NASA and Partners Testing Coal and Gas F-T Synthetic Jet Fuels at 100% and 50% Blend
02 February 2009
The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) and 11 other research groups, including researchers from the US Department of Defense (DoD), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are testing two synthetic jet fuels derived from gasified coal and natural gas using the Fischer-Tropsch process (Jet CTL and GTL).
The tests for the Alternative Aviation Fuel Experiment (AAFEX) are being run through 3 Feb at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California, and are measuring the performance and emissions of the two fuels.
A DC-8 based at Dryden in Edwards, Calif., is the test vehicle because its engine operations are well-documented and well-understood. The airplane remains on the ground for the tests. Researchers are testing 100% synthetic fuels and 50-50 blends of synthetics and regular jet fuel. Almost all previous testing has considered only blends. Researchers are looking primarily at engine performance and aircraft emissions.
We’re starting to look at just what comes out of the tailpipe of a commercial aircraft [that is burning alternative fuels].
— Bruce Anderson, NASA Langley Research Center and project scientist for AAFEX
It is thought that synthetic fuels create fewer particles and other harmful emissions than standard jet fuel. If this is found to be true, use of synthetic fuels could improve the air quality around airports.
The tests are using sampling probes placed downstream from the DC-8's right inboard engine. Researchers examine the plume chemistry and particle evolution to compare it to that of standard jet fuel.
Some companies have tried out synthetic fuels in proprietary tests. Unlike those, the results of these NASA tests will be in the public domain because researchers are obtaining them with a NASA plane.
We’re still very much in the early research stage. [But] we know in the future these fuels are going to become important to aviation. Petroleum is dwindling and you're going to need to make fuel out of coal, natural gas and biomass.
—Dan Bulzan, NASA Glenn Research Center and AAFEX project manager
The AAFEX tests are funded and managed by NASA’s Fundamental Aeronautics Program, which is part of the agency’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate in Washington, DC. The participating research groups include three other government agencies, five companies and three universities.
Why can't they test jet fuel derived from cellulosic ethanol & biogasoline/biodiesel from algae? Looks like our hard-earned tax dollars aren't being utilized well enough.
Posted by: ejj | 02 February 2009 at 06:13 AM
Just to answer ejj - you can't make jet fuel out of ethanol from what I understand - its much closer to diesel. So biodiesel would be the way, however the flavor (what it comes from) has to be chosen carefully since jet fuel cools down way way below freezing during flight (most biodiesel would gel at that point - which would be bad), Jet A has a gel point of -100 degrees Fahrenheit or so.
Posted by: Sasparilla | 02 February 2009 at 10:27 AM
ejj and Sasparilla-
Fischer Tropsch fuels are produced from synthesis gas or "syngas" which is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Syngas can be produced from the gasification of either coal or biomass or even a mixture of the two. The purified syngas from coal is no different from the purified syngas from biomass as long as the C:H:O ratio is controlled with steam injection. The technology exists to produce F-T fuels from renewable resources (biomass), so I challenge the experts at NASA, especially given their innovative prowess, to focus on generating these research fuels from more sustainable resources.
Posted by: Sam | 02 February 2009 at 11:43 AM
I wonder if Mother Nature is putting humans to the stupidity test. Having created benign conditions by locking carbon underground over millions of years we are now putting it directly into the middle atmosphere. The CO2 barely gets a chance to be absorbed by plant life at ground level.
I suggest giving up one or the other uses for coal, either plane travel or cheap electricity.
Posted by: Aussie | 02 February 2009 at 11:48 AM
Great, my coal stocks should do quite well when coal is being used on a commercial scale for aviation fuel.
Herr Fischer and Herr Tropsch I love you.
Posted by: Mannstein | 03 February 2009 at 07:43 PM