Reforming Fuel; Changing Ways

ASTM - Technically Speaking

ASTM International, responsible for providing design and manufacturing standards for industries throughout the global market, is currently developing a new specification for the approval of alternative aviation fuels. Stan Seto, chairman for ASTM, clarifies some technical aspects for AIRPORT BUSINESS regarding alternative fuel certification.

AB: What are some important aspects of an alternative aviation fuel?

ASTM: Apart from the specific composition of the fuel, what were the processes used to manufacture the fuel from its feedstock? Does the fuel meet the relevant fuel specification requirements? Does the fuel meet the recognized airline industry fit-for-purpose requirements? When tested for combustion performance, does the candidate fuel perform like conventional aviation turbine fuels?

AB: Are there any revised standards for new fuels being developed?

ASTM: Subcommittee J, Aviation Fuels is developing a new specification for alternative fuels. This specification, which does not yet have a number designation, is titled Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons. It will contain the requirements of ASTM D1655 for the final product produced and have separate annexes which will address the requirements of the differently sourced fuel candidates as research reports are assembled and approved by the technical groups providing these candidate fuels. For example, the first annex for this new specification will address fuel candidates derived from the synthesis gas of the Fischer-Tropsch’s process which can use coal or natural gas or biomass as a feedstock. When the feedstock is reduced, a synthesis gas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen) is produced which is then subjected to normal refinery processes (polymerzation, hydrogenation, fractionation) to produce long chain hydrocarbon molecules which are then trimmed to yield the fuel of choice (gasoline, kerosene, aviation jet, diesel). Fuels from this process are basically drop-in replacement fuels that look, act and perform just like the petroleum product.