Methods and systems for thermal fluid conditioning and delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12447419-B2
Application number	US-202217663982-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2022
Priority date	May 18, 2022
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

Example implementations relate to techniques for thermal fluid conditioning and delivery. A technique may involve coupling a container of heat transfer fluid to an input and removing moisture from the heat transfer fluid via a molecular sieve. A pressure source is configured to push the heat transfer fluid out of the container and through the molecular sieve. Subsequent to removing the moisture from the heat transfer fluid, the technique involves separating, via an orifice coupled to a tank, the heat transfer fluid into liquid and gas particles within the tank and removing, via a vacuum coupled to the tank, the gas particles from the tank. The liquid can then be supplied into a fluid system via additional pressure by the pressure source. The technique may be performed by a portable device that houses the various components used to condition and delivery the thermal fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for conditioning and supplying a liquid to a fluid system comprising:
coupling a container of heat transfer fluid to an input;
removing moisture from the heat transfer fluid via a molecular sieve, wherein a pressure source is configured to push the heat transfer fluid out of the container and through the molecular sieve;
subsequent to removing the moisture from the heat transfer fluid, separating, via an orifice coupled to a tank, the heat transfer fluid into liquid and gas particles within the tank;
removing, via a vacuum coupled to the tank, the gas particles from the tank;
removing, via a filter coupled to the tank, solid particles from the liquid; and
supplying, via an output, the liquid into the fluid system, wherein the pressure source is configured to push the liquid out of the tank and into the fluid system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the container of heat transfer fluid to the input comprises:
coupling a transport drum of hydrocarbon liquid to the input.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
opening a valve at the pressure source such that gas pressure enters into the container and pushes the heat transfer fluid out of the container and through the molecular sieve.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the pressure source is a tank comprising inert gas.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying the filter to remove the solid particles from the heat transfer fluid subsequent to removing the moisture from the heat transfer fluid, wherein the filter is coupled to the molecular sieve.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein separating the heat transfer fluid into liquid and gas particles within the tank comprises:
separating the heat transfer fluid into the liquid and the gas particles within the tank subsequent to applying the filter to remove particles from the heat transfer fluid.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing, using the vacuum, gas from the tank to enable the orifice to separate the heat transfer fluid into the liquid and the gas particles within the tank.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the gas particles from the tank comprises:
removing the gas particles from the tank using the vacuum while the vacuum is coupled to a cold trap, wherein the cold trap is configured to protect the vacuum during removal of the gas particles.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring a weight of the tank when the tank includes the liquid, wherein the tank is positioned on a scale; and
displaying the weight on a display interface.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
filtering the liquid prior to supplying the liquid into the fluid system.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid system is positioned on a spacecraft.

12. A system for conditioning and supplying liquid to a fluid system comprising:
an input configured to couple to a container of heat transfer fluid;
a molecular sieve configured to remove moisture from the heat transfer fluid;
a pressure source configured to push the heat transfer fluid out of the container and through the molecular sieve;
an orifice coupled to a tank, wherein the orifice is configured to separate the heat transfer fluid into liquid and gas particles within the tank after removal of moisture from the heat transfer fluid;
a vacuum coupled to the tank, wherein the vacuum is configured to remove the gas particles from the tank; and
an output configured to supply the liquid into the fluid system, wherein the pressure source is configured to push the liquid out of the tank and into the fluid system.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the container of heat transfer fluid is a drum of hydrocarbon liquid.

14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a valve coupled to the pressure source, wherein opening the valve releases gas pressure into the container such that the gas pressure pushes the heat transfer fluid out of the container and through the molecular sieve.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the pressure source is a tank comprising inert gas.

16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a filter coupled to the molecular sieve and configured to remove particles from the heat transfer fluid after the molecular sieve removes the moisture from the heat transfer fluid.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the vacuum is further configured to remove air from the tank to enable the orifice to separate the heat transfer fluid into the liquid and the gas particles within the tank.

18. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a scale configured to measure a weight of the tank when the tank includes the liquid, wherein the tank is positioned on the scale; and
a display interface configured to display the weight of the tank, and
wherein the output is further configured to supply the liquid into the fluid system after removal of the gas particles by the vacuum, wherein the fluid system is positioned on a spacecraft.

19. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a housing structure having wheels, wherein the input, the molecular sieve, the pressure source, the orifice, the tank, the vacuum, and the output are positioned on the housing structure.

20. A device for conditioning and supplying liquid to a fluid system comprising:
an input configured to couple to a container of heat transfer fluid;
a molecular sieve configured to remove moisture from the heat transfer fluid;
a pressure source configured to push the heat transfer fluid out of the container and through the molecular sieve;
an orifice coupled to a tank, wherein the orifice is configured to separate the heat transfer fluid into liquid and gas particles within the tank after removal of moisture from the heat transfer fluid;
a vacuum coupled to the tank, wherein the vacuum is configured to remove the gas particles from the tank;
a filter coupled to the tank, wherein the filter is configured to remove solid particles from the liquid;
an output configured to supply the liquid into the fluid system, wherein the pressure source is configured to push the liquid out of the tank and into the fluid system; and
a housing structure having wheels, wherein the input, the molecular sieve, the pressure source, the orifice, the tank, the vacuum, and the output are positioned on the housing structure.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Nemeth Kevin A
• Kim Gregory
• Huynh Jimmy P

Classifications

• B64G1/22

  Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles · CPC title

• B01D36/003 Primary

  Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids (B01D35/185 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01D36/001

  Filters in combination with devices for the removal of gas, air purge systems · CPC title

• B01D19/0036 Primary

  Flash degasification (the other groups take precedence) · CPC title

• B01D15/125

  Pre-filtration · CPC title