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University researchers have successfully powered a helicopter jet engine with fuel derived from at least 50 percent bituminous coal, a percentage that could go half again as high.
"We have shown in tests that the mix can go to at least 75 percent coal," said Harold H. Schobert, professor of fuel science and director of Penn State's Energy Institute.
The fuel, provisionally named JP900, is produced in one of two processes under investigation by Schobert. Both processes use light cycle oil, a petroleum by-product and coal derived refined chemical oil a by-product of the coke industry. The researchers mix those two components and then add hydrogen. When distilled, jet fuel seeps off as a distillate.
Schobert's coal-based fuel provides several advantages over existing military and commercial jet fuel.
"Combustion tests show that JP900 meets or exceeds almost all specification for JP8 and Jet-A," Schobert said. Schobert presented his results at the March meeting of the American Chemical Society in Atlanta.
These tests showed that JP900 has a flash point higher than required for JP8, a lower viscosity and freezing point and a higher smoke point. The coal based fuel is also lower in aromatics compounds such as benzene and toluene, than conventional jet fuels and is almost sulfur free.
From an energy point of view, JP900 produces almost exactly the same BTU as JP8.
Coal-based fuels could also reduce dependence on imported petroleum for jet fuel purposes by about one half, a benefit looking all the more attractive now that the price of oil has soared to all-time highs.
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