Renewable Jet Fuel Blending for Low-Temperature Viscosity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aviation fuels struggle to maintain low viscosity at low temperatures, which is crucial for reliable low-temperature operability, especially in aviation applications, while also addressing the need for renewable fuel sources to reduce emissions and combat climate change.
Innovation Solution
A fuel blend comprising 50-95% petroleum-derived jet fuel and 5-50% renewable middle distillate fuel, with specific viscosity properties, is developed to enhance cold flow properties, using components derived from renewable raw materials, including waste and residue materials, to achieve lower viscosity than expected at low temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If renewable middle distillate fuel is blended into jet fuel to reduce emissions, then environmental performance is improved, but viscosity at low temperatures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the renewable fuel component by selecting specific feedstocks (fish oils, algal oils, waste cooking oils) with different fatty acid profiles. These parameter changes result in renewable middle distillate components that maintain lower viscosity at low temperatures while still providing renewable content to reduce GHG emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite fuel blend combining petroleum-derived jet fuel with renewable middle distillate fuel components derived from specific biological sources. This composite material approach allows the blend to achieve both emission reduction benefits from renewable content and acceptable low-temperature viscosity characteristics through the synergistic combination of different fuel components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If renewable fuel components are added to increase renewable content, then environmental sustainability is improved, but cold flow properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selecting renewable feedstocks with specific local characteristics (fish oils from aquatic sources, algal oils from microbial sources, waste cooking oils from culinary sources) that possess favorable cold flow properties. This targeted selection of feedstocks with specific quality attributes allows high renewable content while maintaining reliable low-temperature operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the renewable component by using hydrodeoxygenation processing to convert triglycerides from various biological sources into renewable middle distillate with controlled molecular weight distribution and saturation levels. These parameter changes enable the renewable component to maintain fluidity at low temperatures while achieving high renewable content in the final blend.
Data Source
AI summary
An aviation fuel composition is disclosed, containing 50-95 vol-% of petroleum-derived jet fuel component, and 5-50 vol-% of renewable middle distillate component. The fuel composition has a viscosity of 12 mm2/s or below at −40° C., 10 mm2/s or below at −30° C., and 8 mm2/s or below at −20° C., as measured in accordance with an EN ISO 3104 (1996) standard. A method for producing the aviation fuel composition is also disclosed. The method containing mixing the petroleum derived jet fuel component and the renewable middle distillate component to obtain the aviation fuel composition, such that the petroleum-derived jet fuel component and the renewable middle distillate component are mixed together in an amount containing 5-50 vol-% of renewable middle distillate component and about 50-95 vol-% of petroleum-derived jet fuel component.