man attaching fuel pipe to aircraft

Why choose Shell Jet Protection?

We’re leading the industry in the development, testing and roll-out of our new fuel handling system called Shell Jet Protection that protects engines from the risk of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) contamination.

Protect your engine from SAP. Refuel with Shell Aviation

Title: Protect your engine from SAP. Refuel with Shell Aviation

Duration: 120”

Description: Shell Aviation describes the benefit of using Shell Jet Protection

[Video Footage]

A Shell Pecten watermark is present throughout. We open on the ‘Above and Beyond’ graduated blue background. We see a hand-drawn animated illustration of a generic refueller, refuelling an airliner (focus on the refueller).

[Music]

Sound of Shell - soft but upbeat track plays lightly in the background

[Voice Over]

Superabsorbent Polymer, also known as SAP, commonly used to prevent water from entering aircraft during the refuelling process, is being phased out by the aviation industry.

[Video Footage]

We zoom/transition inside the refueller and see a simplified rendering of a filter monitor system. Arrows and the timely highlighting of components help the viewer understand the process.

[Voice Over]

Traditional filter monitors situated on refuellers, pass fuel through a combination of dirt and water filters. SAP, a material similar to that used in diapers, absorbs water, preventing it from entering the aircraft.

[Video Footage]

We see SAP degrading from the red line and zoom in further to show particles breaking off and flowing through.

[Voice Over]

Shell Aviation, however, discovered that under certain circumstances, SAP can leak from water filters into fuel. In rare cases, these particles move into the aircraft during refuelling and can cause significant operational issues in engines.

[Video Footage]

The traditional fuel monitor system disappears. We transition to  see a Shell-branded refueller.

[Voice Over]

We worked with filtration experts, FAUDI Aviation, to develop Shell Jet Protection, this new system replaces SAP-based water filters with an alternative approach that meets all required international standards.

[Video Footage]

We zoom in again to see a new, simplified version of the Shell Jet Protection system. We see the Electronic Water Sensor in action monitoring the fuel and stopping the flow when water is detected.

[Voice Over]

It combines physical Dirt Defence Filters with an AFGUARD® Electronic Water Sensor. This sensor, extensively tested by Shell and qualified to EI1598, continuously monitors the refuelling process and safely turns off the fuel flow to the aircraft, on the rare occasions when water is detected.

[Video Footage]

The diagram of the Shell Jet Protect system is replaced with an airliner, flying towards the horizon.

[Voice Over]

At Shell Aviation, we’re going above and beyond to protect aircraft engines by converting our refuelling fleet at all Shell-managed locations worldwide to Shell Jet Protection. We aim to be SAP-free by the end of 2020. Can your supplier claim the same?

[Video Footage]

The Shell Aviation logo with pecten appears with the URL below.

[Voice Over]

Find out more about refuelling SAP-free today at Shell.com/aviation/ShellJetProtection

[Audio]

Shell mnemonic

The end of the runway for SAP

Today, most aircraft refuellers are fitted with filter monitors that prevent water and dirt particles from getting into the fuel and engine. While water is rarely present in aviation fuel, when it does occur, SAP has been used to prevent it from getting into the aircraft.

The aviation industry has committed to phasing out SAP-based water filters used in the refuelling process due to ongoing safety concerns. This is because under certain circumstances SAP particles, a material similar to that used in diapers, can be released from the filter and into the fuel. In rare cases, these particles move into the aircraft during fuelling and can cause significant operational issues in engines.

It was only after Shell had been engaged as an independent, third-party expert by a major international airline that the potential, associated risks of SAP were discovered. Our role was to investigate why one of their flights had lost thrust control of both engines, resulting in a forced landing at twice the normal speed.

The AFGUARD® solution

Since 2015, Shell has worked with leading filtration specialists FAUDI Aviation to find options to replace SAP. The result is Shell Jet Protection; the first SAP-free system capable of utilising existing filter monitor vessels to be adopted into standards by JIG (Joint Inspection Group).

This new system replaces the current 2-inch filter monitor elements with Dirt Defence Filters and a separate AFGUARD® Electronic Water Sensor (EWS). By using this EWS, extensively tested by Shell and qualified to EI1598, the system can continuously monitor the refuelling process. It safely turns off the fuel flow to the aircraft, on the rare occasions when water is detected.

100% SAP-free by the end of 2020

At Shell Aviation, we’re going above and beyond to protect aircraft engines by converting all of our refuellers at Shell-managed locations worldwide to Shell Jet Protection, so we can be SAP-free by the end of 2020. Can your supplier claim the same?

Contact us today

We welcome all your enquiries and feedback about Shell Jet Protection. Once your request is received, we will try to reply as soon as possible. To make it easier for us to assist you, please kindly provide as much information as possible when completing this form.

In August 2020, the Joint Inspection Group (JIG) issued Bulletin 130 which introduces Dirt Defence Filtration (DDF) in conjunction with Electronic Water Sensor (EWS) technology into JIG Standards. Bulletin 130 specifically relates to the FAUDI Aviation DDF and AFGUARD® EWS used in Shell Jet Protection.

It’s Time to Eliminate Traditional Filter Monitors

Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) is a key component in filter monitors that are in standard use across the industry to ensure fuel quality while refuelling aircraft. However, given the accumulated evidence against SAP, the industry committed to begin phasing out the use of SAP in the refuelling process. On 23 July 2020, Rob Midgley, Global Quality and Technical Manager with Shell Aviation was joined in conversation by Andreas Schmidt, Manager Jet Fuel Quality at Lufthansa to discuss this vital issue facing aviation: our industry's need to replace water filters in refuellers that contain Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP). Click here to learn more.

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