferable, and this is used as a spherical pellet or rod-shaped body. The outlet sides of the switching valves 9 and 10 are opened to the atmosphere by a pipe 25, and the pipes 11 and 12 are opened.
Is connected to the inlet side of the first heat exchanger 13 via
The outlet side of the first heat exchanger 13 is connected to the inlet side of the latent heat exchanger 15 via a pipe 14a, and the outlet side of the latent heat exchanger 15 is connected via a pipe 14b and a blower 19 to a pipe. 14c is connected to the inlet side of the switching valve 6 and the switching valve 7. In addition, the latent heat exchanger 15 is filled with water 16, and a water absorbing cylinder 17 is provided which has a tip protruding from the water 16 and which absorbs water from the bottom by utilizing a capillary phenomenon and vaporizes at the top. A fuel supply pipe 18 is wound around the water absorption cylinder 17.

During operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the switching valve 6 is switched so as to connect the pipe 14c to the zeolite reaction tank 8a, and the switching valve 7 is switched so as to connect the pipe 5b to the zeolite reaction tank 8b. Has been. Similarly, when the apparatus is in operation, the switching valve 9 is the zeolite reaction tank 8
a is connected to the pipe 11, and the switching valve 1
0 is switched to connect the zeolite reaction tank 8b to the pipe 25. In this state, the zeolite reaction tank 8
a, the switching valve 9, the pipes 11 and 12, the first heat exchanger 13,
Pipe 14a, latent heat exchanger 15, pipe 14b, blower 1
9, the pipe 14c, the switching valve 6 and the zeolite reaction tank 8a form a fuel cooling circulation passage, and the atmosphere, the blower 4, and the pipe 5
An activation flow path is formed by a, the second heat exchanger 3, the pipe 5b, the switching valve 7, the zeolite reaction tank 8b, the switching valve 10, the pipe 25 and the atmosphere. In addition, when the device is stopped,
As shown in, the switching valves 6 and 7 and the switching valves 9 and 10 are closed.

The operation of the first embodiment having such a configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the zeolite reaction tank 8a is inserted as a first zeolite reaction tank in the fuel cooling circulation passage, and the zeolite reaction tank 8b is inserted as a second zeolite reaction tank in the activation passage. is there. The outside air flows into the second heat exchanger 3 from the pipe 5a via the blower 4, and the pipe 2
Heat is exchanged with the exhaust gas of the engine 1 flowing into the heat exchanger 3 from a, and the high-temperature air heated by the exhaust gas passes through the pipe 5b and the switching valve 7 and the zeolite reaction tank 8b.
And is discharged to the atmosphere via the switching valve 10 and the pipe 25. In this state, the zeolite in the zeolite reaction tank 8b is heated and dehydrated (dehumidified) with high-temperature air to activate the zeolite reaction tank 8b.

On the other hand, sent out from the latent heat exchanger 15,
The latent heat sent to the zeolite reaction tank 8a through the pipe 14b, the blower 19, the pipe 14c, and the switching valve 6 is taken away, and the high-humidity and low-temperature air absorbs heat in the activated zeolite reaction tank 8a. Becomes high temperature dry air, and the heat exchanger 13 is passed through the switching valve 9 and the pipes 11 and 12.
Sent to. The dry air that has been heat-exchanged with the outside air in the heat exchanger 13 and the temperature of which has been adjusted (lowered) to nearly the outside air temperature is introduced into the latent heat exchanger 15 through the pipe 14a,
The water 16 of the latent heat exchanger 15 is cooled by cooling the water 16 while absorbing the heat of vaporization by vaporizing the water 16 in the upper part of the water absorbing cylinder 17, which is absorbing water by a capillary phenomenon. The fuel flowing in 18 is also indirectly cooled by the water that has been cooled by removing the heat of vaporization by the vaporized water. The humidified air whose temperature has passed through the latent heat exchanger 15 is
It is introduced into the zeolite reaction tank 8a through the pipe 14b, the blower 19 and the pipe 14c, and thereafter circulates in the fuel cooling circulation passage in the same manner. Then, the fuel cooled by the latent heat exchanger 15 is supplied to the engine.

