Fuel filter

1. A fuel filter comprising:

a filter housing having a first inlet for receiving a first flow of fuel contaminated with water, a first outlet for filtered fuel, a second outlet for filtered fuel, and a water outlet;

a filter element disposed in the filter housing and configured to be penetrated by the first flow in a radial direction from a raw side to a pure side;

a hydrophobic diaphragm having an inlet side fluidly communicating with the pure side of the filter element and an outlet side fluidly communicating with the first outlet for filtered fuel, wherein the diaphragm retains water on the inlet side and permits fuel to flow from the inlet side to the outlet side and to the first outlet, and wherein the diaphragm fluidly separates the first outlet for filtered fuel from the second outlet for filtered fuel;

a smooth-flow water separator fluidly connected in series with the inlet side of the diaphragm so as to receive a second flow of fuel contaminated with water from the inlet side of the diaphragm, wherein the water separator separates the fuel from the water in the second flow and directs the separated fuel to the second outlet for filtered fuel and the separated water to the water outlet; and

wherein fuel is discharged from the water separator by a pressure difference generated in the fuel filter.

2. The fuel filter according to claim 1 ,

further comprising a throttle device disposed in the second outlet for filtered fuel.

3. The fuel filter according to claim 2 , wherein the fuel filter is configured such that a flow of discharged fuel from the water separator is lower by a factor of approximately 1/20 to 1/200 than the flow the inlet flow.

4. The fuel filter according to claim 3 , further comprising at least one water sensor disposed in the second water separator and configured to detect a water level.

5. The fuel filter according to claim 4 , wherein the filter housing is generally cylindrical and the diaphragm and the second water separator are disposed in the filter housing below the filter element of the fuel filter.

6. The fuel filter according to claim 5 , further comprising a valve device having at least two redundant and controllable valves connected in series at a water drain of the second water separator, the valve device being configured to drain water when both valves are open.

7. The fuel filter according to claim 6 , wherein an absorption filter is disposed in the water drain of the second water separator, the absorption filter being an activated carbon filter.

8. The fuel filter according to claim 7 , wherein the second water separator is configured such that at least within the second water separator the flow of the third fluid flow is substantially laminar.

9. The fuel filter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fuel filter is configured such that a flow of discharged fuel from the water separator is lower by a factor of approximately 1/20 to 1/200 than the flow of the inlet flow.

10. The fuel filter according to claim 1 ,

further comprising at least one water sensor disposed in the second water separator and configured to detect a water level.

11. The fuel filter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the filter housing is generally cylindrical and the diaphragm and the second water separator are disposed in the filter housing below the filter element of the fuel filter.

12. The fuel filter according to claim 1 ,

further comprising a valve device having at least two redundant and controllable valves connected in series at a water drain of the second water separator, the valve device being configured to drain water when both valves are open.

13. The fuel filter according to claim 12 ,

further comprising an absorption filter disposed in the water drain of the second water separator, the absorption filter being an activated carbon filter.

14. The fuel filter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second water separator is configured such that at least within the second water separator the flow of the third fluid flow is substantially laminar.

15. The fuel filter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fuel discharge from the second water separator is continuous.

16. The fuel filter according to claim 1 ,

wherein any combination of the filter element and the first water separator and the second water separator are formed as a single combination component.

17. A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine comprising the fuel filter of claim 1 .