ADDITIVE EXPLOSION RISK

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a fuel dispensing unit for refueling vehicles and to a method for handling a fuel dispensing unit.

Background art

[0002] Safety aspects in and around areas containing fuel dispensing units is today a highly debated field and new technology is constantly developed with the intention to increase the safety within such areas. It is well-known that fuel, such as petrol or diesel, is a highly inflammable substance that must be handled with extreme care. An inherent property of fuel, that increases the risks of its handling, is its high volatility. For the above reasons, safety standards such as the UL standards for safety in North America, the ATEX directive in the EU or the European standard EN 13617 pertaining to petrol filling stations have been created for fuel handling to reduce the thereby induced risks.

[0003] According to those standards, electromechanical devices, such as the motor or the above mentioned switching device, must be enclosed in explosion-proof housings or isolated through the use of intrinsically safe circuitry in order to protect against the hazards of a spark igniting fuel vapors.

[0004] Although serious measures have been taken to ensure the safety it is always a concern when highly inflammable substances are handled around fuel dispensing units.

[0005] In today's conventional fuel dispensing units it is common that an additive is added to the fuel of the fuel dispensing unit for various reasons. The additive constitutes a highly inflammable substance and is normally held in a container which is placed in connection to the fuel dispensing unit and is connected thereto.

[0006] The additive is pumped into the fuel at a pressure side of a fuel pump inside the fuel dispensing unit. The additive itself is pumped by means of a pump driven by a motor.

[0007] A problem with this solution is that new regulations states that the additive is no longer allowed to be pressurized in concentrated form due to the risk of explosion.

[0008] A fuel dispensing unit according to the preamble of independent claim 1 is known from WO 2015/009215 A1.

Summary of the invention

[0009] It is an objective of the present invention to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination and solve at least the above mentioned problems.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, these and other objects are achieved, in full or at least in part, by a fuel dispensing unit for refueling vehicles. The fuel dispensing unit comprises an underground tank for holding fuel, a fuel conduit for transporting the fuel, the fuel conduit extending between the underground tank and a hose connection, a pump arranged on the fuel conduit, the pump having a suction side and a pressure side, an additive tank for holding additive, and an additive conduit for transporting the additive. The additive conduit extends between the additive tank and the fuel conduit. The fuel dispensing unit is characterized in that the additive conduit is connected to the fuel conduit on the suction side of the pump.

[0011] Since the additive enters the fuel conduit at the suction side of the pump, it is no longer pressurized in concentrated form. In other words, the additive is mixed into the fuel present in the fuel conduit before being pressurized by means of the pump.

[0012] This is advantageous in that the risk of explosion is eliminated. Another advantage is that the need for an additional pump and motor for pumping the additive in the fuel dispensing unit is removed.

[0013] The fuel dispensing unit may further comprise a flow meter and a control valve arranged in series in the additive conduit.

[0014] The fuel dispensing unit may further comprise a control unit connected to the flow meter and a control valve.

[0015] The control unit may be adapted to control the control valve based on the volume of fuel present in a fuel flow path of the fuel dispensing unit when a refuelling process is initiated to compensate for lack of additive in that volume of fuel.

[0016] The volume of fuel present between the nozzle of the fuel dispensing unit and the additive injection point of the system, i.e. where the additive conduit connects with the fuel conduit, is known. In one embodiment, the control valve in the additive conduit is set to distribute a higher level of additive for the first 5 litres of fuel to compensate for the lack of additive in the fuel present in the system when the refuelling process is initiated. If the preceding refuelling process in the system included additive, no such compensation will be necessary.

[0017] The fuel dispensing unit may further comprise a flow meter arranged in the fuel conduit at the suction side of the pump, wherein the control unit is connected to the flow meter arranged in the fuel conduit.

[0018] The control unit may be adapted to control the control valve based on information from the flow meter arranged in the additive conduit and from the flow meter arranged in the fuel conduit.

[0019] The fuel dispensing unit may further comprise bypass channel extending between the pressure side and the suction side of the pump on the fuel conduit, the bypass channel comprising a control valve.

[0020] The pump and the flow meter arranged in the fuel conduit may be arranged in a hydraulics compartment of the fuel dispensing unit.

