Anton Paar has used its SVM 3000 viscometer to determine the viscosity of jet fuel.
Jet fuels are used in aircrafts powered by turbojet or turboprop engines. They consist of hydrocarbons and additives such as corrosion inhibitors, anti-icing additives and antioxidants.
These additives depend on the intended use of the jet fuel - for civil or military aircrafts, for different climates or for special applications, for example.
Wide-cut fuels are a blend of kerosene and naphtha fractions.
While several parameters of jet fuel are measured to define its properties, its kinematic viscosity is determined primarily for safety reasons.
Nozzles producing a fine spray of droplets inject the jet fuel under high pressure into the combustion section of a turbine engine.
If the fuel’s viscosity is too high, the droplet mist is not fine enough, which can cause problems when relighting the engine in flight, Anton Paar says.
The viscosity also influences the pressure drop in the fuel lines: the higher the viscosity, the greater the pressure-drop throughout the lines.
Consequently, the fuel pump must work harder to uphold a constant fuel flow rate. The result is early wear of the pump.
To effectively measure jet fuel viscosity, Anton Paar uses its SVM 3000 stand-alone instrument for manual filling or its SVM 3000 with built-in Xsample sample changer.
Furthermore, it is necessary to use a counter-cooling device and an air preparation unit.
The testing of aviation fuel is particularly beneficial for refineries and fuel wholesale traders as well as for aviation fuel research, Anton Paar claims.
A full account of the company’s study can be found in the PDF above.
