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A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at le

A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process. The method further includes recirculating fuel within at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby removing heat from at least a portion of the fuel system and facilitating a transfer of operating fuel modes.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of operating a dual-fuel system, said method comprising: shifting from a liquid fuel mode of operation to a gas fuel mode of operation comprising: removing liquid fuel from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system using a gravity drain process, such that substantia

What is claimed is: 1. A method of operating a dual-fuel system, said method comprising: shifting from a liquid fuel mode of operation to a gas fuel mode of operation comprising: removing liquid fuel from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system using a gravity drain process, such that substantially all of the liquid is removed from the at least a portion of the dual-fuel system; channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the dual-fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual liquid fuel from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system; removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system during a liquid fuel refilling process using a venting process, such that at least a header of the dual-fuel system is substantially refilled with the liquid fuel removed from the at least a portion of the dual-fuel system and is substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen; removing air from at least a portion of the refilled liquid fuel system using a venting process; and recirculating liquid fuel from the header through at least a portion of the dual-fuel system, to facilitate removing heat from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system such that a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates within the dual-fuel system is mitigated. 2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein removing liquid fuel from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system comprises transferring liquid fuel from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system to at least one cavity using a liquid fuel recirculation sub-system. 3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the dual-fuel system comprises biasing fuel towards at least one cavity using a nitrogen purge sub-system. 4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the dual-fuel system further comprises biasing air within at least a portion of the dual-fuel system towards at least one cavity using a nitrogen purge sub-system. 5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system during a fuel refilling process comprises: biasing air and nitrogen towards at least one cavity; and using a liquid fuel recirculation sub-system to facilitate venting air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system. 6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein removing air from at least a portion of the refilled liquid fuel system comprises using a liquid fuel recirculation sub-system to facilitate venting air from at least a portion of the refilled liquid fuel system, wherein the venting process causes air to flow from at least a portion of the liquid fuel system towards at least one cavity. 7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein recirculating liquid fuel within at least a portion of the dual-fuel system comprises: recirculating liquid fuel using a liquid fuel recirculation sub-system such that transferring heat from at least a portion of the dual-fuel system into at least a portion of a liquid fuel flow stream is facilitated; and recirculating liquid fuel using the liquid fuel recirculation sub-system such that a period of time elapsed from the gas fuel mode of operating to the liquid fuel mode of operating is reduced.