During the process of cooling the fuel in this way, the zeolite reaction tank 8a continues to absorb the moisture of the inflowing air, and when the humidity thereof exceeds a predetermined value set in advance, a detector (not shown) detects this. The switching valve 6 detects and switches the switching valve 6 so as to connect the pipe 5b to the zeolite reaction tank 8a, and the switching valve 7 switches so as to connect the pipe 14c to the zeolite reaction tank 8b.
At the same time, the switching valve 9 is switched to connect the zeolite reaction tank 8a to the pipe 25, and the switching valve 10 is switched to connect the zeolite reaction tank 8b to the pipe 11. By this switching, the zeolite reaction tank 8a is inserted into the activation channel as the second zeolite reaction tank, and the zeolite reaction tank 8b is inserted into the fuel cooling circulation channel as the first zeolite reaction tank. Then, by the already activated zeolite reaction tank 8b, the latent heat exchanger 15
The fuel cooling operation is continued and the activation process is started for the excessively humidified zeolite reaction tank 8a.

Thereafter, in the same manner, the zeolite reaction tank 8
The activation process is performed by alternately switching a and 8b, and the cooling of the fuel is always performed by the activated zeolite reaction tank. When the apparatus is stopped, in order to prevent the humidification of the zeolite reaction tanks 8a and 8b, as shown in FIG. 2, the switching control means controls the switching valves 6, 7, 9, and 10.
Is set to the closed state.

Thus, according to the first embodiment,
The zeolite reaction tanks 8a and 8b are alternately inserted into the activation channel to perform the activation treatment, and the activated zeolite reaction tank is inserted into the fuel cooling circulation channel to continue cooling the fuel. It can be done effectively. Further, the cooling effect of the fuel is performed independently of the vehicle speed, and no expensive refrigerant is used, so that the maintenance cost of the device can be significantly reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of the second embodiment during operation.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the pipe 14b connected to the outlet side of the latent heat exchanger 15 is connected to the blower 19 via the first heat exchanger 13a. Then, the temperature adjustment of the air flowing out from the first zeolite reaction tank is performed by the heat exchange with the low temperature air flowing out from the latent heat exchanger 15. The configuration of the other parts of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment already described.

In this embodiment, the temperature of the air flowing out from the zeolite reaction tank is adjusted by exchanging heat with the low temperature air flowing out from the latent heat exchanger 15, so that it corresponds to the operating state of the latent heat exchanger 15. The temperature is adjusted, and the fuel cooling operation in the latent heat exchanger 15 can be performed more effectively. Other operations and effects of this embodiment are the same as the effects of the first embodiment already described.

Further, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment during operation.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the water 16 in the latent heat exchanger 15 flows into the first heat exchanger 13B by the pump 22 through the pipe 21a and the first heat exchanger 13B. 13B is returned to the latent heat exchanger 15 via a pipe 21b. In the first heat exchanger 13B, the air flowing out from the first zeolite reaction tank exchanges heat with the water 16 in the latent heat exchanger 15. It is done. The configuration of the other parts of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment already described.

In this embodiment, the temperature of the air flowing out from the first zeolite reaction tank is adjusted by exchanging heat with the water 16 in the latent heat exchanger 15, so the latent heat exchanger 15 is used.
The temperature adjustment corresponding to the operating state of is performed, and the fuel cooling operation in the latent heat exchanger 15 can be performed more effectively. Other operations and effects of this embodiment are the same as the effects of the first embodiment already described.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the fourth embodiment during operation.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first heat exchanger 13a has a structure in which the heat exchanger 13A shown in FIG. 3 and the heat exchanger 13 shown in FIG. 1 are connected in series. There is.

In this embodiment, the temperature of the air flowing out from the first zeolite reaction tank is first adjusted by heat exchange with the outside air by the heat exchanger 13, and then by the heat exchanger 13A from the latent heat exchanger 15. Since the heat is exchanged with the outflowing air, fine temperature adjustment is performed in accordance with the operating state of the latent heat exchanger 15, and the cooling operation of the fuel in the latent heat exchanger 15 is performed more effectively and finely. It can be carried out. Other operations and effects of this embodiment are the same as the effects of the first embodiment already described.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the fifth embodiment during operation.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the first heat exchanger 13b has a structure in which the heat exchanger 13B shown in FIG. 4 and the heat exchanger 13 shown in FIG. 1 are connected in series. There is.

In this embodiment, the temperature of the air flowing out from the first zeolite reaction tank is first adjusted by heat exchange with the outside air by the heat exchanger 13, and then by the heat exchanger 13B inside the latent heat exchanger 15. Since it is performed by heat exchange with the water 16, the fine temperature adjustment corresponding to the operating state of the latent heat exchanger 15 is performed, and the cooling operation of the fuel in the latent heat exchanger 15 is performed more effectively and finely. It can be carried out. Other operations and effects of this embodiment are the same as the effects of the first embodiment already described.

