Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical and Thermal Behavior of a PT6A-61A Engine Using Mixtures of JETA-1 and Biodiesel

Mauricio López,Vladimir Silva Leal,Deiver Cortina,Nelson Jimenez Acuña,Alberth Renne Gonzalez Caranton,Camilo Bayona-Roa,Manuel Alejandro Mayorga Betancourt,Carolina Betancourt

doi:10.3390/en14113282

Mauricio López, Vladimir Silva Leal + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14113282

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Abstract

Biofuels are important additives to conventional fuels in combustion engines of the transport sector, as they reduce atmospheric emissions and promote environmental-friendly production chains. The mechanical and thermal performance of a PT6A-61A engine on a test bench of the Colombian Air Force operating with blends of JETA-1 and Biodiesel up to 25% volume values of substitution is evaluated in this work. Experimental results show that blends are operationally reliable up to 15% volume content. In that range, the engine operation is not compromised in terms of response variables. Moreover, experimental properties of fuel blends show that the freezing point—which is the most critical variable, does not comply with aeronautical regulations. The system dynamics are subject to several variations in the test parameters, which mainly affected fuel flow, Inter-Turbine Temperature (ITT), and engine performance. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is performed over the experimental results to quantify possible disturbances on the bench measurements. This is based on the fact that the study is restrained to stationary test bench conditions.

Highlights

Estimations of the aeronautical sector continuous growth demonstrate its positive impact over the global economy
In terms of the propeller RPM, these results show that adding biodiesel minimally affects the engine operation [28]
The biofuel blends are suitable for operating at low altitudes: Physicochemical properties of blends allow their use in military aircraft engines, but the freezing point is too high for use in civil aviation

Summary

Introduction

Estimations of the aeronautical sector continuous growth demonstrate its positive impact over the global economy. Biodiesel is a remarkable biofuel that is used as a substitute for conventional fuels [11], due to its high chemical compatibility, excellent thermal and calorific properties [12]. It reduces CO and CO2 emissions in combustion engines [13]. The blending of biodiesel with conventional fuel represents a sustainable pathway in the use of biofuels from biomass [14] This option has been explored by several authors [15,16], mostly by mixing it with additives such as alcohols to improve the physicochemical properties of blends [17]. Seyam presents a complete review about the use of different additives as methanol, ethanol, DME, and even hydrogen in hybrid aircraft systems [21]

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