Energy Recovery System for a Mobile Machine

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to an energy recovery system for a mobile machine The energy recovery system may include a tank configured to store a liquid fuel for combustion within an engine of the mobile machine, and a first reservoir configured to receive gaseous fuel formed in the tank. The energy recovery system may also include a conduit disposed around the tank that may be fluidly connected to the first reservoir. The energy recovery system may also include a second reservoir fluidly connected to the conduit, and an energy recovery configured to generate work utilizing a temperature gradient between gaseous fuel disposed within the first and second reservoirs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy recovery system for a mobile machine, comprising:
 a tank configured to store a liquid fuel for combustion within an engine of the mobile machine;   a first reservoir configured to receive gaseous fuel formed in the tank;   a conduit disposed around the tank and fluidly connected to the first reservoir;   a second reservoir fluidly connected to the conduit; and   an energy recovery device configured to generate work utilizing a temperature gradient between gaseous fuel disposed within the first and second reservoirs.   
     
     
         2 . The energy recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery device is in thermal communication with the first and second reservoirs. 
     
     
         3 . The energy recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery device is a Stirling engine. 
     
     
         4 . The energy recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery device is a thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         5 . The energy recovery system of  claim 1 , further including a control valve associated with the tank and configured to discharge gaseous fuel from the tank to the first reservoir when a pressure of the tank exceeds a tank threshold pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The energy recovery system of  claim 1 , further including a fuel delivery circuit fluidly connected to the tank and configured to deliver liquid fuel from the tank to the engine. 
     
     
         7 . The energy recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit substantially encloses and is coiled around the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The energy recovery system of  claim 1 , further including a combustion chamber configured to receive gaseous fuel from the second reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The energy recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the engine is configured to receive gaseous fuel from the second reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a mobile machine, comprising:
 directing gaseous fuel formed in a tank through a conduit disposed around the tank; and   generating work utilizing a temperature gradient between gaseous fuel disposed within a first reservoir and a second reservoir.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the conduit is disposed between the first and second reservoirs. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further including directing gaseous fuel from the second reservoir toward a combustion chamber or an engine of the mobile machine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further including driving a Stirling engine to generate work utilizing the temperature gradient. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further including driving a thermoelectric device to generate Work utilizing the temperature gradient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further directing the gaseous fuel formed in the tank through a plurality of coils disposed around the tank. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further including directing liquid fuel from the tank through a fuel delivery circuit for combustion within a main engine of the mobile machine. 
     
     
         17 . A mobile machine, comprising:
 a frame;   a main engine mounted to the frame;   a tank configured to store a liquid fuel;   a fuel delivery circuit fluidly connected to the tank and configured to deliver fuel from the tank to the main engine;   a first reservoir configured to receive gaseous fuel formed in the tank;   a conduit disposed around the tank and fluidly connected to the first reservoir;   a second reservoir fluidly connected to the conduit; and   an energy recovery device configured to generate work utilizing a temperature gradient between gaseous fuel disposed within the first and second reservoirs.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile machine of  claim 17 , wherein the energy recovery device is a Stirling engine. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile machine of  claim 17 , wherein the energy recovery device is a thermoelectric device 
     
     
         20 . The mobile machine of  claim 17 , further including a control valve associated with the tank and configured to discharge gaseous fuel from the tank to the first reservoir when a pressure of the tank exceeds a tank threshold pressure.