Mercedes Mullins
Inverted fuel tanks are used in aircraft to enable them to fly upside down and perform aerobatic maneuvers. In a conventional aircraft, the fuel is drawn from the bottom of the tank, so when the plane is inverted, the engine will lose fuel pressure and shut down. Inverted fuel tanks use a variety of methods to prevent this, such as a small feeder tank that works upside down, a flexible hose with a weight attached (a flop tube), or a flexible membrane in the tank that changes its volume as it drains.
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What You'll Learn
The role of baffles
Baffles are an important component of inverted fuel tanks, particularly in aircraft capable of aerobatic or inverted flight. They are dividers placed within the fuel tank to restrict the flow of fuel from one end of the tank to the other. Baffles are designed to prevent the fuel from sloshing around, which can disrupt the balance of the aircraft. By compartmentalising the fuel tank, baffles ensure that fuel flows in a controlled manner, even when the aircraft is upside down or performing negative G maneuvers.
In aircraft with multiple fuel tanks, such as those in the wings and fuselage, baffles play a crucial role in maintaining fuel supply during inverted flight. The baffles in the engine feed tanks help keep fuel at the bottom of the tanks, allowing the pumps, which are typically located at the bottom, to continue drawing fuel. This design ensures a consistent fuel supply to the engines, even when the aircraft is upside down.
Baffles also contribute to preventing air from entering the fuel lines during inverted flight. By regulating the flow of fuel, baffles minimise the risk of air bubbles forming, which could disrupt fuel delivery to the engine. This is a critical safety feature, as the presence of air in the fuel lines can lead to engine malfunction or even failure.
Additionally, baffles enable the aircraft to perform negative G maneuvers without fuel starving the engine. During these maneuvers, the baffles restrict the flow of fuel, preventing it from immediately rushing to the bottom of the tank. This controlled flow allows the engine to maintain a consistent fuel supply, ensuring the aircraft's performance and safety during demanding aerobatic maneuvers.
Overall, the role of baffles in inverted fuel tanks is to enhance the aircraft's ability to perform inverted and aerobatic maneuvers. By preventing fuel sloshing, maintaining fuel supply, and minimising air intrusion, baffles ensure the engine receives a steady fuel supply, contributing to the aircraft's overall stability and manoeuvrability during inverted flight.
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Header tanks
The header tank is equipped with a standpipe that draws fuel from the center of the tank. A check valve in the line connecting the main tank to the header tank prevents fuel from draining back into the main tank during inverted flight. This setup allows for approximately two minutes of continuous inverted flight before the header tank needs to be refilled.
In addition to inverted fuel systems, header tanks are also used in domestic settings, particularly in central heating systems. In this context, header tanks act as expansion tanks, allowing for the expansion of water when it is heated. This helps to prevent excess pressure build-up in the system and provides a reservoir for the expanded water to flow into, preventing potential damage to the system.
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Flop tubes
The flop tube is a hose with a weight attached to its free end, allowing it to move freely within the fuel tank. When the aircraft is in a normal, upright position, the flop tube flops to the bottom of the tank due to the weight and draws fuel from there. However, when the aircraft is inverted, the weight causes the hose to flop to the top of the tank, which is now effectively the bottom, and it draws fuel from that position. This design is advantageous as it allows access to the full fuel supply in the tank, regardless of the aircraft's orientation.
Installing flop tubes may require some modifications to the fuel tank and the addition of features such as anti-hangup guards and anti-rotation brackets to ensure the proper functioning and positioning of the flop tube within the tank. The choice of hose material for the flop tube is also important, as it needs to withstand constant immersion in fuel and frequent movement.
Overall, flop tubes play a crucial role in enabling inverted flight capabilities in aircraft by providing a reliable fuel supply system that adapts to the changing orientation of the aircraft during manoeuvres.
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Boost pumps
Inverted fuel systems are used in aircraft to enable them to fly upside down and perform loops. In a typical plane, the fuel pickup is located at the bottom of the tank, which means that gravity can only deliver fuel to the engine when the plane is upright.
