Aero-engine maker Pratt & Whitney is to use a modified GTF engine combustor rig test stand to compare the non-CO2 emissions from sustainable aviation fuel to conventional Jet A.
Data from the testing will enable engineers to compare emissions from Jet A kerosene and 100% SAF. The biofuel being studied is Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (HEFA-SPK), which is derived from vegetable oils and animal fats and is being supplied by World Energy.
The rig allows testing of the full range of combustor operating conditions, including at take-off, ground, and cruise altitudes, to help understand the environmental and emissions benefits of using SAF.
Pratt & Whitney is working with US regulator the FAA, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Aerodyne Research, and the US Government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the ASCENT program. The partners are to collaborate on test design, execution, and emissions data analysis.
Sean Bradshaw, senior technical fellow of sustainable propulsion at Pratt & Whitney said “As the aviation industry targets a goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, we continue to pay close attention to addressing the environmental impact of other emissions, including cruise non-volatile particulate matter and NOx.
“Combustor rig tests with 100% SAF provide a controlled environment for generating valuable baseline data, which will support future studies using full scale engines on-wing at ground and flight test conditions.”
Philip Whitefield, professor of chemistry at Missouri University of Science and Technology and a researcher on ASCENT said, “By bringing together expertise from industry, government, and academia, this project represents an important step towards understanding and reducing the environmental impacts of aviation, including those arising from non-CO2 emissions.
“SAF containing low sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations could contribute to reduced sulfur dioxide and non-volatile particulate emissions, which are associated with contrail formation and the impact to global warming.”
The rig tests will take place at Pratt & Whitney’s facility in Middletown, Connecticut, using an advanced Rich-Quench-Lean (RQL) combustor.
