Customer Cases

Project profile

Aviation kerosene is the fuel of aircraft engines, excessive moisture may lead to reduced combustion efficiency, and even ice blocking the oil circuit, affecting flight safety, so this problem must be paid attention to. 

1. The cause of excessive water analysis:

1) Storage link: 

Poor seal of oil tank (failure of breathing valve, infiltration of water on top of tank).

The temperature difference causes condensation in the tank.

The tank is not drained regularly or the drainage device fails.

2) Transport link:

The inside of the tank car/pipeline is not dry or mixed with other water-bearing media.

During transportation, the temperature fluctuates drastically, resulting in condensation.

3) Production process:

Refinery dehydration process is incomplete (e.g., inadequate fractionation column efficiency).

4) Manual operation:

Exposure to moisture or tool contamination during sampling or refueling.

2. Preventive measures:

A. Storage management:

1) Tank modification:

Use an internal floating roof tank or nitrogen sealing system to isolate air humidity.

Install high efficiency breathing valve (with desiccant filter).

An automatic drainage valve is added at the bottom of the tank to drain water regularly.

2) Environmental control:

The oil depot is maintained at a constant temperature (15-25℃ is recommended) to reduce condensation.

The ground of the tank farm is waterproof and moisture-proof to avoid rainwater backpouring.

B. Transportation management:

Check the cleanliness of the tank car/pipeline before transportation and purge with dry nitrogen.

Real-time monitoring of temperature and humidity during transportation to avoid drastic temperature changes.

C. Control the production end:

The refinery uses molecular sieve adsorption, vacuum dehydration, coalescence dehydration and other technologies to ensure that the moisture of the oil products is less than 30ppm (ASTM standard).

Add antistatic agents to reduce the risk of moisture accumulation.

3. Detection and monitoring:

1) On-line detection:

Install FTIR spectrometers or capacitive moisture sensors to monitor oil moisture content in real time.

2) Laboratory test:

Take regular samples for accurate moisture determination according to ASTM D6304 Carl Fischer method.

3) Quality traceability:

Establish a batch tracking system to record the environmental data of the whole process of storage, transportation and filling.

4. Emergency treatment plan for exceeding the standard:

1) Oil-water separation technology:

Physical separation:

Use centrifugal oil-water separator (processing capacity ≥5m³/h, separation accuracy ≤15ppm).

Install the coalescence filter separator (filter material is glass fiber + polypropylene).

Chemisorption:

The addition of aviation grade dehydrating agent (such as silica gel based adsorbent) must be certified for airworthiness.

2) Disposal of contaminated oil:

If moisture > 50ppm:

Immediately isolate the contaminated batch and activate the standby oil supply.

Return to the factory for re-distillation or coordination with compliance units for recycling (direct discharge is strictly prohibited).

3) Check the system:

Check the aircraft fuel system:

Empty the tank and check whether the filter and fuel pump are frozen or blocked.

Flush the pipe with anhydrous ethanol (according to the MM manual).

5. Management optimization:

1) Personnel training:

Regularly carry out IATA courses on oil management to strengthen anti-pollution practices.

2) Equipment maintenance:

Check tank tightness monthly and calibrate testing instruments quarterly.

3) Emergency plan:

Formulate the "Response Process for excessive moisture content of Aviation Kerosene" to clarify the responsibilities of each department and the disposal time limit.

6. Technical verification and standards:

The treated oil shall pass ASTM D4176 cleanliness test and freezing point test (≤-47℃).

Submit to the Civil Aviation Administration Airworthiness Department for filing to ensure compliance with CAAC AC-121-FS-2018-129 requirements.

Performance parameter

Equipment configuration and requirements

Production and delivery site