In inverted flight, fuel does not transfer from the external tanks to their internal counterparts. However, the boost pumps can provide fuel during such manoeuvres. The #3 boost pump, for example, is located near the top of one of the reservoir tanks and provides fuel during inverted flight.
In addition to boost pumps, inverted fuel systems may also use header tanks, flop tubes, or baffles to enable inverted flight. Header tanks are connected to the main tanks in the wings and provide fuel to the engine via gravity when the plane is inverted. Flop tubes are flexible hoses with weights attached, which allow fuel to be drawn from the bottom of the tank when upright, and from the top of the tank when inverted. Baffles are dividers in the tank that limit the speed at which fuel can flow and prevent it from sloshing and affecting the balance of the aircraft.
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Fuel injection vs carbureted systems
Inverted fuel tanks are used in aircraft that perform aerobatic manoeuvres, allowing them to supply fuel to the engine while the plane is upside down. There are several methods to achieve this, including:
- Feeder tanks: Small feeder tanks can be used that work upside down. However, they only provide a limited time of inverted flight, after which the plane must be rolled upright to refill the tank.
- Flop tubes: A flexible hose with a weight attached, located inside the tank. When the plane is upright, the hose flops to the bottom of the tank and draws fuel from there. When the plane is inverted, the weight causes the hose to flop to the top of the tank (now the bottom) and draws fuel from there.
- Header tanks: During upright flight, fuel from the wing tanks flows by gravity into the header tank. When the plane is inverted, the header tank is above the engine, and fuel flows from the header tank to the fuel pump.
- Baffles: These are dividers in the tank that limit the speed at which fuel can flow from one end to another, preventing fuel sloshing and maintaining balance.
Now, let's discuss the two primary types of fuel induction systems: carbureted and fuel-injected systems.
Carbureted Systems
Carbureted systems use a tube, known as a carburetor, to feed an air-fuel mixture into the cylinder. The air passage area in the middle of the tube is restricted to increase air velocity, creating a low-pressure pocket that draws fuel through suction. The volume of air flowing through the induction system determines the amount of fuel drawn, with the throttle controlling airflow and the mixture controlling fuelling. This air-fuel mixture is then ignited by spark plugs to produce power. Carbureted systems are generally simpler and easier to repair than fuel injection systems.
Fuel Injection Systems
Fuel injection systems, on the other hand, do not mix air with the fuel in the metering system. Instead, a servo regulator measures airflow entering the engine and meters fuel accordingly. Each fuel injector sprays fuel just outside the cylinder head, where it is vaporised and mixed with air before entering the cylinder. This process is controlled by an electric brain, or ECU, which uses sensors to constantly calculate and deliver the optimal air-fuel mixture for efficient combustion.
Fuel injection systems offer several advantages, including reduced fuel wastage, increased power, and better fuel economy. They also tend to require less maintenance than carbureted systems. However, they are more complex, costlier, and may not operate without a battery.
Both carbureted and fuel-injected systems have their pros and cons, and the choice between the two depends on specific requirements and conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Fighter jets have advanced fuel systems that allow them to perform erratic maneuvers. They may pressurize the fuel tanks using bleed air and use boost and ejector pumps to provide positive pressure to centrally-located tanks. Baffles in the engine feed tanks keep fuel at the bottom of the tanks during inverted flight.
Aerobatic planes have symmetrical airfoils, which interact with airflow in the same way during normal and inverted flights. They may use a separate header tank for inverted flight, which is usually located at the bottom of the aircraft near the pilot. During inverted flight, the header tank is at the top of the engine and provides fuel to the injectors.
Inverted fuel tanks can use flop tubes, which are flexible hoses with weights attached. When the plane is inverted, the weight causes the hose to "flop" to the top of the tank, drawing fuel from there. Baffles in the tank also prevent fuel from sloshing and compartmentalize the tank, slowing the flow of air into the tank.
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