Return-Path: Sender: "Marvin Kaye" To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 14:38:42 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from imo-m24.mx.aol.com ([64.12.137.5] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2.8) with ESMTP id 652349 for lml@lancaironline.net; Mon, 31 Jan 2005 11:45:22 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=64.12.137.5; envelope-from=REHBINC@aol.com Received: from REHBINC@aol.com by imo-m24.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v37_r3.8.) id q.92.1f7025ad (3842) for ; Mon, 31 Jan 2005 11:44:41 -0500 (EST) From: REHBINC@aol.com X-Original-Message-ID: <92.1f7025ad.2f2fba78@aol.com> X-Original-Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 11:44:40 EST Subject: Re: [LML] Re: static wicks/fuel tank capacitance X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="-----------------------------1107189880" X-Mailer: 9.0 for Windows sub 5116 -------------------------------1107189880 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 1/30/2005 9:51:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, marv@lancaironline.net writes: To possibly compound the problem: I have a two inch al tube in my gas tank to seal off the gas from the aileron tube.. a dandy capacitor.. can we spell SPARKS. BOOM! is next. Earl, As long as you are already wearing Nomex, I assume from the above that you are implying that fuel vapors in your gas tank would be ignited by a capacitive discharge from the aluminum tube. I wouldn't be too concerned about this. Assuming you are using gasoline, there isn't enough air in the tank head space to support combustion under "reasonable" flight conditions. If you are flying on diesel or jet fuel and at high altitude, it is a different story. With either fuel, a spark generated from this capcitance will most likely propagate between the surface of the fuel and a close, conductive component such as the fuel filler. Electricaly connect all such components, including the tube, and the potential is removed. Rob -------------------------------1107189880 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

In a message dated 1/30/2005 9:51:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, marv@lan= caironline.net writes:

To possibly compound
the problem: I=20= have a two inch al tube in my gas tank to seal off the
gas from th= e aileron tube.. a dandy capacitor.. can we spell SPARKS.
BOOM! is= next.

Earl,

As long as you are already wearing Nomex,

I assume from the above that you are implying that fuel vapors in=20= your gas tank would be ignited by a capacitive discharge from the alumi= num tube. I wouldn't be too concerned about this. Assuming you are using gas= oline, there isn't enough air in the tank head space to support combustion u= nder "reasonable" flight conditions. If you are flying on diesel or jet fuel= and at high altitude, it is a different story.

With either fuel, a spark generated from this capcitance will most like= ly propagate between the surface of the fuel and a close, conductive compone= nt such as the fuel filler. Electricaly connect all such components, includi= ng the tube, and the potential is removed.

Rob

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