FILTRATION

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 so far resulted in the adoption of Electronic Water Sensor and Dirt Defence filter combinations for into-plane use. (Bulletin 130). Further details on new technologies being field trialled or in development can be found below.

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

LATEST FIELD TRIAL INFORMATION (December 2022)

PARKER WATER BARRIER FILTER

As indicated in Technical Newsletters, the Joint Industry Field Trial Group and JIG have been working with Parker-Velcon to better understand and evaluate filtration and mechanical performance of the elements, and a new version of CDFX has been developed in response to field trial test results.

The new version of CDFX, (CDFX-2XXB) was submitted for EI 1588 requalification testing in August 2022 and has been formally qualified by the EI AFFC in late September 2022.

Subsequent to this requalification, JIG has commenced some “Phase Two” Field Trials with the support of the Manufacturer. These consist of a further series of short deployments in the field so that the performance of this latest version can be evaluated for adoption into the Standards. Most trial locations have already started fuelling aircraft, and JIG will complete its evaluation after 3 months of service at key locations.

FILTER ELEMENT PERFORMANCE IN PHASE TWO FIELD TRIALS

No Data available yet.

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. Such a redesign requires a partial requalification to the EI1588 Specification. Consequently, JIG indicated in Bulletin 143 and Technical Newsletter #11 that it will continue evaluation of this technology after the proposed modifications have been made and qualified, but would not be adopting the field-trialled version into JIG Standards.
Bulletin 143

FACET WATER CONTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY

This technology remains in product development stage. Progress has been presented to Industry Groups on various occasions and the manufacturer is continuing to work with the EI and the engine/airframe OEMs on questions that have been raised. There is still no Qualification Standard written by the EI for this technology as some questions posed by the OEMs remain unresolved. This means that the technology – or a further development of the concept – is still not ready for an EI Specification, wthout which it is not expected to be adopted into the JIG Standards. The lead time for testing and adopting this technology would likely be a further 1-2 years after the creation and successful qualification to an EI Specification.

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

Field Trials are continuing and this page will be regularly updated on progress. JIG publishes periodic Technical Newsletters (link to TN #11) to keep members informed about the Field trials and any other information related to filter-monitor phase out.

Links to other filtration-related resources….