Fuel Systems Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

Why does aviation fuel need to be of a higher quality than fuels used in less critical applications?

A

1) Due to significance in variation in environmental conditions
2) The increased level of performance required.

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2
Q

What are three ways fuel is measured?

A

1) Fuel Quantity: measured in liters or gallons. 1 gal = 3.79 litres.
2) Fuel mass: measured in kilograms (kg), tonnes or pounds (lb)
3) Fuel flow: measured in kg, lb or USG per hour.

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3
Q

What does the density of a material refer to?

A

Mass per unit volume

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4
Q

What is the specific gravity (SG) of a substance?

A

The ratio of a substance’s density in comparison to the density of water.

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5
Q

What is the freezing point of a substance?

A

Point at which fuel freezes, which can create blockages in the fuel system, severely impacting performance.

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6
Q

What is Fuel System Icing Inhibitor (FSII)?

A

A fuel additive which is designed to inhibit fuel system icing, while also suppressing fungal growth.

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7
Q

What is the flash point of a substance?

A

The lowest temperature at which a fuel begins to form a combustible vapour.

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8
Q

What is the volatility of a substance ?

A

A fuel’s level of volatility can be defined based upon its tendency to turn from a liquid to a gas (or vapour) upon the application of heat.

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9
Q

What is the viscosity of a substance?

A

Defined as a fuel or oil’s level of resistance to flow.

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10
Q

What is preferred in the fuel for the engine/APU to start at low temperatures?

A

Low viscosity + high volatility.

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11
Q

What are the two general groups of aviation fuels?

A

1) Piston engine fuels (AVGAS)
2) Turbine fuels (AVTUR).

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12
Q

What are two main AVGAS fuels and what is their colour?

A
  • 100LL, Blue
  • 100/130, Green
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13
Q

What are the main AVTUR fuels and what colors are they?

A
  • Jet A-1
  • Jet B
  • F 34
  • F 35
  • F 44
  • Colourless/straw colour
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14
Q

What chemical is AVGAS based in?

A

Petroleum

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15
Q

What chemical are AVTUR fuels based in?

A

Keresine

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16
Q

What are NATO designations for different aviation fuels?

A

F-18 for AVGAS 100LL
F34 for Jet A-1 with FSII
F35 for Jet-A-1 without FSII
F-44 which is a high flash point of AVTUR with FSII additive

17
Q

What are U.S military Jet Fuel codes?

A

JP-5 = F-44
JP-8 = F34

18
Q

What are the main functions of fuel?

A
  1. Facilitate Engine and/or APU power
  2. Hydraulic System Cooling
  3. Centre of Gravity (CoG) maintenance
19
Q

What are the main two components of the aircraft fuel system?

A
  1. Engine fuel supply system
  2. Storage System
20
Q

What does the Engine Fuel Supply System consist of?

A
  1. Collector/Negative G tank
  2. Engine driven fuel pump
  3. Fuel filtration
  4. Fuel usage indication
  5. Engine fuel metering/carburation
21
Q

What does the Storage System consist of?

A
  1. Fuel Tanks
  2. Motive flow transfer system
  3. Fuel Tank Pressurization System
  4. Fuel tank vent system
  5. Refueling/defueling point
  6. Fuel storage indication
22
Q

What are the 4 major variants of internal fuel tanks?

A
  1. Integral tanks - Built into A/C wing or fuselage structure
  2. Rigid Tanks - Plastic, metal or fiberglass construction
  3. Bladder tanks - collapsible rubber tanks, most commonly used in military A/C applications due to light weight and self sealing properties of components involved.
  4. Tip Tanks
23
Q

What are the most common forms of external fuel tanks?

A
  1. Conformal tanks - tanks designed to fit closely to the airframe, reducing aerodynamic drag involved.
  2. Drop Tanks - externally mounted centerline, pylon or wing tanks. Can be jettisoned if required for emergency/combat requirements.
24
Q

What is the Collector Tank designed to do?

A

Be a centralized collection point to receive fuel from range of supply tanks to facilitate uninterrupted supply of fuel to the engine during turbulence/combat maneuvers.

25
Q

What is the Recuperator/Negative G tank designed to do?

A
  • Compensate for the lack of supply from the boost pumps during negative g events.
  • Commonly located in the engine fuel supply line.
26
Q

What is the Low-Pressure Pump (Booster Pump) designed to do?

A
  • Provide backing pressure for intertank transfer and supply of fuel to high pressure pumps located within the engine supply system.
  • Electrically or hydraulically driven
27
Q

What is the Motive Flow Transfer pump designed to do?

A

Create a venturi effect to create the force required to transfer the volume of fuel required.

28
Q

What is the Low-Pressure Fuel Cock (LP Cock)?

A
  • An on/off selector that is designed to stop the fuel flow to the engine.
  • Acts as the boundary between storage and engine supply segments of an aircraft fuel system.
29
Q

What is the Filter Unit?

A

Consists of replaceable elements that remove water and/or particulate contaminants.

30
Q

What does the engine driven fuel pump do and how does it do it?

A
  • Delivers a continuous supply of fuel across the entirety of the engine’s operational range.
  • Regulates supply to ensure the correct pressure and flow rate is maintained for optimal engine performance and efficiency.
31
Q

For engine/APU supply, what is the typical path of the fuel?

A

Wing tanks –> Collector Tanks –> Aerobatic Tank –> Low-pressure pump –> Fuel Filter –> Fuel Shut Off Valve –> Firewall –> Engine-Driven Pump –> Engine

32
Q

What are some common Fuel Storage Management COmponents?

A
  1. Fuel transfer metering valves
  2. Transfer jet ejectors/air control unit
  3. Flight computer - for automated CoG control.
33
Q

What are some common Engine Supply Management Components?

A

For Piston Engine:
- Fuel injection metering unit
- Carburettor
For Gas Turbine:
- Engine Driven fuel pump
- Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
- Fuel Control Unit (FCU)
- Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC)

34
Q

What do fuel indicating systems consist of?

A

1) Gauges
2) Lights
3) Audio

35
Q

What are some typical parameters that are monitored in the fuel system?

A

1) True fuel flow indicators
2) Fuel Temperature
3) Low fuel pressure warning lights
4) Fuel quantity
5) Fuel filter bypass warning lights