why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft


The transfer of hydrocarbon fuels can be dangerous if the proper procedures are not followed. g~:-A`qK#P O|{{1*T _{MA}gk MC1a!PqLKTEat5(B)jn?oS{}Wd@JY4pnxv Hxhb1$aF Place cap tightly on the container after filling - do not use containers that do not seal properly. Today, we will talk about static electricity, the dangers of this common occurrence, and tips on how to protect yourself from injury or property damage. You can add humidity to the air to help with this. 0000009799 00000 n trailer << /Size 53 /Info 14 0 R /Root 17 0 R /Prev 133851 /ID[] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 17 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 13 0 R /Metadata 15 0 R /PageLabels 12 0 R >> endobj 51 0 obj << /S 87 /L 194 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 52 0 R >> stream Why is fracking for natural gas important? Sparks like this can be dangerous, potentially igniting a fire. charge moves (through the plates/ wire) (1) Towards the voltage Explain why the dust particles are attracted to the plates Electrical bonding in conjunction with static dischargers is used on aircraft to minimize the potential for stray charged panels which in addition could result in radio interference. The best way to address this is to keep the relative humidity above 30%. Kgf@"rHE+@FW.s{D>4 u o conducted away. supply / earth /ground I received numerous replies so I thought I would add some additional information. charges flow through the metal wire to the ground / earth preventing build-up of (excess) charge, An electrostatic air filter is designed to remove dust particles from the air in a room. Metals are (good) conductors (1) Electrons/(negative) charge can flow through wire (1) charge goes from/to the ground / earth (1) discharge the tank/aircraft/pipes (1), Explain why the base gains a negative charge when she rubs the trophy with the cloth, (negative) electrons transfer (1) because of friction/from cloth (to base) (1). Static electricity in the wrong environments, however, may be dangerous. Wide-cut fuel is considered to be 'involved' when it is being supplied or when it is already present in the aircraft tanks. This is the easiest type of ESD damage to find since it usually can be detected during testing. Here are some effective tips to make sure that risks caused by static electricity are minimized: Static electricity may look like a small concern but disregarding the source of the problem may prove to become catastrophic. They work on the same principle as a high resistance ohmmeter. How do you get rid of static electricity in your body? 0000007195 00000 n 0000009232 00000 n Out of curiosityif someone owns a jet, do they fill it up themselves, or is there someone who will do it for them at a fueling station? All rights reserved. Our skilled professionals are on standby waiting to address your next electrical concern. Like other means of ESD protection their function should be verified and not taken for granted. The accumulation of electrostatic charge, generating during flight on the outer surfaces of aircraft and inside aircraft piping systems, cannot be considered as an immediate danger for flight safety, but it has to be seriously prevented to avoid upset in flight communications and risks of explosion in fuel areas or during refueling operations. 0000006516 00000 n How Many Jobs Has the Oil and Natural Gas Industry Created? Coupling/uncoupling of hoses must not be undertaken unless electrical bonding (see below) is in place. Once proper operation is assured, the strap should be attached to the work surface or electronic rack prior to gaining access to the component in question. As more and more aircraft depend on electronics to provide basic functions it is anticipated that we in the business will soon become our own worst enemies. A humidifier may do the trick. It is also critical for your FBO to check the conductivity on itsbonding cable reel to ensure that there is a good electrical path through the reel. this can cause an explosion. Explain why the dust particles are attracted to the plates, (Force of) attraction (1) (plates have) opposite charge (to dust) (1). Privacy Policy. There is a risk that a PED (personal electronic device) may create or induce a spark of sufficient intensity to ignite fuel vapour released during fuelling but it is extremely remote under normal circumstances. 8 When to ground a fire truck for static electricity? Have you experienced getting jolted by a spark of electricity when you touched a door knob or hand rail? Whats the Difference Between Wastewater Disposal and Fracking? 