US 12,421,908 B1
Systems and methods for actively managing pilot fuel storage tanks
Jonathan W. Anders, Peoria, IL (US); David Mark Ginter, Peoria, IL (US); and Kenth I. Svensson, Peoria, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on May 2, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/653,783.
Int. Cl. F02D 19/06 (2006.01); F02D 19/02 (2006.01); F02M 31/02 (2019.01)
CPC F02D 19/0642 (2013.01) [F02D 19/023 (2013.01); F02D 19/0607 (2013.01); F02D 19/0665 (2013.01); F02D 19/0668 (2013.01); F02D 19/0678 (2013.01); F02D 19/0684 (2013.01); F02M 31/02 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
an internal combustion engine that consumes a primary fuel and a pilot fuel;
a primary fuel tank providing the primary fuel to a primary fuel rail for use by the internal combustion engine;
a pilot fuel system configured to generate the pilot fuel from the primary fuel, the pilot fuel system including:
a reactor that receives the primary fuel, the reactor configured to convert the primary fuel from an alcohol to an ether, wherein a product of the reactor comprises the pilot fuel, unreacted primary fuel, and water; and
a product pump that receives the pilot fuel from the reactor and pumps the pilot fuel into the internal combustion engine or one or more pilot fuel storage tanks for use by the internal combustion engine;
a gaseous pilot fuel feed line comprising a first feed input located within the one or more pilot fuel storage tanks at a location that preferably receives a gaseous portion of the pilot fuel stored in the one or more pilot fuel storage tanks;
a liquid pilot fuel feed line comprising a second feed input located within the one or more pilot fuel storage tanks at a location that preferably receives a liquid portion of the pilot fuel stored in the one or more pilot fuel storage tanks;
a pilot feed valve configured to receive the gaseous portion of the pilot fuel, the liquid portion of the pilot fuel, or a combination of the gaseous portion of the pilot fuel and the liquid portion of the pilot fuel; and
a controller configured to actively manage a physical state of the pilot fuel stored in the one or more pilot fuel storage tanks, the controller comprising:
a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and
a processor in communication with the memory, the computer-executable instructions causing the processor to perform acts comprising:
receiving a storage condition of the one or more pilot fuel storage tanks;
determining if the storage condition of the one or more pilot fuel storage tanks is within a range; and
upon determining that the storage condition is not within the range, issuing a control output to bring the storage condition to within the range.