The application of methods for assessing the thermal oxidative jet fuel stability in civil aviation

Abstract

As a result of jet fuel oxidation, insoluble sediments, called resins or high-temperature deposits, are formed. They significantly reduce the chemmotological reliability of aircraft engine fuel system units, i.e., fuel metering equipment, fuel-oil coolers, fine fuel filters, etc. The main factors that intensify the jet fuel oxidation processes are fuel quality and meeting specifications as well as its temperature. In this regard, aviation fuel supply enterprises constantly monitor indicators of the thermal aviation fuel stability. The widely used domestic method for assessing the thermal oxidative aviation fuel stability is the technique under static conditions (Thermal Jet Fuel Stability – TJFS), the foreign one is the dynamic technique (Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Test – JFTOT). Opinions concerning the use of a particular method for an objective assessment of the thermal aviation fuel stability are divided. The article considers the main provisions with respect to the jet fuel stability, overviews the methods and indicators, characterizing the thermal oxidative aviation fuel stability, provides statistical data on the long-term use of the static (TJFS) and dynamic (JFTOT) methods for assessing the quality of domestic TS-1 and RT fuel grades for subsonic aircraft supplied to an airline. It is shown that the use of the dynamic method (JFTOT) with the current operation parameters is not relevant.

Keywords

• kerosene-based aviation fuels
• thermo-oxidative fuel stability
• static method for evaluating thermo-oxidative stability
• dynamic method for evaluating thermo-oxidative stability