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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - JETSCREEN (JET Fuel SCREENing and Optimization)

Teaser

Summary

The EU has set ambitious targets for at least 40 % of aircraft to be powered by low-carbon sustainable fuels by 2050 as part of broader emissions reduction efforts across the transport sector. Novel fuels will play a significant role in achieving this goal. Such fuels need to be derived from renewable non-fossil sources while meeting stringent aviation safety and performance requirements.
To help establish a sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF) industry in Europe, JETSCREEN is developing tools and methods to screen and assess alternative fuels using small-scale, low-cost experimental testing and advanced computer-modelling techniques. The goal is to reduce the substantial investment needed to seek approval for a new alternative fuel under the ASTM D4054 international standardisation process, a rigorous procedure that complies with the aviation industryâ€™s very high safety requirements.
The ultimate aim of the JETSCREEN project is to use the tools and methods to provide candidate fuels with a certificate of analysis containing key data that can assist the approval process. This would reduce the risks for fuel producers and investors in deciding to launch an application for approval of a new fuel type or blend, supporting innovation in the jet fuel sector, which is dominated by large oil- and technology-licensing companies that can afford the high costs involved.
The JETSCREEN approach is also set to contribute to the future design of fuel-flexible components for aircraft. It will lay the foundations for further research into methods that would optimise fuel and aircraft systems to achieve even greater reductions in emissions, as well as improvements in fuel performance and sustainability (as stated in Streamlining the development of sustainable aircraft fuels, EC success stories).

Work performed

During the first reporting period of JETSCREEN, the consortium was focused on defining and realizing a fuel strategy that will allow the development and improvement of knowledge-based fuel screening as well as advanced and reliable design tools accurately capturing fuel-related effects on airframe and aero-engine.
By actively seeking the interaction with the jet fuelâ€™s approval community, JETSCREEN was embedded in international efforts to streamline the alternative aviation fuel approval process and a strong link was created with the National Jet Fuel Combustion Program and the Alternative Jet Fuel Test Database project. As part of a JETSCREEN achievements presentation, the fuel data exchange format was presented at the UK Aviation Fuels Committee meeting (March 2018). A number of key stakeholders outside of JETSCREEN were identified who would be interested in using the standardised file format in their research, including the US Navy as well as a number of novel fuel producers. Testing has commenced at various levels. A set of process specific extreme fuels have been tested in small lab-scale experiments capturing fuels effects on thermodynamic properties, on combustion kinetics, on the impact of polymer seals and on storage stability. Large scale experiments have been recommissioned and have been adapted to study the influence of different fuels on
â€¢ Critical operation conditions in Jet Engines as Lean Blow Out, high altitude relight and combustion instabilities
â€¢ Jet engine emissions with a particular focus on soot
â€¢ Pump endurance
â€¢ Fuel thermal stability
Experimental results are being used to validate the fuel sensitivity of models or to build and improve process specific models. Major efforts have been made in developing a series of models that enable capturing fuel effects on combustion by advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics models.
Finally, a selection of distributed fuel sensitive models was combined into the fuel screening and optimization platform that is under development in JETSCREEN. The activities of the first period were concluded with showing the feasibility and added value of using knowledge-based screening tools by successfully performing an initial model-based screening of a real alternative aviation fuel candidate.

Final results

After successfully proving the feasibility of a model-based screening platform in 2018, the screening platform will be extended by models from the different tiers of the fuel approval process. In this context the Remote Component Environment platform will be extended to additional functionalities that aim at improving the performance and a secure exchange of information between the partners. The fuel data exchange format and the use of the fuel database will be further developed and promoted in international collaborations.
Experimental results will be used to further develop and validate the fuel sensitivity of respective property models. One focus of the activities will be on assessing the gaps and steps forward in modelling of fuel sensitivity for the various properties that influence the aircraft and jet engine design.
In addition to alternative aviation fuels, the JETSCREEN consortium is interested in obtaining less polluting fossil-based jet. For this, it was agreed to significantly lower the levels of sulphur and aromatics in the fuel. The testing of these fuels will give new insights into the potential risks and benefits of new fuels on aircraft systems when compared to reference Jet A1 fuel. Furthermore the study aims at understanding the top level impacts on fuel producers and distributors when producing environmentally friendly fossil-based fuels.

Finally, the link that was created at the EU Flightpath Workshop in November 2018 with projects focused on fuel processing in Europe will be deepened by realizing the JETSCREEN fuel sample screening and consultation services. The fuel screening platform will be applied to give fuel producers a rapid and low-cost feedback with a report on fuel assessment and optimization potential for their fuel candidates. These events will take place around every 3 months and will be announced on the JETSCREEN website.