Showing papers on "Ullage published in 1998"

Providing transaction estimates in a fueling and retail system

Abstract: The present invention provides pre-transaction estimates of the amount of fuel required to fill a vehicle's tank along with the estimated total cost of filling the vehicle's tank. The invention includes a vehicle-mounted transponder operatively associated with a vehicle control system or, at a minimum, the vehicle's fuel tank in a manner wherein the transponder is able to receive or determine information relating to fuel tank ullage. The ullage information may include the amount of fuel required to fill the tank, tank size and/or the quantity of fuel remaining in the tank. An interrogator at the fuel dispenser will interrogate the transponder and receive the available ullage information from the vehicle. An associated control system will evaluate the ullage information to determine the amount of fuel required to fill the vehicle and, optionally, calculate the total cost to be incurred if the vehicle is filled. The control system may be associated with a fuel grade selector adapted to provide the control system with information to determine the type and cost of the fuel to be used to fill the vehicle. Optionally, the transponder may include information indicative of the desired grade of fuel.

Tank ullage pressure control

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling the pressure in a tank ullage. The apparatus includes a vapour pump (32) which withdraws vapours from the tank ullage (11) responsive to a signal generated by a pressure sensor (24) in communication with the ullage. The vapours are directed to a canister (50) containing a VOC (Volatile Organic Chemical) adsorbent material where the VOC content of the vapour is removed. Non-polluting VOC-free air is vented from the canister to the atmosphere. The invention also contemplates the provision of a second canister (52) which would accept the tank ullage (11) vapours after the material in a first canister (50) becomes saturated. A portion of the VOC-free air exiting the first canister is used as purge gas to regenerate the saturated material in the second canister. The operation of the two canisters would alternate between adsorption and regeneration until the tank ullage pressure is reduced to below a threshold level.

Cryogenic liquid storage tank with integral ullage tank

Abstract: An improved cryogenic liquid storage tank features a main tank containing a ullage tank. The top portion of the main tank communicates with the bottom portion of the ullage tank through a pipe segment and an opening in the ullage tank. The pipe segment is dimensioned and positioned so that the main tank fills with incoming cryogenic liquid while the ullage tank remains primarily empty. The restricted flow into the ullage tank causes the flow of cryogen into the main tank to decrease when the main tank is nearly full. This decrease in flow is utilized to terminate the filling of the tank. Removal of product from the main tank decreases the pressure and the liquid level therein so that liquid flows out of the ullage tank and is unable to return.

Fuel ignition arrester system and method

Abstract: A fuel ignition arrester system that has a feedback control to maintain the fuel/air mixture in the ullage of a fuel tank above the flammability range. The system uses a photoelectric detector to signal when the fuel/air mixture concentration falls or rises to a predetermined concentration value. The predetermined value is selected to be higher than the upper limit of the flammability range so that the fuel/air mixture is maintained above the range and, thus, incombustible. A fuel pump and piping system with nozzles is arranged to inject fuel into the ullage when the concentration falls to the predetermined value and to stop injecting fuel when the concentration rises to the predetermined value. A flammability detection system includes the detector and a controller that produces an annunciating signal when the fuel/air mixture concentration is equal to or between the upper and lower limits of the flammability range.

Fuel tank inerting system

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for inerting gaseous constituents occupying the ullage space (18) of a fuel tank (10) provide an elevated temperature carbon bed (28) effective to convert oxygen contained within air to carbon dioxide. The oxygen depleted air is delivered to the ullage space (18), displacing the oxygen containing gaseous constituents of the ullage space (18). The apparatus (24) and method are particularly useful to reduce the risk of a fire or an explosion in a partially emptied fuel tank (10) containing a hydrocarbon fuel (14) such as in jet aircraft.

Fueling system with wireless data transfer

Abstract: The present invention provides pre-transaction estimates of the amount of fuel required to fill a vehicle's tank along with the estimated total cost of filling the vehicle's tank The invention includes a vehicle-mounted transponder operatively associated with a vehicle control system or, at a minimum, the vehicle's fuel tank in a manner wherein the transponder is able to receive or determine information relating to fuel tank ullage The ullage information may include the amount of fuel required to fill the tank, tank size and/or the quantity of fuel remaining in the tank An interrogator at the fuel dispenser will interrogate the transponder and receive the available ullage information from the vehicle An associated control system will evaluate the ullage information to determine the amount of fuel required to fill the vehicle and, optionally, calculate the total cost to be incurred if the vehicle is filled The control system may be associated with a fuel grade selector adapted to provide the control system with information to determine the type and cost of the fuel to be used to fill the vehicle Optionally, the transponder may include information indicative of the desired grade of fuel

Method to prevent aircraft explosions in fuel tanks

Abstract: A method for preventing explosions in closed tanks which hold flammable liquids and flammable vapors and air above these liquid fuels comprising filling the ullage with a pressurized gas which not only excludes oxygen from the ullage but also prevents transmission of fire initiating sparks. The invention further comprises filling the ullage with an electronegative gas alone or in combination with an inert gas or gases. More specifically, the preferred electronegative gas is sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) which may also be used in combination with CO2 and/or N2. More particularly, the invention is directed to the prevention of explosions in aircraft fuel tanks.