Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Toronto
$490,000.00
Near-future aviation fuels: Synthesis, testing, and GHG emissions
FY 2022-23
Summary
The main drivers that will shape the future of aviation will be contributions to climate forcing due to carbon dioxide emissions and contrails formation. Currently, there seems to be no viable prime mover that will replace the gas turbine as the preferred engine for the medium to long range commercial aircraft. It is expected that for the near future these engines will be fueled by liquid hydrocarbons produced from sustainable sources. Today, civil aviation contributes about 3-5% of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions due to conventional aviation fuel use. Unless the impediments to replacing current aviation fuels by sustainable ones are removed, the negative impacts of aviation on the earth's climate will continue to intensify. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are defined as renewable or waste-derived aviation fuels that meet sustainability criteria. Technical analysis done at International Civil Aviation Organization shows that SAF has the greatest potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from International Aviation. However, there exist several knowledge gaps and barriers to adopting new fuels; some are technical and scientific, and some others are related to sustainability and logistics. The proposed project aims to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in (a) emissions characteristics of seven SAF, specified by the aviation industry organizations and produced by specified processes, under engine-relevant combustion conditions, and (b) production and combustion/emissions characteristics of a new class of potential aviation fuels Polyoxymethylene Dimethyl Ethers (PODE) and its blends. Our research efforts will include parallel experiments and numerical simulations. The deliverables of this research program will address the technical and scientific knowledge gaps in using new fuels in aviation by providing detailed information about the emissions characteristics under engine-relevant conditions. Results will help the Canadian gas turbine engine manufacturers to evaluate the impacts of engine exhaust on the environment, and facilitate the decision-making and strategies for the potential of future aviation fuels for a low-carbon path to zero-emission aviation.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
577181-2022
Name nom
Gulder, Omer OL
Department département
Aerospace Studies, Institute for
Organization id
31
Institution établissement
University of Toronto
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2022
Competition year année de concours
2022
Award amount
490000
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
703
Area of application group en
Transportation systems and services
Area of application group fr
Services et systèmes de transport
Area of application en
Aerospace
Area of application fr
Aérospatial
Research subject code
2110
Research subject group en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie mécanique
Research subject en
Combustion
Research subject fr
Combustion
Installment
inst:1;2
Partie
2
Nb partie
2
Application title
Near-future aviation fuels: Synthesis, testing, and GHG emissions
Application summary
The main drivers that will shape the future of aviation will be contributions to climate forcing due to carbon dioxide emissions and contrails formation. Currently, there seems to be no viable prime mover that will replace the gas turbine as the preferred engine for the medium to long range commercial aircraft. It is expected that for the near future these engines will be fueled by liquid hydrocarbons produced from sustainable sources. Today, civil aviation contributes about 3-5% of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions due to conventional aviation fuel use. Unless the impediments to replacing current aviation fuels by sustainable ones are removed, the negative impacts of aviation on the earth's climate will continue to intensify. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are defined as renewable or waste-derived aviation fuels that meet sustainability criteria. Technical analysis done at International Civil Aviation Organization shows that SAF has the greatest potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from International Aviation. However, there exist several knowledge gaps and barriers to adopting new fuels; some are technical and scientific, and some others are related to sustainability and logistics. The proposed project aims to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in (a) emissions characteristics of seven SAF, specified by the aviation industry organizations and produced by specified processes, under engine-relevant combustion conditions, and (b) production and combustion/emissions characteristics of a new class of potential aviation fuels Polyoxymethylene Dimethyl Ethers (PODE) and its blends. Our research efforts will include parallel experiments and numerical simulations. The deliverables of this research program will address the technical and scientific knowledge gaps in using new fuels in aviation by providing detailed information about the emissions characteristics under engine-relevant conditions. Results will help the Canadian gas turbine engine manufacturers to evaluate the impacts of engine exhaust on the environment, and facilitate the decision-making and strategies for the potential of future aviation fuels for a low-carbon path to zero-emission aviation.
