Apparatus and method for detecting and removing moisture and contaminants in a fuel storage tank

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting and removing moisture and contaminants from fuel stored in a tank includes: optical fiber for examining the fuel for moisture and contaminants, a light source and a lens; a suction hose insertable into the tank; a return hose insertable into the tank; a pump with an inlet connected to the suction hose, and an outlet; a waste holding container for receiving moisture and contaminants; a contaminant filter with an inlet and an outlet connected to the return hose; and a valve between the pump outlet, the waste holding container and the contaminant filter inlet. A method for detecting and removing moisture and contaminants from fuel stored in a tank, includes: optically inspecting fuel in the tank for moisture and contaminants; pumping fuel laden with moisture and contaminants into a measuring container until the measuring container is full; pumping the contents of the measuring container into a holding container; examining the fuel to determine whether the fuel is substantially clean of moisture and contaminants, until the fuel is substantially clean of moisture and contaminants; pumping the fuel from the tank through a contaminant filter and then back into the tank until the fuel is free of moisture and contaminants; and terminating pumping.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.