Fuel Paths
DV,
Not a Nimrod specialist, but if I understood the Press Briefing correctly the fuel can track back down the fuselage from the No 1 tank blow-off valve when it operates, and enter the gaps in the fairings and panels by the 7 tank dry bay and alongside the main hot air pipe to the SCP. Given this the fuel can then come into contact with the gap between the two types of insulation, which the BOI found on most aircraft, where the hot air pipe is not protected and hence fuel touching bare metal at approximately 400 degrees C can catch fire. The insulating material would hold the fuel in once it reached there. I think most people were convinced this was the source of ignition, but even the BOI recognised that the fuel could also have come from elsewhere eg a fuel pipe coupling. If it was the no 1 tank blow off valve it is surprising to me that it has not happened before in 20+ years of AAR, however, I am sure a Nimrod expert will correct any mis-conceptions I may have or any mis-use of terminology!
JB
Last edited by John Blakeley; 11th Dec 2007 at 15:08.
Reason: Sp