Session: 03-11 Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Biofuels, and Fuel Flexibility

Submission Number: 175657

Combustion Uniformity and Emissions Reduction in a Micro Gas Turbine Powered by UCO-Based Biojet Fuel Blends 

This study experimentally investigates the impact of bio-kerosene blends derived from used cooking oil (UCO) on the performance and emissions of a micro gas turbine, assessing their suitability as drop-in sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Engine tests were performed using Jet-A and UCO-based biojet blends at volumetric ratios of 10%, 25%, 50% and 60% in a fully instrumented and carefully calibrated small-scale turbojet test rig, capturing undiluted emissions as well as detailed performance parameters. Across the full operating range, thrust, fuel consumption, air mass flow, compressor pressure ratio, combustor pressure losses, exhaust gas temperature (EGT) and gaseous emissions (CO2, O2, NOx, CO) were systematically analyzed. Results show that overall engine performance remained effectively unchanged, with observed variations remaining within typical measurement uncertainty. Importantly, increased biojet content correlated with reductions of up to 16% in NOx and 12% in CO emissions, effects linked to enhanced combustion uniformity quantified via circumferential EGT deviation. This work therefore presents the first experimental demonstration of this correlation in a micro gas turbine, alongside the first combustor pressure loss data for multiple biojet/Jet-A blends. The findings clearly indicate that UCO-derived biojet blends up to 60% offer tangible environmental benefits without compromising engine performance, while also providing novel insights into fuel–air mixing effects directly relevant for future SAF deployment.

Presenting Author: Sergios Villette Laboratory of Thermal Turbomachines, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens

Presenting Author Biography: Sergios Villette, Research Assistant at LTT/NTUA. Sergios received his MEng in Mechanical Engineering in 2022 from the National Technical University of Athens. Since then, he has been a PhD candidate at LTT/NTUA performing research in the field of experimental evaluation and modeling of sustainable aviation fuels used in aircraft engine gas turbine propulsion systems.

Authors:

Sergios Villette Laboratory of Thermal Turbomachines, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
Alexios Alexiou Laboratory of Thermal Turbomachines, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
Nikolaos Aretakis Laboratory of Thermal Turbomachines, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
Konstantinos Mathioudakis Laboratory of Thermal Turbomachines, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens