Performance Simulation and Analysis of a Gas Turbine Engine Using Drop-In Bio-Fuels

Abstract

There is an increasing dependence on conventional fuels for aviation. In order for a country’s air force to sustain a steady and a secure supply of fuel for aircraft with foresight into the future, alternate sources of fuels must be considered. This paper describes a thermodynamic performance simulation method and analysis of a model military aero gas turbine engine operating in several off-design modes while employing various types of blended fuels between Jet A and alternate bio-fuels, including Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK) from Algae (Bio-Algae), Jatropha (JSPK) and Camelina (CSPK). These fuels are already approved by American Society for Testing and Materials (AS™) for blending with 50% Jet A fuel. A thermodynamic performance model for the model engine similar to GE F404-400 turbofan engine has been set up using Pythia, a Cranfield University created performance simulation software implemented with multiple fuel capabilities. The simulated performance and a comparative study shows that the performance of the model engine using blended fuels between Jet A and a bio-fuel were found to be equal or better than that using pure conventional fuel Jet A. The key hot section temperatures, pressures and the fuel consumption of the model engine were found to be slightly lower with the blended fuels than that using Jet A.