US 11,945,600 B2
Fuel delivery system having a fuel oxygen reduction unit
Daniel Alan Niergarth, Norwood, OH (US); and Brandon Wayne Miller, Liberty Township, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/891,262.
Application 17/891,262 is a continuation of application No. 16/864,441, filed on May 1, 2020, granted, now 11,420,763.
Application 16/864,441 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/179,077, filed on Nov. 2, 2018, granted, now 11,148,824, issued on Oct. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0402625 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64D 37/34 (2006.01); B64D 37/10 (2006.01); B64D 37/32 (2006.01); F02C 7/22 (2006.01); F23K 5/04 (2006.01); F23K 5/08 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 37/34 (2013.01) [B64D 37/10 (2013.01); B64D 37/32 (2013.01); F02C 7/22 (2013.01); F23K 5/04 (2013.01); F23K 5/08 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating an aircraft fuel system, the aircraft fuel system comprising a fuel source, the method comprising:
using a fuel oxygen reduction unit, the fuel oxygen reduction unit comprising a contactor and a separator, wherein using the fuel oxygen reduction unit comprises:
receiving a flow of gas from an ullage of the fuel source into a stripping gas supply path of the fuel oxygen reduction unit;
receiving a flow of a liquid fuel from the fuel source into a liquid fuel supply path of the fuel oxygen reduction unit;
mixing the flow of gas and the flow of the liquid fuel in the contactor upstream of the separator;
reducing an oxygen content in the flow of gas from the ullage of the fuel source;
reducing an oxygen content of the liquid fuel from the fuel source; and
providing a reduced-oxygen content gas flow back to the fuel source via a stripping gas return path.
 
2. A fuel system for an aircraft, the fuel system comprising:
a fuel source for providing a liquid fuel, wherein the fuel source defines an ullage for containing a gas; and
a fuel oxygen reduction unit, the fuel oxygen reduction unit comprising:
a contactor;
a separator;
a liquid fuel supply path configured to supply a liquid fuel flow to the contactor;
a stripping gas supply path configured to supply a stripping gas flow from the ullage to the contactor;
a liquid fuel outlet path configured to return liquid fuel from the separator to the fuel source;
a stripping gas return path configured to return stripping gas from the separator to the ullage; and
a gas oxygen reduction unit positioned in the stripping gas supply path or the stripping gas return path,
wherein the contactor is configured to mix the liquid fuel flow from the liquid fuel supply path with the stripping gas flow from the stripping gas supply path to form a fuel/gas mixture; and
wherein the separator is fluidly connected to the contactor for receiving the fuel/gas mixture and separating the fuel/gas mixture back into the stripping gas flow and the liquid fuel flow.