June 23, 2008
Biofuels part of solution for rising jet fuel prices, professor says
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - As the price of automobile gasoline continues to rise, so does the price of jet fuel, translating into higher ticket prices for consumers, but a Purdue University expert says that biofuels may prove to be useful, at least in the short term.
"The interest in biofuels seems to run parallel with the cost of fuel," says David Stanley, an associate professor of aviation technology. "Biofuels for aircraft is always controversial, but as jet fuel is getting more and more expensive and shows no sign of slowing down, it's clear something must be done. It's not the long-term answer, but it may be part of the short-term answer."
Stanley has researched soy-based fuels with Purdue's Bernard Tao, the Indiana Soybean Board Professor in Soybean Utilization. Their efforts over the last few years have led to the development of a soybean-derived biofuel with a much-reduced freezing point, which may immediately have commercial applications for diesel engines. They say that adding substances such as soybean oil derivatives to turbine engine fuel is a complex process due to the strict regulations and performance requirements in the airline industry.
All commercial aircraft fuel, whether petroleum-based or made of another natural or synthetic substance, must meet Federal Aviation Administration regulations for density and performance consistencies.
"As difficult as it is to make that transition for cars, it's 10 times harder for airplanes," he says. "The automobile industry is able to shift production to smaller cars, utilizing different fuels with relative speed, while the aircraft industry faces additional factors of safety and capital investment, which complicate and slow this process. Instead of creating an entirely new fuel, the first step would probably be the creation of a blended fuel where no more than 30 percent of the ingredients would be a bio-based material."
Stanley says an easier way to integrate alternative fuels into aircraft would be to first use them with ground-based turbine engines utilized for electrical power production or marine power applications where airworthiness and safety are not significant issues.
While gallon-for-gallon biofuels aren't currently cheaper than petroleum-based fuels, the type of fuels under study shows some promise for superior lubrication of fuel components and, possibly, reduced emissions. Increased use could lead to reduced costs as biofuel production becomes more efficient, Stanley says.
"Nothing will be cheaper than the fuel we have now, but our current fuel will continue to rise," Stanley says. "Eventually, blended fuels could begin to compete. And since airplanes carry several thousand gallons of fuel, every bit of cost savings would help."Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Source: David Stanley, (765) 494-6266, stanledl@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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