Bio-Diesel

[AA717driver]

Can you burn bio-diesel in turbines? TC

P.S.--I really stumped the guy at the bio-diesel tent at the State Fair last night.

 

[AerroMatt]

Can you burn bio-diesel in turbines? TC

P.S.--I really stumped the guy at the bio-diesel tent at the State Fair last night.

Any kind of combustible liquid can be burned in a Turbine. Question would be better if stated, "Will the FAA approve bio-diesel as an aviation fuel?"

No flame, just trying to help out and define the question. Example: The Hyperion waste treatment plant in Los Angeles (very close by LAX) generates electricity in part from a set of gas turbine engines that run solely on waste cooking oils and grease that are flushed into LA's sewer system. I don't know what type of engine, I just know they're there.

 

[Kiwi]

TC what were you doing at the state fair????

Our Boss owns a bio diesel plant of sorts in PNG [Papua New Guinea] - makes it outa coconuts....

But we won't let him put it in the Falcon....

 

[Frozen Ronin]

Matt is correct: The turbine engine is a great machine, as it can live on a wider, dirtier diet than the recips can. I haven't heard of anything that a diesel burns that a turbine couldn't.

 

[saabingitagain]

Burn it... yep. Untill it gets cold, below about +55F... then it starts to turn into a goop and does not flow. Then it gets real quiet. Unless you thin it with jet A or some other thinning mechanisim.
I spoke to a guy about it (the guy I get my BioD from for my Jetta.. 100% and he went through a whole scientific explanation about how it would not burn properly in a turbine becasue of the high pressure and the long carbon chains... he lost me at "carbon chains" but I'm pretty sure it would work just fine. Haven't tried it in the Citation yet though...

 

[Razorback Flyer]

Here are a couple of quick links to news articles:
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2006/06/19/260339-researchers-work-on-alternative-jet-fuel
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul01/jet0701.htm

It seems that it would work, but as saab mentioned, the problem would be gelling at low temps. The second article mentions some of the things they are doing to try to deal with those low temp problems. It is also mentioned that we'll likely start using biodiesel blends before using pure biodiesel

 

[Bladestall]

It worked for Lightning McQueen in the movie "Cars."

 

[AA717driver]

TC what were you doing at the state fair????

Kiwi--Boosting my self-esteem.

How are things down under? Wife says hi! TC

P.S.--Thanks for all the input everyone.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

There is a company working on an additive to keep biodiesel
liquid below -60c. S. Africa is already using a synth Jet A.

CE

 

[Corona]

Can you burn bio-diesel in turbines? TC

P.S.--I really stumped the guy at the bio-diesel tent at the State Fair last night.

As others noted, yep! It's just a fuel.

However, at typical temperatures in the flight levels, biodiesel becomes a solid lump of goo. Doesn't go through the fuel lines too well after that...

C

 

[Kiwi]

Kiwi--Boosting my self-esteem.

Very good -

pretty quiet down here [no complaints more time with the little one]

Considering an offer on a new G450 based in the UK.

Say hi back to the wife.