Fuel Pickup Assembly With Helical Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel pick-up systems from fuel tanks risk drawing water and contaminants, leading to clogging and the need for frequent and costly tank cleaning, and existing separation devices are bulky, inefficient, and not always feasible in space-constrained environments.
Innovation Solution
A fuel pick-up device with a helical flow separator integrated into the elongate body extending into the tank, where denser contaminants are separated from fuel through a helical flow and collected, allowing uncontaminated fuel to be drawn closer to the tank bottom, reducing the need for external separation devices and frequent tank cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pick-up point is positioned at the bottom of the tank to enable fuel pickup even when fuel level is low, then fuel pickup reliability is improved, but water and denser contaminants are drawn up with the fuel
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the fuel pickup system into two functional zones: a lower separation chamber that handles contaminant removal and an upper pickup zone that supplies clean fuel. The separator creates a distinct interface between contaminated and clean fuel, allowing the pickup point to remain low while preventing contaminant ingestion.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary device between the tank bottom and the fuel pickup line. It intercepts contaminants at the fuel-separator interface and prevents them from entering the pickup line, while allowing clean fuel to pass through to the pickup point.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pick-up point is positioned above the bottom of the tank to avoid drawing up water and contaminants, then contaminant contamination is reduced, but the fuel tank must be regularly cleaned as matter builds up
Solution Approach 1:
The separator performs automatic self-service by continuously separating contaminants from fuel at the pickup point. The design allows contaminants to accumulate in a designated collection zone below the fuel interface, where they are automatically removed via a drain valve without requiring manual tank cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the contaminant removal function from the main fuel pickup system. A separate drainage mechanism is provided that specifically targets and removes accumulated contaminants from the separation chamber without requiring complete tank emptying or manual intervention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter is used to remove contaminants from fuel, then contaminant removal is achieved, but the filter becomes clogged with matter over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the traditional filtration mechanism with a density-based separation system. Instead of using a filter medium that physically blocks contaminants, the system uses a separator that exploits the density difference between fuel and contaminants to achieve separation, eliminating the clogging problem inherent in filtration.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a cyclonic separator is used to separate water from fuel, then water separation is achieved, but the device is bulky and requires space that may not be available
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the water separation function with the existing fuel pickup device. The separator is integrated into the pickup assembly, combining multiple functions (fuel pickup, water separation, contaminant removal) into a single compact unit that utilizes the existing space in the fuel tank rather than requiring separate dedicated space.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator is designed as a nested structure that fits within the existing fuel pickup device geometry. The separation chamber is positioned concentrically around the pickup line, utilizing the annular space between the tank wall and the pickup tube, thereby nesting the separation function within the existing structural envelope.
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, enabling reliable and efficient fuel extraction from fuel tanks with reduced risk of clogging and less frequent cleaning, while being compact and suitable for various tank installations.
Implementation Method 1
the separator comprising means for creating a helical flow of fuel through the device between an inlet and an outlet, wherein any denser contaminants in the fuel entering the separation chamber through said inlet move radially outwardly in the helical flow away from the outlet
Implementation Method 2
the separator comprising means for creating a helical flow of fuel through the device between an inlet and an outlet, wherein 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
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).