Investigation of the Performance and Properties Characterization of Hydro-processed Esters & Fatty Acids (HEFA), FT Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (S8), F-24, and Jet-A

In this study, Hydro-processed Esters & Fatty Acids (HEFA), FT synthetic paraffinic kerosene (S8), with F-24, & Jet-A as reference, were analyzed for their performance and fuel characteristics. The spray characteristics of each fuel were evaluated utilizing a Malvern Spraytec He-Ne Laser. The Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) was determined to be 14.24 µm, 17.22 µm, 18.40 µm, and 19.19 µm for HEFA, Jet-A, F-24, and S8 respectively. HEFA also displayed a spray droplet distribution (SDD) with a Relative Span Factor (RSF) of 2.17. Jet-A indicated an RSF of 2.49. S8 and F-24 displayed RSF values of 3.26 and 3.25. The autoignition characteristics and combustion regions of the neat research fuels were analyzed in a CVCC to determine the effect of Derived Cetane Number (DCN) on Ignition Delay (ID), and Low Temperature Heat Release (LTHR). HEFA was found to have a DCN of 58.58, which was comparable to S8’s DCN of 59.96. The DCN of HEFA displayed an 18.4% increase from conventional Jet-A which has a DCN of 49.47. In addition, HEFA demonstrated shorter ignition delay and combustion delay at 2.70 ms and 4.10 ms, which were 15.09% and 14.58% shorter than Jet-A. HEFA exhibited a similar behavior to S8 generating a LTHR region that lasted a duration of 1.08 ms, or 28.94% shorter than Jet-A. The shorter LTHR duration led to less overall net heat release during LTHR for HEFA compared to Jet-A. The tribological properties of each fuel were tested for their friction and wear on a T-ll Pin on disk tribometer under ASTM standard G99-17. HEFA displayed favorable results in comparison to F-24, S8, and Jet-A due to its superior tribological properties. This is seen with HEFA having a friction force of 3 0.0903N and a wear rate of (formula presented). Jet-A showed similar signs of friction and wear with results of 0.0926N and (formula presented). F-24 and S8 were the worst out of the four fuels tested showing a friction force and wear rate of 0.0916N 3 3 and 0.0945N and a wear rate of (formula presented) and (formula presented) respectively.