The internal combustion engines (M) of the invention are provided with a cooling water circuit, associated with a water radiator and with a lubricant oil circuit. The heat exchanger (HE) comprises an inlet and an outlet of water connected, in series, to an outlet of the water radiator, by means of a cooled water conduit and of the cooling water circuit, and to an inlet of the water radiator, by means of a return conduit and a hot water conduit; a fuel inlet nozzle and a fuel outlet nozzle, selectively connected to the fuel supply to the engine (M); and an inlet and an outlet of lubricant oil, connected to the lubricant oil circuit by means of respective oil conduits.

The internal combustion engines (M) of the invention are provided with a cooling water circuit, associated with a water radiator and with a lubricant oil circuit. The heat exchanger (HE) comprises an inlet and an outlet of water connected, in series, to an outlet of the water radiator, by means of a cooled water conduit and of the cooling water circuit, and to an inlet of the water radiator, by means of a return conduit and a hot water conduit; a fuel inlet nozzle and a fuel outlet nozzle, selectively connected to the fuel supply to the engine (M); and an inlet and an outlet of lubricant oil, connected to the lubricant oil circuit by means of respective oil conduits.

A regasification apparatus includes a closed loop heat transfer fluid circulation assembly, for the storage of the cold energy extracted from fuel during its regasification, and provides: a first tank, for containing at ambient temperature the heat transfer fluid, and an insulated second tank where the latter is kept cold; a fluid/fluid heat exchanger, defining the heating means, in which the fluid, coming out of the first tank, is placed in heat transfer with the cold branch of the pipe and therefore cooled, then stored in the second tank. From the latter departs at least one insulated branch, to supply with cold fluid at least one utility present in the aforementioned vehicle, for example an air/fluid heat exchanger located downstream an intercooler of the engine. By means of a pipe, the heat transfer fluid, heated back to ambient temperature, returns to the first tank.

A regasification apparatus includes a closed loop heat transfer fluid circulation assembly, for the storage of the cold energy extracted from fuel during its regasification, and provides: a first tank, for containing at ambient temperature the heat transfer fluid, and an insulated second tank where the latter is kept cold; a fluid/fluid heat exchanger, defining the heating means, in which the fluid, coming out of the first tank, is placed in heat transfer with the cold branch of the pipe and therefore cooled, then stored in the second tank. From the latter departs at least one insulated branch, to supply with cold fluid at least one utility present in the aforementioned vehicle, for example an air/fluid heat exchanger located downstream an intercooler of the engine. By means of a pipe, the heat transfer fluid, heated back to ambient temperature, returns to the first tank.

In some embodiments, a fuel temperature sensor is located proximate to a vehicle component that is expected to experience fuel gelling, such as near or within a fuel filter, in order to obtain temperature information that accurately reflects the likelihood of fuel gelling occurring within the component. The proximate fuel temperature sensor can provide more accurate temperature information for components such as fuel filters that are installed at the periphery of the vehicle, compared to other temperature sensors that measure oil temperatures or other temperatures of centrally located vehicle components. In some embodiments, the vehicle is automatically started when the temperature indicated by the fuel temperature sensor falls below a startup temperature threshold value, and is automatically stopped after a predetermined time period or after the temperature reaches a shutdown temperature threshold value.

In some embodiments, a fuel temperature sensor is located proximate to a vehicle component that is expected to experience fuel gelling, such as near or within a fuel filter, in order to obtain temperature information that accurately reflects the likelihood of fuel gelling occurring within the component. The proximate fuel temperature sensor can provide more accurate temperature information for components such as fuel filters that are installed at the periphery of the vehicle, compared to other temperature sensors that measure oil temperatures or other temperatures of centrally located vehicle components. In some embodiments, the vehicle is automatically started when the temperature indicated by the fuel temperature sensor falls below a startup temperature threshold value, and is automatically stopped after a predetermined time period or after the temperature reaches a shutdown temperature threshold value.

An internal combustion engine assembly comprises: a fuel tank for containing fuel comprising alcohol, a reformer unit being in heat exchanging contact with exhaust gases from an exhaust system, for steam reforming of alcohol, a water supply unit connected to a water steam inlet of the reformer unit, and a distiller unit being with a fuel inlet connected to a distiller supply duct that is connected to the fuel tank, an alcohol outlet of the distiller unit being connected to the inlet of the reformer unit. The increased alcohol concentrations at the inlet of the steam reformer result in improved efficiency of the reforming process.

An internal combustion engine assembly comprises: a fuel tank for containing fuel comprising alcohol, a reformer unit being in heat exchanging contact with exhaust gases from an exhaust system, for steam reforming of alcohol, a water supply unit connected to a water steam inlet of the reformer unit, and a distiller unit being with a fuel inlet connected to a distiller supply duct that is connected to the fuel tank, an alcohol outlet of the distiller unit being connected to the inlet of the reformer unit. The increased alcohol concentrations at the inlet of the steam reformer result in improved efficiency of the reforming process.

A method of improving fuel efficiency in a diesel fuel internal combustion engine on a vehicle includes providing a combustion system including a fuel tank, an engine, and a fuel line disposed between the fuel tank and the engine. A heat exchanger is positioned on the fuel line between the fuel tank and the engine. Working thermal fluid is passed from a reservoir through the heat exchanger while fuel is passed through the heat exchanger, increasing the temperature of the fuel passing through the heat exchanger. A vibration isolation mount is installed between the heat exchanger and the vehicle, thereby reducing vibration of the heat exchanger during use of the vehicle. Heated fuel from the heat exchanger is delivered to the engine, improving the fuel efficiency of the engine by burning the heated fuel.

A method of improving fuel efficiency in a diesel fuel internal combustion engine on a vehicle includes providing a combustion system including a fuel tank, an engine, and a fuel line disposed between the fuel tank and the engine. A heat exchanger is positioned on the fuel line between the fuel tank and the engine. Working thermal fluid is passed from a reservoir through the heat exchanger while fuel is passed through the heat exchanger, increasing the temperature of the fuel passing through the heat exchanger. A vibration isolation mount is installed between the heat exchanger and the vehicle, thereby reducing vibration of the heat exchanger during use of the vehicle. Heated fuel from the heat exchanger is delivered to the engine, improving the fuel efficiency of the engine by burning the heated fuel.