Continuous Flow System For Draining Fuel-Water Separator

A method of assembling a continuous flow system for draining a fuel-water separator on a locomotive, the fuel-water separator including an input port, a drain port and an output port, the method comprising:

• coupling the drain port of the fuel-water separator to a fuel tank of the locomotive with a return conduit, the fuel-water separator in continuous fluid communication with the fuel tank through the return conduit, the return conduit including a receiving conduit coupled to the drain port, a delivering conduit coupled to the fuel tank and an orifice disposed between the receiving conduit and the delivering conduit, the orifice having an orifice diameter, the receiving conduit having a receiving diameter, the delivering conduit having a delivering diameter, the orifice diameter less than the receiving diameter and less than the delivering diameter;
• coupling the output port of the fuel-water separator to an inflow fuel port of a high pressure common rail pump,
• wherein the fuel-water separator is configured (a) to separate water from fuel in a fluid received by the input port of the fuel-water separator and (b) to output through the drain port a first separated liquid that comprises water and to output through the output port a second separated liquid that comprises fuel,
• wherein the return conduit is configured to deliver the first separated liquid received from the fuel-water separator to the fuel tank
• wherein the orifice is configured to provide during operation of the fuel-water separator a continuous drip of the first separated liquid into the delivering conduit and a pressure drop of 0-0.8% in the second separated liquid at the inflow fuel port of the high pressure common rail pump,
• wherein the return conduit is configured to define a flow path free from obstruction during use of the continuous flow system.

A continuous flow system for draining a fuel-water separator disposed on a locomotive, the locomotive including a fuel tank and the fuel-water separator, the fuel-water separator having an input port, a drain port and an output port, the fuel-water separator configured to separate water from fuel in a fluid received by the fuel-water separator through the input port and to output through the drain port a first separated liquid that comprises water, and to output through the output port a second separated liquid that comprises fuel, the continuous flow system comprising:

• a return conduit fluidly connecting the drain port of the fuel-water separator to the fuel tank of the locomotive, the return conduit configured to deliver the first separated liquid received from the drain port of the fuel-water separator to the fuel tank, the fuel-water separator in continuous fluid communication with the fuel tank through the return conduit, the return conduit including a receiving conduit coupled to the drain port, a delivering conduit coupled to the fuel tank and an orifice disposed between the receiving conduit and the delivering conduit, the receiving conduit including a receiving transition portion disposed adjacent to the orifice, the receiving transition portion frustoconical in shape, the drain port disposed upstream of the receiving transition portion, the orifice having an orifice diameter of 0.10 cm to 0.20 cm, the receiving conduit having a receiving diameter, the delivering conduit having a delivering diameter, the orifice diameter less than the receiving diameter and less than the delivering diameter, the orifice configured to provide during operation of the fuel-water separator a continuous drip of the first separated liquid into the delivering conduit and a pressure drop of 0-0.8% in the second separated liquid at the inflow fuel port of the high pressure common rail pump, wherein the return conduit is configured to define a flow path free from obstruction during use of the continuous flow system.