Fuel system and method

• US 9,144,768 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Tichborne, Franklin, Parmenter, David, Masters, Simon, Lam, Joseph K - W
• Primary Examiner(s): Low, Lindsay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amick, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US13/086,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20110256042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 423/210, 423/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/10 Noble metals or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/104 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/7022 Aliphatic hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/02 Other waste gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4575 in aeroplanes or space ships
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/265 by refrigeration (condensation)
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/75 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8668 Removing organic compounds not provided for in B01D53/8603 - B01D53/8665
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8671 Removing components of defined structure not provided for in B01D53/8603 - B01D53/8668

Abstract

A fuel system includes a fuel tank, a vent tank fluidically connected to the fuel tank ullage, the vent tank having a duct open to the ambient atmosphere and the interior of the vent tank, and a catalyst disposed in the duct, wherein the catalyst is adapted to deplete one or more reactive components of gas flowing through the duct by catalytic reaction. Also, a method for depleting one or more reactive components of gas in the fuel system, includes depleting one or more reactive components of gas flowing through the duct using the catalyst.

Claims

1. A fuel system comprising a fuel tank, a vent tank fluidically connected to the fuel tank ullage via ventilation pipes, the vent tank having a duct extending from the vent tank and open to the ambient atmosphere at one end and open to the interior of the vent tank at its opposite end, and a catalyst disposed in the duct, wherein the catalyst is adapted to deplete one or more reactive components of gas flowing through the duct by catalytic reaction, and wherein the system is configured to deliver gas from the catalyst in the duct to the ullage, via the ventilation pipes.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a vapour feed line for delivering a supply of fuel vapour from the fuel tank ullage into contact with the catalyst.

3. A system according to claim 2, further comprising a pump for delivering the supply of fuel vapour in the vapour feed line.

4. A system according to claim 2, further comprising a valve for controlling the delivery of fuel vapour in the vapour feed line.

5. A system according to any of claim 2, further comprising an oxygen sensor in the duct and connected to a controller for controlling the delivery of fuel vapour in the vapour feed line.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reactive components include oxygen or fuel vapour.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a dehumidifying device disposed in the duct between the catalyst and the interior of the vent tank.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the dehumidifying device is of a refrigerative type having a refrigerating element in contact with gas flowing through the duct.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the refrigerating element includes one or more condensing cold plates.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the refrigerating element is connected in a refrigeration cycle to a compressor.

11. A system according to any of claim 8, further comprising a discharge tube adapted to pass condensate from the refrigerating element to the ambient atmosphere.

19. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reactive components include oxygen and fuel vapour.

12. A method for depleting one or more reactive components of gas in a fuel system, wherein the fuel system comprises a fuel tank, a vent tank fluidically connected to the fuel tank ullage via ventilation pipes, the vent tank having a duct extending from the vent tank and open to the ambient atmosphere at one end and open to the interior of the vent tank at its opposite end, and a catalyst disposed in the duct, the method comprising depleting one or more reactive components of gas flowing through the duct using the catalyst, and wherein the system is configured to deliver gas from the catalyst in the duct to the ullage, via the ventilation pipes.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising delivering a supply of fuel vapour into contact with the catalyst.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the catalyst is used to reduce the oxygen content of air flowing through the duct towards the vent tank.

15. A method according to any of claim 12, wherein the fuel system further comprises a dehumidifying device disposed in the duct between the catalyst and the vent tank, and the method further comprises using the dehumidifying device to remove water vapour from the gas flowing through the duct towards the vent tank.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the dehumidifying device removes water vapour contained in the air entering the duct and/or generated by the catalytic reaction in the duct.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising using excess heat generated by the catalytic reaction to prevent icing of the dehumidifying device.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein the catalyst is used to reduce the fuel vapour content of gas flowing through the duct towards the ambient atmosphere.