Pneumatic Fuel Tank Valve Assembly for Continuous Remote Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Equipment at well sites requires frequent refueling, which disrupts operations due to the need for personnel to enter a hazardous exclusion zone, leading to costly downtime and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A fuel delivery system using pneumatically controlled valves that automatically adjust refueling flow rates based on fuel levels, eliminating the need for electronic components and allowing remote, continuous refueling without personnel intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual refueling is performed to ensure safety in the exclusion zone, then personnel safety is improved, but equipment downtime increases due to operational interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel delivery system is designed to automatically monitor fuel levels and initiate refueling operations without personnel intervention. The system uses automatic level detection to trigger refueling when fuel drops below a threshold and shuts off automatically when the tank is full, allowing the system to service itself and eliminating the need for personnel to enter the exclusion zone during refueling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical refueling operations with an automated system that uses level detection mechanisms and automatic valve control. This substitution eliminates the need for personnel to physically approach and manually refuel equipment in the hazardous exclusion zone, thereby improving safety while maintaining continuous operation
2Measurement precision
If electronic components are used in the fuel delivery system, then control precision is improved, but system complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic pressure tubes to detect fuel levels and pneumatic valves to control fuel flow. These pneumatic components provide reliable automatic control without requiring electronic components, microcontrollers, or external power sources, thereby simplifying the system while maintaining precise fuel level detection and control capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates electronic components, microcontrollers, and electrical systems from the fuel delivery mechanism. By using purely mechanical and pneumatic components, the system achieves the desired control precision without the complexity and power requirements associated with electronic systems
3Productivity
If frequent refueling is performed to maintain equipment operation, then equipment productivity is improved, but operational disruption increases due to personnel intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic refueling system enables continuous operation by eliminating interruptions caused by manual refueling. The system continuously monitors fuel levels and automatically initiates refueling when needed, ensuring that equipment operation continues without disruption while maintaining safety by keeping personnel out of the exclusion zone
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
Ensures continuous operation of equipment by maintaining fuel levels within safe limits, reducing downtime and safety risks while simplifying power requirements and enabling quick on-site repairs.
Implementation Method 1
A pneumatic valve may be disposed in the valve assembly. The pneumatic valve is operable between a closed position, to prevent a flow of fuel from exiting the valve assembly, and an open position, to enable a flow of fuel through the valve assembly.
Implementation Method 2
The valve assembly includes one or more pressure tubes to detect changes in the level of fuel in the fuel tank between an under-filled condition and an overfilled condition inside the equipment fuel tank.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for delivering fuel to an equipment fuel tank. The system includes a remote fuel storage tank and a valve assembly coupleable to the equipment fuel tank. The system includes a fuel supply line extending between the remote fuel storage tank and the valve assembly and a pneumatic valve disposed in the fuel supply line. The pneumatic valve can prevent flow of fuel into the fuel supply line or can enable flow of fuel into the fuel supply line. The valve assembly includes pressure tubes to detect changes in fuel level inside the equipment fuel tank. A switch actuates the pneumatic valve to prevent the flow of fluid in response to an overfilled position; and actuates the pneumatic valve to enable the flow of fluid in response to an underfilled position.