AMETEK Adds to its Capabilities in Aircraft Fuel Flowmeters with Expansion of Testing and Calibration Facility

April 28, 2014

Expansion Allows AMETEK to Meet Requirements For Hotter Fuels and Higher Accuracy Fuel Flowmeters

(Pictured left to right: Manuel Santiago, Test Lab Manager; Joel Gutierrez, Director of Operations; and Eli Medina, Engineering Manager, in test facility control room

WILMINGTON, MA—AMETEK Sensors & Fluid Management Systems (SFMS) recently expanded fuel flowmeter test capabilities at its Reynosa, Mexico facility, to offer improved accuracy at even higher temperatures than previously possible, along with increased capacity to support higher customer demand.

AMETEK has been a leader in aerospace fuel flowmeters since the true mass flowmeter technology based on angular momentum was pioneered in the 1950's. AMETEK historically has calibrated its true mass flowmeters at 150^oF to provide a closer representation of in-service performance. However more recently, there has been increased demand for accuracy at temperatures up to 300^o F.

"By offering higher temperature calibration, AMETEK provides its customers the benefit of ensuring better fuel efficiency, which leads to a lower cost of ownership for aircraft operators," says Andy Brandenburg, Vice President of the Sensors and Fluid Management Systems business unit.

“The particular strategy employed by each engine manufacturer may differ, but in all applications, the temperature trend has been in one direction: hotter. All of it is being done in the name of achieving maximize Thrust Specific Fuel Consumption (TSFC),” he adds. “In other words, how much fuel does an engine need to provide to achieve a certain thrust for a certain time? Like making your car more fuel efficient, lowering TSFC ultimately saves money.”

With these expanded capabilities AMETEK can offer a more accurate fuel flowmeter that directly results in less fuel being loaded into the airplane's tanks, less energy is wasted transporting extra fuel.

AMETEK's new hot-fuel flow stand became operational in March 2014 and currently is used on fuel flowmeters in development.

AMETEK SFMS is a leader in sensor and fluid management technology for a broad range of aircraft engine and airframe applications and a division of AMETEK Aerospace & Defense. AMETEK, Inc.is a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annual sales of more than $3.6 billion.

For more information, contact AMETEK Aerospace & Defense, 50 Fordham Road, Wilmington, MA 01887. Phone: 978-988-4101. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.ameteksensors.com