Fuel sample containers for shipment by air are controlled by UN/ICAO rules. The fuels that are the subject of this bulletin are called Class 3 – Flammable Liquids. The table that follows defines the way various fuels are classified.

We offer a packaging system that conforms to packaging instructions 353 or 355 in 1 or 5 liter drums. These are additional references. Our drums and cartons conform to these requirements:

YOU CAN SHIP VIA CARGO AIRCRAFT ANYTHING THAT IS PERMITTED ON PASSENGER AIRCRAFT.

After the fuel sample has been placed in the drum, tighten the threaded plug. Make sure the fuel resistant gasket is in place. The inner container must never be filled completely so as to avoid leakage or rupture as a result of thermal expansion and/or pressure caused by a temperature build-up.

Turn the drum upside down to be sure of no leakage from the plug.

If lock-wiring is required, secure the threaded plug so that it cannot loosen during shipment. Twist the wire so that force is applied to tighten the plug. Not loosen it.

1 LITER: Place the drum in the carton so it is supported by the corrugated spacer and fill the entire void under, around, and on top of the drum with vermiculite or sawdust to act as an absorbent.

5 LITER: Place the drum in the corrugated carton. It is not necessary to fill the remaining space with sawdust or vermiculite because the combination of the 5 liter drum and corrugated carton has been granted a UN approval. The drum itself is rated 1A1.

Tape all carton edges – top, bottom, and sides – with good quality packaging tape.

Hose dollies, long recognized as more economical and reliable than hose reels for hydrant hoses, are usually fabricated locally from available materials. Professionally designed, our hose dolly overcomes the numerous problems that have occurred with other designs.

Of particular importance in our design is the caster. Look at these features:

• Nickel-plated steel construction
• Ball bearing swivels have stainless steel balls
• Lubricatable bearing design
• Ball bearing wheels
• Durable neoprene tires

All Bacon Bomb Samplers are substantially made of brass and bronze, and heavily nickel plated. Each sampler has but one moving part, no springs, nothing to get lost or out of order, and they are easily cleaned. All models show the same simplicity of design and rugged construction, and also incorporate various desirable features suggested by years of hard usage. All models conform to ASTM specifications D-4057. All Bacon Bomb Samplers are anti-magnetic.

You may coat samplers with protective varnish when used with liquids that will attack nickel and bronze.

This sampler takes truly average samples. When lowered into a tank, liquid flows into the lower end of the sampler only as quickly as air is displaced through the opening at the top. A rugged needle valve permits exact control of the rate of flow. If the sampler is lowered from the top to the bottom of a liquid at a uniform rate and is not quite full when withdrawn, the liquid trapped in the sampler must be a truly average sample.

A plunger keeps the sampler closed until it strikes the bottom of the tank, then the sampler fills. When raised, the plunger automatically falls back into position, closes the sampler, and prevents any contamination by liquid taken at a higher level. This device picks up sediment or water directly off the bottom of the tank.

But a sample can be taken at any point above the bottom by attaching a cable to the top of the plunger, raising it at will to fill the sampler and lowering it to close the sampler. However, average sampling operations cannot be performed with the perfect control possible with the average model.

Extension rods are available to allow a sample to be taken 1” to 12” from the bottom. Order extension kit Model TL-3577.

With a one-gallon capacity, our model GTP-9090 is welcomed by technicians because they no longer must collect repeated samples to obtain enough liquid for the laboratory tests.

If lowered to the bottom of a tank, the sample will be collected at a level 14.2 in (368 mm) above the bottom for model GTP-9090 and 10.8 in (275 mm) above the bottom for model GTP-9021. These samplers are not designed to sample the very bottom of the tank. To meet that requirement, we recommend a Bacon Bomb as described on the front of this bulletin.

Safety from an Electrostatic Standpoint

Yes, our GTP-9021 sampler comes with a 65-foot (19.8m) long stainless steel chain so that the sampler can be grounded to the tank. The greatest danger on tank operations occurs when an “unbonded charge collector” is inserted. If a sampler or any other object enters the tank, there exists a real danger of sparking. Our instruction is that the heavy-duty clamp be attached first to a metal component of the tank, being careful to remove paint or rust that may prevent continuity. The sampler may then be lowered safely into the tank. Rope or cord must never be used.

The unique model GTP-9021 was developed specifically to fit through the small gauging found on U.S. Air Force bases where level gauging electric cables are also present. It was important that there be no tangling of our sampler with those cables and that those cables not be damaged. Therefore, the outside diameter is only 3.1 in (79 mm).

Handling anti-icing additives such as PRIST® can be dangerous because of the hazardous nature of the chemical. We offer a polyester hand pump equipped with neoprene seals for use with DiEGME additive. The pump has a 2-inch bung with 3/4 inch outlet. TL-1938H includes a 12 foot long, 3/4” PTFE lined hose assembly with check valve for safe handling. The hose is also available separately.

