As part of the FAA’s ASCENT program, the project will focus on measuring emissions from a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine combustor rig test stand using both conventional Jet A fuel and 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Pratt & Whitney, a business unit of RTX, in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), Aerodyne Research, Inc., and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has embarked on a significant research endeavor to study non-CO2 aviation emissions. This project aims to gain insights into these emissions and develop strategies to mitigate their environmental impact. As part of the FAA’s ASCENT program, the project will focus on measuring emissions from a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine combustor rig test stand using both conventional Jet A fuel and 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The project will compare emissions from conventional Jet A kerosene with those from SAF, specifically Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (HEFA-SPK). SAF is a biofuel derived from vegetable oils and animal fats and is supplied by World Energy. Dr. Philip Whitefield of Missouri University of Science and Technology emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, bringing together expertise from industry, government, and academia to address the environmental impacts of aviation emissions comprehensively.
“As the aviation industry targets a goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, we continue to pay close attention to addressing the environmental impact of other emissions, including cruise non-volatile particulate matter and NOx,” said Sean Bradshaw, senior technical fellow of sustainable propulsion, Pratt & Whitney. “Combustor rig tests with 100% SAF provide a controlled environment for generating valuable baseline data, which will support future studies using full scale engines on-wing at ground and flight test conditions,” he further added.
The rig tests will be conducted at Pratt & Whitney’s facility in Middletown, Connecticut, utilizing an advanced Rich-Quench-Lean (RQL) combustor. This rig allows for testing across the full range of combustor operating conditions, including those experienced during take-off, ground, and cruise altitudes. The collaboration between Pratt & Whitney, the FAA, Missouri S&T, Aerodyne Research, and the EPA will involve designing and executing the tests and analyzing emissions data comprehensively.
“By bringing together expertise from industry, government, and academia, this project represents an important step towards understanding and reducing the environmental impacts of aviation, including those arising from non-CO2 emissions,” said Dr. Philip Whitefield, Missouri University of Science and Technology. “SAF containing low sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations could contribute to reduced sulfur dioxide and non-volatile particulate emissions, which are associated with contrail formation and the impact to global warming,” he further added.
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Overall, this collaborative research effort represents a significant step forward in understanding and addressing the environmental impact of aviation emissions beyond CO2. By leveraging the expertise of industry, government, and academia, the project aims to generate valuable insights that will inform future efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of aviation and contribute to a more sustainable aviation industry.