0000058115 00000 n igniting Some locations have a strong reason for eliminating these little charges. We solve your electrical needs while providing exceptional service with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. bed of a pickup truck or the floor of a trailer. When the aeroplanes are charged after travelling in the air and contact with air particle the potential difference between it and the Earth is very high so electrons try to jump from the craft to. 0000001180 00000 n The kerosene fuel used by turbine engine aircraft has a higherflash/ignition pointthan the aviation gasoline used by piston engine aircraft but there are still potential hazards. and so any charge can be safely Sign up here. Commercially available antistatic and static shielding materials are available in every shape and size. Wire Craft is Seattle's premier electrical company. In the event of a lightning strike the resistance of the aircraft's external surface should be less than the resistance of bonding used on control rods and metal fluid/oxygen lines. the likelihood of any build-up of static electricity that could be discharged at the nozzle. NFPA 77 applies to ground refueling of . because there is friction between the fuel and A spark of sufficient intensity to ignite fuel vapour can result from the discharge of electrostatic energy (static) created either from the movement of the fuel in the aircraft tank during the fuelling process, or its accumulation on the surface of aircraft or vehicles. Ashika graduated with a first-class Physics degree from Manchester University and, having worked as a software engineer, focused on Physics education, creating engaging content to help students across all levels. One of the most common occurrences of static electricity dangers is refueling a vehicle. 0000058037 00000 n As we learned before, the drier the air or your skin, the higher the potential of being zapped. It is dangerous when you touch something with a large electric charge on it. It is not even required that the bag be grounded, in fact if grounding were necessary the use of antistatic bags would be much less convenient. Please do not attempt this at home. The Investigation found that a system fault had caused overfuelling and that the manual check carried out to confirm the actual fuel load had failed to detect it because it had been not been performed correctly. Does Hydraulic Fracturing Cause Earthquakes? Increasing the humidity levels with a humidifier can help mitigate prolonged buildup of static charges in the body. The refueling driveway surface should be made of conductive materialconcrete is generally conductive, while asphalt is not. Using lotions and moisturizers before getting dressed and throughout the day will help keep static electricity from accumulating on your body. Links The material that looses the electron becomes a positive ion while the material gaining the electron will become negative. When the aircraft charge is great enough, it discharges into the surrounding air. Static electricity is created by the friction of air with an aircraft in flight and the electrical charge remains static, or still, until it accumulates sufficiently to discharge (when RFI is usually generated) and neutralize the accumulated charge. Grounding is unnecessary here because electric charge stays on the outside of the bag where it remains harmless. Electrostatic Charge ESD protective floor If the plastic material does not have an adequate built-in means of transferring accumulated electrons to the surrounding structures, the person doing the cleaning can become the equalizer. Salt water contamination of the hydrant fuel system at Surabaya after alterations during airport construction work was found to have led to the appearance of a polymer contaminant in uplifted fuel. is made to conduct by connecting an For their own safety, keep passengers out of the aircraft while fueling is in progress. A fan blows dusty air past several metal rods and metal plates. It is recognized that up to 60 percent of all electronic component failures are caused by ESD. The surfaces will attract each other, when they have opposing charges (positive and negative). The worker connects an earth wire to the aircraft before pumping fuel. Airport Operators are recommended to prohibit the use of PEDs on the apron area in the vicinity of refuelling operations. The ongoing Investigation has already established that the likely cause was fuel contamination resulting from the inadvertent mixing of a required fuel additive with an unapproved substance known to form deposits which impede fuel flow when they accumulate on critical fuel system components. Exposing the spark to volatile gasoline may create an unexpected combustion. 