SBIR-STTR Award

Solid particulate, free water contamination, and adulteration are pervasive problems at non-DOD controlled remote locations the aircrew do not have the training or equipment to perform testing to confirm jet fuel suitability for use. Adulterated or contaminated fuel has poor ignition quality and thermal stability, leading to a substantial increase in engine wear and can result in engine failure for aircraft. Fuel quality testing is essential to Air Force operations, however existing methods of fuel testing require time and sophisticated equipment: two things that are often hard to come by in the field. Samples must be sent to off-site locations or trained fuels quality lab personnel must deploy, delaying flying operations. Freedom Flight’s Fuel Ignition Quality Measurement Tool (FIQMT) is a self-contained single small handheld instrument not requiring lab training or lab facilities to operate that is able to perform jet fuel particulate contamination (particle counter), free water determination, and assess thermal stability properties in field conditions to easily determine whether fuel is of suitable quality. The device contains a miniaturized combustion chamber and piston. Fuel to be tested is injected into the chamber, as the piston completes its compression stroke and sensors within the device measure the fuel’s ignition response time, with the device displaying a simple pass/fail reading to easily determine whether the fuel is acceptable for use. Since the AF started using commercial jet fuel there have been an increase in the number of fuel quality related issues involving jet fuel inventories at bases failing a critical chemical property, Thermal Stability. Aircraft use fuel as a heat sink for their thermal management system. Heat can cause the jet fuel to degrade and form deposits within engine, reducing engine component life. Samples must be sent to off-base labs for testing, which can take days. In addition to determining ignition quality, FIQMT will be helpful in identifying thermal stability issues in fuel. Poor ignition quality is most often a result of substandard storage conditions that cause fuel degradation. These same conditions also affect a fuel’s thermal stability, making FIQMT’s identification of poor ignition quality a strong indicator of the existence of stability issues. FIQMT is inexpensive and portable, making it perfectly suited to widespread adoption by governments looking confirm fuel quality, root out unlawful sellers, and reduce air pollution or logistics companies trying to reduce wear and tear on their vehicles. For the warfighter, FIQMT delivers a fuel testing device that can be used in austere environments, delivers test results rapidly, and ensures fuel suitability for vehicles used in essential operations. Whether it be an aircraft, ground equipment or a generator, fuel ignition quality is of critical importance to preventing premature engine failure and increasing the longevity of equipment.

Fuel contamination is a global problem that has severe consequences for both Air Force and commercial flight operations. Contaminated fuel substantially increases the wear and tear on engines, degrading performance, damaging aircraft, and potentially causing engine failure. Solid particulate and free water contamination are the leading jet fuel contaminant issues as identified by the Air Force and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Particulate matter clogs vital components, reducing both engine efficiency and performance, and can obstruct flow in the engine’s fuel-line system leading to the loss of aircraft availability and increasing maintenance lifecycle costs. Free water promotes microbial growth and rust, with the same detrimental effects as particulate matter, and can freeze leading to ice blockages and other aircraft-threatening issues. Prevention of solid particulate and free water contamination is very difficult to achieve as fuel must travel long distances from the refinery to the tank of an aircraft. As it makes its way through multiple storage containers and pipelines, it is inevitably exposed to moisture, scale, and dirty air. As total prevention of this exposure is nearly impossible, it is critical that quality control measures are put in place to ensure fuel is suitable for use before it is pumped into aircraft. For military operations conducted at DoD controlled locations, this is a relatively minor issue as large air bases have robust quality control systems. However, for operations conducted at remote non-DoD controlled locations solid particulate and free water contamination is a critical issue as quality control methods are limited by the availability of lab equipment and presence of trained personnel. These conditions significantly increase the likelihood of contaminated fuel entering aircraft, leading to greater maintenance costs, reduced availability of aircraft, and potential engine failure. Using modern optical techniques in a dual approach, FQMT will enable Air Force personnel to verify and confirm jet fuel quality before refueling, at DOD controlled locations or in austere environments, without sophisticated laboratory equipment or specialized training. FQMT uses compact solid-state laser diagnostics to measure water and particulate contaminants rapidly and accurately. Mid-IR Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) based spectroscopy determines the fuel’s water count while advanced spectroscopic techniques isolate/separate the free and dissolved water. Forward Mie scattering is then employed to estimate particle contaminant levels and distribution, as well as to provide a secondary estimate of free water. The result is a highly accurate, easy to use, and portable device that can be effectively operated by all on-site personnel.