Thesis
Characterization of alternative jet fuels and effect of residual oxygenated functions groups on their properties
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/104143
Abstract
Concerns with the effect that the continuous expansion of the aviation industry could have on CO2 emissions have increased in the last decades. The use of alternative fuels is a promising path to mitigate airline industry's environmental footprint. In this thesis, the properties of alternative jet fuels were measured as a way to better understand their performance and to identify ways to improve their quality. In the first chapter, a general introduction provides an overview of the feedstocks and technologies currently used to produce alternative jet fuels. In the second chapter, the chemical composition and fuel properties of twelve alternative jet fuels (From Gevo, FT coal, FT methane, HEFA Tallow, HEFA Camelina, Amyris Renewable Diesel, ReadiJet, Kior, Virent SK, and Virent SAK) and three commercial jet fuels (Jet-A, JP5 and JP8) were investigated. Our results show that the alternative jet fuels produced today have a wide range of constituents and fuel properties. Overall the fuels analyzed comply with most of the ASTM requirements and offer opportunities to develop specialized jet fuel. In chapter three, the presence of oxygenated compounds in these fuels was investigated. To study the potential effect that some of these molecules could have on jet fuel properties, surrogate blends of three common oxygenated molecules in the fuels (phenol; 2-methylphenol; ethanol-2-methoxyethoxy) were blended with Jet A commercial fuel. Our results indicate that none of the oxygenated compounds, in the concentration range studied (0.01, 0.1, 1, 2 and 5 % wt), affect surface tension, viscosity or flash point. The high heating value (HHV) showed a slight decline with the increment in concentration of oxygenated compounds (achieving 1.2, 1.2, 1.46 % reduction for the highest concentration on Phenol, Methyl phenol, Ethanol-2-methoxyethoxy surrogates). Water solubility at 0 ºC increased with the increment in content of oxygenated compound in the fuel.
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Details
- Title
- Characterization of alternative jet fuels and effect of residual oxygenated functions groups on their properties
- Creators
- Anamaria Paiva Pinheiro Pires
- Contributors
- Manuel Garcia-Perez (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525394301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis