REHS4726

10 August 2009

Special Instruction
i03639224 Refer to Table 1 in order to estimate the minimum
pressure of the inlet fuel with a day tank or standby
Calculations for Required Inlet application.
Pressure and Back Pressure
of the Fuel on C175 Engines
that are Utilizing a Day Tank or
Standby Application
SMCS Code: 1250

Engine
C175-16 (S/N: WYB1-Up)

Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................. 1
Calculations for the Inlet Fuel Pressure .................. 1
Calculations for the Back Pressure of the Fuel
Return ................................................................... 2
Schematic ............................................................... 4
Examples ................................................................ 4

Introduction
Do not perform any procedure that is outlined in this
Special Instruction until the entire Special Instruction
has been read and understood.

This Special Instruction provides calculations

for determining the minimum inlet pressure and
maximum back pressure of the fuel return on C175
Engines.

Calculations for the Inlet Fuel

Pressure
Caterpillar provides the C175 Engine with the
following items: primary fuel filter/water separators,
the fuel transfer pump, and the secondary fuel
filters. The customer must provide fuel with an ISO
cleanliness of 18/16/13 at the pressures and flows
that are provided in Technical Marketing Information
(TMI).

1
Table 1
Minimum Pressure of the Inlet Fuel
Diameter Number Number Minimum
Minimum
of Pipe, Length Number of Double of Height
Number of Number of Inlet
Fittings, of Pipe of Ball Poppet Solenoid of Fuel
Elbows Tees Pressure
and Valves (Meters) Valves Foot Valves in Tank
(kPa)(2)
(Inches) Valves CV>30 (Meters)(1)
1.5 4 4 1 1 1 1 0.5 -6.7
1.5 6 5 1 1 1 1 0.5 -7.7
1.5 8 5 1 1 1 1 0.5 -8.2
2.0 10 5 1 1 1 1 0.0 -5.6
2.0 15 6 2 1 1 1 0.0 -6.5
2.0 20 7 2 1 1 1 0.0 -7.0
(1) The minimum height of fuel in the tank is the height of the fuel level that is above the inlet port for the engine. This height is measured at the
lowest fuel level in the tank.
(2) Inlet pressure is an estimate that is good for flows up to 41 liter per minute with standard No. 2 diesel.

Use the equations below in order to estimate the

minimum inlet pressure if the configuration of the fuel
delivery is not listed above.

Note: All distances that are located below are in

meters.

Table 2
Equation for Pipe with 1.5 Inch Inside Diameter
PINLET = 8.829(z2 - z1) - 0.242(L + 2.3E + 3.0T + 0.6BV) - 5FV - 2SV
L = 2.0" Diameter Straight Length (m) E = Number of 1.5 Inch Elbows
T = Number of 1.5 InchTees BV = Number of 1.5 Inch Ball Valves
FV = Number of 1.5 Inch Foot Valves SV = Number of Solenoid Valves (CV>30
z1 = Height of fuel inlet port(3) z2 = Height of minimum fuel level(3)
(3) This measurement is measured from a common plane of reference. Refer to the example below.

Table 3
Equation for Pipe with 2 Inch Inside Diameter
PINLET =8.829(z2 - z1) - 0.075(L + 2.6E + 4.0T + 0.8BV) - 1.5FV - 2SV
L = 2" Diameter Straight Length (m) E = Number of 2 Inch Elbows
T = Number of 2 Inch Tees BV = Number of 2 Inch Ball Valves
FV = Number of 2 Inch Foot Valves SV = Number of Solenoid Valves (CV>30
z1 = Height of fuel inlet port(3) z2 = Height of minimum fuel level(3)
(3) This measurement is measured from a common plane of reference. Refer to the example below.

Calculations for the Back Pressure If a fuel cooler is needed, the return line must be
a minimum of 1 and 1/2 inch inside diameter. This
of the Fuel Return diameter must be considered in the calculations of
the back pressure. Table 4 calculates the maximum
The back pressure of the fuel return on the C175
back pressure of the fuel return that is using a
Engine is equally important and critical to maintaining
Caterpillar supplied fuel cooler.
proper system pressure. The back pressure of the
fuel return needs to be maintained below 60 kPa
(9 psi). Refer to Table 4 in order to estimate the back
pressure of the fuel return for systems that are using
a day tank or standby application.

