US 12,258,142 B2
System and method for reducing the concentration of fuel vapor in the ullage of a fuel tank
Matthew Darren Jones, Fareham (GB); and Subrata Sarkar, Maharashtra (IN)
Assigned to Eaton Intelligent Power Limited, Dublin (IE)
Filed by EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED, Dublin (IE)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/729,950.
Claims priority of application No. 202111019367 (IN), filed on Apr. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0340295 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B01D 53/02 (2006.01); B01D 53/00 (2006.01); B64D 33/08 (2006.01); B64D 37/00 (2006.01); F25J 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 37/00 (2013.01) [B01D 53/002 (2013.01); B64D 33/08 (2013.01); F25J 3/0605 (2013.01); F25J 2240/02 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of reducing the concentration of fuel vapor in ullage of an aircraft fuel tank, the method comprising:
receiving a portion of ullage gas mixture from the aircraft fuel tank via a compressor in fluid communication with the aircraft fuel tank;
channeling the portion of ullage gas mixture towards a heat exchanger downstream from the compressor, wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the compressor;
removing thermal energy from the portion of ullage gas mixture at the heat exchanger;
expanding the portion of ullage gas mixture through a turbine such that the ullage gas mixture has a temperature below tank temperature and fuel vapor in the ullage gas mixture condenses to liquid fuel;
passing the ullage gas mixture out of the turbine into a moisture separator, the moisture separator having first and second moisture separator outlets in fluid communication with the aircraft fuel tank;
separating the liquid fuel from the ullage gas mixture, wherein the liquid fuel flows from the moisture separator through the first moisture separator outlet into the aircraft fuel tank and the ullage gas mixture flows from the moisture separator through the second moisture separator outlet into the aircraft fuel tank; and
recovering energy from the turbine via an energy transfer arrangement, wherein the energy is transferred back to the compressor for driving the compressor.