Fuel cell, Fuel tank
Another term for petrol tank. Formula 1 cars (and all other racing cars) are fitted with specially developed, flexible tanks which are practically indestructible, even in the event of an accident.
The fuel tanks on Formula One cars comprise a single Kevlar reinforced rubber bladder. These must be made of materials approved by the FIA and must be manufactured by certain FIA approved companies.
The size of a fuel tank is also important to be considered during chassis design. The size of the tank must be considered against fuel consumption, expected average stint length, aerodynamics, etc. Since the tank is located behind the driver's seat, it largely determines the space in between the driver and the engine. The further the sidepods and the driver can be moved back, the cleaner the air will be onto the sidepods. It is therefore clear that for aerodynamic purposes, a tank should be made as small as possible. The same statement also clarifies the importance of fuel economy besides the shorter pitstops, when there is one. From 2010, formula 1 regulation prohibit refueling. Cars have to start race with full fuel load.
The tank must be situated directly behind the driver and directly ahead of the engine. All fuel lines must be self-sealing in the event of an accident, and no lines must pass through the cockpit.
The fuel tank must be encased within a crushable structure that forms part of the car's safety cell. This structure must be able to withstand very high impact loads as specified in the regulations. Specific crash test is performed on bottom side of fuel cell.
Before 2010, for refueling during a race, teams used identical rigs supplied by one FIA-approved manufacturer. For safety reasons the refueling rate was limited to 12.1 litres per second.
ATL (Aero Tec Laboratories) only FIA approved Kevlar reinforced fuel cell manufacturer, and all F1 teams using products from this manufacturer. ATL's Racing Fuel Cell Division was founded over 30 years ago. Today, ATL's advanced coated fabrics are considered state-of-the-art equipment and are used by every Formula One team and most other top racing teams across the World.
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