[0021] The additive tank, and the flow meter and the control valve arranged in the additive conduit, may be arranged in an additive compartment.

[0022] The additive compartment may be arranged in an opposite side to the hydraulics compartment of the fuel dispensing.

[0023] The fuel dispensing unit may further comprise a nozzle connected to the hose connection via a hose.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the invention, these and other objects, and/or advantages that will be apparent from the following description of embodiments, are achieved, in full or at least in part, by a method for handling a fuel pump unit for a fuel dispensing unit. The fuel dispensing unit comprises an underground tank for holding fuel, a fuel conduit for transporting fuel, the fuel conduit extending between the underground tank and a hose connection, a pump arranged on the fuel conduit, the pump having a suction side and a pressure side, an additive tank for holding additive, an additive conduit for transporting additive. The additive conduit extending between the additive tank and the fuel conduit. The method is characterized by the step of connecting the additive conduit to the fuel conduit at the suction side (S) of the pump.

[0025] The method may further comprise the step of controlling the control valve arranged in the additive conduit based on the volume of fuel present in the fuel flow path of the fuel dispensing unit when a refuelling process is initiated to compensate for lack of additive in that volume of fuel.

[0026] The method may further comprise the step of controlling a control valve arranged in the additive conduit based on information from a flow meter arranged in the additive conduit and information from a flow meter arranged in the fuel conduit.

[0027] Effects and features of the second aspect of the present invention are largely analogous to those described above in connection with the first aspect of the inventive concept. Embodiments mentioned in relation to the first aspect of the present invention are largely compatible with the further aspects of the invention.

[0028] Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, as well as from the drawings. It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features as defined in the appended claims.

[0029] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0030] As used herein, the term "comprising" and variations of that term are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

[0031] The term "hose connection" is the part, portion or section connecting the fuel conduit with the hose in the fuel dispensing unit. It may for example be constituted by a normal connection means, or by a part or portion of a conduit.

Brief description of the drawings

[0032] The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals may be used for similar elements, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a fuel dispensing unit for refueling vehicles according to a first aspect of the invention.

Fig. 2 is another perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the fuel dispensing unit for refueling vehicles according to the first aspect of the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0033] Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a fuel dispensing unit 1 for refueling vehicles. The fuel dispensing unit 1 has hose storage spaces 2 on each opposing side of the fuel dispensing unit 1, an electrical compartment 3 containing all the electronics for the fuel dispensing unit 1, a hydraulic compartment 4 containing fuel dispensing means (not shown), e.g. fuel metering means, valves, vapour recovery system etc., and a column 5 extending vertically between and separating the electrical compartment 3 and the hydraulic compartment 4 from the hose storage spaces 2. The fuel dispensing unit 1 also has an additive compartment 6 which is arranged on an opposite side of the fuel dispensing unit 1 in relation to the hydraulics compartment 4.

[0034] When filling up the tank of a motor vehicle, the fuel is pumped from an underground tank 7 by means of a pump 8 which is located in the hydraulic compartment 4, and from there to the column 5 and out to a nozzle 9 via a hose connected 10 to the hose connection 11.

[0035] The fuel dispensing unit 1 has a nozzle boot 12 in which the nozzle 9 is arranged when not in use. The nozzle boot 12 preferably comprises a sensor (not shown) for detecting if the nozzle 9 is present in the nozzle boot 12. Further, the nozzle 9 is normally equipped with a flow meter (not shown) for measuring the fuel flow rate from the nozzle 9 upon refuelling.

[0036] Fig. 2 illustrates the fuel dispensing unit 1 from a see through perspective. The fuel dispensing unit 1 comprises the underground tank 7 for holding fuel and a fuel conduit 13 for transporting the fuel. The fuel conduit 13 extends between the underground tank 7 and the hose connection 11. The fuel dispensing unit 1 further comprises the pump 8 arranged on the fuel conduit 13, the pump having a suction side S and a pressure side P, an additive tank 14 for holding additive, and an additive conduit 15 for transporting the additive. The additive conduit 15 extends between the additive tank 14 and the fuel conduit 13 and is connected the fuel conduit 13 at the suction side S of the pump 8.

