Evaluation of engine characteristics of a micro-gas turbine powered with JETA1 fuel mixed with Afzelia biodiesel and dimethyl ether (DME)

Abstract

The use of Jet fuels in micro gas turbines results in high fuel consumption and increased gaseous emissions which in turn causes environmental pollution. In this study, a fixed proportion of Afzelia-Africana biodiesel (A) was mixed with dimethyl-ether (B) and Jet A1 (J) fuel of varying proportions, A10B10J80 (10% biodiesel, 10% dimethyl-ether, 80% Jet fuel), A10B15J75 (10% biodiesel, 15% dimethyl-ether, 75% Jet fuel), and A10B20J70 (10% biodiesel, 20% dimethyl-ether, 70% Jet fuel) in a bid to produce a fuel of improved properties. Their properties were compared with those of their pristine forms by testing the fuels in the gas turbine in order to ascertain the resulting engine emissions, thrust and thrust specific fuel consumption. Compared to the JETA1 fuel, the A10B10J80 fuel gave the best results in terms of engine speed, thrust (37 N) and thrust specific fuel consumption (4.3/h vs 5/h); the CO2, NOx, and CO emissions were lower for the blended fuels compared to those of the JET fuel. The A10B15J75 and A10B20J70 fuels gave 3 and 4.5% lower thrusts respectively, while the A10B10J80 fuel gave 3% increase in static thrust with a 14% reduction in its thrust-specific fuel consumption over the JET A1 fuel.