US 2026/0263967 A1 · APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING WATER SEPARATION CHARACTERISTICS OF HYDROCARBON FUELS AND RELATED METHOD

Abstract

A coalescer element for determining water separation characteristics of hydrocarbon fluids includes a first body portion with a fluid conduit having an inlet and outlet, and a second body portion with a corresponding fluid conduit. A filter separator pad is disposed between the outlet of the second body portion and the inlet of the first body portion. The first body portion includes a cylindrical wall with an open top and closed bottom, receiving the second body portion in a fluid-tight relationship secured by an O-ring seal. The filter separator pad includes stacked fiberglass discs with scrim reinforcement. In operation, a water/fuel emulsion passes through the aligned fluid conduits and coalescer discs, enabling measurement of water separability as an indicator of surfactant presence in the fuel. The apparatus provides simplified testing methods while reducing operator skill requirements for evaluating water separation effectiveness in transient fuel samples.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A coalescer element for determining water separation characteristics comprising:

an outer body having an outer wall and a bottom wall defining a hollow interior;
a tubular outlet extending through the bottom wall to establish fluid communication between the hollow interior and an exterior of the outer body;
an annular rim extending around an upper perimeter of the outer wall;
an inner body disposed within the hollow interior of the outer body and having a fluid conduit aligned with the tubular outlet of the outer body, the inner body having:
a hollow interior;
a hollow upstanding concentric central member disposed within the hollow interior of the inner body and defining the fluid conduit with an inlet and an outlet;
a downwardly facing shoulder adapted to receive an elastomeric seal;
and
at least one coalescer disc disposed in a stack between the inner body and the bottom wall of the outer body.

6 more elements

A system for determining water separation characteristics of hydrocarbon fluids, comprising:

a syringe configured to contain a water and fuel emulsion;
and
a coalescer element affixed to an inlet/outlet end of the syringe, the coalescer element comprising:
an outer body having a cylindrical outer wall and a bottom wall defining a hollow interior, the bottom wall having a tubular outlet extending therethrough establishing fluid communication between the hollow interior and an exterior of the outer body;
an inner body disposed within the hollow interior of the outer body, the inner body having a fluid conduit with an inlet and an outlet, the fluid conduit of the inner body being aligned with the tubular outlet of the outer body, the inlet of the fluid conduit being configured to receive the inlet/outlet end of the syringe;
an elastomeric seal disposed between the inner body and the outer body creating a fluid-tight seal therebetween;
and
at least one coalescer disc disposed between the inner body and the bottom wall of the outer body, wherein the emulsion passes from the syringe through the fluid conduit of the inner body, through the at least one coalescer disc, and out through the tubular outlet of the outer body.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for determining water separation characteristics of hydrocarbon fuels and related method

Life of this patent

Apparatus for determining water separation characteristics of hydrocarbon fuels and related method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20