What Is a Fuel Tank?
A fuel tank is a container used to store fuel for vehicles, aircraft, ships, and other machinery powered by engines.
In the case of many aircraft, they are equipped with fuel composed of a substance similar to kerosene.
Fuel tanks incorporate features such as a fuel inlet for refueling, a fuel pump to deliver fuel to the engine, and sensors to measure the amount of fuel inside the tank.
The shape, number, and mounting positions of fuel tanks in aircraft vary. In the case of a typical passenger aircraft, there are fuel tanks inside both wings. Some models also feature a central tank, mounted in the fuselage section that connects the left and right main wings, known as the central wing. For long-distance flights, certain passenger aircraft have fuel tanks installed in the fuselage and tail wing as well.
Uses of Fuel Tank
Aircraft fuel tanks are used to carry enough fuel for the aircraft to safely fly to its next destination.
In the case of passenger planes, the weight of the carried fuel constitutes a significant portion of the total weight of the aircraft. For long-distance flights exceeding 10,000 km, fuel can make up approximately 40 percent of the total weight of the aircraft.
During flight, the aircraft is lifted by the lift generated by both wings. This exerts considerable force on the wing roots where the wings attach to the fuselage. The weight of the fuel carried in the fuel tanks within the main wings acts as a force in the opposite direction of the lift on the wings during flight. Therefore, fuel tanks also play a role in minimizing the load on the wings during flight.