Magnetic Field
Advantages

MAGNETIC FIELD FUEL LEVEL SENDER

Fuel Sender Technology People Can Trust.

Fuel Sender technology has been stable over the last 80 years and while there are recent advances in alternate technology, the legacy method to measure fuel in aircraft has been:

  • Capacitive
  • Resistive

Two other recent technologies include:

  • Ultrasonic
  • Reed Switch

How does magnetic field fluid level compare to these four technologies? View the four charts below to find out:

Magnetic Field vs. Capacitive

Characteristic Magnetic FieldCapacitive
Fuel Quality No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. Accuracy is degraded, due to the differing electrical properties of the fuel
Fuel Temperature No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. Accuracy is degraded - Requires compensation. Fuel temperature stratification will adversely affect accuracy.
Entrained Air No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. Accuracy is Degraded - Requires Compensation. As Fuel with entrained air has a different and changing electrical property
ContaminationMildly Effected - Self cleaning due to generous clearances that do not effect system accuracy Affects Probe - Accuracy is slowly degraded
Fuel Motion No Effect on Sensor. Out of Plane Motion has No Effect. Dense closed cell float utilized dampens fuel motion. No Effect on Sensor
SafetyNo Electronics in the Fuel Tank - No hazard intrinsically safe.Electronics in the Tank - Hazard
DampingFloat size is minimized and density is increased which dampens fuel movement Small Passages Dampens Fuel Movement
Water in Fuel No Change in Output - No Electrical Contact with the fuel tank contents. Sender is Grossly Degraded
CompatibilityMounts in Existing Fuel Quantity LocationsNeeds a Dedicated Position and Mounting
Output Frequency, Voltage, Resistance Frequency, Voltage
AccuracyHighest accuracy available for fuel quantity measurement. Exceeds 0.75% - No measurable error or hysteresis in TSO testing. Accuracy of simple capacitive systems that are TSO’d are 3%. Densitometers, Permittivity measurement and temperature compensation required for better accuracy. Non TSO Capacitive systems are typically less accurate.
Float Error Minimized as float buoyancy does not need to drive a mechanical interface. Smaller and denser floats are utilized in Magnetic Field fuel quantity systems No issue, not applicable
CorrosionNo effect on fuel level outputDegrades Output
Fuel Oscillation No Issue - physical and electronic dampingNo Issue - typically has physical and electronic damping
ComplexitySimpleComplex to meet safety and accuracy requirement

Magnetic Field vs. Resistive

Characteristic Magnetic FieldResistive
Fuel Quality No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. No change in output, the measurement method is typically immersed in fuel. Similar volume measurement.
Fuel Temperature No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. No change in output.
Entrained Air No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. No change in output.
ContaminationMildly Effected - Self cleaning due to generous clearances that do not effect system accuracy Affects potentiometer traces - Accuracy is Slowly Degraded
Fuel Motion No Effect on Sensor. Out of Plane Motion has No Effect. Dense closed cell float utilized dampens fuel motion. Considerable effect on potentiometer wiper - dithering and Morse coding due to motion in and out of plane of the float arm swing.
SafetyNo Electronics in the Fuel Tank - No hazard intrinsically safe.Electronics and electrical contacts in the tank - hazard
DampingFloat size is minimized and density is increased which dampens fuel movement Float dampens fuel movement.
Water in Fuel No Change in Output - No Electrical Contact with the fuel tank contents. Sender is grossly degraded, by moisture and water induced corrosion products.
CompatibilityMounts in Existing Fuel Quantity LocationsSame
Output Frequency, Voltage, Resistance Resistance
AccuracyHighest accuracy available for fuel quantity measurement. Exceeds 0.75% - No measurable error or hysteresis in TSO testing. Poor as it is reliant on the resistive follower size and or the resistance wire or resistive grid size.
Float Error Minimized as float buoyancy does not need to drive a mechanical interface. Smaller and denser floats are utilized in Magnetic Field fuel quantity systems Float must move wiper against potentiometer reliably - Larger float needed to overcome corrosion
CorrosionNo effect on fuel level outputHighly affected, degrades measurement, restricts motion and deposits corrosion products in the fuel.
Fuel Oscillation No Issue - physical and electronic dampingDithering of output.
ComplexitySimpleSimple

