A Study on Electrofuels in Aviation

Andreas Goldmann, Waldemar Sauter, Marcel Oettinger, Tim Kluge, Uwe Schröder, Joerg R. Seume, Jens Friedrichs and Friedrich Dinkelacker
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Andreas Goldmann: Institute of Technical Combustion, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Waldemar Sauter: Institute of Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry, TU-Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Marcel Oettinger: Institute of Turbomachinery and Fluid Dynamics, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Appelstraße 9, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Tim Kluge: Institute of Turbomachinery and Fluid Dynamics, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Appelstraße 9, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Uwe Schröder: Institute of Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry, TU-Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Joerg R. Seume: Institute of Turbomachinery and Fluid Dynamics, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Appelstraße 9, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Jens Friedrichs: Institute of Jet propulsion and Turbomachinery, TU-Braunschweig, Hermann-Blenk-Strasse 37, 38108 Braunschweig, Germany
Friedrich Dinkelacker: Institute of Technical Combustion, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1A, 30167 Hannover, Germany

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: With the growth of aviation traffic and the demand for emission reduction, alternative fuels like the so-called electrofuels could comprise a sustainable solution. Electrofuels are understood as those that use renewable energy for fuel synthesis and that are carbon-neutral with respect to greenhouse gas emission. In this study, five potential electrofuels are discussed with respect to the potential application as aviation fuels, being n-octane, methanol, methane, hydrogen and ammonia, and compared to conventional Jet A-1 fuel. Three important aspects are illuminated. Firstly, the synthesis process of the electrofuel is described with its technological paths, its energy efficiency and the maturity or research need of the production. Secondly, the physico-chemical properties are compared with respect to specific energy, energy density, as well as those properties relevant to the combustion of the fuels, i.e., autoignition delay time, adiabatic flame temperature, laminar flame speed and extinction strain rate. Results show that the physical and combustion properties significantly differ from jet fuel, except for n-octane. The results describe how the different electrofuels perform with respect to important aspects such as fuel and air mass flow rates. In addition, the results help determine mixture properties of the exhaust gas for each electrofuel. Thirdly, a turbine configuration is investigated at a constant operating point to further analyze the drop-in potential of electrofuels in aircraft engines. It is found that electrofuels can generally substitute conventional kerosene-based fuels, but have some downsides in the form of higher structural loads and potentially lower efficiencies. Finally, a preliminary comparative evaluation matrix is developed. It contains specifically those fields for the different proposed electrofuels where special challenges and problematic points are seen that need more research for potential application. Synthetically-produced n-octane is seen as a potential candidate for a future electrofuel where even a drop-in capability is given. For the other fuels, more issues need further research to allow the application as electrofuels in aviation. Specifically interesting could be the combination of hydrogen with ammonia in the far future; however, the research is just at the beginning stage.

Keywords: renewable green fuels; electrofuels; aviation; fuel synthesis; combustion; turbine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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