Effects of Fuel Slosh and Vibration on the Flammability Hazards of Hydrocarbon Turbine Fuels Within Aircraft Fuel Tanks

摘要

The report deals with the effects of liquid fuel motion on the flammability of hydrocarbon turbine fuels in aircraft fuel tanks. Three military turbine fuels, JP-4, JP-5, and JP-8, were used in the testing. The fuels were placed in an explosion proof cylindrical test vessel (80-gallon capacity) and subjected to slosh and vibration. An electric arc was formed within the ullage which ignited any flammable fuel-air mixture present. The pressure rise from combustion was measured and correlated with initial conditions. The major effect of fuel slosh and vibration was to lower or abolish the lean flammabile temperature limit of the fuel. The rich flammable temperature limit was unchanged. An analysis was performed on these results and an explanation proposed based upon the hypothesis that all the fuel vapor in the ullage burns for combustion below the flash point. (Author)