Session: 03-08 Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Paper Number: 124002

124002 - Emissions Comparison of 100% SAF With Bio-Aromatics and Conventional (Fossil) Jet Fuel 

It is recognized that Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) will play a significant role in the decarbonization of air mobility. Various pathways and feedstocks are considered to produce SAF. New ways to produce aviation fuel may lead differences in chemical and physical properties compared to conventional aviation fuel. SAF available today are blended with fossil jet fuel and after blending they are compliant with the Jet Fuel norm (ASTM1655). But the objective to reach 100% SAF could be an issue as the lack of aromatics, a characteristic of SAF produced today (SAF-SPK), could lead to premature degradation of the fuel systems. Adding renewable aromatics (Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene, or SAK), to the SAF is therefore seen as an opportunity to reach 100% SAF without impacting the aircraft and airport’s fuel infrastructures, potentially enabling a faster decarbonization of the sector.

In this study, we have compared the emissions of a 100% SAF which contains 9% of bio-aromatics (SAF-SPK/A) with a fossil-derived Jet Fuel (Conventional Aviation Fuel, CAF).

Performance and behavior: The tests did not identify any performance differences between the two fuels, including turbine reactivity and equipment degradation. This was later confirmed by Bell Helicopter during an experimental test flight campaign.

Emissions: the lower CO₂ impact is mainly due to the life cycle analysis of the SAF, but the tests also showed reduced CO₂ emissions during the combustion, explained by the higher Hydrogen to Carbon ratio (H/C). While NO and NOx are found equivalent, we measured a slight reduction in CO₂ and a significant reduction in CO and soot (Smoke Number, SN): -20 to -50% depending on the mass fuel flow. These improvements could be explained by the lower content of aromatics as well as the nature of these aromatics, as SAK contains significantly less PNA (polynuclear aromatics) compared to conventional aviation fuel.

Presenting Author: Jean-Baptiste Jarin University of Pau (UPPA), Energy Environment Solutions (EES) Laboratory

Presenting Author Biography: Jean-Baptiste holds a BBA (ESCE 1996) and a MSc (Mines ParisTech 2021).
He is PhD student at the EES lab (Energy & Environmental Solutions lab), Universtiy of Pau, while acting as deputy program in charge of sustainable aviation fuels for Safran Helicopter Engines.

Authors:

Jean-Baptiste Jarin University of Pau (UPPA), Energy Environment Solutions (EES) Laboratory
Jean-Louis Champion-Réaud SAFRAN TECH
Reetu Sallinen Neste Corporation
Edgar Steenwinkel Virent Inc