Aircraft fuel is an important component, and a successful flight is dependent on the quality of the fuel. Any amount of contamination can prevent your aircraft from operating normally and pose a danger to its users. Aircraft technicians are there to cleanse the fuel and keep it in healthy condition for years.
There are different types of fuel contamination, and each of them has a different cause. A professional aviation company will identify the causes of fuel contamination and make it possible to eliminate those factors. Contaminated fuel can be due to the corrosion in the fuel cells, clogging of fuel filters, failure of instrumentation, or many other factors. Therefore, timely identification can prevent further fuel contamination and keep your aircraft safe from damage.
This blog post also mentions the basic types of fuel contamination in an aircraft and how you can prevent them from growing.
Microbial Growth
Microbial growth means certain bacteria and fungi can interfere with the fuel and cause contamination. Such bacteria and fungi thrive in water, feed off alkanes, and adapt to the fuel. This microbial growth is also known as diesel bug, and up to 200 different types of bacteria, molds, and yeast cause fuel contamination and is arguably the most harmful fuel contamination of all.
Such bacteria and microorganisms have a by-product, which is a sludge-like substance. This substance can cause corrosion on aluminum and steel surfaces and attack the rubber fuel systems’ components. Therefore, you need to eliminate water from the fuel to control microbial growth and prevent other microorganisms from developing in the fuel and causing further contamination.
Moreover, certain products can be added to the fuel to eliminate the growth of fungus and other microbes and prevent fuel contamination. If you do not control this microbial growth, the by-products can cause corrosion and break filter composition.
Water Contamination
Another type of contamination that also leads to microbial contamination in water. Fuel has a tendency to allow water to be easily absorbed, which introduces various types of contamination. Water can be introduced into the fuel in various ways, especially through the humidity in the air.
There are many inevitable conditions in which moisture can form within the fuel and cause contamination in it. Water might be suspended in the fuel or be in a liquid form. At lower temperatures, water particles are suspended and accumulated. At warmer temperatures, the moisture is absorbed from the atmosphere.
Therefore, if you allow water to remain present in the fuel for a longer period, it will further promote the growth of bacteria and microbes in the fuel. This will lead to microbial contamination, as discussed above.
Particulate Contamination
The third type of fuel contamination is particulate contamination. Dust, dirt, and grime are the most common causes of particulate contamination. From standing still in the hangar to flying, an aircraft is constantly exposed to different particles inside its engine that cause fuel contamination. Fuel filters and screens capture these particles before they can damage the engine. The excessive presence of particles can lead to fuel contamination.
Therefore, regular inspection and cleaning of the fuel are necessary to avoid fuel contamination. Cleaning prevents the filters from getting clogged. Otherwise, the fuel will no longer be filtered but will instead bypass the filter altogether. This can cause fuel contamination and failure of some essential engine components. Moreover, all open fuel system lines should be properly covered during maintenance to avoid particles and moisture from entering the system.
Final Thoughts
Keeping the fuel clean and in healthy condition is crucial to ensure the long life of the engine and its components. Any contamination can lead to the early corrosion of the parts, and therefore, a costly repair or replacement is needed. It leads to the early clogging of filters, and therefore, your aircraft's engine might be unable to receive the desired amount of fuel. Moreover, contaminated fuel also puts your flight at risk. A professional aviation company can help you prevent fuel contamination.
About Acorn Welding
Get your aircraft maintained with us. Acorn Welding is serving customers around the world. We are Canada's largest aircraft exhaust and engine mounts repair company and the world's largest radial and vintage aircraft exhaust repair company. Contact us for more information.
