Why Aviation Fuel Valves Rely on API 6D DBB/DIB Plug Valve Technology

There are different blends of air fuel for both commercial and military aircraft. The typical ones for commercial flights are Jet A and Jet A-1. The main difference between these two fueling types is the freeze point. Jet A must have a freezing point at -40°C or below. Jet A-1 the freeze point must be at -47°C or lower.

At military airports you might come across fueling types like JP-4, JP-5, JP-7 and JP-8. These are made to more precise / exact specifications than the ones for commercial flights. But there are many other fuel types used for different types of engines and make. The typical standards for air fuels are ASTM D1655 and Defense Standard 91-91, but there are several more.

All air fuel types are considered very toxic and can pollute the ground / water supply in an area if not under strict control. Waste or leakage must therefore be reduced to an absolute minimum.

Smaller airports typically have above ground storage and distribution of fuel. There will typical be a storage facility located at a distance from the airport. Then there will be above ground pipes to the distribution point, where the trucks will get fueled and then drive to the aircraft and re-fuel them before takeoff.

Bigger airports will – in addition to a distribution point – typically have part of the airport installed with underground pipe system for direct fueling via the hydrant dispenser (vehicle with a lifting platform on top and hoses / connectors / metering). The storage facility is away from the airport itself, but then the underground pipe system will allow each aircraft to re-fuel direct from the ground fueling connection before takeoff. They normally fuel between 1000 – 4000 liter per minute depending on the size of the hose, which typical is 2” or 2½”.

The underground riser pipes are normally made of pipes from 6” at 150# whereas feed line and loop line size varies between 10” and 24”, depending on a calculated peak fuel demand.

On places, where you need to section the underground pipe system for pressure test, it is important to be able to verify the valve is tight. The DB&B expanding plug valve can provide this feature. Therefore, these valves typically are specified. They need to be 100% certain that the valves are tight in order not to waste time when they do the pressure test. If they must spend time on finding failures on leaking valves, which are the typical failure they have in these pipe systems, the clock is running and so is the money. Having part of an airport, not being able to refuel the aircraft costs a lot of money.

Tank inlet: if the tanks are fed by pipe, it is mandatory for the inlet of the tanks to have DB&B valves installed.

Feed pipe: after the tank, the underground feed pipe goes to airport. This pipe is typical 10” – 24” cl. 150# or 300#. To be able to leak test the pipe, you must segregate the volume into a smaller volume. Typically for every 300M3 volume of jet fuel, there is a DB&B expanding plug. This is the maximum volume for leakage testing allowed. So, depending on the length of the pipe, you will find numerous valves.

Loops: The airport is divided into different areas, which are feed by the feed pipe. These areas are often referred to as loops. To be able to leak test the pipe, you must segregate the volume into a smaller volume. Typical for every 150M3 volume of jet fuel, there is a DB&B expanding plug.

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