# US 10,307,708 B2 · Fuel tank system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,708 B2 - Document ID: US10307708B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/192,692 - Filed: 2016-06-24 - Published: 2017-12-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-24 - Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Applicants: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Inventors: Jonathan Rheaume; Haralambos Cordatos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307708B2 ## CPC - B01D 53/22: by diffusion (manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00) - B01D 17/02: Separation of non-miscible liquids - B64D 37/005: {Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28} - B64D 37/02: Tanks (tanks constructed integrally with aircraft wings B64C3/34) - B64D 37/32: Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions - B64F 1/28: Liquid-handling installations specially adapted for fuelling stationary aircraft - B01D 2053/221: {Devices} - B01D 2259/4516: for fuel vapour recovery systems - Y02T 50/80: Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A fuel tank system is disclosed that includes a fuel tank and a first fluid flow path between a gas space in the fuel tank and outside of the fuel system. A gas separation membrane is disposed with a first side in communication with the first fluid flow path and a second side in communication with a second fluid flow path. A fluid control device is in communication with the second fluid flow path and is configured to provide fluid flow from the second fluid flow path to a liquid space in the fuel tank or to outside of the fuel system. A prime mover is disposed in communication with the second fluid flow path, and is configured to move fluid on the second fluid flow path from the second side of the separation membrane to the fuel tank liquid space or to outside of the fuel system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel system, comprising: a fuel tank including a gas space in the fuel tank and a liquid space in the fuel tank; a first fluid flow path between the gas space in the fuel tank and outside of the fuel system; a gas separation membrane comprising a first side in communication with the first fluid flow path and a second side, wherein the gas separation membrane has a greater permeability to water vapor and hydrocarbon vapor than to oxygen or nitrogen; a second fluid flow path in communication with the second side of the membrane; a fluid control device in fluid communication with the second fluid flow path, with the liquid space in the fuel tank and with outside of the fuel system, said fluid control device configured to provide fluid flow from the second fluid flow path to a destination selected from the liquid space in the fuel tank and the outside of the fuel system; and a prime mover in communication with the second fluid flow path, configured to move fluid on the second fluid flow path from the second side of the separation membrane to the fuel tank liquid space or to outside of the fuel system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a first material having a greater permeability to water vapor than to oxygen or nitrogen, and a second material having a greater permeability to hydrocarbon vapor than to oxygen or nitrogen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fuel system of claim 1, comprising a first membrane having a greater permeability to water vapor than to oxygen or nitrogen, and a second membrane having a greater permeability to hydrocarbon vapor than to oxygen or nitrogen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a material having a greater permeability to water vapor than to oxygen or nitrogen and a greater permeability to hydrocarbon vapor than to oxygen or nitrogen. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the fluid control device comprises a three-way valve or a combination of two-way valves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the fluid control device comprises a water-hydrocarbon separator comprising an inlet in communication with the second fluid flow path, a hydrocarbon outlet in communication with the liquid space in the fuel tank, and a water outlet in communication with outside of the fuel system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fuel system of claim 1, further comprising a vapor-condensing heat exchanger disposed along the second fluid flow path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fuel system of claim 7, wherein the fluid control device comprises a water-hydrocarbon separator comprising an inlet in communication with the second fluid flow path, a hydrocarbon outlet in communication with the liquid space in the fuel tank, and a water outlet in communication with outside of the fuel system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured for fluid flow from the second fluid flow path to the liquid space of the fuel tank if fluid is moving on the first fluid flow path from the fuel tank gas space to outside of the fuel system, and for fluid flow from second fluid flow path to outside of the fuel system if fluid is moving on the first fluid flow path from outside of the fuel system to the fuel tank gas space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the fuel system is disposed on an aircraft, and is configured for fluid flow from the second fluid flow path to the liquid space of the fuel tank during ascent, and for fluid flow from second fluid flow path to outside of the fuel system during descent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the fuel system is disposed on an aircraft in a wing vent box. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fuel system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to controllably direct fluid flow from the second fluid flow path to the liquid space of the fuel tank or to outside of the fuel system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to direct fluid flow from the second fluid flow path to the liquid space of the fuel tank if fluid is moving on the first fluid flow path from the fuel tank gas space to outside of the fuel system, and to direct fluid flow from second fluid flow path to outside of the fuel system if fluid is moving on the first fluid flow path from outside of the fuel system to the fuel tank gas space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The fuel system of claim 12, wherein the fuel system is disposed on an aircraft, and the controller is configured to direct fluid flow from the second fluid flow path to the liquid space of the fuel tank during ascent, and to direct fluid flow from second fluid flow path to outside of the fuel system during descent. ### Claim 15 A method of managing fuel tank vapor, comprising directing outgoing fuel tank vent gas from a gas space in the fuel tank to a gas separation membrane; removing hydrocarbons from the outgoing fuel tank vapor through the membrane and directing the removed hydrocarbons to a liquid space in the fuel tank; and directing incoming vent gas to the fuel tank past the gas separation membrane; and removing water vapor from the incoming vent gas through the membrane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising condensing the removed water or hydrocarbons. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising separating liquid water from liquid hydrocarbons in the condensate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the fuel tank is disposed on an aircraft, and the method comprises removing hydrocarbons from outgoing fuel tank vapor through the membrane and directing the removed hydrocarbons to a liquid space in the fuel tank during ascent, and removing water from incoming vent gas through the membrane during descent.