Multi-Criteria Analysis in the Selection of Alternative Fuels for Pulse Engines in the Aspect of Environmental Protection

Grzegorz M. Szymański (), Bogdan Wyrwas, Klaudia Strugarek, Mikołaj Klekowicki, Malwina Nowak, Aleksander Ludwiczak and Alicja Szymańska
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Grzegorz M. Szymański: Institute of Transport, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Bogdan Wyrwas: Institute of Technical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Klaudia Strugarek: Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Mikołaj Klekowicki: Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Malwina Nowak: Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Aleksander Ludwiczak: Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Alicja Szymańska: Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-31

Abstract: The growing interest in alternative fuels stems from the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. Despite the dominance of fossil fuels in aviation, pulsejet engines offer a promising platform for testing new fuels due to their simple design and fuel versatility. This study presents a multi-criteria analysis of alternative fuels for use in pulsejet engines, emphasizing environmental impacts. Both gaseous (biogas, ethyne, LPG, and natural gas) and liquid fuels (methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, Jet A-1, and SAF) were examined. Exhaust emissions (CO 2 , H 2 O, CO) were simulated in Ansys 2025 based on literature data and chemical calculations. Additional factors analyzed included calorific value, production cost, thermal expansion, density, life cycle emissions (LCA), CO 2 emissions per fuel mass, and renewable energy content. Using the zero-unitization method, results were normalized into a single aggregate variable for each fuel. The highest values were recorded for biogas and methanol, respectively, indicating their potential as alternative fuels. The findings support further development of sustainable fuels for pulsejet engines. Future research should address combustion optimization and noise reduction, enhancing viability in aviation and other transport sectors. Integration with the current fuel infrastructure is also recommended to facilitate broader implementation.

Keywords: alternative fuels; pulsejet engines; multi-criteria analysis; sustainability; environmental protection (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: 2025
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