Active filtration systems for hydrocarbon fuels, methods, and filter elements
AssigneeWATT Fuel Cell Corp.
InventorsCaine Finnerty, Mathew Isenberg, Amanda Simson
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Abstract
Closed loop filtration systems and methods of the present teachings can provide liquid reformable fuels enriched in light end hydrocarbons and/or having reduced content of sulfur and/or other impurities. Such enriched liquid reformable fuels can be used in fuel cell systems having a vaporizer and hydrocarbon fuel reformer such that the fuel cell system can experience less deleterious impact on its components, for example, coking. Filter elements for use in the systems and methods also are provided.
Claims19
A closed loop filtration system for separating and/or enriching light end hydrocarbons from and/or in a mixture of hydrocarbons, the system comprising:
- a reservoir to contain a mixture of hydrocarbons, wherein the reservoir comprises an inlet and an outlet;
- a pump to circulate hydrocarbons through the system;
- a filter element, the filter element comprising layers of filtration media, wherein the layers of filtration media define a core channel through the filter element and at least one layer of the layers of filtration media comprises a size exclusion material;
- an inlet comprising the upstream end of the core channel for receiving a mixture of hydrocarbons from the reservoir, an outlet comprising the downstream end of the core channel for returning circulating hydrocarbons to the reservoir, and an exterior surface in fluid communication with the layers of filtration media;
- a pressure sensor to determine the pressure of circulating hydrocarbons;
- a valve assembly, in operable communication with the pressure sensor, to control the flow of hydrocarbons circulating through the system;
- and
- a collection chamber in fluid communication with the exterior surface of the filter element, the collection chamber comprising an outlet for liquid reformable fuel product enriched in light end hydrocarbons,
- wherein the inlet of the reservoir is in fluid communication with the outlet of the filter element and the outlet of the reservoir is in fluid communication with the inlet of the filter element.
A method of separating and/or enriching light end hydrocarbons from and/or in a mixture of hydrocarbons, the method comprising:
- circulating a mixture of hydrocarbons in a closed loop system, the closed loop system comprising a filter element, wherein the filter element comprises:
- layers of filtration media, wherein at least one layer of the layers of filtration media comprises a size exclusion material, and the layers of filtration media define a core channel through the filter element whereby the mixture of hydrocarbons circulates through the core channel and hydrocarbons pass through the layers of filtration media,
- an inlet comprising the upstream end of the core channel for receiving a mixture of hydrocarbons from a reservoir, and
- an outlet comprising the downstream end of the core channel for returning circulating hydrocarbons to the reservoir;
- and
- collecting a liquid reformable fuel product enriched with light end hydrocarbons that passes through and exits the layers of filtration media.
A tubular filter element for use in a closed loop system for separating and/or enriching light end hydrocarbons from and/or in a mixture of hydrocarbons, the filter element comprising:
- concentric layers of filtration media, wherein the concentric layers of filtration media define a core channel through the filter element, and at least one layer of the concentric layers comprises a size exclusion material;
- an inlet comprising the upstream end of the core channel;
- and
- an outlet comprising the downstream end of the core channel;
- whereby the mixture of hydrocarbons can flow through the filter element from the inlet to the outlet and hydrocarbons can pass through the concentric layers of filtration media and be collected as a liquid reformable fuel product enriched with light end hydrocarbons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.