Performance and emission characteristic of miniature turbojet engine FED Jet A-1/alcohol blend

This paper presents differences between fossil fuel (Jet A-1) and alcohol/Jet A-1 blend, during combustion process using laboratory test rig with miniature turbojet engine (MiniJETRig). The test rig has been created in Air Force Institute of Technology for research and development works aimed at alternative fuels for aviation. Fuel from different feedstock (non-fossil sources) is introduced into market due to ecological aspects, fuel price stability and energy security. Application of alcohol to propel aircraft has started form using a blend of aviation gasoline with ethanol in spark-ignited internal-combustion engines. Taking into account that large part of aviation fuels used by commercial aircraft is jet fuels, so in this area it has begun to look for possibilities to apply alcohol component. In 2016, international standard (ASTM) approved a synthetic blending component for aviation turbine fuels for use in civil aircraft and engines – alcohol-to-jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene (ATJ-SPK). According to standard, ATJ-SPK synthetic blending components shall be comprised hydro processed synthetic paraffinic kerosene wholly derived from isobutanol processed through dehydration, oligomerization, hydrogenation and fractionation. Two different fuel samples, a traditional fossil jet fuel (Jet A-1) and a blend of 10% butanol with Jet A-1 were tested. Laboratory tests of selected physicochemical properties and bench tests with the same profile of engine test were carry out for both fuel samples. The obtained results: engine parameters and exhaust gas emissions are compared and discussed.