Manufatti Elastomerici Rinforzati

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BLADDER FUEL CELLS FOR VERY LIGHT AEROPLANES

The fuel cells for VLA are traditionally made with the following materials:

- Aluminium alloy sheet
- Composite material

Otherwise they are obtained directly inside of the wings (wet wing system).

These solutions show the remarkable problems of safety:

- low strength to flexural vibrations,
- corrosion
- flammability or explosion in accidental cases
- osmosis through the fibres
- failure in case of impact

Video clip of crash test from 8meters of aluminium fuel tank;

sheet thickness:1 mm;

dimensions: 520x400x250 mm;

volume: 50 liters;

water filled of 40 liters;

All problems above listed, has been consider and solve, in civil and military field, using for more than 40 years rubberized fabric fuel cells. Many standards are utilized:
- Bladder fuel cells
- self sealing fuel cells
- anti-crash fuel cells
- anti-explosion fuel cells filled with safety foam.

A lot of transport means or military means has adopted these types of tanks:

AIRCRAFTS and HELICOPTERS	G 91, F 104, MB 336, MB 339, TORNADO, CANADAIR, MIRAGE, F 16, AS61, HH3F, EH101, MANGUSTA, AB408, ecc.
TANKS	LEOPARD, ARIETE, DARDO, M113 ecc.
RACE CARS	for these appliances see our web site.

For fitting up on VLA M.E.RIN offers at his costumers the following standards:

1) TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE OF ANTI-CRASH AND ANTI-EXPLOSION FUEL CELLS (FIA standard FT3/1999)
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Material: Nylon fabric coated with nitrilic compound	/
Thickness	1.2 mm
Weight	1200 gr/ m²
Tensile strength of bladder material	2,00 KN
Tensile strength of bladder material seams	2,00 KN
Tear strength of bladder material	0.25 KN
Puncture strength of bladder material	0.78 KN
Puncture strength of bladder material	9 g. tested
Bladder fuel cells are fitted with anti-explosion foam complying with MIL83054 B or equivalent
	Video clip of crash test from 21 meters of a bladder fuel cell style FT3/1999; dimension: 520x400x250 mm; volume: 50 liters; water filled of 40 liters;