Method and apparatus for treating fuel to temporarily reduce its combustibility

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating fuel to temporarily reduce its combustibility, and thereafter restore its combustibility. As used in an aircraft, the method comprises the following steps: (a) treating aircraft engine fuel to substantially reduce its combustibility in open air; (b) carrying the treated fuel in a fuel tank of an aircraft; (c) increasing the combustibility of a portion of the treated fuel, as needed by the aircraft engine; and (d) supplying the increased restored combustibility fuel to the aircraft engine. Using this method, the preponderance of the fuel on board the aircraft is maintained at low combustibility for safety.

1 .- 58 . (canceled)  
   
   
       59 . The method of temporarily reducing the combustibility of liquid fuel, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) treating the fuel to substantially reduce its combustibility;    (b) storing the treated fuel; and    (c) treating at least a portion of the previously treated fuel to restore its combustibility.    
   
   
       60 . The method defined in  claim 59 , further comprising the step of converting the portion of the fuel whose combustibility has been restored into energy.  
   
   
       61 . The method defined in  claim 59 , wherein step (a) includes the step of reducing the vapor pressure of the fuel to reduce its combustibility in open air.  
   
   
       62 . The method defined in  claim 59 , wherein step (a) includes the step of cooling the fuel to a temperature in the range of 25° C. above to 25° C. below its freezing temperature.  
   
   
       63 . The method defined in  claim 62 , wherein step (c) includes the step of heating said portion of the fuel.  
   
   
       64 . The method defined in  claim 59 , wherein step (a) includes the step of adding a first chemical composition to the fuel which decreases its combustibility.  
   
   
       65 . The method defined in  claim 64 , wherein the chemical composition is an anti-detonative agent.  
   
   
       66 .- 97 . (canceled)  
   
   
       98 . The method defined in  claim 64 , wherein the chemical composition is a polymer.  
   
   
       99 . The method defined in  claim 98 , wherein the polymer is polystyrene.  
   
   
       100 .- 109 . (canceled)  
   
   
       110 . The method defined in  claim 64 , wherein the chemical composition is a colloid.  
   
   
       111 . The method defined in  claim 64 , wherein the chemical composition is a gel.  
   
   
       112 . The method defined in  claim 111 , wherein the gel is silicon based.  
   
   
       113 . The method defined in  claim 111 , wherein the gel is an aerogel.  
   
   
       114 . The method defined in  claim 113 , wherein the aerogel is a silica aerogel which has been subject to derivitization.  
   
   
       115 . The method defined in  claim 113 , wherein the aerogel is a silica aerogel which has been organically modified.  
   
   
       116 . (canceled)  
   
   
       117 . The method defined in  claim 112 , wherein the gel is a treated silica.  
   
   
       118 .- 141 . (canceled)  
   
   
       142 . The method defined in  claim 98 , wherein step (c) includes the step of removing the polymer by filtration.  
   
   
       143 . The method defined in  claim 111 , wherein step (c) incudes the step of removing the gel by filtration.  
   
   
       144 .- 145 . (canceled)  
   
   
       146 . The method defined in  claim 64 , wherein step (c) includes the step of removing the first composition by at least one of electrodeposition, electrostatic deposition and electroprecipitation.  
   
   
       147 . The method defined in  claim 64 , wherein step (c) includes the step of adding a second chemical composition to said portion of the fuel.