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Table 4
Maximum Back Pressure of the Fuel Return
Diameter Maximum
Maximum
of Pipe, Back
Length of Number of Number of Number of Height of
Fittings, Fuel Cooler Pressure of
Pipe (Meters) Elbows Tees Ball Valves Fuel in Tank
and Valves Fuel Return
(Meters)(4)
(Inches) (kPa)(5)
1.0 4 4 1 1 No 1.5 42.9
1.0 6 5 1 1 No 1.5 50.5
1.0 8 5 1 1 No 1.5 54.1
1.5 10 5 1 1 Yes 2.5 53.4
1.5 15 6 2 1 Yes 2.5 56.0
1.5 20 7 2 1 Yes 2.5 57.7
(4) The maximum height of the fuel in the tank is the height of the top of the fuel tank above the inlet port to the engine.
(5) Back pressure is an estimate that is good for flows up to 39 liter per minute with standard No. 2 diesel.

Use the equations below in order to estimate the

maximum back pressure of the fuel return if the
configuration for the return fuel is not listed above.

Note: All distances that are located below are in

meters.

Table 5
Equation for Pipe with 1 Inch Inside Diameter
PBACKPRESSURE=8.829(z3 - z1) + 1.768(L + 1.6E + 2.0T + 0.5BV)
L = 1 Inch Diameter Straight Length (m) E = Number of 1 Inch Elbows
T = Number of 1 Inch Tees BV = Number of 1 Inch Ball Valves
z1 = Height of fuel inlet port(3) z3 = Height of top fuel tank(3)
(3) This measurement is measured from a common plane of reference. Refer to the example below.

Table 6
Equation for Pipe with 1.5 Inch Inside Diameter
PBACKPRESSURE=8.829(z3 - z1) + 0.226(L + 2.3E + 3.0T + 0.6BV) + 25FC
L = 1.5 Inch Diameter Straight Length (m) E = Number of 1.5 Inch Elbows
T = Number of 1.5 Inch Tees BV = Number of 1.5 Inch Ball Valves
z1 = Height of fuel inlet port(3) z3 = Height of top fuel tank(3)
FC = The number of Caterpillar fuel coolers(6)
(3) This measurement is measured from a common plane of reference. Refer to the example below.
(6) The pressure drop across the fuel cooler is for a fuel cooler that is supplied by Caterpillar. Other restrictions of fuel coolers may vary
considerably. Contact the supplier of the fuel cooler for the data on the pressure drop at your site.

3
Schematic

g01953442
Illustration 1
(A) Z3 (2) Foot valve (6) Common plane of reference
(B) Z2 (3) Ball valve (7) Flexible lines
(C) Z1 (4) Solenoid valve
(1) Fuel tank (5) Optional fuel cooler

Examples 4. PINLET = -7.4 kPa

Table 7 -7.4 > -10 kPa = Inlet pressure is OK

Example of Calculation for Inlet Pressure
Table 8
Pipe with 1.5 Inch Inside Diameter
Example of Calculation for the Back Pressure
L = 10 m E = 8 of the Fuel Return
T = 2 BV = 1 Pipe with 1 Inch Inside Diameter
FV = 1 SV = 1 L = 10 m E = 6
z1 = 1 m z2 = 2.0 m T = 1 BV = 1
z1 = 1 m z3 = 3 m
1. PINLET = 8.829(z2- z1) - 0.242(L + 2.3E + 3.0T +
0.6BV) - 5FV - 2SV 1. PBACKPRESSURE = 8.829(z3- z1) + 1.768(L + 1.6E + 2.0T
+ 0.5BV)
2. PINLET = 8.829(2.0 - 1.0) - 0.242(10 + 2.3(8) + 3.0(2)
+ 0.6(1)) - 5(1) - 2(1) 2. PBACKPRESSURE = 8.829(3 - 1) + 1.768(10 + 1.6(6) +
2.0(1) + 0.5(1))
3. PINLET = 8.829(1.0) - 0.242(38) - 5 - 2
3. PBACKPRESSURE = 8.829(2) + 1.768(22.1)

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4. PBACKPRESSURE = 56.7 kPa

56.7 < 60 kPa = Back pressure is OK

Table 9
Example of Calculation for the Back Pressure of
the Fuel Return with a Cat fuel cooler
Pipe with 1 and 1/2 Inch Inside Diameter
L = 10 m E = 6
T = 1 BV = 1
z1 = 1 m z3 = 3 m
FC = 1

1. PBACKPRESSURE = 8.829(z3- z1) + 0.226(L + 2.3E + 3.0T

+ 0.6BV) + 25FC

2. PBACKPRESSURE = 8.829(3 - 1) + 0.226(10 + 2.3(6) +

3.0(1) + 0.6(1)) + 25(1)

3. PBACKPRESSURE = 8.829(2) + 0.226(27.4) + 25

4. PBACKPRESSURE = 48.9 kPa

48.9 < 60 kPa = Back pressure is OK

Note: Refer to Engine News, SEBD9580, “Pressure

Requirements for the Fuel Supply of the C175
Engine” for more information on requirements for
the fuel pressure from the customer supply on C175
Engines.