Gas separation: apparatus – Degasifying means for liquid – Pressure reducing means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-09-18
Smith, Duane (Department: 1724)
Gas separation: apparatus
Degasifying means for liquid
Pressure reducing means
C096S156000, C095S248000, C222S072000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290760
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air separator system for de-aerating fluid, and in particular, a system for use in conjunction with a fuel dispenser for de-aerating liquid fuel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fuel dispensers contain a fuel storage tank, a fuel pump, and a fuel meter. The fuel pump, conducts fuel from the fuel storage tank and the meter measures the volume of fuel to be dispensed. Liquid fuel may contain dissolved gasses, for example, components of ambient air such as oxygen, nitrogen, etc., as well as hydrocarbons. These dissolved gasses contribute to the volume of fuel pumped from the fuel storage tank. In order to get an accurate measurement of the volume of liquid fuel to be dispensed, dissolved gasses must be removed from the fuel before metering. In addition, many fuel dispensers manufactured today contain a vapor recovery system. The vapor recovery system includes a vapor recovery pump for evacuating fuel vapors from the fuel tank of a vehicle being refueled.
Traditionally, fuel dispensers contain a gas or an air separator disposed downstream from the fuel pump. The fluid on the inlet side of the pump is in a vacuum and, consequently, the pressure is less than atmospheric air. The low pressure hampers effective air separation and removal. Conversely, the pressure on the downstream or outlet side of a fuel pump is greater than atmospheric air. Therefore, traditional fuel dispensers locate the air separator on the outlet side of a pump where the pressure is higher.
One problem with traditional fuel dispenser air separation systems is that the air separation system is located on the outlet side of a fuel pump. The pressure on the downstream or outlet side of a fuel pump is greater than atmospheric air. Pressure higher than atmospheric air assists in the removal of gasses liberated from liquid fuel. However, a less than atmospheric pressure on the inlet side of a pump hampers removal of liberated gasses in an air separator system. Consequently, many current air separation systems will not operate if located on the inlet side of a pump. Therefore, traditional fuel dispensers locate an air separation system on the outlet side of a fuel pump where the pressure is greater than atmospheric air.
A second disadvantage of current fuel dispensers air separator systems are that they do not contain a unified pump/meter unit. A unified pump/meter unit volumetrically measures the volume of fuel pumped for accurate measurement of the volume of fuel dispensed from a fuel dispenser. To accurately measure the volume of fuel to be dispensed, air and other dissolved gasses must first be removed from the liquid fuel before measuring the fuel volume. Since traditional fuel dispensers remove air and gasses on the outlet side of a pump, the meter must be located on the outlet side of a air separation system in order to get more accurate measurement. Consequently, traditional fuel dispensers do not contain a unified pump/meter to both pump fuel and provide an accurate measurement of fuel dispensers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a gas separator, along with vacuum means, are used for removing air and other dissolved gasses from a fluid prior to contact with a fluid pump. The invention, in one form thereof, is an apparatus for separating dissolved gases from a fluid to produce de-aerated fluid. The apparatus includes a fluid pump with a fluid pump inlet and a fluid pump outlet. The apparatus also contains a gas separator which has an upper portion with a gas outlet, a separator fluid inlet, and a separator fluid outlet. Vacuum means removes gas from the gas separator. The vacuum means is in communication with the gas outlet. In one embodiment, the separator fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid pump inlet. In a further embodiment, the apparatus includes a separator gas sensing means operatively associated with the separator upper portion for detecting gas, a gas valve disposed between the gas outlet and the vacuum means, and a gas sensing controller operatively associated with the gas valve. In another, further embodiment, the gas separator is a centrifugal separator.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of producing de-aerated fluid. The method includes the steps of passing a fluid through a centrifugal separator and applying a vacuum to remove the gas from a portion of the separator. In one particular embodiment, a vapor recovery pump provides the vacuum means to remove the gas from the upper portion of a separator.
The invention, in yet another form thereof, is an apparatus for separating dissolved gases from liquid fuel to produce de-aerated fuel. The apparatus includes a pump/meter with a fluid pump inlet and a fluid pump outlet. The apparatus also includes a centrifugal separator having an upper portion with a gas outlet, a separator fluid inlet, and a separator fluid outlet. The separator fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the pump/meter inlet. Vacuum means removes gas from the centrifugal separator and is in communication with the gas outlet. A separator gas sensing means is operatively associated with the separator upper portion for detecting gas. A gas valve is disposed between the gas outlet and the vacuum means. A de-aerated fuel gas sensing means is operatively associated with the de-aerated fluid for detecting gas. A by-pass valve is in fluid communication with the fluid pump outlet. A gas sensing controller is operatively associated with said gas valve and said by-pass valve. In a further embodiment, a vapor recovery system with a vapor recovery pump provides the vacuum means.
The invention, in yet another form thereof, is an apparatus for separating dissolved gases from liquid fuel to produce de-aerated fuel. The apparatus includes a pump/meter with a fluid pump inlet and a fluid pump outlet. The apparatus also includes a centrifugal separator having an upper portion with a gas outlet, a separator fluid inlet, and a separator fluid outlet. The separator fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the pump/meter inlet. A Vacuum pump removes gas from the centrifugal separator and is in communication with the gas outlet. A separator gas sensor is operatively associated with the separator upper portion for detecting gas. A gas valve is disposed between the gas outlet and the vacuum pump. A de-aerated fuel gas sensor is operatively associated with the de-aerated fluid for detecting gas. A by-pass valve is in fluid communication with the fluid pump outlet. A gas sensing controller is operatively associated with said gas valve and said by-pass valve. In a further embodiment, a vapor recovery system uses the vacuum pump as a vapor recovery pump.
The invention, in yet another form thereof, is a fuel dispenser in which dissolved gases are separated from liquid fuel to produce de-aerated fluid. The fuel dispenser includes a dispenser tank, a hose with a nozzle and a fluid pump. The fluid pump has a fluid pump inlet and a fluid pump outlet. The fuel dispenser also contains a centrifugal separator. The centrifugal separator has a gas outlet, a separator fluid inlet, and a separator fluid outlet. Vacuum means removes gas from the centrifugal separator. The vacuum means is in communication with the gas outlet. In one embodiment, the separator fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid pump inlet. In a further embodiment, the fuel dispenser includes a separator gas sensing means operatively associated with the centrifugal separator for detecting gas, a gas valve disposed between the gas outlet and the vacuum means, and a gas sensing controller operatively associated with the gas valve.
An advantage of the present invention is that the air separator system is located on the inlet or upstream side of a pump rather than the outlet or downstream side of the pump. The centrifugal separator with vacuum means allows for effective separation of dissolved gases from a liquid even when the air separator system is located on the inlet side of a pum
Görres Harald
Taivalkoski Tom
Greene Jason M.
Knuth Randall J.
Smith Duane
Tokheim Corporation
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