ELECTROSTATIC CHARGING SURVEY OF AIRPORT FUELING SYSTEMS

Studies of the electrostatic charging characteristics of aircraft fuels and ground fueling equipment were extended to six major airports in the United States. 184 runs involving 31 different fuels were carried out by using 105 hydrant servicers and trucks. Relative charging tendencies of 15 different types and makes of separators, coalescers and filter/monitor elements were obtained. Surface voltages were measured in 15 runs at three airports. Fuel effects continued to be a major variable in filter charging as concluded in an earlier CRC study of filtration equipment. As in the earlier study, teflon-coated screen separators charged significantly less than paper separators. No differences were observed between coalescers. Filter/monitors showed some evidence of high charging activity. With current model paper separators one of 31 fuels was a "high charging" type and about 4% of the runs exhibited charge levels above the high charging criteria developed in this study. All charges from teflon-coated screens were well below these levels. The study also showed the importance of the charge flow concept when equipment was operated with differing flow rates. While some relationships could be established between charge levels and surface voltages in receiving tanks, other factors such as tank geometry and meter viewing field had a major influence on surface voltages and limiting the usefulness of these measurements.

• Corporate Authors:

  Coordinating Research Council, Incorporated

  30 Rockefeller Plaza
  New York, NY  United States  10020
• Publication Date: 1974-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 144 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft fuels; Coalescers; Electrostatics; Filters; Flow; Refueling; Separators; Voltage
• Uncontrolled Terms: Flow rate
• Old TRIS Terms: Airside design and operations; Electrostatic charge
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163499
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: CRC Report 473
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 28 1977 12:00AM