Dehydration of liquid fuel

Abstract

A method for dehydrating liquid fuel, the method comprising injecting a supply of dry gas into a liquid fuel via an outlet submerged in the liquid fuel. Also, a system for dehydrating liquid fuel, the system comprising a container for storing a liquid fuel, a line for delivering a supply of dry gas, and an outlet disposed near the bottom of the container and connected to the gas line for injecting dry gas into the liquid fuel.

1 . A method for dehydrating liquid fuel, the method comprising injecting a supply of dry gas into a liquid fuel via an outlet submerged in the liquid fuel. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fuel is a hydrocarbon fuel. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fuel is an aviation fuel. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dry gas is inert. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dry gas is nitrogen, preferably having a purity of approximately 98% or more. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to any of  claim 1 , wherein the dry gas is nitrogen enriched air, preferably having a nitrogen content of between approximately 90% to approximately 98%. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dry gas is oxygen depleted air, preferably having an oxygen content of between approximately 0% to approximately 12%. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dry gas is supplied at a temperature of between approximately 30 degrees Celsius to approximately 40 degrees Celsius, preferably around 35 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel is stored in a container, and the method further comprises injecting a second supply of dry gas directly into the container ullage. 
     
     
         10 . A method for dehydrating liquid aviation fuel on-board an aircraft, the method comprising injecting a supply of dry gas into an aircraft fuel tank via a submerged outlet using the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising generating the dry gas on-board the aircraft. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising displacing gas in the fuel tank ullage with gas that has passed through the liquid fuel. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to any of  claim 10 , further comprising injecting a second supply of dry gas directly into the fuel tank ullage. 
     
     
         14 . A system for dehydrating liquid fuel, the system comprising a container for storing a liquid fuel, a line for delivering a supply of dry gas, and an outlet disposed near the bottom of the container and connected to the gas line for injecting dry gas into the liquid fuel. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a valve for varying the gas flow rate through the outlet. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein the outlet has an aperture adapted to form fine gas bubbles. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the outlet has a variable aperture. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to any of  claim 14 , further comprising a second outlet disposed near the top of the container and connected to a gas line for injecting dry gas directly into the container ullage. 
     
     
         19 . An aircraft comprising the system according to any of  claim 14 , wherein the container is an aircraft fuel tank. 
     
     
         20 . An aircraft according to  claim 19 , further comprising apparatus for generating the supply of gas on-board the aircraft. 
     
     
         21 . An aircraft according to  claim 20 , further comprising a drier for drying the gas. 
     
     
         22 . An aircraft according to  claim 20 , wherein the on-board gas generator includes a fuel cell. 
     
     
         23 . An aircraft according to  claim 20 , wherein the on-board gas generator includes a catalyst. 
     
     
         24 . An aircraft according to  claim 20 , wherein the on-board gas generator includes a gas separation membrane.