Fleet Fuel Allocation for nvPM-Aware SAF Mission Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The aviation industry is transitioning towards the use of fuels different from traditional kerosene-based jet fuels, and there is a need to efficiently manage the allocation of these alternative fuels across multiple missions to minimize non-volatile particulate matter (nvPM) emissions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for determining a fleetwide fuel allocation that optimizes the use of both default and non-default fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and kerosene, across a plurality of missions by performing outer-loop and inner-loop optimizations to minimize nvPM impact, considering the type of combustor and fuel injectors used in each mission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If non-default fuel (SAF) is used to reduce nvPM emissions, then environmental performance is improved, but fuel availability and cost constraints are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the composition parameter of the fuel blend by dynamically adjusting the ratio of SAF to kerosene based on flight conditions, mission type, and available fuel quantities. This allows optimization of nvPM emissions while working within fuel availability constraints through parameter variation rather than fixed composition
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel allocation system transitions from static fuel loading to dynamic optimization where the fuel mix composition is adjusted based on real-time or near-real-time mission parameters, aircraft type, and fleet-wide fuel availability. This dynamic approach enables better utilization of limited SAF resources across the fleet
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fleet-wide optimization is performed to minimize total nvPM impact, then overall environmental performance is improved, but computational complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fleet-wide optimization problem is segmented into individual mission-level optimization problems. Each mission is evaluated independently based on its specific characteristics (aircraft type, route, duration), and results are aggregated to determine overall fleet fuel allocation. This segmentation reduces computational complexity while maintaining fleet-wide optimization benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops where optimization results from individual missions feed into fleet-wide allocation decisions, which then inform subsequent mission planning. This iterative feedback process allows the system to converge on optimal solutions without requiring exponentially complex computations
3Object-affected harmful factors
If different fuel types are allocated to different missions, then nvPM emissions are minimized, but fuel management and allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optimization system automatically performs fuel allocation decisions based on input parameters such as mission details and fuel availability. The system serves itself by generating optimal fuel mix recommendations without requiring manual intervention for each mission, thereby reducing operational complexity while achieving emission minimization
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application discloses a computer implemented method (4090) of determining a fleetwide fuel allocation for a plurality of missions carried out by a plurality of aircraft, the plurality of missions being supplied with fuel from a fuel source comprising an amount of a default fuel and an amount of a non-default fuel, the fuel allocation indicating the amount of the non-default fuel and the default fuel to be allocated to each of the plurality of missions, the default fuel and the non-default fuel having one or more fuel characteristics different from each other. The method comprises the following steps: obtaining (4092) an initial proposed fuel allocation for each of the plurality of missions; performing (4094) a fleet-wide optimisation in which the proposed fuel allocation of each of the plurality of missions is modified within the constraints of the total available default and/or non-default fuel from the fuel source to minimise a sum of per-mission nvPM impact parameters over all of the plurality of missions, each of the plurality of missions being associated with a respective per-mission nvPM impact parameter determined according to a fuel usage for that mission, the fuel usage defining how the fuel allocation for the respective mission is to be used during that mission; and determining (4096) the fleetwide fuel allocation for the plurality of missions based on the fleet-wide optimisation. Also disclosed is a method (4100) of loading fuel onto a plurality of aircraft, a non-transitory computer readable medium and a fleetwide fuel allocation determination system (5100).