Fuel transfer Pumps

[grosvenor]

I am trying to source a 12v DC electric fuel transfer pump to pump fuel from drums to an aerie.

Does anyone have any advice on this or are using something available locally. Probably need to pump at about 20-30L/min.

Dave

[krusty]

Dave. See this thread on AvCom:
http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3944

And contact FAWG Pilot. Apparently you need to be careful in your pump selection...

[DarkHelmet]

Wow! Really nice!

[grosvenor]

That's what sparked my interest. Been researching this for a while. I really don't want to spend R6000 on a pump - was looking for something more affordable and that doesn't pump at such a high rate.

[CloudBase]

My favorite passtime when I'm not flying. I have tried many pump configurations. One of the most succesfull attempts was a pump I ordered from westmarine http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... ctId=16776. For a local source you can try yacht builders / suppliers.

Another attempt was a fuel pipe and nipple fixed through a container fuel cap. Screw on the cap, attach a 12v tyre air pump to the nipple and as the air squeezes into the container, the fuel squeezes out (not very fast).

I recently noticed a nice patent where the hand crank on the centrifugal pump (the type used to pump from 200L drums that you should be able to find at farming supply store) was replaced with a small 12v DC motor.

I only need to transfer about 50 L at a time, therefore don't require the fuel flow rate you are talking about, so finally I went back to good old fashioned gravity feed using a pedastal stand to avoid holding the fuel can. http://www.sagpa.co.za/Articles/13/40.php This setup works perfectly and by the time 50L has run into the tank, I'm just about finished with my pre-flight.

Hope some of the ideas help.

[FAWGie]

I'm still loving my fuel trailer and the electric pump system has made it an absolute pleasure....

Dave, if you want dope on the pump stuff, contact Clinton on 082 857 9405

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Once the dust settles and toy box get's restocked I will definitely be wanting one of da Dawg's trailers....

[FAWGie]

Once the dust settles and toy box get's restocked I will definitely be wanting one of da Dawg's trailers....

You get to pump anytime.....with little effort.....

[RV4ker (RIP)]

That's what sparked my interest. Been researching this for a while. I really don't want to spend R6000 on a pump - was looking for something more affordable and that doesn't pump at such a high rate.

Dave
Use to have plane on the farm and when we were still pumping out of drums in da sticks we had a pressure "boer maak n plan" type system driven by a high pressure 12 volt tyre type compressor. Run from car or aeries cigarette lighter adapter.

Basically the drum cap had a sealed in and outlet fitted into it. The in pipe extended to just below the cap and was connected to the compressor. The out pipe went all the way down to the bottom of the drum and into the fuel tank. Pressure was then input into the sealed drum via the compressor and viola the fuel would come out of the out pipe. It was slow - sometimes took 40mins to do C182 2 tanks (92gals), but it far better than the manual pump or trying to get fuel up onto and then into wings. The drum had a dolly which allowed movement around the hangars. Cost was less than R1000.... Can't remeber thickness of the pipes, but they were maybe size of my thumb. Assume hosepipe would work as well. We had transparent so you could see if there was fuel flowing? Had a picture of it somewhere, but can't find it. Also was article in Airnews some time ago describing similar system.

It was by no means a CAA approved operation, but it worked.

PS
Make sure that it is earth'd..


PPS
Moving the drums in and out of hangar and onto truck or trailer is still a pain in the ass. That where Fawg Dawg's system is far better. Just hook it up and go.
Flamer on...