Magnetic Field vs. Ultrasonic

Characteristic Magnetic FieldUltrasonic
Fuel Quality No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. Change in output as subtle changes in fuel composition change output.
Fuel Temperature No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. Change in output as fuel density changes.
Entrained Air No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. Change in output as this represents a density change.
ContaminationMildly Effected - Self cleaning due to generous clearances that do not effect system accuracy Change in output due to contamination on target or transmitter.
Fuel Motion No Effect on Sensor. Out of Plane Motion has No Effect. Dense closed cell float utilized dampens fuel motion. Considerable effect on output.
SafetyNo Electronics in the Fuel Tank - No hazard intrinsically safe.No electronics in the fuel tank.
DampingFloat size is minimized and density is increased which dampens fuel movement Electronic damping only.
Water in Fuel No Change in Output - No Electrical Contact with the fuel tank contents. Sender is grossly degraded.
CompatibilityMounts in Existing Fuel Quantity LocationsSame
Output Frequency, Voltage, Resistance Ratiometric Voltage
AccuracyHighest accuracy available for fuel quantity measurement. Exceeds 0.75% - No measurable error or hysteresis in TSO testing. Good accuracy when conditions are ideal, sloshing fuel, fuel temperature stratification and fuel foaming present accuracy issues.
Float Error Minimized as float buoyancy does not need to drive a mechanical interface. Smaller and denser floats are utilized in Magnetic Field fuel quantity systems No Issue
CorrosionNo effect on fuel level outputNo Issue
Fuel Oscillation No Issue - physical and electronic dampingFuel foam, vapor effect output
ComplexitySimpleComplex

Magnetic Field vs. Reed Switch

Characteristic Magnetic FieldReed Switch
Fuel Quality No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit.
Fuel Temperature No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit.
Entrained Air No change in output as only fuel height in the tank or fuel volume is measured in a non-electrical contact manner. The fuel is not a part of the fuel measurement circuit. No change in output – Non-Contact
ContaminationMildly Effected - Self cleaning due to generous clearances that do not effect system accuracy Mildly effected - Self Cleaning
Fuel Motion No Effect on Sensor. Out of Plane Motion has No Effect. Dense closed cell float utilized dampens fuel motion. Dependent on number and quantity of reed switches, can be dramatic
SafetyNo Electronics in the Fuel Tank - No hazard intrinsically safe.No electronics in the fuel tank
DampingFloat size is minimized and density is increased which dampens fuel movement Float dampens fuel movement
Water in Fuel No Change in Output - No Electrical Contact with the fuel tank contents. No Change in Output - No Electrical Contact with the fuel tank contents.
CompatibilityMounts in Existing Fuel Quantity LocationsMounts in Existing Fuel Quantity Locations
Output Frequency, Voltage, Resistance Resistance
AccuracyHighest accuracy available for fuel quantity measurement. Exceeds 0.75% - No measurable error or hysteresis in TSO testing. Poor Accuracy and is limited by number of reed switches on the circuit card
Float Error Minimized as float buoyancy does not need to drive a mechanical interface. Smaller and denser floats are utilized in Magnetic Field fuel quantity systems Float Size determines reed switch quantity
CorrosionNo effect on fuel level outputNo issue
Fuel Oscillation No Issue - physical and electronic dampingDependent on number and quantity of reed switches, can be dramatic
ComplexitySimpleSimple
WE’RE COMMITTED TO HIGH QUALITY, SO THE

Next Generation Can Trust Their Fuel Gauges.

We’re committed to providing an accurate, safe and reliable fuel level reading, as well as providing you with the highest level of service. Once you have installed magnetic field fuel sensing, your fuel level sensing problems will be solved. When you see the difference, you’ll always choose us for your fuel and liquid level sending needs.

RECEIVE NEWS AS SOON AS IT HAPPENS. SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER.