Fuel deoxygenator with non-planar fuel channel and oxygen permeable membrane
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsAlexander Chen, Louis Spadaccini, Louis Chiappetta, Haralambos Cordatos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for use in a fluid system includes a flow perturbation element within a fluid channel. The flow perturbation element has a gas permeable surface for removing dissolved gas from passing fluid. A gas permeable membrane is coated on the gas permeable surface and allows the dissolved gas transport out of passing fluid into a gas-removal channel. The gas permeable membrane may be coated on the fuel perturbation elements using any of a variety of methods.
Claims61
A device for use in a fluid system, comprising:
- a fluid channel for receiving fluid having dissolved gas;
- and
- a flow perturbation element within the fluid channel, the flow perturbation element having a gas permeable surface through which at least a portion of the dissolved gas will pass.
A device for use in a fluid system, comprising:
- a fuel passage defining an axis;
- a first flow perturbation element comprising a first gas-removal channel in communication with a first gas permeable membrane having a first distal section and a first proximal section that is relatively nearer to the axis than the first distal section;
- and
- a second flow perturbation element comprising a second gas-removal channel in communication with a second gas permeable membrane having a second distal section and a second proximal section that is relatively nearer to the axis than the second distal section.
A device for use in a fluid system, comprising:
- a fuel channel for receiving fuel having dissolved gas therein;
- a porous flow perturbation element that defines a non-planar flow passage through the fuel channel;
- a gas permeable membrane in communication with the fuel channel;
- and
- a gas-removal channel adjacent the porous flow perturbation element for receiving the dissolved gas from the fuel through the gas permeable membrane and porous flow perturbation element.
A device for use in a fluid system, comprising:
- a fuel channel comprising a flow passage between elongated channel walls for receiving fuel having dissolved gas therein;
- a porous flow perturbation element that extends from one of the elongated channel walls into the flow passage;
- a gas permeable membrane in communication with the fuel channel;
- and
- a gas-removal channel adjacent the porous flow perturbation element for receiving the dissolved gas from the fuel through the gas permeable membrane and porous flow perturbation element.
A method of removing a gas from a liquid, comprising:
- (a) communicating fluid that includes dissolved gas through a fluid channel;
- (b) generating a gas concentration differential between the fluid channel and a gas permeation passage within a flow perturbation element in the fluid channel;
- and
- (c) drawing the gas from the fluid at least partially through the gas permeation passage within the flow perturbation element in the fluid channel.
A method of making a device for use in a fluid system, comprising:
- (a) selecting a non-planar fuel channel substrate;
- and
- (b) coating a gas permeable membrane adjacent the non-planar fuel channel substrate to produce a non-planar fuel channel flow perturbation element.
A method of making a gas permeable membrane of a device for use in a fluid system, comprising:
- (a) depositing coating precursor materials onto a non-planar gas permeable surface of a fuel deoxygenator fuel channel;
- and
- (b) forming a gas permeable membrane on the non-planar gas permeable surface from the coating precursor materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.