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US 12,195,320 B1Granted
System and method for detection of impurities during refueling
AssigneeTriad National Security, LLC
InventorsEric L. Brosha, Rangachary Mukundan, Christopher J. Romero
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel contamination detection system includes a fuel quality analyzer, a multiway valve, and a controller. The multiway valve includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The multiway valve also may include a switching device. The controller is electrically coupled to the analyzer. The controller may be coupled to the switching device, if present. Fuel is flowed through the fuel quality analyzer and an output current is measured to determine whether the fuel includes impurities. The controller is operable to signal a fuel dispensing system to dispense fuel if the fuel is sufficiently clean or cease dispensing fuel if the fuel is impure.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a multiway valve comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet;
- an analyzer fluidly connected to the outlet, the analyzer comprising
- an anode flow field plate defining a first fuel flow field channel,
- a cathode flow field plate defining a second fuel flow field channel,
- a humidified polymer electrolyte membrane between the anode and cathode flow field plates,
- a first electrode between the anode flow field plate and the humidified polymer electrolyte membrane, the first electrode having a first platinum loading,
- a second electrode between the cathode flow field plate and the humidified polymer electrolyte membrane, the second electrode having a second platinum loading higher than the first platinum loading, and
- a reservoir volume defined by the anode and cathode flow field plates and configured to retain water, wherein at least a portion of the humidified polymer electrolyte membrane extends into the reservoir volume, wherein the reservoir volume is separate from each of the first fuel flow field channel and the second fuel flow field channel, and wherein at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode comprises a first portion outside the reservoir volume and aligned with the first fuel flow field channel or the second fuel flow field channel, and a second portion extending into the reservoir volume;
- and
- a controller electrically coupled to the analyzer, the controller configured to
- receive a current output from the analyzer,
- compare the current output to a predetermined limit, and
- send a signal to a fuel dispensing system to suspend fuel flow through the fuel dispensing system if the current output is below the predetermined limit.
10 more elements
A method, comprising:
- initiating operation of a fuel system comprising a sample take-off valve and fuel dispensing outlet by initiating fuel flow through the fuel system to subsequently
- flow a portion of the fuel through the sample take-off valve and through a first inlet of a multiway valve, the multiway valve further comprising an outlet fluidly connected to an analyzer and a second inlet;
- flow the portion of the fuel through the outlet and into the analyzer, the analyzer operated at a first voltage and comprising
- an anode flow field plate defining a first fuel flow field channel,
- a cathode flow field plate defining a second fuel flow field channel,
- a humidified polymer electrolyte membrane between the anode and cathode flow field plates,
- a first electrode between the anode flow field plate and the humidified polymer electrolyte membrane, the first electrode having a first platinum loading,
- a second electrode between the cathode flow field plate and the humidified polymer electrolyte membrane, the second electrode having a second platinum loading higher than the first platinum loading,
- a reservoir volume defined by the anode and cathode flow field plates and configured to retain water, wherein at least a portion of the humidified polymer electrolyte membrane extends into the reservoir volume, wherein the reservoir volume is separate from each of the first fuel flow field channel and the second fuel flow field channel, and wherein at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode comprises a first portion outside the reservoir volume and aligned with the first fuel flow field channel or the second fuel flow field channel, and a second portion extending into the reservoir volume, and
- optionally, (i) an adjustable-height water reservoir assembly fluidly connected to the reservoir volume, or (ii) an external water reservoir fluidly connected to the reservoir volume and a pump operable to pump water from the external water reservoir into the reservoir volume;
- receiving, with a controller electrically coupled to the analyzer, an initial current output of the analyzer operating at the first voltage, the controller further configured to (i) determine a predetermined limit for current output, (ii) compare the initial current output to the predetermined limit, (iii) send a signal to the fuel dispensing system, and (iv) increase or decrease an operating voltage of the analyzer;
- comparing the initial current output to a predetermined limit;
- and
- (i) sending a signal to the fuel system to suspend fuel flow through the fuel dispensing outlet if the initial current output is below the predetermined limit;
- or
- (ii) flowing fuel through the fuel dispensing outlet if the initial current output is at or above the predetermined limit.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.