US 11,851,204 B2
Fuel oxygen conversion unit with a dual separator pump
Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Hamilton, OH (US); Daniel Alan Niergarth, Norwood, OH (US); Brandon Wayne Miller, Liberty Township, OH (US); Richard Alan Wesling, Cincinnati, OH (US); and David Justin Brady, Rockport, MA (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/178,970.
Prior Publication US 2020/0140111 A1, May 7, 2020
Int. Cl. B64D 37/34 (2006.01); F02C 7/236 (2006.01); F02M 37/22 (2019.01); B01D 19/00 (2006.01); F02C 7/232 (2006.01); F02C 7/22 (2006.01); F02C 7/224 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 37/34 (2013.01) [F02C 7/222 (2013.01); F02C 7/232 (2013.01); F02C 7/236 (2013.01); F02M 37/22 (2013.01); B01D 19/0063 (2013.01); B01D 2257/104 (2013.01); F02C 7/224 (2013.01); F05D 2210/13 (2013.01); F05D 2260/213 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a system, the system comprising:
a gas turbine engine; and
a fuel delivery system coupled to the gas turbine engine, the fuel delivery system comprising:
a draw pump disposed downstream of a fuel tank for generating a liquid fuel flow from the fuel tank; and
a fuel oxygen conversion unit comprising:
a contactor defining a liquid fuel inlet for receiving the liquid fuel flow from the draw pump, a stripping gas inlet for receiving a stripping gas flow, and an outlet, wherein the liquid fuel inlet is disposed downstream from and fluidly coupled to the draw pump, the contactor configured to form a fuel/gas mixture;
a dual separator pump positioned downstream from the contactor, the dual separator pump comprising an inlet in fluid communication with the contactor for receiving the fuel/gas mixture, a liquid fuel outlet fluidly coupled to a combustion section of the gas turbine engine, and a stripping gas outlet, wherein the dual separator pump is configured to separate the fuel/gas mixture back into the stripping gas flow and the liquid fuel flow and provide the stripping gas flow to the stripping gas outlet and the liquid fuel flow to the liquid fuel outlet, wherein the dual separator pump defines a pressure differential between the liquid fuel flow at the liquid fuel outlet and the liquid fuel flow at the liquid fuel inlet of the contactor of at least 60 pounds per square inch, and wherein the draw pump is configured to provide the liquid fuel flow to the contactor; and
a boost pump comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to the stripping gas outlet of the dual separator pump, and a boost pump outlet fluidly coupled to the stripping gas inlet of the contactor, wherein the boost pump outlet is disposed upstream from the stripping gas inlet of the contactor, the boost pump is configured to exhaust gas from the boost pump outlet at a first pressure, and the stripping gas inlet of the contactor receives gas from the boost pump outlet at substantially the first pressure;
the method comprising:
mixing, in the contactor, the liquid fuel flow received from the draw pump with the stripping gas flow to form the fuel/gas mixture;
receiving the fuel/gas mixture in the dual separator pump; and
separating the fuel/gas mixture back into the liquid fuel flow and the stripping gas flow and increasing the pressure of the liquid fuel flow at least 60 pounds per square inch with the dual separator pump.
 
4. A system comprising:
a gas turbine engine; and
a fuel delivery system coupled to the gas turbine engine, the fuel delivery system comprising:
a fuel oxygen conversion unit comprising:
a contactor comprising a liquid fuel inlet, a gas inlet, and an outlet, wherein the liquid fuel inlet is fluidly coupled to a liquid fuel supply;
a dual separator pump positioned downstream from the contactor to receive a mixture of fuel and gas from the contactor, the dual separator pump comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the contactor, a gas outlet, and a liquid fuel outlet fluidly coupled to a combustion section of the gas turbine engine; and
a boost pump comprising an inlet fluidly coupled to the gas outlet of the dual separator pump, and a boost pump outlet fluidly coupled to the gas inlet of the contactor, wherein the boost pump outlet is disposed upstream from the gas inlet of the contactor, the boost pump is configured to exhaust gas from the boost pump outlet at a first pressure, and the gas inlet of the contactor receives gas from the boost pump outlet at substantially the first pressure.