Defence and Security

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Browsing Defence and Security by Author "Carpenter, Mark"

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    ItemOpen Access
    Investigation of Water Droplet Size Distribution in Conventional and Sustainable Aviation Turbine Fuels
    (Cranfield University, 2022-06-24 10:13) Ugbeh, Judith; Carpenter, Mark; Okeke, Nonso
    Water droplet size variation has been established in the literature as an important variable that influences the behaviour and characteristics of water in fuel emulsion. However, with the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), no data is available that shows how these fuels will affect dispersed water droplets’ size and frequency distribution. To address this lack of knowledge, this study explores and presents experimental results on the characterization of dispersed water droplets in alternative fuel and conventional Jet A-1 fuel under dynamic conditions. The alternative fuels comprised of two fully synthetic fuels, two fuels synthesised from bio-derived materials and one bio-derived fuel. The data and statistics presented reveal that water droplet frequency and size distribution are sensitive to changes in fuel composition. Observations show that the evident transition of the droplet’s percentile over time in the cumulative frequency distribution could be attributed to droplets coalescence to form larger droplets. Mean droplet diameters between 3 and 6 µm were observed for all the fuels tested. With further analysis based on recommendations proposed in this work, the data may assist in providing insight to filter manufacturers.
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    ItemOpen Access
    The impact of sustainable aviation fuels on aircraft fuel line ice formation and pump performance
    (Cranfield University, 2023-02-01 10:51) Ugbeh, Judith; Carpenter, Mark
    A recirculating fuel test rig capable of cooling fuel from ambient to -30 °C within 4 hours was built by Airbus to simulate conditions in an aircraft wing tank and allow characterisation of ice accretion. The key characteristic was the pressure drop across an inline fuel strainer for the different SAF explored but visual analysis of ice accretion on the strainer mesh (filters used in protecting fuel feed pumps) was also performed for individual experimental runs for comparison. Measurements revealed that 100% conventional fuel exhibited a higher propensity to strainer blockage compared to the SAF tested. However, all SAF blends behaved differently as the blending ratio with Jet A-1 fuel had an impact on the pressure differential at different temperatures. Data from this work are essential to establish confidence in the safe operation of future aircraft fuel systems that will potentially be compatible with 100 % SAF.