Comprehensive Analysis of Spray Development and Low Temperature Combustion Characteristics of Renewable Aerospace Fuel
Faculty Mentor
Valentin Soloiu
Location
Russell Union Room 2080
Type of Research
Completed
Session Format
Oral Presentation
College
Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering & Computing
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
Despite significant advancements in alternative energy, the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions remains a significant challenge. With international mandates now targeting Net Zero emissions by 2050, alternative energy solutions are necessitated in the transportation industry. Jet-A and ULSD (Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel) have been the standard for civil aviation and maritime industry due to their exceptional energy density, reliability, and the established global infrastructure that supports them. As the need to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions intensifies, HEFA and Gas-to-Liquid Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (S-8) have surfaced as leading Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) candidates. This investigation assesses their feasibility as seamless drop-in alternatives to traditional petroleum-based fuels.
A Mie scattering He-Ne Laser was used to characterize spray development of the researched fuels, HEFA and S8 were found favorable, atomizing to finer droplets with Sauter Mean Diameters of 14.24 µm and 19.19 µm respectively. Complimentary high speed video analysis revealed spray geometry and jet breakup characteristics supporting the He-Ne findings. The spray characteristics are reflective of the thermophysical properties of the SAFs, which were found to have lower density, viscosity, and surface tension.
The autoignition properties and low temperature combustion were evaluated using a Constant Volume Combustion Chamber. HEFA and S8 exhibited a shorter ignition delay and combustion delay, which translates to higher Derived Cetane Numbers (DCNs) of 58.6 and 59.6, respectively. The sustainable fuels demonstrated more advanced combustion phasing resulting in shorter Low Temperature Heat Release (LTHR), releasing a larger fraction of their energy during High Temperature Heat Release compared to conventional fuel. These results indicate that HEFA and S8 are viable renewable drop-in fuel with the potential to reduce emissions in internal combustion engines and civil aviation, mitigating climate change and providing energy security.
Program Description
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Start Date
4-23-2026 2:30 PM
End Date
4-23-2026 2:45 PM
Recommended Citation
Norton, Coleman, "Comprehensive Analysis of Spray Development and Low Temperature Combustion Characteristics of Renewable Aerospace Fuel" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 241.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026/2026/241
Comprehensive Analysis of Spray Development and Low Temperature Combustion Characteristics of Renewable Aerospace Fuel
Russell Union Room 2080
Despite significant advancements in alternative energy, the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions remains a significant challenge. With international mandates now targeting Net Zero emissions by 2050, alternative energy solutions are necessitated in the transportation industry. Jet-A and ULSD (Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel) have been the standard for civil aviation and maritime industry due to their exceptional energy density, reliability, and the established global infrastructure that supports them. As the need to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions intensifies, HEFA and Gas-to-Liquid Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (S-8) have surfaced as leading Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) candidates. This investigation assesses their feasibility as seamless drop-in alternatives to traditional petroleum-based fuels.
A Mie scattering He-Ne Laser was used to characterize spray development of the researched fuels, HEFA and S8 were found favorable, atomizing to finer droplets with Sauter Mean Diameters of 14.24 µm and 19.19 µm respectively. Complimentary high speed video analysis revealed spray geometry and jet breakup characteristics supporting the He-Ne findings. The spray characteristics are reflective of the thermophysical properties of the SAFs, which were found to have lower density, viscosity, and surface tension.
The autoignition properties and low temperature combustion were evaluated using a Constant Volume Combustion Chamber. HEFA and S8 exhibited a shorter ignition delay and combustion delay, which translates to higher Derived Cetane Numbers (DCNs) of 58.6 and 59.6, respectively. The sustainable fuels demonstrated more advanced combustion phasing resulting in shorter Low Temperature Heat Release (LTHR), releasing a larger fraction of their energy during High Temperature Heat Release compared to conventional fuel. These results indicate that HEFA and S8 are viable renewable drop-in fuel with the potential to reduce emissions in internal combustion engines and civil aviation, mitigating climate change and providing energy security.
