Aviation fuel: quality requirements

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Aviation fuel is a petroleum product responsible for the operation of engines of various types of air transport. Depending on the composition, scope and performance characteristics, fuels can be of different types. There are two main ones: aviation kerosene (also called jet fuel) and aviation gasoline.

Each engine is designed with a specific fuel in mind to provide the speed and reliability you need. If you use fuel that is not intended for this type of engine, you can reduce its operating life and the power characteristics of the aircraft itself.

Jet fuel for aircraft

Jet fuel - jet kerosene - is used to fuel most aircraft. It comes in various brands. In our country, six different types are used, the features of the choice depend on the conditions and characteristics of the aircraft itself. For example, in the field of subsonic aviationTS-1 brand kerosene is used, which contains a large amount of sulfur in the composition. And supersonic aircraft operate on the TS-8 or TS-6 brands. Low- altitude aircraft are refueled with TS-2 kerosene.

Kerosene for aviation and more

Kerosene belongs to the light types of petroleum products. It is produced by direct distillation or recycling of oil. The boiling point of this product, depending on the composition, can vary from 150 to 250 degrees.

Here are the main uses of kerosene:

• Aviation. Here, kerosene acts as an aviation fuel for refrigerant and propeller engines, as a lubricant for fuel installations. It has proven itself in many respects, in particular, to increase engine wear resistance and low-temperature properties.
• Rocket science. To date, kerosene is widely used as a rocket fuel, albeit with low efficiency. In the future, it is planned to use ethane or propane for this purpose.
• Production. Kerosene is an excellent raw material for the production of polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as other synthetic materials.
• Heating. In countries where there is no central heating system, kerosene is widely used. It has high fire safety performance, efficient and economical to use.
• Lighting. Although electricity is ubiquitous, kerosene lamps are also in no hurry to give up their positions.

Popular speciesaviation fuel in our country and abroad

There are several types of fuel for aviation on the foreign market. They are distinguished by the maximum boiling point, by the features of the fractional composition, by the flash point (for example, kerosene for naval aviation has the highest rates), and so on.

The most popular product is aviation diesel fuel with an improved fractional composition, widely used in civil aviation. For example, the brand "Jet A-1". It has a number of stringent requirements. But in developing countries, fuel requirements are practically not regulated by anything.

Aviation gasoline

The main application of aviation gasoline is piston engines of aircraft and small volume helicopters. They differ from automobile engines in the forced fuel injection system, which means that the requirements for aviation fuel should be somewhat different.

The composition of aviation gasolines includes carefully tested components obtained as a result of special technological processes. For example, oil aromatization or catalytic reforming. Recycled products containing olefinic hydrocarbons are not used in the production of aviation fuel.

Today, compared to conventional grades of gasoline for the automotive industry, aviation grades are produced relatively little - only 2%. By the way, some models of engines in aviation are capable of running on standard gasoline.brand A-95. But still, aviation gasoline is more stable and has a better composition.

Aviation gasoline quality indicators:

• Knock resistance. It is determined on the fuel-air mixture of various compositions.
• Crystallization temperature - the lower it is, the higher the quality.
• Special fraction composition.
• No resinous substances or their presence in a minimal amount.
• No sulfur compounds and acids.
• High calorific value.
• High antiknock properties.
• Excellent storage stability.

All these characteristics determine the quality of aviation fuels, and hence the degree of engine reliability.

Stamp classification and composition

Gasoline for aircraft engines differs in grade. It is this criterion that is responsible for the power developed by the engine. For example, for B-91/115 gasoline, the second number is just the grade indicator, and the first is the octane number.

Unlike automobile gasoline, aviation gasoline is not divided into winter and summer grades. After all, in flight there is always almost the same temperature, which depends little on the change of season. On the other hand, more tetraethyl lead is added to any type of fuel in aviation and sulfur and tar content are strictly regulated. Toluene, isomerizate, pyrobenzene and other components are also added to the composition to ensure the necessary indicators of the heat of combustion and crystallization temperature.

The color of aviation fuel also indicates the presence of special additives in the composition. It is usually bright yellow, bright green or orange.

Quality standards

In our country there are special requirements for the characteristics of aviation fuel. In addition to strict adherence to environmental standards according to the Euro classification, there is a special technical regulation that regulates the requirements specifically for aviation gasoline and diesel jet fuel.

For example, gasoline used in aviation should be free of surfactants and chemicals, or be present in a minimum amount that does not affect performance. It must have high oxidation stability. Permissible in its composition is the content of tetraethyl lead. And in gasoline with a grade of at least 130, it is permissible to add a blue dye.

Jet fuel must be free of impurities such as water, sulfur, tarry substances. The crystallization temperature and kinematic viscosity are strictly regulated, and the indicators may differ for aircraft engines with subsonic and supersonic speeds.

As for the scope of use, aviation gasoline is used only in aircraft engines. Its use for any other purpose is strictly prohibited.