OXYGEN REMOVAL SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A method of removing oxygen from a fuel tank, comprising the steps of:
- maintaining an oxygen removal catalyst at a temperature of less than a pre-determined temperature;
displacing fuel vapor and oxygen-rich air from the fuel tank to said oxygen removal catalyst;
discharging oxygenated fuel and oxygen-poor air from said oxygen removal catalyst to the fuel tank, whereby said oxygenated fuel and oxygen-poor air includes alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones and other oxygenated compounds.
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Abstract
A system and process is provided to deplete or remove oxygen in the ullage of a fuel tank to reduce the oxygen/fuel vapor ratio below a lower explosion limit by exposing the ullage compounds to an oxygen removal catalyst active at a relatively low temperature. The oxygen removal catalyst may be a non-precious metal catalyst. A selective reaction of the oxygen by the catalyst forms primarily alcohols, aldehydes, and/or ketones and produces less than about 5% water by volume. The selective reaction, occurring at the relatively low temperature, reduces the risk of flammability of the fuel.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of removing oxygen from a fuel tank, comprising the steps of:
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maintaining an oxygen removal catalyst at a temperature of less than a pre-determined temperature; displacing fuel vapor and oxygen-rich air from the fuel tank to said oxygen removal catalyst; discharging oxygenated fuel and oxygen-poor air from said oxygen removal catalyst to the fuel tank, whereby said oxygenated fuel and oxygen-poor air includes alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones and other oxygenated compounds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An oxygen removal system for a fuel tank, comprising:
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an oxygen removal catalyst having a catalyst input connected to a fuel tank outlet, said oxygen removal catalyst having a catalyst output connected to a fuel tank input; said oxygen removal catalyst further capable of a low temperature selective consumption of oxygen so as to form one or more of an alcohol, an aldehyde and a ketone or another oxygenated compound; and a pressurizing member disposed between said fuel tank outlet and said catalyst input, said pressurizing member capable of displacing vapor from an ullage region of the fuel tank into said oxygen removal catalyst, and out from said oxygen removal catalyst to said ullage region. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An oxygen removal system, comprising:
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a fuel tank having an ullage region; an oxygen removal catalyst for receiving fuel vapor and air from said ullage region;
said oxygen removal catalyst further being capable of a low temperature selective consumption of oxygen to produce oxygenated fuel and oxygen-poor air;
said oxygen removal catalyst further for providing said oxygenated fuel and oxygen-poor air to said ullage region; anda blower for displacing said fuel vapor and air from said ullage region to said oxygen removal catalyst and for displacing said oxygenated fuel and oxygen-poor air from said oxygen removal catalyst to said ullage region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification