Fuel Quality Measurement Tool (FQMT)

Fuel contamination is a global problem that has severe consequences for both Air Force and commercial flight operations. Contaminated fuel substantially increases the wear and tear on engines, degrading performance, damaging aircraft, and potentially causing engine failure. Solid particulate and free water contamination are the leading jet fuel contaminant issues as identified by the Air Force and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Particulate matter clogs vital components, reducing both engine efficiency and performance, and can obstruct flow in the engine’s fuel-line system leading to the loss of aircraft availability and increasing maintenance lifecycle costs. Free water promotes microbial growth and rust, with the same detrimental effects as particulate matter, and can freeze leading to ice blockages and other aircraft-threatening issues. Prevention of solid particulate and free water contamination is very difficult to achieve as fuel must travel long distances from the refinery to the tank of an aircraft. As it makes its way through multiple storage containers and pipelines, it is inevitably exposed to moisture, scale, and dirty air. As total prevention of this exposure is nearly impossible, it is critical that quality control measures are put in place to ensure fuel is suitable for use before it is pumped into aircraft. For military operations conducted at DoD controlled locations, this is a relatively minor issue as large air bases have robust quality control systems. However, for operations conducted at remote non-DoD controlled locations solid particulate and free water contamination is a critical issue as quality control methods are limited by the availability of lab equipment and presence of trained personnel. These conditions significantly increase the likelihood of contaminated fuel entering aircraft, leading to greater maintenance costs, reduced availability of aircraft, and potential engine failure. Using modern optical techniques in a dual approach, FQMT will enable Air Force personnel to verify and confirm jet fuel quality before refueling, at DOD controlled locations or in austere environments, without sophisticated laboratory equipment or specialized training. FQMT uses compact solid-state laser diagnostics to measure water and particulate contaminants rapidly and accurately. Mid-IR Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) based spectroscopy determines the fuel’s water count while advanced spectroscopic techniques isolate/separate the free and dissolved water. Forward Mie scattering is then employed to estimate particle contaminant levels and distribution, as well as to provide a secondary estimate of free water. The result is a highly accurate, easy to use, and portable device that can be effectively operated by all on-site personnel.