Module Introduction

Aviation fuels are petroleum-based fuels, or petroleum and synthetic fuel

blends, used to power aircraft. They have more stringent requirements
than fuels used for ground use, such as heating and road transport, and
contain additives to enhance or maintain properties important to fuel
performance or handling. Types of fuel may vary on how refined they are
and their composition. As humans and animals cannot live without water,
aircraft's engine also cannot operate without fuel. It is the fuel that makes
the engine and the aircraft alive!

Learning Objectives

At the end of the module, the learners will be able to:

1. identify what type of fuel is to be used in different aircrafts;

2. distinguish the difference between stoichiometric, rich, and lean mixtures;
3. determine correct actions in what to do with the fuel-to-air mixture at all
phases of flight and apply their knowledge in their training flights; and
4. reflect on the importance of the correct air-to-fuel mixture as it may
possess great hazard when it is not balanced correctly.
 FUEL
A material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or
power.

Types of Aviation Fuel

1. Jet Fuel (Jet A-1 Kerosene)

2. Kerosene-Gasoline Mixture (Jet B)
3. Aviation Gasoline (Avgas)
4. Bio-kerosene

AVIATION GASOLINE
Avgas is used in small piston engine powered aircraft within the
General Aviation community.
A. OCTANE RATING
            Is a standard measure of the performance of an engine or aviation
fuel. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can
withstand before detonating (igniting). The greater the octane number the
greater the power created.
B. AVGAS GRADES OF FUEL
1. AVGAS 100 - The standard high-octane fuel for aviation piston engines. It
has a high lead content. Color: Green
2. AVGAS 100LL - This grade is the low lead version of Avgas 100.
Color: Blue
3. AVGAS 82UL - This is a relatively new grade aimed at the low
compression ratio engines which don't need the high octane of Avgas 100
and could be designed to run on unleaded fuel. Color: Purple
C. LEAD
                        Lead increases the resistance against detonation inside the
engine during combustion. Thus, higher compression (more power)
engines could be used.
Lead is harmful to our health.
D. DETONATION AND PRE-IGNITION
1. Detonation: is the spontaneous combustion of the end-gas
(remaining fuel/air mixture) in the chamber.
2. Pre-ignition: is defined as the ignition of the mixture prior to
the spark plug firing.
E. EFFECTS OF USING OTHER GRADE OF FUEL THAN
RECOMMENDED
1. Pre-Ignition and Detonation (Lower Grade)
2. Rough Engine Performance (Lower Grade)
3. Engine Failure (Lower Grade)
4. Lower the operating span of A/C engine (Lower Grade)
5. Lower power produced (Lower Grade)
6. Engine will fail to start (Higher than normal grade)
BE SURE TO USE THE RECOMMENDED FUEL TO YOUR ENGINE
1. More power produced.
2. Great engine performance.
3. Increased safety
F. AIR-FUEL-RATIO (AFR)
            Defines the ratio of the amount of air consumed by the engine
compared to the amount of fuel.
 Lean Mixture
 Rich Mixture
 Stoichiometric Mixture
I. STOICHIOMETRIC MIXTURE
1. A 'Stoichiometric' AFR has the correct amount of air and
fuel to produce a chemically complete combustion event.
 2.  For gasoline engines, the stoichiometric, A/F ratio is
14.7:1, which means 14.7 parts of air to one part of fuel.
3. The stoichiometric AFR depends on fuel type-- for alcohol
it is 6.4:1 and 14.5:1 for diesel.
4. Ideal mixture, because it burns all the air and fuel mixture
leaving no unburned fuel or air.
5. Great Engine Performance
II. RICH MIXTURE
1. A lower AFR number contains less air than the 14.7:1
stoichiometric AFR, therefore it is a richer mixture.
2. Less Air: More Fuel
3. 13.0:1 = Rich
EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVELY RICH MIXTURE
1. Fouling of spark plugs (Low power settings - Taxiing etc.)
2. Less efficient, but may produce more power and the burn
is cooler, which is kinder to the engine.
III. LEAN MIXTURE
1. a higher AFR number contains more air and therefore it is
a leaner mixture.
2. 15.0:1 = Lean
EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVELY LEAN MIXTURE
1. More efficient but may produce engine damage.
2. It is possible that the engine will stop operating.
3. Rough engine performance due to uneven fuel distribution
between cylinders
4. Produce less power.