Patent ID: 6517722
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A fuel oil cleaning system for use with a fuel oil flow having particulate contaminants therein, said cleaning system comprising:an inlet valve for controlling the fuel oil flow having particulate contaminants therein forming a contaminated fuel oil flow and wherein the contaminated fuel oil flows through a first output port of said inlet valve; a stationary porous member positioned in the contaminated fuel oil flow that passes through said first output port, said contaminated fuel oil flow entering said stationary porous member through a first porous member surface and exiting through a second porous member surface towards a second output port, said fuel oil flow depositing the particulate contaminants on said first porous member surface to form a clean fuel oil flow that flows towards said second output port; said stationary porous member comprising: an inner rigid enclosure having a plurality of perforations; a mesh layer wrapped around said inner rigid enclosure; and a wire cloth layer, said wire cloth layer comprising said first porous member surface and said second porous member surface, said wire cloth layer being wrapped around said mesh layer and wherein said second porous member surface is in contact with said mesh layer; a third output port coupled to a drain through a drain valve; said inlet valve being closed while said drain valve is opened during a cleaning process for generating a reverse flow of said clean fuel oil that flows from said second output port towards said third output port, said reverse flow of said clean fuel oil flowing through said stationary porous member from said second porous member surface through said first porous member surface for dislodging the particulate contaminants from said first porous member surface to form a contaminated reverse flow of fuel oil that said drain valve being closed and said inlet valve being opened after said cleaning process is completed; and wherein said stationary porous member further comprises an ultrasonic generator that is positioned inside said inner rigid enclosure, said ultrasonic generator being activated to facilitate cleaning during a portion of said cleaning process.