Rolls-Royce and British Airways launch Alternative Fuel Trial

Tag : aviation kerosene

Rolls-Royce and British Airways have launched a scientific testprogramme to investigate the viability of alternative fuels for theaviation industry.
The in-depth study will seek to identify practical alternatives tothe current industry-standard fuel kerosene, with the potential tomake real reductions to the carbon footprint of aircraft.
The companies will initiate a joint tender process, invitingsuppliers to offer alternative fuel samples for testing on aRolls-Royce RB211 engine from a British Airways Boeing 747. Thetests will be carried out on an indoor engine test bed at theRolls-Royce facility in Derby, England.
Testing the engine in the controlled environment of a Rolls-Roycetest bed enables more detailed data to be gathered than would bepossible on an actual flight because additional instrumentation canbe used and performance and emissions will not be affected by otherexternal factors.
Following the tender process, there will be a selection of up tofour alternative fuels, which will undergo laboratory testingbefore being delivered to Rolls-Royce in the new year. Each companywill be asked to supply up to 60,000 litres of their alternativefuel.
This will be followed by intensive trials, during which theaero-engine will be powered by the alternative fuels and itsperformance compared to running on conventional kerosene. In eachcase, the engine will be operated through its full range of powersettings including idle, acceleration, take off and cruise.
Testing is expected to be complete by the end of March 2009 afterwhich the results will be analysed and reported.
Ric Parker, Director of Research and Technology at Rolls-Royce,said, The key criteria for the selection of the alternative fuelswill be their suitability, sustainability and industrialcapability.
It is critical that the fuel can not only do the job required ofit, but can also offer a CO2 benefit and be produced without adetrimental impact to food, land or water. There must also be clearevidence of the potential for mass production and globaldistribution of an alternative fuel to support the worlds aviationindustry.