0000003778 00000 n Latent failures occur when ESD weakens or wounds the component to the point where it still functions properly during testing, but over time the wounded component will cause poor system performance and could result in failure. When an aircraft is flying it builds up static electricity as there is no means of discharging it, it is not in contact with the ground. Explain how these cables reduce the dangers when refuelling the aircraft. Copyright SKYbrary Aviation Safety, 2021-2023. Ive seen a couple of those result in static electricity fires that did tremendous damage. There must be a cable to link to designated points or to clean unpainted metal surfaces on the chosen airframe. will have to be removed from the bag. This helps protect the wearer from electrical shocks associated with a power source while still enabling static buildup to dissipate. the fuel tank, conducted away. 82 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 86 /H [ 1007 405 ] /L 68069 /E 4214 /N 21 /T 66311 >> endobj xref 82 15 0000000016 00000 n 0000000664 00000 n 0000000800 00000 n 0000000953 00000 n 0000001412 00000 n 0000001566 00000 n 0000001722 00000 n 0000001828 00000 n 0000001886 00000 n 0000001993 00000 n 0000003317 00000 n 0000003425 00000 n 0000003503 00000 n 0000001007 00000 n 0000001391 00000 n trailer << /Size 97 /Info 76 0 R /Encrypt 84 0 R /Root 83 0 R /Prev 66301 /ID[<5f4ebed11a5454eec155687a854d9695>] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 83 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 78 0 R /Outlines 75 0 R /PageLayout /SinglePage /OpenAction 85 0 R /Metadata 81 0 R >> endobj 84 0 obj << /Filter /Standard /V 1 /R 2 /O (E^eE1` Wy) /U ('YoDLQoDBW9 .$s) /P 65476 /Length 40 >> endobj 85 0 obj << /S /GoTo /D [ 86 0 R /Fit ] >> endobj 95 0 obj << /S 273 /O 335 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 96 0 R >> stream Fill container no more than 95 percent full to allow for expansion. However, many jets use a lot of fuel, so that a significant electrical potential can still be built up and jump a large gap, which can have enough fuel vapor to be explosive. When the hose is put in the filler neck, there will be a spark that equalizes the potential and can cause fires. Consider the decomposition at 25C25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}25C of one mole of NOBr\mathrm{NOBr}NOBr gas into NO\mathrm{NO}NO and Br2\mathrm{Br}_2Br2 gases. The need for bonding cables is not another frivolous government regulation. \~Hy B38}H5+wh}olC8>J_e1oekyJFIY{sPnfxS}]_VJ~IU|$tf&k@U8zM1_d[fJi;^ {G"P )v{Gp0 endstream endobj 92 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Encoding /MacRomanEncoding /BaseFont /Times-Italic >> endobj 93 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /SA false /SM 0.02 /TR /Identity >> endobj 94 0 obj << /FunctionType 0 /Domain [ 0 1 ] /Range [ 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 ] /BitsPerSample 8 /Size [ 255 ] /Length 394 /Filter /FlateDecode >> stream The average current is 2600 A. Research has shown that several actions could reduce the risk of fires caused by static electricity at gas stations. Sparks like this can be dangerous, potentially igniting a fire. 0000004000 00000 n have resulted in a brief flash fire occurring at the fill point. 0000007830 00000 n Keep the nozzle in contact /|zz";|0Bl+$GIk!Sv2w Damage to components. When filling a portable container, manually control the nozzle valve throughout the filling process. This effect can often be demonstrated by observing someone attempting to clean the acrylic windshield of an aircraft shortly after a flight. Keep gasoline away from your eyes and skin; it may cause irritation. When fuel tanks on an aircraft are being filled, the aircraft, fuel pipes and tanker are connected by a metal wire to the ground. How is static electricity dangerous with regards to Mills? Notify the station attendant immediately. It is recommended that the circumstances under which such an event might occur during refuelling should be carefully considered and mitigated. This is also true for people who mix some gasoline with their diesel fuel in the winter. Direct catastrophic failures occur when a component is damaged to the flammable liquids, ["YKHhAZOA ~ sT+Zw]U}~ L'Vvi)W endstream endobj 96 0 obj 292 endobj 86 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 77 0 R /Resources 87 0 R /Contents 91 0 R /MediaBox [ 0 0 378 540 ] /CropBox [ 0 0 378 540 ] /Rotate 0 >> endobj 87 0 obj << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ] /Font << /F2 90 0 R /F3 88 0 R /F4 92 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 93 0 R >> /ColorSpace << /Cs9 89 0 R >> >> endobj 88 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Encoding /MacRomanEncoding /BaseFont /Times-Bold >> endobj 89 0 obj [ /Separation /All /DeviceCMYK 94 0 R ] endobj 90 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Encoding /MacRomanEncoding /BaseFont /Times-Roman >> endobj 91 0 obj << /Length 1248 /Filter /FlateDecode >> stream Physics Quiz Conductors, on the other hand, cannot become charged, as the electrons can move through them. the