Filtration Field Trials

Since the IATA-led Special Interest Group published its report in 2017, SAP-based Filter Monitor filtration was identified as a potential risk to flight safety. The industry immediately put in place mitigating actions detailed in JIG’s Bulletin 105, backed up with the development of the EI1583 7th edition specification, and is committed to phasing out Filter Monitors from operations.

A Joint Industry Field Trial programme was started by JIG in cooperation with IATA and A4A to conduct operational trials on new filtration technology developed by the manufacturers and qualified to a relevant EI (Energy Institute) Specification. The Field Trials have been running since July 2019 and have now completed their work on all new technologies expected to be ready for the market.
As a result of this work, JIG has adopted two new technologies into the Standards:

– Electronic Water Sensor and Dirt Defence filter combinations for into-plane. (Bulletin 130). September 2020.
– Water Barrier Filters for into-plane. (Bulletin 147). April 2023.

Further details of the work conducted on these new technologies in the Field Trials can be found below.

Some further useful links are included at the bottom of this page.

LATEST FIELD TRIAL INFORMATION (April 2023)

PARKER WATER BARRIER FILTER

As indicated in Technical Newsletters, the Joint Industry Field Trial Group and JIG worked with Parker-Velcon, and the sharing of field trial performance led to a better understanding of the filtration and mechanical performance of the elements. The resulting new version – “CDFX-B (2 inch)” performed as required in the second phase of JIG-only trials, and has just been adopted into the Standards.

5 and 6 inch versions of the technology are being prepared for EI 1588 requalification testing, and JIG will issue more information on these variants at that time.

FILTER ELEMENT PERFORMANCE IN PHASE TWO FIELD TRIALS

Results from 9 vehicles demonstrated dirt and water removal capabilities consistent with the technology’s stated performance levels. Note that the service life achieved in some low-flow and low-volume applications has been generally higher than achieved at hydrant locations in Phase 1 of testing.

Three of the trial vehicles are still in service to collect long term performance data that will be used to further develop JIG knowledge and guidance on Water Barrier Filters.

 

At the conclusion of trial operations, JIG has – with the support of the Manufacturer and its Distributors – been able to conduct some torque testing on used elements to confirm the strength of the end cap to centre tube bond that has been redesigned for CDFX-B. The graph below indicates the measured strength of the elements we tested, all of which easily passed the EI Qualification requirement of 10ft-lbs.

FILTER ELEMENT PERFORMANCE IN PHASE ONE FIELD TRIALS

The Field Trials for the Water Barrier Filter (CDFX) produced by Parker Velcon have shown so far that the technology is effective in removing water from fuel. However, it is also showing variable service life due to reaching maximum differential pressure (dP).

The technology has rapidly reached maximum dP at locations where the fuel was confirmed on-specification and other filtration technology in use at the same location was not affected. A total of 12 sets of elements  reached the maximum 22psi while in service.

Laboratory work conducted by Parker has revealed ultra-fine particulate build up on the filtration media. This is the presumed cause of premature high dP, though the underlying sources and likely occurrence of particulate build-up remain unknown.

Whilst the Trials may not reflect conditions experienced at all locations, Operators considering this technology should be aware that the achieved volume throughput, if repeated at a major hub location, would require very frequent change-out of elements.

It should be noted that Field Trials have generally been carried out at high volume and high flow rate sites as can be seen from the table, and that likely service life at smaller locations operating fueller fleets has not been assessed. Some JIG Members have reported experiencing longer life in their own controled trials than we have seen at the location listed in the table. It is JIG’s intention to monitor CDFX-2XXB in a wider range of operating conditions than before.

Following the operational findings of Phase One of Field Trials, the manufacturer decided to redesign the open end cap to improve performance and reliability prior to submitting the new design to JIG for further testing. The successful phase 2 testing is detailed above. The phase 1 evaluation is summarised here.Bulletin 143

FACET WATER CONTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY

This technology remains in product development stage. The progress that has been presented to Industry Groups and the OEMs have not resolved some fundamental technical and performance questions.
Consequently, there is still no Qualification Standard written by the EI for this technology and the assumption is that there will not be one in the short or medium term. This technology will not be adopted into the JIG Standards without an EI Qualification.

JIG has set a date of July 2023 to no longer reference EI1583 qualified Filter Monitors in the Standards (Bulletin 132).

Links to other filtration-related resources….