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Re: Fuel Tank - Washing out fibres

Subject: Re: Fuel Tank - Washing out fibres
From: Dave Simpson <DaveSimpson@londonweb.net>
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2000 16:34:35

Bob,

The detritus is not glass fibres but polyethylene swarf from the hole 
boring exercise involved in fitting the unions and outlets to the tank.  
The particles pick up a strong charge as they are torn away from their 
parent material, they then cling to the inside wall of the tank.  I 
personally would not trust simply trying to cancel the charges; in my 
tank the stuff needed a vacuum cleaner, then careful wiping with a moist 
rag to remove all traces.

I heartily recommend installing an inspection/cleaning orifice in the 
top between the two headrests.  There is a PFA approved mod for it in 
place.  In any case you shall need it later on to clean the tank in 
service - better to do it now.

Good luck

Dave

---Original Message-----
From: JR (Bob) Gowing <gowingjr@acr.net.au>
Date: 03 January 2000 10:31
Subject: Fuel Tank - Washing out fibres


    Dear Europa Group Members,
    Troy and Paul have the focus on fuel tank installation so it should 
be a good time to raise the following -
    
     It has been said that a lot of glass fibre gets into the tank 
during construction and there is a vital need to wash the tank carefully 
several times. This is apparently needed because of electrostatic 
attraction of glass fibres which stick inside the tank and are hard to 
shift. So filters clog a lot during the first  flying hours.
   
    If the problem is electrostatic I would have thought that some weak 
battery
    acid or even salt water would release the attraction between tank 
and fibres
    and let the fibres loose easily and quickly. My question is has 
anyone tried
    the use of some sort of electrolyte for washing their tank and if so 
what
    was the result?
   
    JR (Bob) Gowing  Kit ex UK No 327



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