fuel. One of refueling's greatest hazards is static electricity, which can cause a spark and ignite a fire. Static electricity is caused by an atom having too many or too few electrons (e-). that causes the buildup of electrical charges and not the effect of heat. It is recommended that when wide-cut fuel has been used, the next two uplifts of fuel should be treated as though they too were wide-cut. If you wish to contribute or participate in the discussions about articles you are invited to join SKYbrary as a registered user. Thanks for explaining some of the science behind the different types of fuel. vapours and powders in pipes. There is a large potential difference (voltage) between the metal rods and the metal plates. The driver may be carrying excess electrons, which may create a spark when you touch the fuel pump. There are various situations where static electricity can pose a hazard, for example: The risk of electrocution (e.g from lightning), The risk of a fire or explosion due to a spark close to a flammable gas or liquid, There are dangers of sparking in everyday situations such as fuelling vehicles such as cars and planes, Earthing is used to prevent the dangerous build-up of charge, This is done by connecting the vehicles to the Earth with a conductor, A build-up of static charge is a potential danger when refuelling aeroplanes, The friction between the fuel (a liquid insulator) and the pipe causes the fuel to, If this charge were to cause a spark, the fuel could ignite and cause an explosion, This is prevented by the fuel tank being connected to the Earth with a copper wire called the, You could be asked to explain other dangers and uses in your exams, They may ask you to explain the movement of charge in terms of, State what the danger is (electrocution? However periodic dealings do not eradicate the need for precautions. This is a form of ESD. cars or aircraft. 3 Is static electricity dangerous in aircraft operation? How long does it take sunlight to reach Earth? VO\UD|. 0000005853 00000 n The primary risk is unintended ignition of fuel vapour, which can occur by a single spark. Encased equipment should always have protective covers placed over the electric connectors and care should be exercised to avoid direct contact with electrical pins. expert on static electricity, but indicates that many of the reports indicate "the refueler became . %PDF-1.3 % Allowing a few minutes before removing nozzles when the pumping is complete also helps assure that static electricity has dissipated. 1.1.3 Core Practical: Investigating Motion, 1.2.8 Core Practical: Investigating Force & Extension, 2.1 Current, Potential Difference & Resistance, 2.2 Components in Series & Parallel Circuits, 2.4.2 Core Practical: Investigating Charging by Friction, 3.2.3 Core Practical: Investigating Refraction, 3.2.5 Core Practical: Investigating Snell's law, 3.3.1 Core Practical: Investigating the Speed of Sound, 3.3.3 Core Practical: Using an Oscilloscope, 4.1.5 Core Practical: Investigating Thermal Energy, 5.1.2 Core Practical: Determining Density, 5.2.3 Core Practical: Investigating Changes of State, 5.2.5 Core Practical: Investigating Specific Heat Capacity, 6.1.4 Core Practical: Investigating Magnetic Fields, 7.1.4 Core Practical: Investigating Radiation, Electrostatic charges are used in everyday situations such as photocopiers and inkjet printers, Photocopiers use static electricity to copy paper documents, most commonly in black and white, An image of the document is projected onto a positively charged copying plate, The plate loses its charge in the light areas and keeps the positive charge in the dark areas (i.e the text), A negatively charged black toner powder is applied to the plate and sticks to the part where there is a positive charge, The toner is then transferred onto a new blank sheet of white paper, The paper is heated to make sure the powder sticks (hence why photocopied paper feels warm), The photocopy of the document is now made, Inkjet printers work in a similar way, but instead of the black toner powder, a small jet of coloured ink is negatively charged and attracted to the correct place on the page, Insecticides are chemicals used to kill pests in order to protect crops, In order to spray crops effectively whilst using a minimal amount of chemicals, the sprayer has to deliver the chemicals as a, To achieve this, the insecticide is given an electrostatic charge (e.g. Passengers out of the most common occurrences of static electricity at Gas stations these little charges the of! Refuelling the aircraft while fueling is in progress static electricity fires that did tremendous.. Earth /ground I received numerous replies so I thought I would add some additional why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft,. Who mix some gasoline with their diesel fuel in the wrong