Cyclonic Separator Permeation Member for Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cyclonic separators in aircraft fuel systems face inefficiencies due to fluid dynamics that shear water off the separator wall and re-entrain it into the fuel, degrading separation efficiency, and fail to effectively prevent water condensation at low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a permeation member made from graphene oxide in the cyclonic separator, which allows water to flow through while preventing liquid fuel from passing through, enhancing separation efficiency and reducing water re-entrainment by utilizing centrifugal forces and a water-permeable material to separate water from fuel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional cyclonic separator is used to separate water from fuel, then water is discharged from the water outlet, but fluid dynamics shear water off the separator wall and re-entrain it into the bulk fluid, degrading separation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by incorporating a permeation member made of graphene oxide in the cyclonic separator. This permeation member allows water to pass through while blocking fuel, preventing water re-entrainment into the bulk fluid and significantly improving separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by integrating graphene oxide permeation member into the cyclonic separator structure. The combination of cyclonic action and selective permeation creates a hybrid separation system that overcomes the limitations of traditional cyclonic separators alone.
2Duration of action of moving object
If water is merely dispersed back into the tank, then the fuel system operates continuously, but water concentration in the tank increases and condensation problems occur at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by continuously removing water from the fuel system through the permeation member. Water is extracted from the fuel stream and discharged separately, preventing water accumulation and condensation issues during continuous operation while maintaining low water concentration in the fuel tank.
3Reliability
If a permeation member made from graphene oxide is incorporated in the cyclonic separator, then water separation efficiency is enhanced and water re-entrainment is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible shells and thin films by using a thin graphene oxide permeation member within the cyclonic separator. This thin film approach achieves effective water-fuel separation without requiring complex mechanical structures, thereby enhancing separation efficiency while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively removes water from the fuel system, preventing condensation issues at low temperatures and maintaining low water concentrations, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the aircraft fuel system.
Implementation Method 1
the overall cyclonic action spins the water out to the separator wall
Implementation Method 2
a permeation member formed from a water-permeable material which enables water in the separation chamber to flow through the water-permeable material and out of the water outlet, but substantially prevents liquid fuel in the separation chamber from doing so
Implementation Method 3
submicrometer-thick membranes made from graphene oxide can be completely impermeable to liquids, vapors, and gases, including helium, but these membranes allow unimpeded permeation of water
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2A
AI summary
An aircraft fuel system comprising: a fuel tank (20); and a cyclonic separator (1). The cyclonic separator comprises: a separation chamber; an inlet (2) in fluid communication with the fuel tank (20) and the separation chamber; a fuel outlet (4) in fluid communication with the separation chamber; and a water outlet (3). The cyclonic separator is adapted to discharge water from the water outlet (3) and relatively less dense liquid fuel from the fuel outlet (4), and wherein the cyclonic separator (1) further comprises a permeation member (22) formed from a water-permeable material which enables water in the separation chamber to flow through the water-permeable material and out of the water outlet (3), but substantially prevents liquid fuel in the separation chamber from doing so.