Aircraft fuels will be changing in the near future, driven by a combination of environmental, operational, and safety-related concerns in an era of shrinking petroleum resources and growing air travel. The price of oil has increased dramatically from $30 per barrel in 2003 to over $70 per barrel in September 2006. As the price of oil remains high, other nonconventional fuels, such as those derived from coal or biomass may provide economically viable alternatives. Fuel composition can be tailored by the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis and by operation conditions to improve engine combustor performance, improve fuel thermal stability, and reduce emissions. In phase I of the alternative fuels research at the NASA Glenn Research Center, we plan to test F-T synthesis processes with novel F-T catalysts and to study the effects of aircraft fuel composition on thermal stability and emissions.
Equipment plan for Glenn’s Alternative Fuels Research Laboratory. I/O, input/output; DAQ, data acquisition.
Long description of figure 1.
Engineering design and construction of an alternative fuels research facility at Glenn was initiated in fiscal year 2006 with expected completion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 (see the preceding figure). This facility design includes three parallel bench-scale 1-liter autoclave F-T synthesis reactors (see the following figure), gas feeds and reaction products handling, and synthesis product analysis. F-T catalyst performance evaluation and kinetic mechanism studies will be conducted at Glenn.
F-T autoclave reactor system. TC, thermocouple; PT, pressure transducer.
Long description of figure 2.
The compositions of alternative fuels differ from that of conventional petroleum-derived jet fuel because of the sources and processing of these fuels. Fuel composition differences affect emissions and chemical/physical properties. A comprehensive thermal stability study for alternative fuels will be included in the research to determine both oxidative and pyrolytic stability properties. Oxidative thermal stability is important in conventional engine performance, and pyrolytic stability is critical for future high-pressure, high-bypass-ratio engines.
The combustion performance of alternative fuels will also be studied to correlate emissions with fuel compositions. The overall program goal is to predict engine emissions according to fuel composition, combustor geometry, and operating conditions. Fundamental understanding of fuel composition effects on emissions and synthesis kinetics will guide future F-T catalyst development and F-T product upgrade technology to achieve more economical, efficient alternative fuels production.
Find out more about the research of Glenn’s Combustion Branch: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/combustion/
Glenn contacts:
Dr. Chi-Ming Lee, 216-433-3413, Chi-Ming.Lee-1@nasa.gov
Thomas M. Tomsik, 216-977-7519, Thomas.M.Tomsik@nasa.gov
Angela D. Surgenor, 216-433-3251, Angela.D.Surgenor@nasa.gov
University of Toledo contact:
Judy Yen, 216-433-3626, Chia.H.Yen@nasa.gov
Authors:
Dr. Chi-Ming Lee and Thomas M. Tomsik
Headquarters program office:
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate
Programs/projects:
Fundamental Aeronautics, Subsonic Fixed Wing, Supersonics Fixed Wing
Last updated: December 14, 2007
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