Revision: 00 Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
15.9 LUBRICANTS AND FUELS
15.9.1 Properties and specifications
15.9.2 Fuel additives 15.9.3 Safety precautions
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Revision: 00 Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
15.9.1 .1 Properties and specifications of lubricants
1. Purpose - The primary purpose of a lubricant is to reduce friction between moving parts, and to a lesser temperature degree, help in engine cooling. - It is also used to seal and cushion moving parts, clean engine interior, and protect against corrosion. - Since engines require a lubricant which can circulate freely, liquid lubricants such as oils are most widely used in aircraft engines.
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15.9.1.1 Properties and specifications of lubricants – con’d
2. Requirements of Turbine engine lubricants
- Gas turbine engine oil must have a high enough viscosity for good load carrying ability, but it must also be of sufficient low viscosity to provide good flow ability. - Because of these requirements, synthetic, rather than petroleum base lubricants, are used in turbine engines
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3. Properties of lubricants - Low viscosity oils are used because engines are built with extremely tight tolerances. Ball and roller bearings used are subjected to relatively low pressure. Viscosity is a measure of oil resistance to flow. - Low volatility oils. To minimize evaporation at high altitudes. Volatility is the ease with which fluids change from liquid to vapour. - Anti-foaming quality. This is to reduce foaming and ensure positive lubrication. - High flash point. Flash point is the temperature at which oil, when heated, gives off flammable vapors that will ignite if near a flame source.
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3. Properties of lubricants – con’d
- Low pour point. Pour point is the lowest temperature at which oil will gravity flow. - Low lacquer and coke deposits. Keep solid particles formation to a minimum - Excellent quality of cohesion. Characteristic of oil molecules allowing them to stick together under compression loads - Excellent quality of adhesion. Characteristic of oil molecules to stick to surfaces under centrifugal loads. - Wide temperature range. Provide temperature range from - 60deg F to +400deg F. - High viscosity index. Viscosity index is an indication of how well the oil tend to retain its viscosity when heated to its operating temperature. Issue: 01 Module 15.9.1 Page No: 6 Revision: 00 Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
3. Properties of lubricants – con’d
Typical Properties of Lubricants: PROPERTIES TYPE I TYPE II -Specific gravity at 60 deg F 0.95 0.975 -Kinematic viscosity centistokes at 210 deg F 3.26 5.09 -Flash point, deg F(deg C) 450 (232) 480 (249) -Pour point, deg F(deg C) below 75(60) 75(60) -Evaporation loss in 6.5 hr at 400 degF, wt.% 17.0 4.2 -Ryder gear test load,lbs/sq.in 2575 2796 -Total acid number, KOH/gm 0.21 0.3 Issue: 01 Module 15.9.1 Page No: 7 Revision: 00 Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
4. Specifications of lubricants - Three types of synthetic oils: a. Type 1 MIL-L-7808 - straw-coloured when new but darken over time in service. The colour change comes from an oxidation inhibitor added to the oil that darkens after coming in contact with oxygen. - classified as a alkyl diester (dibasic-acid ester). - can be made by animal tallow or vegetables (castor bean) as raw material in a reaction with alcohol or from petroleum hydrocarbon synthesis. - 3 centistoke (cSt) rating. Centisoke is the unit of viscosity - very low viscosity - Primarily used in early turbine engines
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4. Specifications of lubricants – con’d
b. Type 2 MIL-L-23699 - straw-coloured when new but darken over time in service. The colour change comes from an oxidation inhibitor added to the oil that darkens after coming in contact with oxygen. - polyester, 5 centistoke rating - Mostly used on modern turbine engine uses a new synthetic base and new additive composition. - Advantages over Type I a. Higher viscosity and viscosity index b. Higher load-carrying characteristics c. Better high-temperature-oxidation stability d. Better thermal stability
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4. Specifications of lubricants – con’d
c. Type III – No MIL Specification
- Latest synthetic lubricant developed - Used in many of the more modern engines - Developed to withstand higher operating temperatures - Improved anti-coking characteristics
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15.9.1 .2 Properties and specifications of fuels
1. Properties of turbine fuels
- Turbine engine normally used kerosene type - produce more heat per gallon. - Turbine fuel are colorless or light straw color. - More viscous than recip. engine to allow fuel acts as lubricant in pumps/fuel control unit - Due to its high viscosity, turbine fuel water and solid material does not easily settled which may cause fuel icing and microbial growth to exist.
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1. Properties of turbine fuels – con’d
- To overcome formation of icing and microbial growth, fuel
additives are premixed (by distributor). - If it is not mixed by distributor, approved additive by manufacturer must be mixed. (PRIST™) - Anti-microbial growth will prevent clogging of filters and fuel lines, and corrode fuel cells.
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notes: 1. JET B or JP 4 normally used by military. 2. numbers are for labeling / identification only and do not describe any performance characteristic.
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3. Turbine Fuel Identification
- colorless / light straw color - identified by white letters on black b/ground - color coded according to the type of fuel - Piping identified by name & color bands - painted/decaled around the pipe at intervals along its length JET JET -A1
JET A-1 JET A-1
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15.9.2 Fuel Additives
1. Fuel Additives - All aviation fuels contained some dissolved water and free water. - Dissolved water is like humidity in air in that it cannot be seen. It is not a problem as long as it remains dissolved. - Free water, also called entrained water, is present in tiny droplets and is visible. Large quantities of free water (over 30 parts per million) can cause engine performance loss and even flame out. - The most common fuel additives are the anti-icing and anti- microbial agents. - Anti-icing additives keep entrained water from freeze-up without the use of fuel heat, except at very low temperatures. - Microbial agents kill microbes, fungi, and bacteria which form slime.
Issue: 01 Module 15.9.2 Page No: 15
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1. Fuel Additives – con’d
- Most often the additives are premixed in the fuel by the fuel distribution company. - If it is not, the service person must add the agents when fueling the aircraft. - A popular brand of hand-servicing type anti-icing and microbial mixture is called PRIST™
Issue: 01 Module 15.9.2 Page No: 16
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15.9.3 Safety Precautions
1. Handling synthetic lubricants and safety precautions. - Most companies that produce turbine engine oil state that it must be used immediately after opening the container. This is because synthetic oils are hygroscopic, meaning it easily absorbs moisture from the air to make them unusable. - Synthetic oil for turbine engine is usually supplied in one quart containers to minimize the chance of contaminants entering the lubrication system. - Mixing of different brands of oil is prohibited. - In the event of inadvertent mixing of incompatible lubricants, manufacturers require the oil system be drained and flushed before refilling. - Avoid prolong skin contact - Spilt oil is hazardous and should be cleaned. Issue: 01 Module 15.9.3 Page No: 17 Revision: 00 Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
15.9.3 Safety Precautions – con’d
2. Handling fuel and safety precautions. - As turbine fuel is flammable, it is a requirement during refueling and defueling that the grounding probe must be in place before any refueling or defueling. This is to avoid having static sparks. - Personnel handling aviation fuels should observe a number of practical and precautionary measures to avoid undesirable contact with fuel products , these include: - avoid all unnecessary contact and use protective equipment to prevent contact - remove promptly any fuel product that gets on the skin - do not use fuels or similar solvents to remove oil or grease from the skin
Issue: 01 Module 15.9.3 Page No: 18
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2. Handling fuel and safety precautions – con’d
- never wear fuel soaked clothing. Remove immediately and clean before re-use - avoid breathing fuel vapours. Maintain well ventilated work areas - clean up spilled products immediately. Keep spills out of sewers, streams, and waterways - be familiar with proper first-aid techniques for handling unexpected/gross contacts and contact proper medical authorities immediately for assistance
Issue: 01 Module 15.9.3 Page No: 19
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