In the above embodiment, the water pipe 17 and the fuel pipe 18 are
The latent heat exchanger 15 is shown in FIG. 7, and as shown in FIG. 7, a large number of holes 14a 'are formed at the end of the pipe 14a and the end is immersed in water 16 and the fuel pipe 18 is formed in a coil shape, and the coil portion is also immersed in water 16 so that the fuel pipe 1
The fuel flowing through 8 can also be indirectly cooled.

In each of the embodiments, when the humidity of the first zeolite reaction tank exceeds a predetermined value, the switching control means switches between the first zeolite reaction tank and the second zeolite reaction tank. Although explained, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and when the temperature of the first zeolite reaction tank becomes a predetermined value or less, the switching control means causes the first zeolite reaction tank and the second zeolite reaction tank to be separated. It is also possible to switch. Although not described in each example, in the present invention, the amount of water in the latent heat exchanger and the recovery means for condensing the steam generated in the first zeolite reaction tank and recovering it in the humidifying device are kept constant. It is possible to provide a water supply means for holding the zeolite reaction tank 8a as a countermeasure when the zeolite in the first and second zeolite tanks is absorbing moisture, for example, when the engine is stopped for a long period of time. ,
It is also possible to provide external or internal heating devices 9a, 9b on 8b.

[0034]

According to the present invention, the zeolite control tank dry-activated in the activation channel by the switching control means is switchably inserted into the fuel cooling circulation channel as the first zeolite reaction vessel, and the fuel cooling circulation is performed. Since the zeolite reaction tank used in the flow path and humidified is switched and inserted into the activation flow path as the second zeolite reaction tank, a plurality of zeolite reaction tanks are switched and selected to cool the fuel, The fuel can be cooled continuously and effectively, and the fuel cooling effect does not depend on the vehicle speed, so a stable cooling effect can be obtained, and no expensive refrigerant is used, so the maintenance cost of the device is greatly reduced. It is possible to

Further, since there is no leakage or release of the refrigerant during use or when the device is discarded, there is no possibility of environmental pollution such as destruction of the ozone layer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration during operation of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration at the time of stop of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration during operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration during operation of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration during operation of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a fifth embodiment of the present invention during operation.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the latent heat exchanger according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Engine 3 Second Heat Exchanger 6, 7, 9, 10 Switching Valve 8a, 8b Zeolite Reaction Tank 9a, 9b Heating Device 13, 13a, 13b First Heat Exchanger 15 Latent Heat Heat Exchanger

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A latent heat exchanger comprising a plurality of zeolite reaction tanks and a latent heat exchanger, the fuel being supplied to an engine of a vehicle, and the dry air obtained by the moisture absorption exothermic reaction of the dry activated zeolite reaction tank. A fuel cooling device for indirectly cooling the fuel by supplying the heat to the heat exchanger, and moisture in the latent heat exchanger is absorbed by the dry air to remove the heat of vaporization, which is the first zeolite reaction tank. Dry air that has been heated is the first
Temperature is adjusted in the heat exchanger, and the temperature-adjusted air and the fuel are supplied to the latent heat exchanger to cool the fuel, and the air that has passed through the latent heat exchanger is the first heat exchanger. The first zeolite reaction tank, the first heat exchanger and the latent heat exchanger are connected in series to each other so as to be returned to the zeolite reaction tank, An activation flow path for drying the second zeolite reaction tank by allowing the outside air whose temperature is adjusted by the second heat exchanger to flow into the second zeolite reaction tank, and the zeolite dry-activated in the activation flow path. The reaction tank is switched and inserted into the fuel cooling circulation passage as the first zeolite reaction tank, and the humidified zeolite reaction tank used in the fuel cooling circulation passage is used as the second zeolite reaction tank. Cut to the activation channel To insert a fuel cooling device and having a switching control means for switching control to select the plurality of zeolite reaction vessel. 2. The switching control means performs switching control so that the first zeolite reaction tank is inserted into the activation circulation path when the humidity of the first zeolite reaction tank exceeds a predetermined value. The fuel cooling device according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The switching control means controls switching so that the first zeolite reaction tank is inserted into the activation circulation path when the temperature of the first zeolite reaction tank falls below a predetermined value. The fuel cooling device according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising recovery means for condensing the steam generated in the second zeolite reaction tank and recovering it in the latent heat exchanger.
The fuel cooling device according to claim 1. 5. The fuel cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising water supply means for maintaining a constant amount of water in the latent heat exchanger. 6. The fuel cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the latent heat exchanger has a structure in which a fuel pipe is wound around a water absorption cylinder.