Fuel Supply Component Deoxygenation for Coking Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fuel supply systems face challenges in mitigating coking deposits due to the formation of insoluble carbonaceous deposits on fuel system surfaces, particularly at higher fuel bulk temperatures, which limit efficiency improvements and are not effectively addressed by existing solutions that are either ineffective or prohibitively large and costly.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply system with a de-oxygenation system that introduces a small portion of de-oxygenated fuel to form a barrier within the fuel supply components, preventing insoluble fuel elements from adhering to walls by using a de-oxygenated fuel inlet in components like heat exchangers and nozzles, allowing higher fuel temperatures for improved thermal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If fuel bulk temperature is increased to improve engine thermal efficiency, then thermal efficiency is improved, but coking reactions are accelerated and insoluble carbonaceous deposits form on fuel system surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary deoxygenation of fuel before it reaches the high-temperature zones where coking occurs. By removing dissolved oxygen in advance through a deoxygenation device, the fuel is prepared to resist coking reactions when exposed to elevated temperatures, thus enabling efficient operation without excessive deposit formation
Solution Approach 2:
Deoxygenated fuel acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the high-temperature combustion environment and the fuel system components. By introducing deoxygenated fuel into the system, a protective effect is created that reduces the harmful interaction between hot fuel and metal surfaces, preventing coking deposits while maintaining thermal efficiency
2Reliability
If complete deoxygenation system is implemented to remove dissolved O2 in jet fuel, then coking is prevented, but the system becomes too large in size/weight/cost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing complete deoxygenation of the entire fuel supply, the system applies partial deoxygenation to a portion of the fuel that is most critical for preventing coking. This selective approach achieves sufficient coking prevention while avoiding the excessive size, weight, and cost of a full-scale deoxygenation system for the entire fuel flow
Solution Approach 2:
The deoxygenation system is designed to treat fuel locally at specific critical points in the fuel supply system where coking is most likely to occur, rather than uniformly processing all fuel throughout the system. This localized approach optimizes the balance between coking prevention and system complexity by concentrating deoxygenation resources where they provide the most benefit
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 system effectively mitigates coking deposits, enabling operation at higher fuel temperatures while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design by using a partial de-oxygenation system, thus enhancing engine efficiency and reducing deposition risks.
Implementation Method 1
The de-oxygenated fuel inlet is configured and adapted to supply de-oxygenated fuel to the main fuel flow path to generate a barrier of de-oxygenated fuel within the housing to mitigate insoluble fuel elements from diffusing and adhering to a wall of the housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A fuel supply component (101, 110) with coking mitigation includes a housing (105) having a main fuel inlet (125) and a main fuel outlet (127). The main fuel inlet and outlet define a main fuel flow path therebetween. The housing includes a de-oxygenated fuel inlet (116) in fluid communication with the main fuel flow path downstream from the main fuel inlet. The de-oxygenated fuel inlet is configured and adapted to supply de-oxygenated fuel to the main fuel flow path to mitigate insoluble fuel elements from diffusing and adhering to a wall of the housing.