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Flowing fuel efficiently Fuels Branch makes upgrades

  • Published
  • By Kandis West
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE --  The Base Fuels Branch pumps JP8 aviation fuel to the tune of 2.6 million gallons monthly. The branch recently implemented new upgrades to help fuel flow more efficiently.
   The first upgrade was the addition of the Scully Intellitrol Secondary Overfill Prevention System to all aviation fuel fill stands or dispensers. The system is designed to automatically cut off fuel flow when refueling units or trucks are full.
   Fuels Contractor Branch Manager John Yinger said the upgrade was prompted by the Air Force Petroleum office which determined that the number one cause of fuel loss was fuel spills when filling units.
   Mr. Yinger said the fueling trucks already contained an overfill protection system that malfunctioned often, causing the refueling process to require two people. The Scully system has reduced the refueling job to a one-man task by adding an additional layer of protection from spills.
   Mr. Yinger said although overfill systems are common in the civilian sector, the Air Force's system also prevents the wrong grade of fuel from being dispensed.
   A computer chip that detects the grade of fuel is installed in the refueling units and the unit will not accept a fuel grade that doesn't match the grade imbedded in the chip.
   "The system prevents fuel loss and protects the environment from fuel spills," Mr. Yinger said, also noting that there is a system in place on the base that isolates spills and protects the environment from any significant damage.
   Depot maintenance will also be able to operate more efficiently with the addition of two new fuel hydrants, bringing the total to four hydrants, said Staff Sgt. Thomas Rackley, fuels quality assurance evaluator. The hydrants are used for refueling and purging aircraft.
   With the addition of two hydrants, more tasks can be accomplished simultaneously like refueling and checking for fuel leaks, Mr. Yinger said.
   The new hydrants can also purge or defuel incoming aircraft containing the standard JP-8 flying fuel by hydrant, Sergeant Rackley said. Before, the aircraft had to be purged using trucks, a slower process than using the hydrants. The hydrants couldn't previously be used for purging because they were designed to pump JP-5, a fuel that emits less vapors and is safer for depot maintenance, Sergeant Rackley said.
   The hydrants will ultimately help reduce the time required for depot maintenance, Sergeant Rackley said.
   The last recent upgrade included repair of the JP-8 Type III hydrant fuel system supporting the Navy and 552nd Air Control Wing alert facility ramp. Four of the original six dispensing pumps were inoperable, reducing fueling capability and efficiency. The project refurbished the system installed in 1992 by replacing all pumps, bringing the fueling capability back to dispensing up to 3600 gallons of fuel per minute.
   Mr. Yinger said all the upgrades are a part of maintaining the mission to dispense clean, dry serviceable fuels in a timely manner to base organizations.
   Besides dispensing fuels of all kind including JP-8, JP-5, diesel fuel, motor gas, bio-diesel fuel and compressed natural gas, the branch also test the fuels for purity.
   The team tests for solid contamination like sand or metal that could possibly clog the fuel filter of an aircraft. The branch also checks for water that could cause the fuel lines to freeze.
   Mr. Yinger said fuel is an important part of the warfighter mission and it is essential that their job is executed with accuracy and precision.
   "There are Air Force personnel in the aircraft that can't just pull over on the side of the road if something happens," said Mr. Yinger.
   "Lives and equipment are always at stake," added Mr. John Rucci, fuels branch functional area chief.