Fuel contamination is a major problem across a diverse range of applications, resulting in escalated maintenance costs and downtime; however, the need to monitor dispersed contamination in aviation fuels is especially critical, with safety a major concern for airlines. As soon as any hydrocarbon fuel leaves the refinery, it is susceptible to contamination, as it flows through pipes, is transferred into bulk storage tanks, shipped as marine cargo and brought into contact with other already contaminated distribution systems.

Hydro-Carbon offers oil-in-water monitor systems for continuous measurement of the oil concentration in water in the ppm range.
The measurement method employs light scattering as the base technique but uses a novel concept whereby multiple wavelength light sources combined with multiple detector angles are used to differentiate between the various contaminants within the water phase. Great attention has been given to ensure the instrument construction is rugged whilst remaining easy to use.

The AFGUARD® is a measurement system, which supervises the quality of Jet Fuels. The AFGUARD® is recommended for insitu measurement of particulate matter in Jet Fuel like free water. The AFGUARD® is a scattered light sensor and is designed to provide inline control solution for a variety of processes.

The aviation industry has used the gravimetric and apperance test methods from its very earliest beginnings. There is no doubt that the use of these methods coupled with very conservative limits and well specified procedures to achieve them, Have given the industry the very highets levels of confidence in supplying fuel that is fit-for-purpose. Due to the ever present possibility that these procedures may break down and developments in sensing technology, the indsutry has evealuting other cleanliness assessment methods. API and EI have also published API/EI 1598 which provides recommendations for the use of electronic sensors than can detect low levels of free water in aviation fuels. Electronic sensors will detct and measure continuously real time producing objective assesment of cleanliness.