Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
  • B67D7/32—Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
  • B67D7/3245—Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid relating to the transfer method
  • B67D7/3263—Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid relating to the transfer method using a pressurised gas acting directly or indirectly on the bulk of the liquid to be transferred
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/04—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D88/00—Large containers
  • B65D88/76—Large containers for use underground
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
  • B67D7/32—Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
  • B67D7/3227—Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid relating to venting of a container during loading or unloading
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
  • B67D7/58—Arrangements of pumps
  • B67D7/70—Arrangements of pumps of two or more pumps in series or parallel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
  • B67D7/78—Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines

Definitions

• the invention relates to a fuel dispensing unit for refueling vehicles and a method for handling a fuel dispensing unit.
• a typical fuel dispensing environment such as the forecourt of a retail fuel dispensing station, comprises a large number of components both for fuel handling and for conducting fuel dispensing transactions.
• components include fuel dispensers, fuel piping, underground storage tanks, submersible turbine and self-contained pumps, motors, and dispensing nozzles.
• fuel dispensers themselves typically contain flow meters, pulsers, control electronics, valves, card readers, manifolds, and internal fuel and vapor recovery piping, among others. Many of these components are subject to regulatory requirements to maintain a high degree of accuracy and safety and to guard against environmental impact.
• these components require periodic maintenance or replacement. Some of these components tend to wear over time, which may cause loss of accuracy or efficiency in a fueling transaction or other operational issues. Component wear can be caused by manufacturing defects, poor fuel quality, or excessive use, among other causes. Eventually, the components may fail (e.g., failure of a pump motor or a leak in the fuel piping) leading to downtime while the components are replaced. Further, some of the components may fail to operate properly, leading to customer frustration or the inability to complete a fueling
• Symptoms of this operating condition may include one or more of the following; dramatic loss of flow rate, gauge bouncing, ratchet or grinding sounds from pump, inconsistent or loss of fuel pressure and temperatures above 50°C.
• Loss of fuel delivery pressure will also result in a lean-out condition, and may also result in pump damage. Typically, even with very short time periods of exposure to cavitation (depending on severity) may cause damage to the fuel pump. Such damage results in a direct loss of capacity and efficiency. Eventually, the fuel system will not be able to build or maintain pressure.
• the fuel dispensing unit comprises a storage tank for storing fuel, a pump with a suction side and a pressure side for pumping fuel along a fuel flow path between the storage tank and a nozzle, and a vent line connected to the storage tank.
• the fuel dispensing unit is characterized in that the vent line comprises a fan adapted to blow air in the vent line and towards the storage tank to create an overpressure inside the storage tank.
• the overpressure makes it possible to increase the fuel pressure at the inlet of the pump thereby reducing the cavitation phenomena. In other words, this is a simple way of eliminating cavitation issues on existing refueling stations at a low cost. It is particularly interesting for unleaded fuel having a high vapor pressure.
• the fuel dispensing unit may further comprise a control unit connected to the fan and adapted to control the fan.
• the pump itself may comprise or constitute the control unit.
• the vent line may further comprise a valve for controlling the pressure of in the storage tank. Normally, a pressure of between -5 and 30 mbar is normally preferred.
• the fuel dispensing unit may be equipped with a monitoring system which may be connected to control unit and adapted to monitor the refueling operations of the fuel dispensing unit to ensure that the fan in the vent line is turned off during the refueling operations.
• the fuel dispensing unit may further comprise a detection means connected to the control unit and adapted to detect a parameter linked to a cavitation risk in the pump.
• the detection means may comprise a pressure gauge, a temperature sensor, an ultrasonic sensor and/or a flow meter.
• the control unit may be adapted to control the fan based on the parameter detected by the detection means.
• the fuel dispensing unit may further comprise a secondary pump connected to the suction side of the pump.
• the secondary pump is preferably placed as close to the storage pump as possible. The function of the secondary pump is to push the liquid and thus decrease the required vacuum to help with cavity issues.
• the secondary pump may be connected to the control unit.
• the control unit may be adapted to control the secondary pump based on the parameter detected by the detection means.
• the parameter e.g. temperature, pressure, flow rate, etc.
• the parameter may accordingly trigger the small pump to start and will then work as an additional pump. If it for example is installed close to the storage tank it will help pushing the liquid forward in the fuel flow path and thus decrease the required vacuum which in turn helps eliminate any cavity issues.
• the storage tank may comprise an underground reservoir.
