Cold Fuel Issues

OLM FBW 2006 – Gatwick – 10-12 October 2006
Presented by
Damien CAMBOURNAC
Flight Operations Engineer
Cold Weather Operations

Impact on the Fuel System and Dispatch
Contents
1 Fuel and Fuel System Characteristics
2 Dispatch Consideration
3 On Ground and In Flight Procedures

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2006. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document.
4 Conclusion
Cold Weather Operations: Impact on the Fuel System and Dispatch 2 OLM FBW 2006
Fuel and Fuel System Characteristics
§  The Fuel System will trigger low temperature alerts when the
fuel in the tanks is colder than certain temperature thresholds.
§  The low temperature thresholds are defined with the

consideration of:
!  Fuel freezing point;
!  Engine margin;
!  Overall temperature accuracy error.
Fuel Freezing Point

§  ASTM International standard: Fuel Freezing Point
The temperature at which the Specification values
wax crystals in the fuel,
JetA
JetA –40 °C
formed previously when the
fuel was cooled, completely JP5 –46 °C
disappear when the fuel is JetA1
JetA1 // JP8
JP8 –47 °C
warmed.
TS-1 / RT –50 °C
JetB –50 °C
TH –53 °C
JP4 –58 °C
Fuel Freezing Point

§  Mixed fuel:
!  Experiments have shown that fuel mixtures do not behave as
ideal fluids; the resulting freezing point is commonly adversely
affected.
!  A common practice* to evaluate JetA/JetA1 mixtures:
–  JetA less than 10% in the mixture: Fuel Freezing Point:
JetA1 JetA
>90%
ð JetA1
–  JetA more than 10% in the mixture: Fuel Freezing Point:

JetA1 JetA
>10%
ð JetA
* Not an approved method
Engine Margin
§  The temperature margin Engine Margin
that ensures the required
fuel viscosity at engine inlet.
PW 0 °C
§  Different engine system
architectures lead to RR 0 °C
different temperature GE 3 °C
margins over the fuel
freezing point.
IAE 4 °C
CFM - A320F 4 °C
CFM - A340 5 °C
Fuel System
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
§  Short- to medium-haul flights.

ð  Less exposed to extremely cold atmosphere.
§  Fuel recirculation system – IDG oil cooling.
ð  Warmed fuel from engine returns to the outer (wing) tank.
Fuel System
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
A318/A319/A320 System Display - FUEL
§  Fuel Low Temperature
alert thresholds: -40 °C -38 -38 °C -40
!  Advisory: –40°C
TAT –42 °C GW KG
SAT –67 °C 05H20
A318/A319/A320 Engine/Warning Display
FUEL L OUTER TK LO TEMP !  Caution: –45°C

< R OUTER >

< L INNER >
< R INNER >
A321 Engine/Warning Display

FUEL L WING TK LO TEMP
< R WING >
Fuel System
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
§  Long-haul flights.

§  No fuel movement
in the outer tanks
before the
transfer to
the inner
tanks.
ð Outer tanks
are more
prone to low
temperature
alerts.
Fuel System
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
§  Alert thresholds A330

Inner Tanks Inner Outer/Trim
Engine margin –37°C –40°C
JetA A330 GE 3°C
-200 A340-200/-300
Freezing Point A340 -300 CFM 5°C
(Specification) Inner Outer/Trim
-500
–40°C A340 -600 RR 0°C –35°C –40°C
Outer Tanks
& Trim Tank A340-500/-600
No engine margin Inner Outer/Trim
–40°C –40°C
§  First trigger of the A330/A340 Engine/Warning Display
ECAM caution: FUEL FUEL LO TEMP
Fuel System
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
§  Alert thresholds A330

Inner Tanks Inner Outer/Trim
Engine margin –44°C –47°C
JetA1 A330 GE 3°C
-200 A340-200/-300
Freezing Point A340 -300 CFM 5°C
(Specification) Inner Outer/Trim
-500
–47°C A340 -600 RR 0°C –42°C –47°C
Outer Tanks
& Trim Tank A340-500/-600
No engine margin Inner Outer/Trim
–47°C –47°C
§  Recall of the A330/A340 Engine/Warning Display
ECAM caution: FUEL FUEL LO TEMP
Influencing Factors of Fuel Temperature
§  Initial fuel temperature
§  Outside Air Temperature
§  Mach number
§  Fuel quantity (tank full / not full)

§  Size and shape of the fuel tank
§  Day flight / night flight (solar heat)
Contents

4 Conclusion
Dispatch Consideration
Flight Planning
§  FTP – Fuel Temperature Prediction software
!  Part of Airbus’ performance programs package WinPEP
!  Accurate prediction of fuel temperature in each tank
!  Takes into account actual weather
!  Interfaces with airline flight planning system

Flight Planning
§  FTP – Fuel Temperature Prediction software
SUMMARY OF OUTPUT
NO FUEL FREEZING ISSUES ENCOUNTERED
NORMAL FUEL MANAGEMENT
MINIMUM OAT OF -68 OCCURRED AT WAYPOINT GOPTA
MINIMUM TEMPERATURES OF ALL TANKS

