Fuel tank testing system

A method for testing optical sensors inside a fuel tank for an aircraft, the method comprising:

• sending electrical power to an optical data concentrator for the fuel tank for the aircraft from a power supply such that the optical data concentrator sends optical signals to the optical sensors inside the fuel tank through optical fibers connecting the optical data concentrator to the optical sensors, wherein the optical sensors and the optical fibers are installed inside the fuel tank and wherein the electrical power is sent during a phase of manufacturing of the aircraft, wherein the phase of manufacturing is prior to the fuel tank for the aircraft and the optical data concentrator being connected to avionics for the aircraft;
• receiving, by a computer system in communication with the optical data concentrator, test data from the optical data concentrator, wherein the test data is based on optical response signals received from the optical sensors;
• determining, by the computer system, states for the optical sensors using the test data, wherein each optical sensor of the optical sensors has a state of at least one of no data, fail, or pass;
• and
• displaying, by the computer system, a graphical indication of the state determined for each optical sensor of the optical sensors inside the fuel tank in a graphical user interface on a display system;
• wherein the optical signals sent by the optical data concentrator to the optical sensors is converted into electrical power by photovoltaic converters located within each optical sensor and used to power the optical sensors.

A fuel tank system analyzer comprising:

• a power supply that operates to send electrical power to an optical data concentrator for a fuel tank in a fuel tank system for an aircraft such that the optical data concentrator sends optical signals to optical sensors installed inside the fuel tank through optical fibers installed inside the fuel tank, the optical fibers connecting the optical data concentrator to the optical sensors;
• a computer system that operates to:
• receive test data from the optical data concentrator when the computer system is in communication with the optical data concentrator in which the test data is based on optical response signals received from the optical sensors;
• determine states for the optical sensors using the test data, wherein each optical sensor of the optical sensors has a state of at least one of no data, fail, or pass;
• and
• display a graphical indication of the location and the state determined for each optical sensor of the optical sensors in the fuel tank and an overall pass/fail display for the fuel tank in a graphical user interface on a display system;
• and
• wherein the optical signals sent by the optical data concentrator to the optical sensors is converted into electrical power by photovoltaic converters located within each optical sensor and used to power the optical sensors.