Experimental Methodology and Facility for the J69-Engine Performance and Emissions Evaluation Using Jet A1 and Biodiesel Blends

Gabriel Talero,Mauricio Lopez,Camilo Bayona-Roa,Giovanny Muñoz,Juan Pava,Vladimir Silva,Miguel Galindo

doi:10.3390/en12234530

Gabriel Talero, Mauricio Lopez + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en12234530

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Abstract

Aeronautic transport is a leading energy consumer that strongly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions due to a significant dependency on fossil fuels. Biodiesel, a substitution of conventional fuels, is considered as an alternative fuel for aircrafts and power generation turbine engines. Unfortunately, experimentation has been mostly limited to small scale turbines, and technical challenges remain open regarding operational safety. The current study presents the facility, the instrumentation, and the measured results of experimental tests in a 640 kW full-scale J69-T-25A turbojet engine, operating with blends of Jet A1 and oil palm biodiesel with volume contents from 0% to 10% at different load regimes. Findings are related to the fuel injection system, the engine thrust, and the emissions. The thrust force and the exhaust gas temperature do not expose a significant variation in all the operation regimes with the utilization of up to 10% volume content of biodiesel. A maximum increase of 36% in fuel consumption and 11% in injection pressure are observed at idle operation between B0 and B10. A reduction of the CO and HC emissions is also registered with a maximum variation at the cruise regime (80% Revolutions Per Minute—RPM).

Highlights

Aviation transport is an important energy consumer sector that strongly depends on fossil fuels such as jet/kerosene, diesel, and gasoline
Fossil fuel prices strongly affect the sustainability of the aviation sector, projecting a rise of jet fuel costs near $100 USD/ton per year [3]
As a result of the increasing freight transport activities throughout the world and low utilization of renewable energies in the aircraft powertrain splits, the international-aviation sector is constantly evaluating a variety of alternatives for the replacement of conventional fuels with alternative fuels [3]

Summary

Introduction

Aviation transport is an important energy consumer sector that strongly depends on fossil fuels such as jet/kerosene, diesel, and gasoline. It is largely vulnerable to the availability and cost of fossil fuel [1]. Domestic and international aviation transport consumed almost 3.2% of the world’s energy consumption in 2015 [2]. Fossil fuel prices strongly affect the sustainability of the aviation sector, projecting a rise of jet fuel costs near $100 USD/ton per year [3]. As a result of the increasing freight transport activities throughout the world and low utilization of renewable energies in the aircraft powertrain splits, the international-aviation sector is constantly evaluating a variety of alternatives for the replacement of conventional fuels with alternative fuels [3]

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