US 11,906,163 B2 · Fuel oxygen conversion unit with integrated water removal

Abstract

A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine includes a fuel source; a draw pump downstream of the fuel source for generating a liquid fuel flow from the fuel source; a main fuel pump downstream of the draw pump; and a fuel oxygen reduction unit downstream of the draw pump and upstream of the main fuel pump. The fuel oxygen reduction unit includes a stripping gas line; a contactor in fluid communication with the stripping gas line and the draw pump for forming a fuel/gas mixture, wherein the contactor receives an inlet fuel flow from the draw pump; a separator in fluid communication with the contactor, the separator receives the fuel/gas mixture and separates the fuel/gas mixture into an outlet stripping gas flow and an outlet fuel flow at a location upstream of the main fuel pump; a catalyst disposed downstream of the separator, the catalyst receives and treats the outlet stripping gas flow, wherein a stripping gas stream flows out the catalyst; and a water removal component disposed between the catalyst and the contactor, wherein the water removal component removes water from the stripping gas stream.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine comprising:

a fuel source;
a draw pump downstream of the fuel source for generating a liquid fuel flow from the fuel source;
a main fuel pump downstream of the draw pump;
and
a fuel oxygen reduction unit downstream of the draw pump and upstream of the main fuel pump, the fuel oxygen reduction unit comprising:
a stripping gas line;
a contactor in fluid communication with the stripping gas line and the draw pump for forming a fuel/gas mixture, wherein the contactor receives an inlet fuel flow from the draw pump;
a separator in fluid communication with the contactor, the separator receives the fuel/gas mixture and separates the fuel/gas mixture into an outlet stripping gas flow and an outlet fuel flow at a location upstream of the main fuel pump;
a catalyst disposed downstream of the separator, the catalyst receives and treats the outlet stripping gas flow, wherein a stripping gas stream flows out the catalyst;
a water removal component disposed between the catalyst and the contactor, wherein the water removal component removes water from the stripping gas stream;
and
a boost pump downstream of the separator and upstream of the contactor, wherein the separator and the boost pump are both coupled to, and driven by, an accessory gearbox of the gas turbine engine.

9 more elements

A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine comprising:

a fuel oxygen reduction unit defining a stripping gas flowpath and comprising an inlet fuel line and an outlet fuel line, the fuel oxygen reduction unit comprising:
an oxygen transfer assembly for reducing an amount of oxygen in an inlet fuel flow through the inlet fuel line using a stripping gas flow through the stripping gas flowpath, the oxygen transfer assembly comprising a separator;
a catalyst in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath at a location downstream of the oxygen transfer assembly, the catalyst receiving and treating the stripping gas flow in the stripping gas flowpath from the oxygen transfer assembly, wherein a stripping gas stream flows out the catalyst;
a water removal component disposed downstream of the catalyst, wherein the water removal component removes water from the stripping gas stream;
and
a boost pump downstream of the oxygen transfer assembly, wherein the separator and the boost pump are both coupled to, and driven by, an accessory gearbox of the gas turbine engine.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel oxygen conversion unit with integrated water removal

Life of this patent

Fuel oxygen conversion unit with integrated water removal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21