An investigation on the effect of varying fuel sources used in jet engines on particulate matter

Diversified fuel supplies and stringent environmental pollution regulations in the aviation sector have promoted the development of the alternative fuels industry. The chemical and physical properties of some of these diverse fuel substitutes lie outside of historical experience. Therefore, their combustion and emission behaviour cannot be judged via research of petroleum-derived jet fuel. Particulate matter (PM) emissions are important for future alternative fuels. Previous studies have shown that Particulates produced from different alternative fuels can physically vary from one fuel to other. One of the most widely used PM measurement technique is the PM mass spectrometer. This technology measures the number concentration of various sizes of particles simultaneously to produce a size-number concentration spectrum. To calculate the mass concentration spectrum, a density of the particles has to be applied. The aim of this study is to provide the density factors of various alternative and conventional fuels. A series consists of Centrifugal Particulate Mass Analyser (CPMA), Particulate Counter (CPC) and Fast Particulate analyser (DMS500) has been used on each fuel. The CPMA only passes certain particulate mass each time. After that the CPC count the particulates number for each mass value. From those two, a mass concentration spectrum can be produced. At the same time, the DMS500 produces Size number concentration. By comparing the two spectrums, the density factor is obtained.