DESIGNED for use in the aviation refueling industry, the ACM20 particle counter from Parker Hannfin (UK) Ltd has been developed to allow for the quick, easy and accurate detection of contamination in fuels, from the refinery to uplift fuel into the aircraft, replacing potentially subjective methods of fuel monitoring such as clear and bright and Gravimetric Millipore.

The quick two-minute test, with very little waste, will allow checking of contamination levels, trends and integrity in a reliable, reproducible and repeatable way, and can be used in other applications such as filter performance, pipeline commissioning and extending service intervals of supply systems.
Regular monitoring with the ACM20 will prevent problems caused by contamination that enters the fuel supply during installation, maintenance or repair, or through damaged or worn parts. Solid and water contamination affects the operating efficiency of both the fuel and sliding parts, causing valves to stick and, in the worst case, can lead to sudden component failure, leading to costly downtime and increased maintenance.
With the ACM20, monitoring results can be simply downloaded to a PC or a laptop, and statistical records kept to predict maintenance periods.
The ACM software provides as a primary output, counts per ml, and as a secondary, the percentage volume distribution of the contamination per sample. In addition, the cleanliness levels are reported in accordance with ISO 4406-1999.
Fuels can be monitored from point of manufacture to point of use, ensuring that the fuel received is the same quality as was bought, conformity and liability issues can be seen and resolved quickly, and filter efficiency is readily checked against manufacturers performance specifications.
In addition, fuel storage tanks, which normally have to be cleaned every two or three years, if monitored regularly with this device can show that scheduled maintenance can be delayed because fuel cleanliness is still acceptable, and trend analysis over time will track increases or decreases of contamination here and also within pipelines as the systems are flushed. This can lead to significant cost savings.