Hydrocarbon Fuel Gas Separation Pump with Vacuum Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrocarbon fuel systems face issues with dissolved gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, which can lead to performance problems, corrosion, and vapor lock, particularly at high temperatures, and current gas removal technologies like selective membranes are bulky, heavy, and have limited durability.
Innovation Solution
A fuel system incorporating a gas separation pump with a vacuum connection and impellers, integrated or external vacuum devices, and an inert gas source to remove dissolved gases, utilizing a Venturi tube and varying vacuum pressures based on temperature to enhance gas evolution and prevent fuel evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If selective membranes are used to remove dissolved gases from fuel, then gas removal effectiveness is improved, but device weight and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical selective membrane system with a centrifugal separation system using a rotor and centrifugal force. The rotor creates a centrifugal field that separates dissolved gases from fuel based on density differences, eliminating the need for bulky membrane assemblies while achieving effective gas removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a vacuum system connected to the rotor to create pressure differential that enhances gas evolution and separation. The vacuum pump removes gases from the fuel-rotor system, and the pressure differential facilitates efficient gas-liquid separation without requiring heavy membrane structures.
2Reliability
If selective membranes are used to remove dissolved gases from fuel, then gas removal effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex membrane-based separation system is replaced with a simpler centrifugal separation mechanism. The rotor spinning at controlled speeds creates centrifugal force for separation, which is mechanically simpler and more durable than membrane assemblies while achieving the same gas removal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls separation effectiveness by adjusting rotational speed and vacuum pressure parameters rather than relying on complex membrane configurations. By varying these operational parameters, the system achieves adaptive gas removal without increasing structural complexity.
3Reliability
If high vacuum pressure is applied to remove gases from fuel, then gas removal effectiveness is improved, but fuel evaporation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts vacuum pressure based on fuel temperature and operational conditions. By controlling the vacuum level adaptively rather than applying constant high vacuum, the system removes gases effectively while minimizing fuel evaporation losses through real-time parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (vacuum pressure, rotational speed) based on fuel temperature and gas removal requirements. This parameter optimization allows effective gas separation at moderate vacuum levels rather than always requiring high vacuum, thereby reducing fuel evaporation.
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
Effectively removes dissolved gases from hydrocarbon fuels, preventing corrosion and vapor lock, while maintaining fuel quality and system integrity, and can be used in combination with or as an alternative to existing gas removal technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum connection for receiving a vacuum pressure to promote evolution of gases from the liquid hydrocarbon fuel
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a Venturi tube and varying vacuum pressures based on temperature to enhance gas evolution
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed is a fuel system with a fuel tank (12) containing hydrocarbon fuel (14), a hydrocarbon fuel flow path in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and a gas separation pump (20) disposed on the flow path. The gas separation pump has a pump housing (102) with an inner wall defining a cylindrical internal cavity. The pump housing includes an inlet (104) at a first axial position along the cylindrical cavity outer circumference, an outlet (106) at a second axial position along the cylindrical cavity outer circumference, and a vacuum connection in fluid communication with the cylindrical cavity axis. A first impeller (110) with an outer edge configured to sweep along the inner wall is axially disposed between the inlet and the outlet. A second impeller (118) configured to eject liquid through the fluid outlet is axially disposed between the first impeller and the outlet.