Catalytic reactive component reduction system and methods for the use thereof
First Claim
1. A system for reducing the concentration of one or more reactive component(s) from the vapor phase of a fuel storage tank, wherein said fuel storage tank is provided with an outlet for removal of vapor therefrom and an inlet for return of vapor thereto, said system comprising:
- a reaction zone, wherein said reaction zone provides conditions suitable to deactivate said one or more reactive component(s) when contacted therewith,an inlet to said reaction zone in fluid communication with the vapor space of said fuel storage tank via the outlet of the fuel storage tank, andan outlet from said reaction zone in fluid communication with the vapor space of said fuel storage tank via the inlet of the fuel storage tank,wherein said system is a closed loop system.
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Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided simplified systems and methods for catalytically deactivating, removing, or reducing the levels of reactive component(s) from the vapor phase of fuel storage tanks. The simple apparatus described herein can be utilized to replace complex OBIGGS systems on the market. Simply stated, in one embodiment of the invention, the vapor phase from the fuel tank is passed over a catalytic bed operated at appropriate temperatures to allow the reaction between free oxygen and the fuel vapor by oxidation of the fuel vapor, thus deactivating reactive component(s) in the gas phase.
70 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A system for reducing the concentration of one or more reactive component(s) from the vapor phase of a fuel storage tank, wherein said fuel storage tank is provided with an outlet for removal of vapor therefrom and an inlet for return of vapor thereto, said system comprising:
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a reaction zone, wherein said reaction zone provides conditions suitable to deactivate said one or more reactive component(s) when contacted therewith, an inlet to said reaction zone in fluid communication with the vapor space of said fuel storage tank via the outlet of the fuel storage tank, and an outlet from said reaction zone in fluid communication with the vapor space of said fuel storage tank via the inlet of the fuel storage tank, wherein said system is a closed loop system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for introducing reactive component-depleted air into a fuel storage vessel as fuel is withdrawn therefrom, or for displacing fuel in, or vapor in the vapor space of, a fuel storage vessel with reactive component-depleted air, said system comprising:
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a reaction zone having an inlet and outlet, a source of air, wherein the source of air is in fluid communication with the inlet of the reaction zone, a source of fuel vapor, wherein the source of fuel vapor is in fluid communication with the inlet of said reaction zone, and optionally a filter/condenser, wherein when the filter/condenser is present, the reaction zone is in fluid communication with the inlet of the filter/condenser, and the outlet of the filter/condenser is in fluid communication with the fuel storage vessel, wherein said reaction zone operates under conditions suitable to remove or reduce the concentration of reactive component in the source of air when contacted therewith in the presence of fuel vapor, and is in fluid communication with the fuel storage vessel, and wherein said system is a closed loop system.
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27. A system for reducing the concentration of one or more reactive components from the vapor phase of a fuel storage tank, wherein said fuel storage tank comprises an outlet for removal of vapor therefrom and an inlet for return of vapor thereto in a closed loop, said system comprising,
a catalyst zone, said catalyst zone comprising an optionally supported metal catalyst, said catalyst being reactive with one or more reactive component(s) when contacted therewith under suitable conditions, an inlet to said system in fluid communication with the vapor space of said fuel storage tank via the outlet of the fuel storage tank, and an outlet from said reaction zone in fluid communication with the vapor space of said fuel storage tank via the inlet of the fuel storage tank.
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30. A fuel storage system for use in aircraft, said system comprising:
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a fuel storage tank having an outlet for removal of vapor therefrom, and an inlet for return of vapor thereto, and a reaction zone having an inlet and outlet, wherein said reaction zone provides conditions suitable to deactivate one or more reactive component(s) in the vapor phase of said fuel storage tank when contacted therewith, wherein the outlet of said fuel storage tank is in fluid communication with the inlet of the reaction zone, and the inlet of said fuel storage tank is in fluid communication with the outlet of said reaction zone, wherein said system is a closed loop system. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for reducing the concentration of one or more reactive component(s) from the vapor phase of a fuel storage tank, wherein said fuel storage tank comprises an outlet for removal of vapor therefrom and inlet for return of vapor thereto in a closed loon system, said method comprising:
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passing at least a portion of the vapor phase from the fuel storage tank through a reaction zone, wherein said reaction zone provides conditions suitable to deactivate said one or more reactive component(s) when contacted therewith, thereby producing a vapor phase having reduced concentration of reactive component(s) therein, and thereafter returning the vapor phase having reduced concentration of reactive component(s) therein to said fuel storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method for displacing fuel in, or vapor in the vapor space of, a closed loop system comprising a fuel storage vessel with reactive component-depleted air as fuel is withdrawn from said fuel storage vessel, said method comprising:
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combining air with vaporized fuel from the ulage of said fuel storage vessel, passing the resulting combination through a reaction zone under conditions suitable to produce reactive component-depleted air, optionally removing any water from the reactive component-depleted air to produce substantially water-free, reactive component-depleted air, and introducing the resulting substantially water-free, reactive component-depleted air into said fuel storage vessel as fuel is withdrawn therefrom.
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Specification