PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - AAIB BA38 B777 Initial Report Update 23 January 2008
Old 28th Jan 2008, 10:17
  #153 (permalink)  
Mariner9
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Cardiff, UK
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An important point that nobody seems to have mentioned is that Jet A-1 does not definately freeze at -47C

-47C is the specified minimum for a fuel tested by method IP16/ASTM D 2386 under the conditions of test

It is determined by cooling a 25ml sample while stirring vigorously until visible wax crystals appear, then allowing the tube to warm up (while continuing stirring) until the crystals disappear, at which point the temperature is recorded as the freezeing point.

In the real world (ie in an aircraft wing), fuel is obviously stored in bulk, and is not subject to stirring (though presumable some mixing due to fuel recirculation?). The fuel would probably be subject to differential cooling, with relatively cold layers around the tank bulkheads, and a relatively warmer section in the bulk. Accordingly, the conditions in an aircraft fuel tank will be very unlike the standardised conditions of a lab test, and waxing conditions will accordingly differ.

This, in my view, will greatly add to the difficulty of the investigation if fuel waxing is suspected as a cause.
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