Fuel Oxygen Conversion Unit Stripping Gas Boost Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel oxygen conversion systems face challenges in efficiently circulating stripping gas and separating it from liquid fuel, leading to potential coking issues due to improper fuel conditioning in gas turbine engines.
Innovation Solution
A fuel oxygen conversion unit with a stripping gas flowpath, including a boost pump, contactor, and fuel gas separator, mechanically coupled through a speed change mechanism such as a gearbox, catalyst, and driven by an accessory gearbox, to effectively increase stripping gas pressure, mix it with liquid fuel, and separate the gas, reducing oxygen content and preventing coking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a stripping gas is mixed with liquid fuel to absorb oxygen, then oxygen content in fuel is reduced, but efficient circulation and separation of stripping gas from liquid fuel becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stripping gas boost pump and fuel gas separator into a single integrated assembly where the pump is positioned within the separator housing. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining the oxygen removal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection assembly serves multiple functions: it mechanically couples the boost pump to the separator, provides sealing between components, and facilitates the gas flowpath integration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components for coupling and sealing.
2Use of energy by moving object
If heating fuel to increase heat absorption efficiency, then combustion efficiency improves, but fuel coking and solid particle formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary oxygen removal from the fuel before the fuel enters the combustion chamber and before heating occurs. By reducing oxygen content in advance through the stripping gas process, the fuel is conditioned to prevent coking during subsequent high-temperature combustion operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of oxygen in fuel (which causes coking when heated) into a benefit by using oxygen as the target for removal. The stripping gas selectively interacts with oxygen in the fuel, removing it and converting what would be a harmful component into the focus of a beneficial separation process.
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 ensures efficient oxygen reduction in fuel, minimizing the risk of coking and maintaining system efficiency by effectively circulating and processing the stripping gas, allowing for higher heat absorption without solid particle formation.
Implementation Method 1
mixing the stripping gas with the liquid fuel, and subsequently separating the stripping gas from the liquid fuel
Implementation Method 2
absorb oxygen from, or otherwise react with, the liquid fuel to reduce an oxygen content of the liquid fuel
Implementation Method 3
a stripping gas boost pump positioned in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath for increasing a pressure of a flow of stripping gas
Implementation Method 4
a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in fluid communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor, a stripping gas outlet, and a liquid fuel outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas flowpath for a vehicle or an engine of the vehicle. The fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas boost pump positioned in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath for increasing a pressure of a flow of stripping gas through the stripping gas flowpath; a contactor defining a stripping gas inlet in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath, a liquid fuel inlet, and a fuel/gas mixture outlet; a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in fluid communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor, a stripping gas outlet, and a liquid fuel outlet; and a connection assembly mechanically coupling the stripping gas boost pump to the fuel gas separator, the connection assembly having a speed change mechanism such that the stripping gas boost pump rotates at a different rotational speed than the fuel gas separator.