Removing non-homogeneous ice from a fuel system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016003160-A1
Application number	US-201414768988-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 21, 2014
Priority date	Feb 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The presently disclosed embodiments utilize an ice separator vessel to trap ice particles in a non-homogeneous ice/fuel mixture flowing in a fuel system. A source of heat, such as heated fuel provided to the ice separator vessel, is used to melt at least a portion of the ice particles so that they do not enter the fuel system downstream of the ice separator vessel.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A fuel system comprising:
an ice separator vessel configured to separate ice particles from a first supply of fuel comprising a non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture, and to receive heat from a source of heat; wherein the heat melts at least a portion of the ice particles in the ice separator vessel.

2 . The fuel system of claim 1 , wherein the source of heat comprises a second supply of fuel.

3 . The fuel system of claim 2 , wherein:
the first supply of fuel is at a first temperature; and the second supply of fuel is at a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

4 . The fuel system of claim 2 , wherein the second supply of fuel is received from a fuel oil heat exchanger in a gas turbine engine.

5 . The fuel supply of claim 1 , wherein the source of heat comprises bleed air received from a gas turbine engine.

6 . The fuel supply of claim 1 , wherein the source of heat comprises an electric heat source.

7 . The fuel system of claim 1 , wherein the ice separator vessel is configured to separate the ice particles from the non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture by centrifugation.

8 . The fuel system of claim 1 , wherein the ice separator vessel is configured to separate the ice particles from the non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture by settling.

9 . A fuel system comprising:
an ice separator vessel configured to separate ice particles from a first supply of fuel comprising a non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture, and to receive a second supply of fuel; wherein the second supply of fuel melts at least a portion of the ice particles in the ice separator vessel.

10 . The fuel system of claim 9 , wherein:
the first supply of fuel is at a first temperature; and the second supply of fuel is at a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

11 . The fuel system of claim 9 , wherein the ice separator vessel is configured to separate the ice particles from the non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture by centrifugation.

12 . The fuel system of claim 9 , wherein the ice separator vessel is configured to separate the ice particles from the non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture by settling.

13 . The fuel system of claim 9 , wherein the second supply of fuel is received from a fuel oil heat exchanger in a gas turbine engine.

14 . A fuel system, comprising:
a first supply of first fuel comprising a non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture at a first temperature; a vessel including a first vessel input operatively coupled to the first supply, a second vessel input, and a vessel output, the vessel being operative to substantially separate at least a portion of ice particles from the non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture such that fuel may be discharged from the vessel output while said ice particles remain in the vessel; and a second supply of second fuel at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, the second supply operatively coupled to the second vessel input; wherein the second fuel applied to the second vessel input is operative to melt at least a portion of the ice particles within the vessel.

15 . A method for melting ice in a non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture in a fuel system, the method comprising the steps of:
a) receiving a first fuel comprising a non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture at an ice separator vessel, the first fuel having a first temperature; b) separating at least a portion of ice particles from the non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture within the ice separator vessel; and c) melting at least a portion of the ice particles within the ice separator vessel.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein step (c) comprises the step of:
c) receiving a second fuel at the ice separator vessel, the second fuel having a second temperature greater than the first temperature; wherein the second fuel received at the ice separator vessel is operative to melt at least a portion of the ice particles within the ice separator vessel.

17 . The method of claim of claim 15 , wherein step (b) comprises separating at least a portion of ice particles from the non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture by centrifugation.

18 . The method of claim of claim 15 , wherein step (b) comprises separating at least a portion of ice particles from the non-homogeneous fuel/ice mixture by settling.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second fuel is provided by a fuel oil heat exchanger in a gas turbine engine.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein step (c) comprises melting the at least a portion of the ice particles within the ice separator vessel using bleed air received from a gas turbine engine.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein step (c) comprises melting the at least a portion of the ice particles within the ice separator vessel using an electric heat source.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Hagshenas Behzad

Classifications

• F02M35/088 Primary

  Water, snow or ice proofing; Separation or drainage of water, snow or ice · CPC title

• F02C7/224 Primary

  Heating fuel before feeding to the burner · CPC title

• F02C7/236

  Fuel delivery systems comprising two or more pumps · CPC title

• B01D21/009

  Heating or cooling mechanisms specially adapted for settling tanks · CPC title

• F05D2260/606

  Bypassing the fluid · CPC title