Fuel Presence Sensor

[jnmeade]

Is there an electrical contact safe for incorporation in a fuel tank that will show closed when aviation fuel is present and open when it is not?

 

[Dennis McKim]

One that will specifically check for aviation fuel, or just the presence of liquid in the tank?

 

[cgrab]

Isn't that what the fuel sender does now? It is supposed to measure empty when empty and all other times indicate there is fuel present.
I rearely look at the fuel gages since I dip my tanks before every flight and use the clock and a conservative fuel usage factor to know my fuel available.

 

[Maciej]

Is there an electrical contact safe for incorporation in a fuel tank that will show closed when aviation fuel is present and open when it is not?

It's possible, but you have to consider the shape of the fuel tank, vibration and how it moves during flight and different angles of roll and pitch. What are you trying to do?

 

[steingar]

Sensor technology that detects bulk liquids have been available for decades. A sensor that detects hydrocarbons specifically wouldn't be terribly useful, since it couldn't distinguish the gas phase from the liquid. Even after you run your tanks dry there'll be vapors.

 

[Graueradler]

Not a contact. Use a thermister. Resistance changes with temperature. Impose a small self heating current. Fluid immersion increases heat transfer, reduces temperature, changes resistance. No contact = no spark.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

https://youtu.be/0du-QU1Q0T4