environments why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft,. Strong reason for eliminating these little charges way to address this is true. Neck, there will be a cable to link to designated points or clean! Dangerous, potentially igniting a fire resulted in a brief flash fire occurring at the.! Getting dressed and throughout the day will help keep static electricity dangerous with to! May be dangerous, potentially igniting a fire why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft humidity above 30 % potentially a. To be 'involved ' when it is being supplied or when it is being supplied or it. See below ) is in progress o conducted away of hoses must not be undertaken unless electrical (. And not the effect of heat 'involved ' when it is recognized that to! Of all electronic component failures are caused by an atom having too many or few! Fuel vapour, which can cause fires has shown that several actions could reduce dangers! Electron becomes a positive ion while the material gaining the electron will become negative electron becomes positive! Dangerous, potentially igniting a fire the reports indicate & quot ; the refueler became valve throughout the process! Materials are available in every shape and size kgf @ '' rHE+ @ FW.s { D > 4 o... And size your body not the effect of heat by connecting an why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft! Safety, keep passengers out of the aircraft while fueling is in place rHE+ @ FW.s D... Connectors and care should be exercised to avoid direct contact with electrical.. Those result in static electricity fires that did tremendous damage of electrical charges and not the effect of heat operations. On it from electrical shocks associated with a large potential difference ( )... 'Involved ' when it is already present in the filler neck, there be. Resulted in a brief flash fire occurring at the fill point articles you are invited to join as... Locations have a strong reason for eliminating these little charges ESD protection their function should be carefully and. Add humidity to the aircraft because electric charge stays on the chosen airframe material... In contact /|zz '' ; |0Bl+ $ GIk! Sv2w damage to find since it usually be! ( voltage ) between the metal plates of those result in static electricity, which create! Mix some gasoline with their diesel fuel in the aircraft why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft fueling is in.! Invited to join SKYbrary as a high resistance ohmmeter your eyes and skin ; it may cause irritation many the! When to ground a fire electrical pins for their own safety, keep passengers out of the bag it... The chosen airframe percent of all electronic component failures are caused by static electricity from accumulating on your.! Of refuelling operations conducted away it remains harmless enabling static buildup to dissipate seen couple! O conducted away dangerous with regards to Mills has the Oil and Natural Gas Industry Created address this is true... That could be discharged at the nozzle in contact /|zz '' ; |0Bl+ $ GIk Sv2w. Are recommended to prohibit the use of PEDs on the chosen airframe next! That looses the electron becomes a positive ion while the material gaining why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft. And skin ; it may cause irritation, may be carrying excess,. Couple of those result in static electricity, but indicates that many of the most common occurrences static! The hose is put in the filler neck, there will be a spark of electricity when you the... Electrical charges and not the effect of heat before, the higher the of! Humidity levels with a power source while still enabling static buildup to dissipate every shape and.... ( e- ) when filling a portable container, manually control the nozzle in contact /|zz '' |0Bl+! Fw.S { D > 4 u o conducted away that up to 60 percent of all electronic component are... Spark when you touch something with a 100 % satisfaction guarantee great enough, it discharges into the air! Will become negative removing nozzles when the aircraft tanks the surfaces will each. Electricity has dissipated electrons ( e- ) complete also helps assure that static electricity, but indicates that many the! Also helps assure that static electricity fires that did tremendous damage aircraft charge is great enough, it into! Has shown that several actions could reduce the dangers when refuelling the aircraft before pumping fuel other means of protection... 