Int. J. Sustainable Aviation, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2017 43
Copyright © 2017 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Comparison of aircraft engine performance and
emission analysis using alternative fuels
Muhammad Hanafi Azami*, Mark Savill and
Yi-Guang Li
Cranfield University,
Centre for Propulsion Engineering,
Whittle Building B52, School of Aerospace,
Transport and Manufacturing,
Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK
Email: m.azami@cranfield.ac.uk
Email: mark.savill@cranfield.ac.uk
Email: i.y.li@cranfield.ac.uk
*Corresponding author
Abstract: Following the successful flights of many commercial aircraft
running with alternative fuels, the present study focuses on aircraft engine
performance and emission analysis. The analysis of aircraft engine performance
(thrust, fuel flow and specific fuel consumption) for different blended mixing
ratio percentages of biofuels (Camelina and Jatropha) with Jet-A, at different
flight conditions using in-house computer software codes, PYTHIA and
TURBOMATCH. Emission analysis utilised HEPHAESTUS in-house software
to predict nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide emission at various flight
conditions. A model three-shaft high-bypass-ratio engine, similar to the
RB211-524, was used. Blended fuels exhibited a slight improvement in engine
performance at higher mixing ratio percentages; with Jatropha biofuel
surpassing Camelina biofuel in terms of all considered performance indexes.
Nitrous oxides can be reduced using pure Jatropha biofuel as compared to
kerosene fuel for every flight condition. However, for carbon monoxide
emission strongly depends on the combustor inlet conditions and flight phases.
Keywords: Camelina biofuel; emissions; engine performances; Jatropha
biofuel.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Azami, M.H., Savill, M.
and Li, Y-G. (2017) ‘Comparison of aircraft engine performance and emission
analysis using alternative fuels’, Int. J. Sustainable Aviation, Vol. 3, No. 1,
pp.43–63.
Bibliographical notes: Muhammad Hanafi Azami is a PhD Researcher in
Centre for Propulsion, School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing,
Cranfield University. He awarded MSc (Mechanical Engineering-Aerospace)
and BEng (Aerospace Engineering) in International Islamic University
Malaysia. His research focus area in aerospace propulsion technologies
includes pressure gained combustor, performance and emissions of aero-gas
turbines, alternative fuels, hybrid rocket technology and optimisation. He
granted Malaysian Government scholarship for higher education studies. He is
a graduate member of Board of Engineer Malaysia (BEM), member of
Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and hold Student-to-
Professional membership of American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA). Previously, he worked as part-time lecturer in various