Lokesh, KadambariSethi, VishalNikolaidis, TheoklisGoodger, EricNalianda, Devaiah2018-04-252018-04-252015-04-07Lokesh K, Sethi V, Nikolaidis T, Goodger E, Nalianda D, Life cycle greenhouse gas analysis of biojet fuels with a technical investigation into their impact on jet engine performance, Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol. 77, June 2015, pp. 26-440961-9534http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.03.005https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/13168Biojet fuels have been claimed to be one of the most promising and strategic solutions to mitigate aviation emissions. This study examines the environmental competence of Bio-Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (Bio-SPKs) against conventional Jet-A, through development of a life cycle GHG model (ALCEmB - Assessment of Life Cycle Emissions of Biofuels) from "cradle-grave" perspective. This model precisely calculates the life cycle emissions of the advanced biofuels through a multi-disciplinary study entailing hydrocarbon chemistry, thermodynamic behaviour and fuel combustion from engine/aircraft performance, into the life cycle studies, unlike earlier studies. The aim of this study is predict the "cradle-grave" carbon intensity of Camelina SPK, Microalgae SPK and Jatropha SPK through careful estimation and inclusion of combustion based emissions, which contribute ≈70% of overall life cycle emissions (LCE). Numerical modelling and non-linear/dynamic simulation of a twin-shaft turbofan, with an appropriate airframe, was conducted to analyse the impact of alternative fuels on engine/aircraft performance. ALCEmB revealed that Camelina SPK, Microalgae SPK and Jatropha SPK delivered 70%, 58% and 64% LCE savings relative to the reference fuel, Jet-A1. The net energy ratio analysis indicates that current technology for the biofuel processing is energy efficient and technically feasible. An elaborate gas property analysis infers that the Bio-SPKs exhibit improved thermodynamic behaviour in an operational gas turbine engine. This thermodynamic effect has a positive impact on aircraft-level fuel consumption and emissions characteristics demonstrating fuel savings in the range of 3-3.8% and emission savings of 5.8-6.3% (CO2) and 7.1-8.3% (LTO NOx), relative to that of Jet-A.enAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 InternationalBio-SPKsLife cycle emissionsEngine/aircraft performanceThermodynamicsNumerical modellingArticle3232867