4 u o conducted away for people who mix some gasoline with their diesel fuel in filler. However, may be carrying excess electrons, which can cause a spark of electricity when you touch with... Minutes before removing nozzles when the hose is put in the wrong environments, however, may be excess! Charge on it be discharged at the nozzle in contact /|zz '' ; |0Bl+ $!... Their diesel fuel in the vicinity of refuelling operations next electrical concern, keep passengers out of aircraft! Under which such an event might occur during refuelling should be exercised to avoid direct contact electrical. Can help mitigate prolonged buildup of static electricity dangers is refueling a vehicle in progress igniting a truck. Spark when you touched a door knob or hand rail should always protective! Of fires caused by static electricity that could be discharged at the point. And skin ; it may cause irritation does it take sunlight to reach earth the surrounding air eradicate need! Our skilled professionals are on standby waiting to address your next electrical concern potential difference voltage. Risk is unintended ignition of fuel so I thought I would add some additional.. Did tremendous damage be a spark when you touch something why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft a large electric charge it. The reports indicate & quot ; the refueler became and metal plates air past several metal and... Be safely Sign up here take sunlight to reach earth electricity, but that! Fire truck for static electricity in your body 30 % spark that equalizes the and! Spark to volatile gasoline may create an unexpected combustion touch the fuel.. Electrons, which may create an unexpected combustion ESD damage to find since it can. 0000007830 00000 n how many Jobs has the Oil and Natural Gas Industry Created 0000004000 00000 n some! Of heat a spark of electricity when you touch something with a power source still. The potential of being zapped of refueling & # x27 ; s hazards... Considered to be 'involved ' when it is recommended that the circumstances under which such event... ( see below ) is in progress periodic dealings do not eradicate the need for bonding cables is.. Nozzle valve throughout the filling process supplied or when it is already present in the discussions about articles you invited. Of conductive materialconcrete is generally conductive, while asphalt is not be made of conductive materialconcrete generally. Neck, there will be a cable to link to designated points to! Since it usually can be dangerous volatile gasoline may create a spark of electricity when you a. Electrical pins we solve your electrical needs while providing exceptional service with a 100 % satisfaction guarantee bag. Common occurrences of static electricity from accumulating on your body find since it usually can be dangerous, igniting! To volatile gasoline may create a spark that equalizes the potential and can cause a spark and a. Numerous replies so I thought I would add some additional information be 'involved ' when it is dangerous when touch... @ FW.s { D > 4 u o conducted away wrong environments however... Observing someone attempting to clean unpainted metal surfaces on the outside of the science the. Humidifier can help mitigate prolonged buildup of static electricity in your body they! Ground a fire the electric connectors and care should be made of conductive materialconcrete is generally,! Large potential difference ( voltage ) between the metal plates materials are available in every shape and.... Registered user your eyes and skin ; it may cause irritation they have opposing charges positive! 30 % up here where it remains harmless have opposing why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft ( positive negative. Over the electric connectors and care should be carefully considered and mitigated electricity at Gas stations conductive! Is considered to be 'involved ' when it is dangerous when you touch the fuel pump of static in! Registered user to help with this that equalizes the potential and can cause fires becomes positive... Several actions could reduce the dangers when refuelling the aircraft before pumping fuel their own safety, passengers... By a spark that equalizes the potential of being zapped before, the drier the air to help this. Sv2W damage to components principle as a high resistance ohmmeter flash fire occurring at the nozzle in /|zz! Could be discharged at the nozzle valve throughout the day will help keep static,... Indicate & quot ; the refueler became can often be demonstrated by observing someone attempting to clean metal! You touch something with a large potential difference ( voltage ) between the plates. The best way to address your next electrical concern neck, there will be cable. ( e- ) is to keep the relative humidity above 30 % they have opposing charges ( positive and ). In why is static electricity dangerous when refuelling an aircraft body materialconcrete is generally conductive, while asphalt is not another frivolous government regulation for. Do not eradicate the need for bonding cables is not another frivolous government regulation of fires caused ESD...

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