[0037] In this embodiment, a flow meter 16 and a control valve 17 are arranged in series in the additive conduit 15. The fuel dispensing unit 1 also comprises a control unit 18 which is connected to the flow meter 16 and the control valve 17. The control unit 18 is used to control the flow of additive through the additive conduit 15 by means of the control valve 17.

[0038] The control unit 18 may for example be adapted to control the control valve 17 based on the volume of fuel present in a fuel flow path of the fuel dispensing unit 1 when a refuelling process is initiated to compensate for lack of additive in that volume of fuel.

[0039] More specifically, since the volume of fuel present between a nozzle 9 of the fuel dispensing unit 1 and the additive injection point of the system, i.e. where the additive conduit connects with the fuel conduit 13, is known, the control valve 17 in the additive conduit 15 may be set to distribute a higher level of additive for a predetermined number litres of fuel to compensate for the lack of additive in the fuel present in the system when the refuelling process is initiated. If the preceding refuelling process in the system included additive, no such compensation is necessary. The predetermined number of litre is established based on the volume of fuel present in the system when the refuelling process is initiated.

[0040] Optionally, a flow meter 19 is arranged in the fuel conduit at the suction side S of the pump 8. In this case, the control unit 18 is connected to the flow meter 19 arranged in the fuel conduit 13. This way, the control unit 18 may be adapted to control the control valve 17 based on information from the flow meter 16 arranged in the additive conduit and from the flow meter 13 arranged in the fuel conduit. In other words, the control valve 17 in the additive conduit 15 may be set to distribute a level of additive which is based on the fuel flow rate detected by the flow meter in the fuel conduit 13.

[0041] Naturally, the control unit 18 may be adapted to combine the different solutions described above in order to give the best possible accuracy of the ratio blending. In other words, the control unit 18 may be adapted to control the control valve 17 based on information from both the flow meter 16 and the flow meter 19, as well as, simultaneously compensating for the potential for the lack of additive in the fuel volume present in the system when the refuelling process is initiated.

[0042] The fuel dispensing unit 1 may also further comprise a bypass channel 20 extending between the pressure side P and the suction side S of the pump 8 on the fuel conduit 13, wherein the bypass channel 20 comprises a control valve 21. During simultaneous fuelling, the control valve 21 in the bypass channel 20 is closed or open at a small opening degree. However, when the fuel dispensing unit 1 is used to deliver fuel from only one nozzle 9, a backpressure develops and causes the control valve 21 to open. Thereby, a portion of the pumped fuel is recirculated to the inlet of the pump 8.

[0043] The pump 8 and the flow meter 13 arranged in the fuel conduit are arranged in a hydraulics compartment 4 of the fuel dispensing unit 1, while the additive tank 14, and the flow meter 16 and the control valve 17 arranged in the additive conduit 15, are arranged in an additive compartment 6. The additive compartment 6 is in this embodiment arranged at an opposite side to the hydraulics compartment 4 of the fuel dispensing unit 1.

[0044] It is understood that other variations in the present invention are contemplated and in some instances, some features of the invention can be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0045] For instance, the control valve 17 may be constituted by an on-off valve, a proportional valve, or another device for adjusting the additive flow rate in the additive conduit 15.

[0046] The pump 8 may be connected to a pump motor which drives the same but it may also include a pump motor in itself.

Claims

1. A fuel dispensing unit (1) for refueling vehicles, comprising:

an underground tank (7) for holding fuel,

a fuel conduit (13) for transporting the fuel, the fuel conduit (13) extending between the underground tank (7) and a hose connection (11),

a pump (8) arranged on the fuel conduit (13), the pump (8) having a suction side (S) and a pressure side (P),

an additive tank (14) for holding additive, and

an additive conduit (15) for transporting the additive, the additive conduit (15) extending between the additive tank (14) and the fuel conduit (13),

characterized in that the additive conduit (15) is connected to the fuel conduit (13) at the suction side (S) of the pump (8).

2. The fuel dispensing unit (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a flow meter (16) and a control valve (17) arranged in series in the additive conduit (15).

