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RE: Europa-List: Vapour lock? Why?

Subject: RE: Europa-List: Vapour lock? Why?
From: William Daniell <wdaniell.longport@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 06:31:23
I plumbed those in - following the book - but I see they are probably not
the ideal.

So what's the most common solution?

Will


From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of GRAHAM
SINGLETON
Sent: 29 October 2012 05:29
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Vapour lock? Why?


Nigel

another problem with those filters is that sometimes they look clean but
aren't because the contamination is translucent when wet with fuel; so, more
restriction. 

You're right, they are too small. quite high fuel flow with a 914.

Graham


  _____  

From: "nigel_graham@m-tecque.co.uk" <nigel_graham@m-tecque.co.uk>
Sent: Monday, 29 October 2012, 10:01
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Vapour lock? Why?


On 31/07/2012 22:27, klinefelter.kevin@gmail.com wrote:


Snip ....

.....I was chatting with Rob Seaton ( of Rotech in canada). He said he
learned how too small a fuel line and/or tortured routing can cause
"cavitation" at the pumps. So maybe your fuel filter(s), on the suction side
of the pump,are causing cavitation in the pump(s). Maybe due to the size
(restriction of flow) of the filter, even if they are clean.
........ Snip

Kevin, I think Rob Seaton may be on the money with this one.  
A year or so back, I experienced a dead cut while flying a friend's 914
powered Europa on a hot day. Nifty application of fuel pump restored the
noise, but once safely back on the ground, I checked the filters (all
clean). This aircraft was fitted with Europa specified Purolator glass
shrouded filters that allow you to see the fuel flowing. At low RPM, the
filter appeared full, but as power was increased, the filter began to fill
with what I thought was air. My first action was to check the pipework and
security of connections - but everything seemed fine - it was definitely not
drawing in air from anywhere. I then concluded that I had experienced vapour
lock and left it at that.

Curiosity got the better of me and I started researching cavitation and
stumbled upon this very stilted, but interesting presentation on Youtube.
Take a look at the first minute from 00.20 - in particular, the glass
venturi. This was exactly what I saw in the Purolator filters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_w3gcvA87I

My conclusion is that the Purolator filter has the correct mesh size to trap
contaminants, but the filter capacity is too small and creates a pressure
drop in the fuel line.

Nigel

http://www.matro===================



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