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Fuel vapor removal method and system for reducing flammability

A fuel vapor, fuel-air ratio technology, applied in the field of aircraft, can solve problems such as reducing the flammability of fuel tanks

Active Publication Date: 2017-07-11
THE BOEING CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Potentially improved methods and systems for reducing the flammability of fuel tanks

Method used

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  • Fuel vapor removal method and system for reducing flammability
  • Fuel vapor removal method and system for reducing flammability
  • Fuel vapor removal method and system for reducing flammability

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Embodiment Construction

[0014] Embodiments described herein may reduce fuel vapor discharge from fuel tanks. Furthermore, embodiments may render the fuel tank empty non-reactive to the ignition source, ie, inert, or in other words, limit the formation of a flame when an ignition source is encountered.

[0015] Embodiments may reduce venting of fuel vapors from fuel tanks during fuel tank maintenance (filling). Some of the fuel vapor that just exits the fuel tank through the fuel tank outlet during fuel tank filling may be adsorbed in a fuel vapor adsorption medium, or an adsorbent such as activated carbon.

[0016] Embodiments may reduce fuel tank empty flammability by reducing the tank empty fuel air ratio with a preventative system. A flammable fuel tank empty can be rendered nonreactive (ie, inerted) with an ignition source by reducing the tank empty fuel to air ratio well below the lower flammability limit (or combustion threshold). The system can be used to purge the fuel tank empty with exter...

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PUM

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Abstract

The title of the invention is "Fuel Vapor Removal Method and System for Reducing Flammability". Fuel vapor removal method comprising removing fuel vapor from a tank void of a fuel tank of a vehicle, adsorbing the fuel vapor removed from the tank void on an adsorption medium on a vehicle, and desorbing from the adsorption medium while on the vehicle fuel vapor. The fuel vapor removal method includes purging fuel vapors from the fuel tank void using air added to the tank void, reducing the fuel to air ratio in the tank void using the air purge, and adsorbing the purged fuel vapors on an adsorption medium. The fuel vapor removal system includes a fuel tank having a tank empty, an adsorption system including a fuel vapor adsorption media fluidly connected to the tank empty and a tank empty purge system, and a controller. The controller includes a flammability determination system and is configured to remove fuel vapors from the canister empty onto the adsorbent media by the purge system before the canister empty becomes flammable.

Description

technical field [0001] Embodiments relate to fuel vapor removal methods and systems, such as for aircraft. Background technique [0002] In the context of fuel tanks, "inerting" may refer to a method of rendering the ullage in a fuel tank non-flammable. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reconsidered the safety of aircraft fuel tanks following a series of fuel tank explosions between 1990 and 2001. The National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) added "Explosive mixtures in fuel tanks in transport category aircraft" to the first item of its 1997 "Most Needed" transport safety list. [0003] Some known fuel tanks have a region containing liquid fuel and an empty region that typically contains vaporized fuel (ie, fuel vapor). In the presence of air, the mixture can have a fuel-air ratio in the tank air, and ignition can occur when the fuel-air ratio in the tank air is within a certain range. The lower flammability limit is defined as the threshold below which the fuel to ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(China)
IPC IPC(8): F02M25/08
CPCB64D37/32F02M25/08B64D37/02B01D5/00
Inventor A·古普塔
Owner THE BOEING CO