Foam in a fuel cell, good or bad. I understand it's a sloshing thing but it seems like the foam would get full of junk from pump gas. The foam is solid in the cell correct.

I think the problem with the foam is it breaking down and clogging fuel filters, not stuff clogging the foam.

Note that fuel cells aren't legal for highway use:

Fuel Cell Tech Story

Frank

Yeah what's up with that?

Only a guess, but I suspect that DOT - like FAA - has concentrated on ignition prevention and can't see the forest for all the one-track trees they're looking at within their field of view - which may be limited by the blinders they seem to wear.

FAA has begun to examine "snuff" methods e.g. foam cells and nitrogen-inerting systems, etc. since the '96 TWA flight that exploded and crashed:

Federal Register

Someday someone <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" /> at DOT may have one of those Eureka! moments. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Frank

WARNING, WARNING, Will Robinson!

OK, sorry for that. But I have experience with foam in fuel tanks. I have raced for over 30 years with this stuff. In the fuel tank it breaks down in about 2 to 3 years. What this means is, it falls apart. Then the little particles go down your fuel line and completely plug your filter, etc.

A few years ago I was racing and pit crewing with a guy who didn't realize his was too old. We wound up sitting in the pits with the fuel tank between our legs, pulling the remains of the foam out of the large access hole in the fuel tank. Some nut case walked up to us smoking a cigarette and asked, "What you guys doing?" We freaked.

No, nothing ignited, but it was a scarey moment.
Since then I refuse to use foam.

Hope this helps you understand anti-slosh fuel foam a little better.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />

That's exaclty what I wanted to know.

Thanks

A Q&A on fuel cells

Looks like there would be a way to replace the foam and bladder as a service routine:

Pro Cell

Frank

The foam is to prevent a wide spread fule spill if the tank ruptures in a shunt. It will still burn, but slower since the quantity of vaporized fule is less, at first at least. The theory is that the corner guys with the extinguishers will get there in time to snuff the smaller fire, and the driver only gets roasted a little. Since there are very few guys with extinguishers standing on street corners or on the side of trails, I never lusted for it in a street/off road rig....

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
That's "DANGER, DANGER, Will Robinson, DANGER."
I couldn't resist. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />