New Device Detects Tiny Amounts Of Contamination In Fuel

By Gene Yarbrough

James Wiebe, an inventor and innovator in both ultralight airframe and instrument design, revealed a new sensor technology Tuesday at AirVenture designed to annunciate water contamination in fuel. While not giving specifics about the proprietary technology James indicated the sensor he has developed is sensitive enough to detect minute amounts of water as small as a 1ml drop in the flow of fuel, and further stated the system was discriminatory enough to detect the difference between gasoline and jet fuel (kerosene).

The system offers protection against fuel contamination and subsequent engine failure by lighting an LED or sounding an audible alarm whenever the system is triggered. The unit displayed at the press briefing was small enough to fit in the palm of the hand and the annunciator panel was similar to Belite’s line of PCB board mounted LED flight instruments. An unfortunate side effect of modern automotive fuels is the addition of ethanol as filler. As automotive fuels, used widely in experimental and ultralight aircraft, become blended with higher concentrations of ethanol the threat of water attraction and saturation creates a real and present danger of fuel contamination. The marine industry is already suffering tremendous terrible consequences at the hands of this dangerous practice. Additionally miss-fueling of aircraft has proved a deadly mistake all too often. Having a real time onboard sensor to alert the pilot to contaminated fuel contamination is a quantum leap forward in safety for general aviation. Retail price of the new product is $149.95

Belite also introduced an instrument panel sporting the companies LED flight instruments with a black background to compliment its original white panel. Included in the new panel is a new turn and bank with slip indicator. “This new instrument implements a solid state gyro-based turn rate indicator and bubble inclinometer in one small, extremely lightweight design,” said James Wiebe, president and CEO of Belite Enterprises LLC. The turn coordinator includes new, automatically calibrated technology, so that it does not have to be re-centered each time it is turned on.

Power consumption has also been reduced. Individual instruments weigh as little as 1/2 ounce (15 grams), and the panel-mounted full line of instruments, including metal panel, mounting hardware and connections, can weigh substantially less than one pound. They’re designed to easily fit into instrument panels of experimental, homebuilt and ultralight aircraft.

Installation is straightforward and many of the instruments are also available in small 3”x2”x1” portable enclosures with a self-contained battery, easily carried in a pilot’s flight bag and used in whatever plane they are flying.

FMI: www.beliteaircraft.com