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Aircraft Fuel
Reciprocating engine fuels Turbine engine fuels
Jet A which is Kerosene Jet B a blend of kerosene and gasoline Jet A-1 used for operation at extremely low temperatures
x Jet A and Jet B are the most common
Water Contamination
Water contamination in fuel can be in two forms:
Dissolved in the fuel Entrained or suspended in the fuel
Water in fuel can cause icing in the aircraft fuel system, usually in:
Boost pump screens Low pressure filters
Microbial Growth
Microbial Growth is produced by various forms of micro-organisms that live and multiply in water which is in jet fuel These micro-organisms form slime that can be red, brown, green, or black The organisms feed on hydrocarbons in the fuel but require water to multiply This buildup can:
Interfere with fuel flow and quantity indications Start electrolytic corrosive action
Contamination Detection
Coarse fuel contamination can be detected visually Uncontaminated fuel should be:
Clean Bright Contain no perceptible free water
Fuel Systems
The purpose of an aircraft fuel system is to store and deliver the proper amount of clean fuel at the correct pressure to the engine Fuel systems should provide positive and reliable fuel flow through all phases of flight including:
Changes in altitude Violent maneuvers Sudden acceleration and deceleration
Gravity-Feed Systems
Gravity-Feed Systems use only the force of gravity to push fuel to the engine fuel-control mechanism The bottom of the fuel tank must be high enough to provide adequate pressure to the fuel-control component
This type of system is often used in high-wing light aircraft
Pressure-Feed Systems
Pressure-Feed Systems require the use of a fuel pump to provide fuel-pressure to the engines fuel-control component There are two main reasons these systems are necessary:
The fuel tanks are too low to provide enough pressure from gravity The fuel tanks are a great distance from the engine
Also, most large aircraft with higher powered engines require a pressure system regardless of the fuel tank location because of the large volume of fuel used by the engines
Fuel Pumps
Fuel pumps are used to move fuel through the system then gravity feed is insufficient There are three main functions of fuel pumps, they are to move fuel from:
The tanks to the engines One tank to another The engine back to the tanks
Fuel-Pump Requirements
Engine fuel systems require main pumps and in some systems emergency pumps These requirements depend on the type of engines installed on the aircraft
Centrifugal Ejector
Vane-Type Pumps
Vane-type fuel pumps are the most common They use a rotor which turns vanes in a cylinder, the vanes act to push the fuel through the system Vane-type pumps can have from two to six vanes and they may be variable volume also
Centrifugal Pumps
Centrifugal pumps are used to move fuel from one tank to another or from the fuel tank to the engine They are electrically driven and some may operate at different speeds
Ejector Pumps
An ejector pump is normally used to scavenge fuel from remote areas These pumps have no moving parts they rely on return fuel from the engine to pump the fuel Ejector pumps work on the venturi principle
Fuel Tanks
Fuel systems on different aircraft may use several types of fuel tanks The three basic types of fuel tanks used on aircraft are:
Integral Rigid Removable Bladder
Fuel Lines
Fuel lines on aircraft are either made of rigid metal tubing or flexible hose Most of the fuel lines are the rigid type which are usually made of aluminum alloys The flexible hose fuel lines are either made of synthetic rubber or Teflon The diameter of tubing used is decided by the engines fuel requirements
Valves
Fuel selector valves are used in aircraft fuel systems to:
Shut off fuel flow Cross-feed Transfer fuel
Quantity Indicators
Mechanical
Inverted float gauge Rotating dial gauge Upright float gauge Sight-glass gauge
Resistance Capacitance
Fuel Subsystems
Some aircraft fuel subsystems allow for fuel: Jettison Heating Cross-Feeding
Fuel Jettison
The fuel jettison system comprises a combination of fuel lines, valves, and pumps provided to dump fuel overboard during an inflight emergency This will reduce the weight of the aircraft so an emergency landing is possible
Fuel Heating
Fuel heating is necessary for turbine engines to thaw ice particles in the fuel that would otherwise clog the filters Fuel is routed through a heat exchanger that uses either engine oil or compressor bleed air to bring the fuel up to an acceptable temperature
Cross Feeding
Cross feed systems allow the flow of fuel from any of the tanks to any of the engines Some reasons that this system might be used are:
Engine failure Problem with one or more fuel tanks Redistribute fuel for weight and balance purposes
TROUBLESHOOTING
1. AIR CONTAMINATION a) Enters through venting pipes. May be contaminated by dust and microbiological spores. It also may contain large amounts of moisture. b) Air displaces fuel volume. c) The oxygen present will increase the oxidation of the fuel. This is the beginning of sludge formation resulting in unstable fuel which will trigger filter and nozzle plugging. (Better known as unscheduled downtime). HOW TO REMOVE Do not store fuels for long periods of time in partially empty tanks without fuel stabilizers
TROUBLESHOOTING
2. WATER CONTAMINATION a) Easiest to identify and most destructive. b) Free water leads to corrosion and fuel degradation. c) Provides fertile growing place for bugs. d) Vents and seals that are poorly designed, improperly installed, or faulty can allow water to enter. HOW TO REMOVE If possible stick with paste for the best defense. Dont depend only on electronic monitoring systems. Tanks must be cleaned properly and dont allow water to store in empty fuel tanks (when aircraft isnt flying).
TROUBLESHOOTING
3. FUEL CONTAMINATION a) Fuel in storage will degrade to form insoluble materials. (Particulates & Sludge) b) Results include plugged filters, fouled injectors/nozzles, formation of combustion system deposits, and accelerated corrosion. c) As the fuel cools, water will condense and generate free water. WAYS OF FUEL CONTAMINATION Fuel gets contaminated if the filler caps of the fuel tanks are not properly closed or tightened . Fuel also gets contaminated if there is some water present in fuel tanks or the water isnt properly drained out from fuel tanks. Fuel contamination also occurs when the fuel supplied to the fuel tanks is already contaminated . HOW TO REMOVE Fuel stability is dependent on several factors including crude sources, refinery processes, base fuel components, base fuel blends and storage conditions. Fuel must be checked for impurities before loading into the fuel tanks Filler caps of the fuel tanks must be tightened or closed properly to avoid the contamination. Fuel tanks must be cleaned properly so that no water is present in the tanks to cause contamination.
TROUBLESHOOTING
4. FAULTY DESIGN STORAGE TANK PROBLEM a) Most have been poorly designed, system wide. b) Improper placement of water. c) Lack of water control causes internal corrosion and a complex corrosive mechanism resulting in microbial activity. d) It can be removed by designing of the fuel system by skilled labour 5. MICROBES IN FUEL a) Microbes cause problems because they promote corrosion, and their physical presence leads to plugging of filters and injectors/nozzles. b) Controlling micro biologics is difficult because it is almost impossible to exclude water entirely from commercial hydrocarbon fuels. CONTROL OF THE MICROBES a) Elimination of water is most effective step. b) Keeping the system aerated. c) Remove contaminated materials if possible.