Fuel Ignition Quality Measurement Tool

Solid particulate, free water contamination, and adulteration are pervasive problems at non-DOD controlled remote locations the aircrew do not have the training or equipment to perform testing to confirm jet fuel suitability for use. Adulterated or contaminated fuel has poor ignition quality and thermal stability, leading to a substantial increase in engine wear and can result in engine failure for aircraft. Fuel quality testing is essential to Air Force operations, however existing methods of fuel testing require time and sophisticated equipment: two things that are often hard to come by in the field. Samples must be sent to off-site locations or trained fuels quality lab personnel must deploy, delaying flying operations. Freedom Flight’s Fuel Ignition Quality Measurement Tool (FIQMT) is a self-contained single small handheld instrument not requiring lab training or lab facilities to operate that is able to perform jet fuel particulate contamination (particle counter), free water determination, and assess thermal stability properties in field conditions to easily determine whether fuel is of suitable quality. The device contains a miniaturized combustion chamber and piston. Fuel to be tested is injected into the chamber, as the piston completes its compression stroke and sensors within the device measure the fuel’s ignition response time, with the device displaying a simple pass/fail reading to easily determine whether the fuel is acceptable for use. Since the AF started using commercial jet fuel there have been an increase in the number of fuel quality related issues involving jet fuel inventories at bases failing a critical chemical property, Thermal Stability. Aircraft use fuel as a heat sink for their thermal management system. Heat can cause the jet fuel to degrade and form deposits within engine, reducing engine component life. Samples must be sent to off-base labs for testing, which can take days. In addition to determining ignition quality, FIQMT will be helpful in identifying thermal stability issues in fuel. Poor ignition quality is most often a result of substandard storage conditions that cause fuel degradation. These same conditions also affect a fuel’s thermal stability, making FIQMT’s identification of poor ignition quality a strong indicator of the existence of stability issues. FIQMT is inexpensive and portable, making it perfectly suited to widespread adoption by governments looking confirm fuel quality, root out unlawful sellers, and reduce air pollution or logistics companies trying to reduce wear and tear on their vehicles. For the warfighter, FIQMT delivers a fuel testing device that can be used in austere environments, delivers test results rapidly, and ensures fuel suitability for vehicles used in essential operations. Whether it be an aircraft, ground equipment or a generator, fuel ignition quality is of critical importance to preventing premature engine failure and increasing the longevity of equipment.