THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AVIATION FUEL THERMAL-STABILITY TEST UNIT

A test unit has been developed by Rolls-Royce for the U.S. Navy to use in evaluating fuel thermal deposition typically found in various airc raft engine components. Although the current Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidatio n Tester (JFTOT) provides a qualitative thermal stability evaluation, it may not be able to predict in-service problems. Conditioning and te sting of the fuel under realistic conditions is crucial if one is to p redict deposit formations accurately. Engine fuel deposit evaluations and evidence from unpublished Rolls-Royce laboratory rig tests were us ed to help design a test unit that would address fuel stability proble ms in current or future aircraft. The Aviation Fuel Thermal Stability (AFTS) rest unit embodies test modules that were selected with extensi ve fuel systems experience to enable the evaluation of thermal deposit ion in various fuel components using properly conditioned fuel. The te st modules are controlled and results are recorded by a computer. This paper includes a review of the AFTS test unit design and preliminary rest results thereof.