Fuel Pick-Up Device Helical Flow Water Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel pick-up systems from tanks risk drawing water and denser contaminants from the bottom, leading to contamination and clogging issues, requiring frequent and costly tank cleaning and decommissioning, and existing separation devices are bulky and ineffective in removing water.
Innovation Solution
A fuel pick-up device with a helical flow separation chamber and guide vanes that separates contaminants from fuel, allowing clean fuel to be drawn from the tank without external bulky separation devices, utilizing a helical guide vane to create a helical flow and collect contaminants within the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pick-up point is positioned at the bottom of the tank, then fuel can be drawn even when the fuel level is low, but water and denser contaminants are drawn up with the fuel
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the fuel pick-up function from the contaminant collection function. The elongate body divides the tank bottom region into a fuel pick-up zone (with the separator) and a contaminant collection zone, allowing fuel to be drawn from low levels while contaminants are segregated in a dedicated collection chamber at the bottom
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary device between the fuel pick-up point and the tank bottom. It creates a controlled interface where fuel can pass through to the pick-up line while blocking and redirecting denser contaminants into the collection chamber, preventing direct contamination of the fuel supply
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pick-up point is positioned above the bottom of the tank, then water and contaminants are not drawn out, but the level of matter in the bottom of the tank builds up requiring regular cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts the contaminant collection function from the main fuel storage space. By providing a separate collection chamber within the elongate body, contaminants are taken out of the general tank environment and isolated in a dedicated space that can be emptied without decommissioning the entire tank
Solution Approach 2:
The separator enables the fuel system to self-maintain by continuously directing contaminants to the collection chamber during normal fuel draw-off operations. This automatic segregation eliminates the need for manual tank cleaning and decommissioning, as contaminants are collected in a easily accessible chamber
3Object-affected harmful factors
If filters are used to remove contaminants from fuel, then particulate matter is filtered, but the filter becomes clogged over time and cannot remove water
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces the mechanical filtration system with a density-based separation system using the separator. Instead of forcing all fuel through a filter medium that clogs, the separator uses the density difference between fuel and contaminants to automatically divide them, eliminating filtration clogging and adding water removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The separator changes the separation parameter from particle size (filtration) to density. By exploiting the density difference between fuel and contaminants, the system can remove both particulate matter and water simultaneously without the clogging issues that plague filtration systems
4Object-affected harmful factors
If external separation devices are used to separate water from fuel, then water removal is achieved, but the devices are bulky and require significant space
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is nested within the existing fuel pick-up device structure. The elongate body fits into the tank, and the collection chamber is integrated within the body walls, creating a compact nested configuration that provides separation functionality without requiring external bulky equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes the vertical dimension by extending the elongate body downward into the tank towards the bottom. This vertical arrangement allows the separator to function within the existing tank volume without requiring additional horizontal space, effectively using the third dimension to accommodate the separation function
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 contaminants from fuel, reducing the need for frequent tank cleaning and allowing fuel to be drawn from a lower pick-up point, ensuring uncontaminated fuel supply and minimizing space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
means for creating a helical flow of fuel through the device between an inlet and an outlet and within the separation chamber
Implementation Method 2
a cyclonic separator which creates a cyclonic flow of the fuel entering its separation chamber, whereby the fuel spirals downwardly around the chamber towards its lower end. As the fuel swirls inside the chamber, any denser water in the rotating airflow moves radially outward against the outside wall of the chamber
Implementation Method 3
any denser contaminants in the fuel entering the separation chamber through said inlet move radially outwardly in the helical flow away from the outlet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A fuel pick-up device (10) for a fuel tank (13) has a head (11) for fitting to a wall of the tank (13), and an elongate body (14) which extends from the head (11) into the tank (13). A water separator disposed in body comprises an axially-extending separation chamber (18), and a vane (21) for creating a helical flow of fuel flowing through the chamber between an inlet (17) and an outlet (23), wherein any water in the fuel entering the separation chamber through the inlet (17) moves radially outwardly in the helical flow away from the outlet (23), the outlet (23) being arranged such that fuel drawn from the chamber (18) is substantially free of water. Water separated from the fuel is collected in a chamber (25) and can be removed via a drain (24).