NMHC and VOC speciation of the exhaust gas from a gas turbine engine using alternative, renewable and conventional jet A-1 aviation fuels

This paper investigated the emissions of individual unburned hydrocarbons and carbonyl compounds from the exhaust gas of an APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) gas turbine engine burning various fuels. The engine was a single spool, two stages of turbines and one stage of centrifugal compressor gas turbine engine, and operated at idle and full power respectively. Four alternative aviation fuel blends with Jet A-1 were tested including GTL, hydrogenated renewable jet fuel and fatty acid ester. C2-C4 alkenes, benzene, toluene, xylene, trimethylbenzene, naphthalene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein emissions were measured. The results show at the full power condition, the concentrations for all hydrocarbons were very low (near or below the instrument detection limits). Formaldehyde was a major aldehyde species emitted with a fraction of around 60% of total measured aldehydes emissions. Formaldehydes emissions were reduced for all fuels compared to Jet A-1 especially at the idle conditions. There were no differences in acetaldehydes and acrolein emissions for all fuels; however, there was a noticeable reduction with GTL fuel. The aromatic hydrocarbon emissions including benzene and toluene are decreased for the alternative and renewable fuels.