TSS - Explosion-Proof and Self-Sealing Fuel Tanks

TSS (Transport Security Systems), based in the Netherlands, are experts in vehicle security and protection products including explosion-proof and self-sealing fuel tanks.

SELF-SEALING FUEL TANKS

Convert your existing fuel tank into a self-sealing fuel tank.

Existing fuel tanks can be equipped with a specially developed fuel-swellable foam to give the maximum protection level.

With this specially developed coating, leakage is mostly prevented when the fuel tank is punctured or shot at, or after encountering other heavy impacts or attacks. Protection level against all handguns, including: 3.57 Magnum, .44 Magnum, 9mm Nato, 7.62 AP and 5.56 Nato ammunition.

A special protective coating can also be offered against the threat of the 12/70 guage Brenneke® ammunition. All self-sealing fuel tanks will incorporate a number of layers of Kevlar®, Twaron® or Dyneema® and a special protective polyurethane flame retardant outer coating. This outer coating has a resistance to numerous chemicals.

The self-sealing modifications can be applied to existing fuel tanks made in either steel, stainless steel and HDPE. In 90% of all modifications the original OEM fuel tanks can be used. However, TSS also has the capability to offer specially manufactured fuel tanks made to customer specification.

For large military fuel-tankers applications from 5,000L to 25,000L, a special spray-on coating is used. Details and specifications only available upon request.

EXPLOSION-PROOF FUEL TANKS

TSS (Transport Security Systems) explosion-proof fuel tanks are manufactured with a flexible polyurethane (polyether) safety foam with fully open pores, composed of a skeletal network of tiny lightweight interconnecting strands which act as a three dimensional fire screen.

In a fuel tank, the empty space above the fuel level (known as ullage) may readily contain an explosive mixture of fuel vapour and air. It is in this ullage area where an explosion can occur, should it be ignited by any source. Since the liquid fuel itself does not explode, a completely filled tank is far less likely to explode than one that is not full.

Obviously, the lower the fuel level in the tank, the greater the amount of explosive vapour present when an ignition source occurs (perhaps from a spark). The vapour adjacent to the spark ignites rapidly. This ignition in turn ignites the vapour around it, creating a 'chain reaction', as the ignition or 'flame front' gets larger and moves faster as it propagates through the vapour. The rapid ignition and propagation of the flame results in an ever-growing compression wave in front of it, compressing the un-ignited vapour. This adds an even greater force to an explosion. This sequence occurs in milliseconds.

SafeCrest prevents this chain reaction from occurring; instead, vapour ignition is confined to the area immediately around the ignition source. Flame and wave propagation are mitigated by the foam to below propagation levels, thus preventing a catastrophic explosion.

With SafeCrest foam fitted in fuel tanks, the danger of explosions caused by gunfire, lightning or electrical ignition is virtually eliminated. SafeCrest explosion suppressant foam also attenuates the sloshing effect caused by centrifugal forces and/or acceleration in fuel tanks, and stabilizes the fuel in tanks of aircraft, military vehicles, armoured limousines, CIT vehicles, racing cars and boats.

Fuel displacement / retention is a maximum of 3% of the fuel tank's volume.

There is no problem with either filling the fuel tank or dispersing the fuel. Instead of retaining fuel, SafeCrest explosion suppressant foam passes the fuel at a controlled rate predetermined by the size and structure of the strands.

SafeCrest polyether Safety Foam complies with the USAF military specifications MIL-B-83054 B.

An anti-static, inherently electrically conductive, polyether open cell Safety Foam can be applied according to customer requests or specifications in order to meet USAF military standards MIL-F-87260A.

SAFETY AND SECURITY ON WHEELS

Avoid the danger of explosions and have TSS explosion-proof and self-sealing fuel tanks fitted to your vehicles.

TSS-converted HDPE fuel tanks have been tested and approved by the independent Beschussamt in Ulm, Germany of which the full report is available, in the German and English language, from the company's website.

RUNFLAT SYSTEMS

TSS also provdes runflat systems for armoured vehicles. These runflat systems have been tested and approved to the Finabel 20.A.5 and the A.20.A standards.

For more information, please see Army Technology - TSS - Runflat Systems.

Transport Security Systems is a registered trade name of TSS International BV.