The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 10, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 15, 2011
Zidu MA, Ellington, CT (US);
Joseph J. Sangiovanni, West Suffield, CT (US);
Zissis A. Dardas, Worcester, MA (US);
Meredith B. Colket, Iii, Simsbury, CT (US);
Zidu Ma, Ellington, CT (US);
Joseph J. Sangiovanni, West Suffield, CT (US);
Zissis A. Dardas, Worcester, MA (US);
Meredith B. Colket, III, Simsbury, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
A method for fractionating a fuel includes heating the fuel and flowing it through hollow superhydrophobic membranes in a membrane module. Vapor from the fuel permeates the hydrophobic membranes and enters a distillate collection chamber, producing distilled fuel and residual fuel. The residual fuel is removed from the module and cooled. The cooled residual fuel is flowed through hollow tubes in the module and the distilled fuel is removed from the distillate collection chamber. Burning the distilled fuel reduces engine emissions. A fuel fractionation system includes a distillate collection chamber, hollow superhydrophobic membranes, hollow tubes and a distillate outlet. The hollow superhydrophobic membranes receive heated fuel and allow vapor from the heated fuel to permeate the membranes and enter the distillate collection chamber. The hollow tubes receive cooled residual fuel and are positioned to allow vapor in the distillate collection chamber to condense on outer surfaces of the hollow tubes.