Systems and methods for fuel tank draining and polishing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022016578-A1
Application number	US-201817414862-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2018
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for liquid phase separation for fuel tanks and other vessels. Particularly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a backpressure regulator configured to open when pressure of a mixture upstream of the backpressure regulator exceeds a predetermined setpoint and a hydrophobic membrane upstream of the backpressure regulator and downstream of a first conduit. The predetermined setpoint may be determined by at least a bubble point pressure of the hydrophobic membrane. Additionally, the backpressure regulator may be fluidically connected to and downstream of the first conduit, and to at least one pump operably connected to and upstream of the first conduit and the hydrophobic membrane may be fluidically connected to and upstream of a second conduit. The backpressure regulator may be fluidically connected to and upstream of a third conduit and the third conduit may be downstream the first conduit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An assembly comprising:
a backpressure regulator, wherein the backpressure regulator is configured to open when pressure of a mixture upstream of the backpressure regulator exceeds a predetermined setpoint; and a hydrophobic membrane upstream of the backpressure regulator and downstream of a first conduit; wherein the mixture comprises an organic phase liquid and an aqueous phase; wherein the predetermined setpoint is determined by at least a bubble point pressure of the hydrophobic membrane; wherein the backpressure regulator is configured to be fluidically connected to and downstream of the first conduit, and to at least one pump operably connected to and upstream of the first conduit; wherein the hydrophobic membrane is configured to be fluidically connected to and upstream of a second conduit, and wherein the second conduit is configured to transport the organic phase liquid downstream of the hydrophobic membrane; and wherein the backpressure regulator is configured to be fluidically connected to and upstream of a third conduit and the third conduit is configured to be downstream the first conduit, and wherein the third conduit is configured to transport the water downstream of the backpressure regulator.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined setpoint is determined by a combination of the bubble point pressure of the hydrophobic membrane and the airflow of the hydrophobic membrane.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the determining airflow of the hydrophobic membrane is between 0.92 Fraizer and 40 Frazier.

4 . The assembly of any of the above claims, wherein the determining bubble point pressure of the hydrophobic membrane is between 20.9 psi and 500 psi.

5 . The assembly of any of the above claims, wherein the second conduit is fluidically connected to a clean fuel collection vessel.

6 . The assembly of any of claims 1 - 4 , wherein the second conduit is fluidically connected to a vessel for the mixture, whereby filtered fuel is returned to the vessel.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the vessel is selected from a group consisting of a fuel tank, a fuel filter housing, and a fuel supply system.

8 . The assembly of any of the above claims, wherein the organic phase liquid is selected from a group consisting of a fuel, a biofuel and an insulating oil.

9 . The assembly of any of the above claims, wherein the backpressure regulating device includes a check valve.

10 . The assembly of any of the above claims, wherein the backpressure regulating device includes a diaphragm valve.

11 . The assembly of any of the above claims, wherein the membrane is formed from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the membrane is formed from ePTFE.

13 . The assembly of any of the above claims, wherein the backpressure regulator is integrated into one of a tank, a pump, or a housing.

14 . The assembly of any of the above claims, wherein the aqueous phase is a non-dissolved water.

15 . A system comprising:
a vessel configured to receive a mixture, wherein the mixture includes an organic phase liquid and an aqueous phase; a first conduit fluidically connecting the vessel to a hydrophobic membrane; at least one pump operably connected to and upstream of the first conduit, wherein the at least one pump is configured to transport a mixture from the vessel to the hydrophobic membrane through the first conduit; a second conduit fluidically connected to and downstream of the hydrophobic membrane; a third conduit downstream of the first conduit and upstream of the hydrophobic membrane; a backpressure regulator fluidically connected to and upstream of the third conduit, and fluidically connected to and downstream of the first conduit; wherein the backpressure regulator is configured to open when pressure of a mixture upstream of the backpressure regulator exceeds a predetermined setpoint, wherein the predetermined setpoint is determined by at least the bubble point pressure of the hydrophobic membrane.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined setpoint is determined by a combination of the bubble point pressure of the hydrophobic membrane and the airflow of the hydrophobic membrane.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the determining airflow of the hydrophobic membrane is between 0.92 Fraizer and 40 Frazier.

18 . The system of any of claim 13 , 14 or 15 , wherein the determining bubble point pressure of the hydrophobic membrane is between 20.9 psi and 500 psi.

19 . A method for draining a vessel containing a mixture, wherein the mixture comprises an organic phase liquid and an aqueous phase; comprising:
transporting the mixture to a filter housing containing a backpressure regulator and a hydrophobic membrane upstream of the backpressure regulator; opening the backpressure regulator downstream of the hydrophobic membrane when the pressure of the mixture reaches a predetermined setpoint; transporting the aqueous phase away from the hydrophobic membrane and through the backpressure regulator, whereby the aqueous phase is separated from the organic phase liquid; transporting the organic phase liquid through the hydrophobic membrane and downstream from the filter housing; and collecting the organic phase liquid downstream of the filter housing.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the collecting step includes transporting the organic phase liquid to a clean fuel collection vessel.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the collecting step includes transporting the organic phase liquid back to the vessel.

22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the predetermined setpoint of the backpressure regulator is determined by at least the bubble point pressure of the hydrophobic membrane.

23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the predetermined setpoint is determined by a combination of the bubble point pressure of the hydrophobic membrane and the airflow of the hydrophobic membrane.

Assignees

• Gore & Ass

Inventors

• Lash Daniel
• Napier William
• Brouse Stephen
• Cresswell Kevin

Classifications

• B01D2311/14

  Pressure control · CPC title

• B01D71/36

  Polytetrafluoroethylene · CPC title

• B01D2315/10

  Cross-flow filtration · CPC title

• B60K2015/03328

  Arrangements or special measures related to fuel tanks or fuel handling · CPC title

• B64F1/28

  Liquid-handling installations specially adapted for fuelling stationary aircraft · CPC title