• the fuel dispensing unit comprising a storage tank for storing fuel, a pump with a suction side and a pressure side for pumping fuel along a fuel flow path between the storage tank and a nozzle, a vent line connected to the storage tank, the vent line comprising a fan adapted to blow air in the vent line and towards the storage tank to create an overpressure inside the storage tank, a control unit connected to the fan, and a detection means connected to the control unit.
• the method is characterized in that is comprises detecting a parameter linked to a cavitation risk in the pump, and controlling the fan based on the parameter detected by the detection means.
• the method may further comprise the step of controlling a secondary pump connected to the suction side of the pump based on the parameter detected by the detection means.
• a fuel dispensing unit for refueling vehicles comprising a storage tank for storing fuel, and a pump with a suction side and a pressure side for pumping fuel along a fuel flow path between the storage tank and a nozzle.
• the fuel dispensing unit is characterized in that it further comprises a secondary pump connected to the suction side of the pump.
• the fuel dispensing unit may further comprise a control unit connected to the secondary pump, and a detection means connected to the control unit and adapted to detect a parameter linked to a cavitation risk in the pump.
• the control unit may be adapted to control the secondary pump based on the parameter detected by the detection means.
• the fuel dispensing unit comprises a storage tank for storing fuel, a pump with a suction side and a pressure side for pumping fuel along a fuel flow path between the storage tank and a nozzle, a secondary pump connected to the suction side of the pump, a control unit connected to the fan, and a detection means connected to the control unit.
• the method is characterized in that it comprises detecting a parameter linked to a cavitation risk in the pump, and controlling the secondary pump based on the parameter detected by the detection means.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a part of a fuel dispensing unit according a first aspect of the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fuel dispensing unit.
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the fuel dispensing unit.
• Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary fuel dispensing unit 1 , having hose storage spaces 2 on each opposing side of the fuel dispensing unit 1 , an electrical cabinet 3 containing all the electronics for the fuel dispensing unit 1 , a hydraulic cabinet 4 containing fuel dispensing means (not shown), e.g. fuel metering means, valves, vapor recovery system etc., and a column 5 extending vertically between and separating the electrical cabinet 3 and the hydraulic cabinet 4 from the hose storage spaces 2.
• fuel dispensing means e.g. fuel metering means, valves, vapor recovery system etc.
• the fuel dispensing unit 1 comprises a storage tank 6 which is constituted by an underground reservoir for storing fuel, a pump 7 with a suction side S and a pressure side P for pumping fuel along a fuel flow path between the storage tank 6 and a nozzle 8, and a vent line 9 connected to the storage tank 6.
• the vent line 9 comprises a fan 10 which is adapted to blow air in the vent line 9 and towards the storage tank 6 to create an overpressure inside the storage tank 6.
• the fuel dispensing unit 1 further comprises a control unit 11 which is connected to the fan 10, and a detection means 12 which is connected to the control unit 11 and adapted to detect a parameter linked to a cavitation risk in the pump 7.
• the detection means 12 is for example constituted by a pressure gauge, a temperature sensor and/or a flow meter.
• the control unit 11 is in turn adapted to control the fan 10 based on the parameter detected by the detection means 12.
• the fuel When filling up the tank of a motor vehicle, the fuel is pumped from the underground reservoir 6 by means of the pump 7 which is located in the hydraulic cabinet 4, and from there to the column 5 and out to the nozzle 8 via a hose 13.
• a main fuel supply pipe 14 extends between the underground reservoir 6 and the suction side S of the pump 7, while the hose 13 extends between the pressure side P of the pump 7 and the nozzle 8.
• the suction side S provides an underpressure to the main fuel supply pipe 14 and the pressure side S provides an overpressure to the hose 13.
• the fuel dispensing unit 1 has a nozzle boot 15 in which the nozzle 8 is arranged when not in use.
• the nozzle boot 15 preferably comprises a sensor (not shown) for detecting if the nozzle 8 is present in the nozzle boot 15. Also, the nozzle 8 is normally equipped with a flow meter (not shown) for
• FIG. 3 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of the fuel dispensing unit 1.
• the fuel dispensing unit 1 is further equipped with a secondary pump 16 connected to the suction side S of the pump 7.
• the secondary pump 16 is connected to the control unit 11 and the control unit 11 is adapted to control the secondary pump 16 based on the parameter detected by the detection means 12.
• the size, shape and number of the components in the fuel dispensing unit may be varied.
• the fan 10 could always run or run under external conditions. In this second case, the fan 10 is connected to the control unit 11.
• the detection means 12 could be a tank gauge or a temperature sensor, such as the automatic temperature compensation sensor (ATC) of a fuel meter.
• the fan 10 could be turned on when the tank gauge is measuring that the level in the storage tank 6 is low, when the temperature is high outside the storage tank 6, or when the temperature of the fuel is high.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=65237012

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2018
  • 2018-02-19 SE SE1850179A patent/SE543451C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2019
  • 2019-01-22 WO PCT/EP2019/051465 patent/WO2019158322A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2019-01-22 EP EP19702037.3A patent/EP3755654B1/de active Active

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