Method of suppressing coke in endothermic fuel processing

• US 20050204919A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Huang, He, Spadaccini, Louis J., Sobel, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,334,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 96/4
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0031 by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0026 Avoiding carbon deposits inhibiting incrustation in general, C23F14/00, C23F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00309 with two or more reactions in heat exchange with each other, such as an endothermic reaction in heat exchange with an exothermic reaction
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00628 Controlling the composition of the reactive mixture
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00637 Means for stopping or slowing down the reaction
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00707 Fouling
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00117 with two or more reactions in heat exchange with each other, such as an endothermic reaction in heat exchange with an exothermic reaction
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2900/05082 Removing gaseous substances from liquid fuel line, e.g. oxygen

Abstract

A fuel system for a propulsion system includes a fuel deoxygenating device and a catalytic module containing catalytic materials. The fuel deoxygenating device removes dissolved oxygen from the fuel to prevent formation of insoluble materials that can potentially foul the catalyst and block desirable catalytic reactions that increase the usable cooling capacity of an endothermic fuel.

Claims

1. A propulsion system comprising:

an energy conversion device; and

a fuel delivery system comprising a fuel deoxygenator for removing a portion of dissolved gases from fuel flowing to a catalyst for conditioning the fuel.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said fuel deoxygenator comprises a permeable membrane in contact with fuel flowing through said fuel passages.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2, comprising a polytetraflourethylene coating disposed on a fuel side of said permeable membrane.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 2, comprising a porous substrate supporting said permeable membrane on a non-fuel side.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 4, comprising a device for creating a partial pressure differential between a fuel side of said permeable membrane and a non-fuel side to draw dissolved gasses out of fuel with said fuel passage.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said catalyst is exposed to a heat producing element.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said catalyst is heated by fuel flowing therethrough.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 1, comprising a housing adjacent said propulsion system, wherein said catalyst is mounted within said housing.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said catalyst comprises a metal.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said catalyst comprises a zeolite.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said catalyst initiates endothermic decomposition of said fuel.

12. A fuel delivery system for a propulsion system comprising:

a fuel deoxygenator for removing a portion of dissolved gases from fuel; and

a catalyst receiving fuel exiting said fuel deoxygenator.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein fuel deoxygenator comprises a permeable membrane in contact with fuel flowing through said fuel passages.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, comprising an amorphous fluoropolymer coating disposed on a fuel side of said permeable membrane.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, comprising a porous substrate supporting said permeable membrane on a non-fuel side.

16. The system as recited in claim 13, comprising a device for creating a partial pressure differential between a fuel side of said permeable membrane and a non-fuel side to draw dissolved gasses out of fuel with said fuel passage.

17. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said catalyst initiates an endothermic decomposition.

18. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said catalyst comprises a metal.

19. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said catalyst comprises a zeolite.

20. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said catalyst is mounted adjacent a heat producing element of said propulsion system.

21. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said catalyst is heated by fuel flowing therethrough.

22. A method of inhibiting coke formation of an endothermic fuel for a propulsion system comprising the steps of:

a) removing dissolved oxygen from fuel; and

b) initiating catalytic reactions of the fuel after said removal of the dissolved oxygen.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, comprising preventing the formation of insoluble materials on catalytic material by removing the dissolved oxygen from the fuel.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, comprising heating the catalytic material to temperatures promoting endothermic decomposition of fuel.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, comprising directing decomposition of the fuel toward the formation of preferred combustible products.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the fuel after decomposition comprises a greater heat sink capability than the fuel prior to decomposition.

27. The method as recited in claim 22, comprising creating a partial pressure differential across a gas permeable membrane to diffuse oxygen from said fuel.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, comprising supporting the gas permeable membrane on a porous substrate and drawing diffused oxygen through the porous substrate away from the fuel.