Gary B. Bessee

Evaluation of DOD Army Aviation Filters

Abstract : This program was divided into two phases: 1) comparison of DOD and API approved coalescer/separators and 2) determination if any current DOD coalescer/separators could pass API/IP 1581 5th Edition using the DOD 80-gpm and 350-gpm housings. In Phase I, seven evaluations were performed according to an approved design of experiment to compare the water removal efficiencies for the current DOD system and an equivalent references American Petroleum Institute/Institute of Petroleum (API/IP) system. DOD evaluations were performed with and without water bottoms. These evaluations demonstrated that an equivalent API system out performs the current DOD system. In Phase II, ten evaluations were performed with products provided by three different manufacturers. Two manufacturers were able to pass API/lP 1581 5th Edition by improving the separators water shedding performance.