TANK TEMPERATURE WAYPOINT

L_OTR -37 BD
INR_1 -34 BU
INR_2 -31 YBL
CT -30 BRT
INR_3 -32 YBL
INR_4 -34 BU
R_OTR -37 BU
RCT -31 AGEMA
TT -35 KENTA
Actual Fuel Freezing Point

§  Knowing the actual freezing point of the fuel loaded on the
aircraft may allow the flight crew to delay the fuel low
temperature procedures.
§  May be determined by means of a fuel freeze analysis

program
Jet Fuel Quality
!  Provided a monitoring program, Analyzer
including maintenance, dispatch,
and flight crew procedures, has

been set up and accepted by the
authorities.
Actual Fuel Freezing Point

§  Operators that often face low fuel temperature situations are
encouraged to determine the fuel’s actual freezing point before
the flight.
§  Example:
Based on a survey at several major US airports over a given
period of time, the measured freezing point of JetA fuel is 3°C
(conservative average) lower than the specification value.
JetA Freezing Point Average Range
New York –45.2°C –44.1°C ~ –46.0°C

Los Angeles –50.9°C –46.8°C ~ –58.2°C
Chicago –43.2°C –42.4°C ~ –44.7°C
San Francisco –52.2°C –48.6°C ~ –56.1°C
Contents

4 Conclusion
On Ground and In Flight Procedures
§  Advisory and/or caution will be triggered on the ECAM

when the temperature in the tanks drops below the
defined threshold.
§  Application of the ECAM procedure can be delayed

considering:
!  The actual fuel type;
!  The actual freezing point measured prior to the flight.

Before Take-off
All Aircraft Types
Engine/Warning Display
§  If the fuel low temperature
FUEL <...> LO TEMP
caution is triggered before -DELAY T.O
the flight, the take-off

shall be delayed until all
temperatures are within
the limits.
In Flight
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600
A318/A319/A320 Engine/Warning Display

§  Caution is triggered for
FUEL L OUTER TK LO TEMP
< R OUTER > crew awareness
< L INNER >
< R INNER >
A321 Engine/Warning Display

FUEL L WING TK LO TEMP
< R WING >
In Flight
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
§  Principle of the fuel low temperature

procedures:
!  Outer tank low temperature:
–  Outer to inner transfer.
!  Inner tank low temperature:
–  Center to inner transfer.

!  Trim tank low temperature:
–  Trim tank transfer forward.
In Flight
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600
A330 (FWC K8) and A340-200/-300 (FWC L10) EWD

§  First trigger of the ECAM
FUEL FUEL LO TEMP
∙IF JET A FUEL:
caution –
-OUTR TK XFR.........ON
∙IF NECESSARY: !  Applicationof procedure
-TAT...........INCREASE
can be delayed if:
–  Fuel onboard is not JetA;
(fuel with lower freezing point)
or
∙IF JET A FUEL:
-CTR TANK XFR.......MAN –  Actual freezing point is
lower than –40°C.
∙IF JET A FUEL:
-T TANK MODE........FWD
In Flight
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600
A330 (FWC K8) and A340-200/-300 (FWC L10) EWD

§  Recall of the ECAM
FUEL FUEL LO TEMP
-OUTR TK XFR.........ON
caution –
∙IF NECESSARY:
-TAT...........INCREASE !  Application of procedure
can be further delayed if:
–  Actual freezing point is
-CTR TANK XFR.......MAN
-T TANK MODE........FWD
In Flight
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600
A340-500/-600 (FWC W4) Engine/Warning Display

§  First trigger of the ECAM
FUEL LO TEMP
-FUEL FREEZE PT...CHECK
caution –
∙IF JET A FUEL:
MAX SPEED.........305KT !  Applicationof procedure
-OUTR TK XFR........MAN
∙IF NECESSARY: can be delayed if:
-TAT...........INCREASE
–  Fuel onboard is not JetA;
(fuel with lower freezing point)
or
∙IF JET A FUEL:
-CTR TO INR XFR.....MAN –  Actual freezing point is
∙IF JET A FUEL:
-T TK XFR...........FWD
In Flight
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600
A340-500/-600 (FWC W4) Engine/Warning Display

§  Recall of the ECAM
FUEL LO TEMP
-FUEL FREEZE PT...CHECK
caution –
MAX SPEED.........305KT
-OUTR TK XFR........MAN !  Application of procedure
∙IF NECESSARY:
-TAT...........INCREASE can be further delayed if:
–  Actual freezing point is
-CTR TO INR XFR.....MAN
-T TK XFR...........FWD
After Landing
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
§  To benefit the subsequent flight, a manual fuel transfer from

outer to inner tanks may be performed just after landing, if it
has not been done during the last flight.
§  Considerations shall be based on:

!  Wing surface icing

before the next take-off
!  FUEL LO TEMP caution

during the subsequent flight
After Landing
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
§  Manual transfer after landing:

!  Ensures a better mix of the cooled reserve fuel with the warmer
refueling truck fuel.
!  Reduces exposure to condensation frost on wing surfaces.
§  No manual transfer after landing:
!  Keeps normal wing load for the subsequent flight, if no refueling

is planned at this airport.
!  Keeps the fuel with lower freezing point in the outer tanks for
the subsequent flight.
After Landing
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
§  Wing surface icing consideration:

!  The worst scenario is a short transit at a “warm” humid airport
(no de-icing equipment).
No Refueling Yes
planned at this
airport?
No manual Manual
outer to inner outer to inner
transfer transfer
After Landing
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340
§  FUEL LO TEMP consideration for the subsequent flight:

No Refueling Yes
planned at this
airport?
JetA Refueling JetA1

fuel is JetA or
JetA1
Yes Outer tanks No

are completely full with
JetA1 fuel
No manual Manual
outer to inner outer to inner
transfer transfer
Contents

4 Conclusion
Conclusion
ü  Fuel low temperature alerts may be encountered on long-

haul flights in extremely cold atmosphere. Outer tanks on
Long Range aircraft are the most affected.
ü  Software tool is available for predictive flight planning when

operating cold weather routes.
ü  ECAM procedures can be delayed if the actual fuel freezing

point measured before the flight is lower than the
specification value.
ü  Selective manual fuel transfer from the outer to the inner
wing tanks after landing may benefit the subsequent flight
in cold atmosphere.

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OLM FBW 2006 – Gatwick – 10-12 October 2006

Flight Operations Engineer

Cold Weather Operations

1 Fuel and Fuel System Characteristics

3 On Ground and In Flight Procedures

§ The low temperature thresholds are defined with the

! Fuel freezing point;

! Overall temperature accuracy error.

Fuel Freezing Point

Fuel Freezing Point

– JetA more than 10% in the mixture: Fuel Freezing Point:

§ Short- to medium-haul flights.

A318/A319/A320 Engine/Warning Display

FUEL L OUTER TK LO TEMP ! Caution: –45°C

< R OUTER >

A321 Engine/Warning Display

§ Long-haul flights.

§ Alert thresholds A330

ECAM caution: FUEL FUEL LO TEMP

§ Alert thresholds A330

ECAM caution: FUEL FUEL LO TEMP

Influencing Factors of Fuel Temperature

§ Initial fuel temperature

§ Outside Air Temperature

§ Mach number

§ Fuel quantity (tank full / not full)

§ Size and shape of the fuel tank

§ Day flight / night flight (solar heat)

1 Fuel and Fuel System Characteristics

3 On Ground and In Flight Procedures

! Accurate prediction of fuel temperature in each tank

! Takes into account actual weather

! Interfaces with airline flight planning system

MINIMUM TEMPERATURES OF ALL TANKS

TANK TEMPERATURE WAYPOINT

Actual Fuel Freezing Point

§ May be determined by means of a fuel freeze analysis

and flight crew procedures, has

Actual Fuel Freezing Point

JetA Freezing Point Average Range

New York –45.2°C –44.1°C ~ –46.0°C

1 Fuel and Fuel System Characteristics

3 On Ground and In Flight Procedures

§ Advisory and/or caution will be triggered on the ECAM

§ Application of the ECAM procedure can be delayed

! The actual freezing point measured prior to the flight.

All Aircraft Types

the flight, the take-off

A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600

A318/A319/A320 Engine/Warning Display

A321 Engine/Warning Display

§ Principle of the fuel low temperature

– Center to inner transfer.

A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600

A330 (FWC K8) and A340-200/-300 (FWC L10) EWD

(fuel with lower freezing point)

A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600

A330 (FWC K8) and A340-200/-300 (FWC L10) EWD

lower than –47°C.

§  The low temperature thresholds are defined with the

!  Fuel freezing point;

!  Overall temperature accuracy error.

–  JetA more than 10% in the mixture: Fuel Freezing Point:

§  Short- to medium-haul flights.

FUEL L OUTER TK LO TEMP !  Caution: –45°C

§  Long-haul flights.

§  Alert thresholds A330

§  Alert thresholds A330

§  Initial fuel temperature

§  Outside Air Temperature

§  Mach number

§  Fuel quantity (tank full / not full)

§  Size and shape of the fuel tank

§  Day flight / night flight (solar heat)

!  Accurate prediction of fuel temperature in each tank

!  Takes into account actual weather

!  Interfaces with airline flight planning system

§  May be determined by means of a fuel freeze analysis

§  Advisory and/or caution will be triggered on the ECAM

§  Application of the ECAM procedure can be delayed

!  The actual freezing point measured prior to the flight.

§  Principle of the fuel low temperature

–  Center to inner transfer.

§  To benefit the subsequent flight, a manual fuel transfer from

§  Considerations shall be based on:

!  Wing surface icing

!  FUEL LO TEMP caution

§  Manual transfer after landing:

!  Keeps normal wing load for the subsequent flight, if no refueling

§  Wing surface icing consideration:

§  FUEL LO TEMP consideration for the subsequent flight:

ü  Fuel low temperature alerts may be encountered on long-

ü  Software tool is available for predictive flight planning when

ü  ECAM procedures can be delayed if the actual fuel freezing