3. The fuel dispensing (1) unit according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit (18) connected to the flow meter (16) and a control valve (17) in the additive conduit (15).

4. The fuel dispensing unit (1) according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (18) is adapted to control the control valve (17) based on the volume of fuel present in a fuel flow path of the fuel dispensing unit (1) when a refuelling process is initiated to compensate for lack of additive in that volume of fuel.

5. The fuel dispensing unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a flow meter (19) arranged in the fuel conduit (13) at the suction side (S) of the pump (8), wherein the control unit (18) is connected to the flow meter (19) arranged in the fuel conduit (13).

6. The fuel dispensing unit (1) according to claim 5, wherein the control unit (18) is adapted to control the control valve (17) based on information from the flow meter (16) arranged in the additive conduit (15) and from the flow meter (19) arranged in the fuel conduit (13).

7. The fuel dispensing unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a bypass channel (20) extending between the pressure side (P) and the suction side (S) of the pump (8) on the fuel conduit (13), the bypass channel (20) comprising a control valve (21).

8. The fuel dispensing unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump (8) and the flow meter (19) arranged in the fuel conduit (13) are arranged in a hydraulics compartment (4) of the fuel dispensing unit (1).

9. The fuel dispensing unit (1) according to claim 9, wherein the additive tank (14), and the flow meter (16) and the control valve (17) arranged in the additive conduit (15), are arranged in an additive compartment (6), the additive compartment (6) being arranged in an opposite side to the hydraulics compartment (6) of the fuel dispensing unit (1).

10. The fuel dispensing unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a nozzle (9) connected to the hose connection (11) via a hose (10).

11. A method of handling a fuel dispensing unit (1), the fuel dispensing unit (1) comprising:

an underground tank (7) for holding fuel,

a fuel conduit (13) for transporting fuel, the fuel conduit (13) extending between the underground tank (7) and a hose connection (11),

a pump (8) arranged on the fuel conduit (13), the pump (8) having a suction side (S) and a pressure side (P),

an additive tank (14) for holding additive,

an additive conduit (15) for transporting additive, the additive conduit (15) extending between the additive tank (14) and the fuel conduit (13),

characterized by the step of:
connecting the additive conduit (15) to the fuel conduit (13) at the suction side (S) of the pump (8).

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

controlling if the preceding refuelling process included fuel containing additive,

if no, controlling the control valve (17) arranged in the additive conduit (15) based on the volume of fuel present a fuel flow path of the fuel dispensing unit (1) when a new refuelling process is initiated to compensate for lack of additive in that volume of fuel.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising the step of controlling a control valve (17) arranged in the additive conduit (15) based on information from a flow meter (16) arranged in the additive conduit (15) and information from a flow meter (19) arranged in the fuel conduit (13).

Ansprüche

1. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) zum Auftanken von Fahrzeugen, die Folgendes umfasst:

einen unterirdischen Tank (7) zum Aufnehmen von Kraftstoff,

eine Kraftstoffleitung (13) zum Befördern des Kraftstoffs, wobei sich die Kraftstoffleitung (13) zwischen dem unterirdischen Tank (7) und einem Schlauchanschluss (11) erstreckt,

eine Pumpe (8), die an der Kraftstoffleitung (13) angeordnet ist, wobei die Pumpe (8) eine Saugseite (S) und eine Druckseite (P) aufweist,

einen Additivtank (14) zum Aufnehmen von Additiv und

eine Additivleitung (15) zum Befördern des Additivs, wobei sich die Additivleitung (15) zwischen dem Additivtank (14) und der Kraftstoffleitung (13) erstreckt,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Additivleitung (15) an der Saugseite (S) der Pumpe (8) mit der Kraftstoffleitung (13) verbunden ist.

2. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) nach Anspruch 1, die ferner einen Durchflussmesser (16) und ein Steuerventil (17) umfasst, die in Reihe in der Additivleitung (15) angeordnet sind.

3. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) nach Anspruch 2, die ferner eine Steuereinheit (18) umfasst, die mit dem Durchflussmesser (16) und einem Steuerventil (17) in der Additivleitung (15) verbunden ist.

4. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Steuereinheit (18) angepasst ist, um das Steuerventil (17) auf Grundlage des Volumens an Kraftstoff zu steuern, das in einer Kraftstoff-Strömungsbahn der Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) vorhanden ist, wenn ein Auftankvorgang eingeleitet wird, um einen Mangel an Additiv in diesem Volumen an Kraftstoff auszugleichen.

5. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die ferner einen Durchflussmesser (19) umfasst, der in der Kraftstoffleitung (13) an der Saugseite (S) der Pumpe (8) angeordnet ist, wobei die Steuereinheit (18) mit dem Durchflussmesser (19), der in der Kraftstoffleitung (13) angeordnet ist, verbunden ist.

6. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Steuereinheit (18) angepasst ist, um das Steuerventil (17) auf Grundlage von Informationen von dem Durchflussmesser (16), der in der Additivleitung (15) angeordnet ist, und von dem Durchflussmesser (19), der in der Kraftstoffleitung (13) angeordnet ist, zu steuern.

7. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die ferner einen Umgehungskanal (20) umfasst, der sich zwischen der Druckseite (P) und der Saugseite (S) der Pumpe (8) an der Kraftstoffleitung (13) erstreckt, wobei der Umgehungskanal (20) ein Steuerventil (21) umfasst.

8. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Pumpe (8) und der Durchflussmesser (19), der in der Kraftstoffleitung (13) angeordnet ist, in einer Hydraulikabteilung (4) der Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) angeordnet sind.

9. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) nach Anspruch 9, wobei der Additivtank (14) und der Durchflussmesser (16) und das Steuerventil (17), die in der Additivleitung (15) angeordnet sind, in einer Additivabteilung (6) angeordnet sind, wobei die Additivabteilung (6) in einer zu der Hydraulikabteilung (6) der Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) entgegengesetzten Seite angeordnet ist.

10. Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die ferner eine Düse (9) umfasst, die über einen Schlauch (10) mit dem Schlauchanschluss (11) verbunden ist.

11. Verfahren zum Handhaben einer Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1), wobei die Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) Folgendes umfasst:

einen unterirdischen Tank (7) zum Aufnehmen von Kraftstoff,

eine Kraftstoffleitung (13) zum Befördern des Kraftstoffs, wobei sich die Kraftstoffleitung (13) zwischen dem unterirdischen Tank (7) und einem Schlauchanschluss (11) erstreckt,

eine Pumpe (8), die an der Kraftstoffleitung (13) angeordnet ist, wobei die Pumpe (8) eine Saugseite (S) und eine Druckseite (P) aufweist,

einen Additivtank (14) zum Aufnehmen von Additiv,

eine Additivleitung (15) zum Befördern von Additiv, wobei sich die Additivleitung (15) zwischen dem Additivtank (14) und der Kraftstoffleitung (13) erstreckt,

gekennzeichnet durch den folgenden Schritt:
Verbinden der Additivleitung (15) mit der Kraftstoffleitung (13) an der Saugseite (S) der Pumpe (8).

12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, das ferner die folgenden Schritte umfasst:

Kontrollieren, ob der vorhergehende Auftankvorgang Kraftstoff einschloss, der Additiv enthält,

falls nicht, Steuern des Steuerventils (17), das in der Additivleitung (15) angeordnet ist, auf Grundlage des Volumens an Kraftstoff, das in einer Kraftstoff-Strömungsbahn der Kraftstoff-Abgabeeinheit (1) vorhanden ist, wenn ein neuer Auftankvorgang eingeleitet wird, um einen Mangel an Additiv in diesem Volumen an Kraftstoff auszugleichen.

13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11 oder 12, das ferner den Schritt des Steuerns eines Steuerventils (17), das in der Additivleitung (15) angeordnet ist, auf Grundlage von Informationen von einem Durchflussmesser (16), der in der Additivleitung (15) angeordnet ist, und Informationen von einem Durchflussmesser (19), der in der Kraftstoffleitung (13) angeordnet ist, umfasst.

