Performance and environmental impact of ethanol-kerosene blends as sustainable aviation fuels in micro turbo-engines

Abstract

The research experimentally examines the viability of ethanol (E) as a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) when mixed with kerosene (Ke) – Jet A aviation fuel + 5% Aeroshell oil. Various blends of ethanol and kerosene (10%, 20%, and 30% vol. of ethanol added in kerosene) were subjected to testing in an aviation micro turbo-engine under different operational states: idle, cruise, and maximum power. During the tests, monitoring of engine parameters such as burning temperature, fuel consumption, and thrust force was conducted. The study also encompassed the calculation of crucial performance indicators like burning efficiency, thermal efficiency, and specific consumption for all fuel blends under maximum power conditions. Physical-chemical properties of the blends, encompassing density, viscosity, flash point, and calorific power, were determined. Furthermore, elemental analysis and FTIR were used for chemical composition determination. The research delved into analyzing the air requirements for stoichiometric combustion and computed resulting emissions of CO₂ and H₂O. Experimental assessments were performed on the Jet Cat P80^® micro-turbo engine, covering aspects such as starting procedures, acceleration, deceleration, and emissions of pollutants (CO and SO₂) during diverse engine operational phases. The outcomes reveal that the examined fuel blends exhibited stable engine performance across all tested conditions. This indicates that these blends hold promise as sustainable aviation fuels for micro turbo-engines, presenting benefits in terms of diminished pollution and a more ecologically sound raw material base for fuel production.