Aircraft Fuel System

Prepared By: Jitesh Swami

PRN: 180101051023
FUEL
TANKS
• Aircraft fuel tanks come in a variety of
types an sizes.

• Can be located almost anywhere in the

aircraft wings, fuselage, tail.

Managing fuel distribution between

•
tanks on large aircraft can be very
involved.
FUEL TANK TYPE

EXTERNAL 04 BLADDER TANKS

WING TANKS

TANK 01
03 TYPE
INTEGRAL RIGID REMOVABLE
TANKS TANKS
02
BLADDER TANKS
• Rubber bladders are used to store fuel. Usually in the wings.
• Will deteriorate over time, but are easier to replace than metal
tanks.
• Black flecks may appear in strained fuel which indicates
deterioration.
• Tend to deform over time which causes water,
fuel, and sediment entrapment.
 BLADDER TANKS DEFORMATION

• Over time the bladder begins to deform and rise up between attach point.

This causes fuel, water and sediment to collect in the valleys.

Which results in increased unusble fuel, inaccurate quantity reading, possible
contamination during aggressive altitude.
 RIGID REMOVABLE TANKS

• Welded aluminum tanks inserted into the aircraft.

• A disadvantage of this type of tank is added weight.
• An advantage is the ability to remove and repair.
• These tanks are installed in compartments specifically made for the
tank.
• The tank may be held in place with padded straps.
 INTEGRAL TANKS (WET WING)

• Integral tanks are made by seling off compartments inside the wings.
• They have advantage of utilizing existing aircraft structure to contain
fuel, which reduces weight.
• Commonly found in large aircraft.
 EXTERNAL WING TANKS (TIP
TANKS)
• These fuel tanks are mounted externally.
• Tip tanks at the end of the wingtips.
• Tip tanks can have an aerodynamic advantages as they act like
winglets.
 COLLECTOR TANKS

• Aircraft with long wings are subject to fuel starvation due to sloshing
(slush or splash of liquid).
• This is guarded against by incorporating collector tanks into the
system.
• All fuel goes to the collector tank prior to reaching the engine.
• This smaller collector tank is always full of fuel which absorbs any
interruptions in feed due to sloshing.
 FUEL TANK LAYOUT

• Fuel tanks can be arranged in multiple tank designs.

• Fuel can be used simultaneously from different tanks, or one at a time.
• Some complex fuel systems have fuel burn schedules, which involve
systematic burn off and transfer between tanks to ensure limits are not
exceeded.
• In the case of wet wing aircraft outboard tanks are usually filled first
and emptied last, to ensure wing structural integrity. the fuel in the
wings counteracts the forces of weight.
•
 FUEL PUMPS
• High Wing carburated aircraft are usually gravity fed and dont’t need fuel
pumps.
• Fuel injected and low wing aircraft require a fuel pump to supply positive
pressure to the fuel metering system.
• Fuel pump are also used to transfer fuel between tanks and provide crossfeed.
• Fuel pumps are usually lubricated by the fuel itself and can overheat if run dry.
• These fuel pumps are usually engine driven.
• Fuel is fed to the engine at a rate faster than it can be used, this means return
lines are necessary.
 CAVITATION
• The formation of an air pocket(Cavity) in the fuel.
• If the fuels pressure becomes too low it will vaporize.
• The pump create low pressure area as the fuel is accelerated. air pockets
forming on the suction side of the pump can cause cavitation.
• Fuel pumps are incapable of pumping a gas.
• This can cause pump damage, and possibly an interruption in flow.
THANK
YOU