We also are your source for additive injection systems for any application. Flow rates from 10 to 1,000 GPM. For further information, refer to Bulletin 36.

Instructions

1. Rotate the disk until the observed hydrometer reading (°API) is aligned with observed temperature (°F).
2. Read the corrected °API at the 60°F arrow.

NOTE: If a relative density or specific gravity hydrometer is used, set the hydrometer reading opposite the observed temperature. Then read the corrected relative density at the 60°F arrow.

Instructions

1. Rotate the disk until the observed hydrometer reading is aligned with observed temperature.
2. Read the corrected density at the 15°C arrow.

The containers meet UN/1A1/X1.5/250/11 (the last two digits reflect the current year). The UN standard is an international standard equal or superior to DOT 17C and the “250” rating is an improvement over the old container. The bung plug is epoxy coated and can be safety wire sealed. In the photos (below, left), note that when the technician pours fuel from the container, 26.8ml of fuel and dirt particles are trapped in the chime of other containers. Ours traps only 2.8ml.

These containers have been tested in accordance with the approval procedure defined in ASTM Standard Practice D-4306. This standard practice recommends the use of epoxy-lined containers when any of the following ASTM Standard tests are performed on aviation turbine fuels:

• D-2624 Electrical Conductivity of Aviation and Distillate Fuels
• D-3241 Thermal Oxidation Stability of Aviation Turbine Fuels (JFTOT Procedure)
• D-3948 Determining Water Separation Characteristics of Aviation Turbine Fuels by Portable Separameter
• D-4308 Electrical Conductivity of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Precision Meter
• D-5001 Measurement of Lubricity of Aviation Turbine Fuels by the Ball-on-Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator (BOCLE)
• D-5452 Particulate Contamination in Aviation Fuels by Laboratory Filtration

* This model has a bung plug that can be safety wired.

The rules by IATA 1.5 and 49 CFR 172,700 by the U.S. Department of Transportation require that any employee who offers dangerous goods for shipment must be trained in all aspects of packing and labeling. Training courses are offered by many organizations. This bulletin does not purport to provide all the information that is required to prepare and ship fuel samples, but it does show that we offer required decals and labels.

To ship samples of jet fuel or avgas in any of these steel containers, the use of shipping box is required as shown above.

Steady pointer reading even when pressure is pulsating or in cases of excessive vibration. All are silicone filled.

A basic self-contained package for the fixed base operator, fueling contractor or private carrier who must perform safety checks on jet fuel. Everything needed to determine the presence of solid contaminants and excess water is packaged together for carrying convenience and safe-keeping in a case with handle and lock. The new and improved case features a telescopic handle and wheels.

The test requires two simple steps. First, a measured sample of fuel is passed through a paper pad that is treated with sodium fluorescein on its upstream surface. Second, the pad is compared with a fluorescing standard in ultraviolet light. Water droplets that are smaller than the eye can see will cause the sodium fluorescein to fluoresce. The degree of fluorescence is greater for increasing amounts of water in the fuel.

The Aqua-Glo® Kit employs this unique approach in the determination of the degree of fluorescence (or water content). A single, permanent fluorescing standard is positioned under a photographic-type iris diaphragm which can be opened or closed to increase or decrease the amount of ultraviolet light.

To determine water content, the operator merely adjusts the diaphragm lever arm under the fluorescing standard and the test pad show equal brightness in the ultraviolet light. This balance is reached when the zero centering ammeter reads ZERO. The amount of water is read in parts per million (ppm) on the diaphragm lever arm scale which has been pre-calibrated in the factory. The scale numbers range from 1 to 12. These numbers are in ppm if the test sample of fuel that flowed through the pad was 500 ml. However, if water content is as great as 60 ppm, the test sample can be reduced to 100 ml. When a 100 ml sample is taken, the operating instructions explain that the scale reading must be multiplied by 5 to obtain the water content in ppm.

The Series V Aqua-Glo® was introduced in 2005 with an entirely new power supply. This power supply is external, automatically switching to work with either 120 VAC or 220 VAC, 50/60 Hz.

The water detector pads that are used in the Aqua-Glo® Kit are produced in compliance with MIL-D-81248 (WP) with the exception that the diameter is 25mm. Each pad is packaged in an air and moisture-proof envelope.

The Aqua-Glo® Kit pad holder is designed for ease in sampling. Fittings are available for several different methods of taking samples. For example, the standard fitting permits direct connection to the quick disconnect. Another fitting allows the sample to be drawn through the test pad with a syringe.

The Aqua-Glo® Kit is based on a technique developed by the U.S. Navy for accurate field determination of the free water content of jet fuels. Unlike the Navy equipment, the Aqua-Glo® Kit requires only one fluorescing standard and is instrumented to eliminate human error.

Available also in combination with our MiniMonitor® Kit for contamination testing per ASTM Method D2276.

See Bulletin 8 for details on the MiniMonitor® Kit.