One example of Fluid Conditioning Products' custom engineering expertise is our recent partnership with Aerospace Filtration Systems (AFS) of St. Louis, MO, on Aerospace Quality Barrier Filtration Systems for helicopters. FCP was asked to custom engineer a filter that could withstand an extremely high airflow rate. We designed a new filter using a very difficult filter media combination, and then developed a special process to consistently maintain high precision in the manufacture of this filter.
Two premiere systems were developed in conjunction with AFS; the OH-58D Engine Barrier Filter (EBF), and the MD500 (369D/E/F/FF) Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF), both offering exceptional performance in the field.
Development objectives for the filter systems were to substantiate the characteristics of the AFS filtration media and improve design for the military operational environment, quantify the characteristics of baseline filter media at high face velocities representative of a turbine engine inlet, and to document material characteristics, pleat depth and density, separation efficiencies and pressure drop. Development procedures included pressure drop and capture efficiency testing on multiple media configurations along with true engineering data base.
The OH-58D Engine Barrier Filter (EBF) system is now in production for the U.S. Army with over 200 aircraft now operating in the field.
The MD500 (369D/E/F/FF) Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) system bears FAA STC number SR01394LA and is presently in service by the military and law enforcement agencies. For example, the Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) was fielded by the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) on their highly modified MD530F (AH/MH-6J) and the new Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB). During Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003, the AH/MH-6J fielded with Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) with exceptional performance. Helicopters with IBF experienced no engine losses and a significant reduction in theater maintenance.
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