Systems and Methods for Liquid Fuel Desulfurization
AssigneeUniversity of South Carolina
InventorsYanhai Du, Ken Reifsnider
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Abstract
In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a system for removing sulfur from liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The system includes a reactor having a fuel inlet and fuel outlet. The fuel inlet and fuel outlet are in fluid communication with a fuel path passing through the reactor. The fuel path is defined by an inner helical thread portion and an outer helical thread portion. The inner helical thread portion is complimentary with and has a smaller diameter than the outer helical thread portion. The inner helical thread portion surrounds a heating element and the outer helical thread portion is surrounded by an outer cover.
Claims20
A system for removing sulfur from liquid hydrocarbon fuel, the system comprising:
- a reactor, the reactor having a fuel inlet and fuel outlet, the fuel inlet and fuel outlet being in fluid communication with a fuel path passing through the reactor, the fuel path being defined by an inner helical thread portion and an outer helical thread portion, the inner helical thread portion being complimentary with and having a smaller diameter than the outer helical thread portion, the inner helical thread portion surrounding a heating element, the outer helical thread portion being surrounded by an outer cover.
A process for removing sulfur from liquid hydrocarbon fuel, the process comprising:
- feeding liquid hydrocarbon fuel into a reactor, the reactor having a fuel inlet and fuel outlet in fluid communication with a fuel path, the liquid hydrocarbon fuel entering the reactor through the fuel inlet and contacting a metal oxide sorbent material along at least a portion of the fuel path, the fuel path being defined by an inner helical thread portion and an outer helical thread portion, the inner helical thread portion being complimentary with and having a smaller diameter than the outer helical thread portion, the inner helical thread portion surrounding a heating element, the outer helical thread portion being surrounded by an outer cover;
- and
- utilizing the heating element to raise the temperature of the fuel path such that when the liquid hydrocarbon fuel contacts the metal oxide sorbent material, sulfur is removed from the liquid hydrocarbon fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.