CASE STUDY: How an Airport Uses Magnetic Separation to Improve Aviation Fuel - Black Powder Solutions - Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Events

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This study explains how The Nashville International Airport (BNA) removed black powder contamination particulates from jet fuel delivered by the Colonial Pipeline, resulting in improved product quality and reduced filter consumption.

The problem

Off-spec jet fuel delivered from the Colonial Pipeline required a variety of expensive single-use filters to meet the high-grade cleanliness standard for aerospace fuel. So, when we stated that our magnetic separator systems would reduce filter consumption and improve fuel quality, the airport fuel facility team decided to put magnetic separation to the test.

The solution

Our team designed a magnetic separator to remove contamination, down to sub-micron sizes, out of ~4,400-barrel batches of jet fuel. The batches of jet fuel are delivered from the Colonial Pipeline over 3.5-hour periods.

The results

Fluid analysis tests done both upstream and downstream of the magnetic separator showed that it significantly improved the fuel product quality. The airport fuel facility team has noted a significant reduction in the consumption of 5-micron, 3-micron and 0.5-micron filters, with extended use of their clay filters.