Revendications

1. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) pour ravitailler en carburant des véhicules, comprenant:

un réservoir souterrain (7) pour contenir du carburant,

un conduit de carburant (13) pour transporter le carburant, le conduit de carburant (13) s'étendant entre le réservoir souterrain (7) et un de raccordement de flexible (11),

une pompe (8) disposée sur le conduit de carburant (13), la pompe (8) ayant un côté d'aspiration (S) et un côté de refoulement (P),

un réservoir d'additif (14) pour contenir l'additif, et

un conduit d'additif (15) pour transporter l'additif, le conduit d'additif (15) s'étendant entre le réservoir d'additif (14) et le conduit de carburant (13),

caractérisé en ce que le conduit d'additif (15) est raccordé au conduit de carburant (13) du côté d'aspiration (S) de la pompe (8).

2. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un débitmètre (16) et une vanne de commande (17) disposés en série dans le conduit d'additif (15).

3. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre une unité de commande (18) reliée au débitmètre (16) et une vanne de commande (17) dans le conduit d'additif (15).

4. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle l'unité de commande (18) est adaptée pour commander la vanne de commande (17) sur la base du volume de carburant présent dans un trajet d'écoulement de carburant de l'unité de distribution de carburant (1) lorsqu'un processus de ravitaillement est lancé pour compenser le manque d'additif dans ce volume de carburant.

5. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un débitmètre (19) disposé dans le conduit de carburant (13) du côté d'aspiration (S) de la pompe (8), dans lequel l'unité de commande (18) est reliée au débitmètre (19) disposé dans le conduit de carburant (13).

6. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle l'unité de commande (18) est adaptée pour commander la vanne de commande (17) en fonction des informations du débitmètre (16) disposé dans le conduit d'additif (15) et du débitmètre (19) disposé dans le conduit de carburant (13).

7. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un canal de dérivation (20) s'étendant entre le côté de refoulement (P) et le côté d'aspiration (S) de la pompe (8) sur le conduit de carburant (13), le canal de dérivation (20) comportant une vanne de commande (21).

8. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la pompe (8) et le débitmètre (19) disposés dans le conduit de carburant (13) sont disposés dans un compartiment hydraulique (4) de l'unité de distribution de carburant (1).

9. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle le réservoir d'additif (14), et le débitmètre (16) et la vanne de commande (17) disposés dans le conduit d'additif (15), sont disposés dans un compartiment d'additif (6), le compartiment d'additif (6) étant disposé d'un côté opposé au compartiment hydraulique (6) de l'unité de distribution de carburant (1).

10. Unité de distribution de carburant (1) selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre une buse (9) reliée au tuyau de raccordement (11) par l'intermédiaire d'un tuyau (10).

11. Procédé de manipulation d'une unité de distribution de carburant (1), l'unité de distribution de carburant (1) comprenant:

un réservoir souterrain (7) pour contenir du carburant,

un conduit de carburant (13) pour transporter du carburant, le conduit de carburant (13) s'étendant entre le réservoir souterrain (7) et un raccordement de flexible (11),

une pompe (8) disposée sur le conduit de carburant (13), la pompe (8) ayant un côté d'aspiration (S) et un côté de refoulement (P),

un réservoir d'additif (14) pour contenir l'additif,

un conduit d'additif (15) pour transporter l'additif, le conduit d'additif (15) s'étendant entre le réservoir d'additif (14) et le conduit de carburant (13), caractérisé par l'étape de:
raccordement du conduit d'additif (15) au conduit de carburant (13) au niveau du côté d'aspiration (S) de la pompe (8).

12. Procédé selon la revendication 11 comprenant en outre les étapes de:

contrôle si le processus de ravitaillement en carburant précédent comprenait du carburant contenant un additif,

si non, commande de la vanne de commande (17) disposée dans le conduit d'additif (15) sur la base du volume de carburant présent dans un trajet d'écoulement de carburant de l'unité de distribution de carburant (1) lorsqu'un nouveau processus de ravitaillement en carburant est lancé pour compenser le manque d'additif dans ce volume de carburant.

13. Procédé selon la revendication 11 ou 12, comprenant en outre l'étape de commande d'une vanne de commande (17) disposée dans le conduit d'additif (15) en fonction des informations d'un débitmètre (16) disposé dans le conduit d'additif (15) et les informations d'un débitmètre (19) disposé dans le conduit de carburant (13).

Drawing