AGK (fuel system)

AGK

There's systems works around the Otto cycle

1) Fuel system

2) Induction system

3) Ignition system

4) Lubrication systen

5) Cooling system

6) Exhaust system

And we will go thru these in separate page.

Lets look into Fuel system.

1) Fuel system

Fuel type

It is important to load correct fuel type. AVGAS and AVTUR.

Why?And how do we differentiate different fuel types or ratings?

In order to answer those question, we need to learn about AVGAS and AVTUR.

AVGAS

Aviation Gasoline, that's for piston engine. Normal general aviation aircraft utilize AVGAS 100 or AVGAS 100LL. The engine compression ratio dictates the required fuel type. High performance engine requires fuel with higher octane rating.

Meanwhile, fuel with a higher octane ratio poss anti-detonation quality. In order to improve the anti detonation quality, tetraethylead is introduced to AVGAS 100 LL.

In conclusion, use a lower than recommended fuel grade is prone to detonation; however, using a higher than recommended fuel is acceptable for short flights.

In addition, some aircraft is approved to operate in MOGAS motor gasoline or diesel. Need to know your aircraft~~

AVTUR

Aviation Turbine Fuel, that's kerosene based and only used in turbine engine.

NEVER use Jet fuel for piston engine!!

Types of Jet fuel:

The most common type are Jet A, Jet A1 and Jet B.

Jet A1 is the most common; and Jet A is only available in US.

The primary different is their freezing point. Jet A freezes at -40⁰C and Jet A1 has a freezing point of -47⁰C.

However, for Extreme cold area, like northern Canada and Alsaka, Jet B is avialable. Jet B has a freezing point of -60⁰C, which is more suitable for extreme cold weather ops.

To differentiate fuel ratings, fuel company dyed fuel into different colors.

AVGAS 100 ......Green

AVGAS 100LL...Blue

MOGAS .....Red

Jet Fuel ........Colorless

Fuel system component (in General Aviation)

1) Fuel Tank

Of course, fuel is stored in their tanks; and mostly locate in aircraft wings. ( Some airliner has Center tank and trim tank.)

2) Selector Valve

A valve to choose which tank to use.

For high wing aircraft, fuel can be fed by gravity, and it has selection for Both/Left/Right/OFF; however, for low wing aircraft, it has selection of Left/Right/Off only; as fuel need to be pressurized by fuel pump to the engine compartment.

(some high wing aircraft has fuel pump as assist also.)

3) Fuel Strainer

The lowest point of fuel system. It contains a filter and traps contaminants.

4) Fuel Pump

For engine starting, electric pump will be activate to prime fuel to the engine; once engine is started, engine driven pump will continue to supply fuel.