Alternative Fuels in Gas Turbine Systems
Summary
Gas turbines represent a cornerstone of modern energy conversion and propulsion, yet their reliance on conventional fossil kerosene poses a significant barrier to decarbonisation. Research into alternative fuels spans a broad spectrum of bio-derived and synthetic hydrocarbons, including hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) routes, Fischer–Tropsch-derived kerosene, hydrogen blends and emerging power-to-liquid fuels. These alternatives aim to offer “drop-in” compatibility with existing turbines while delivering reduced lifecycle carbon emissions and maintaining energy density and combustor stability. Critical challenges address feedstock availability, processing catalysts, fuel physicochemical properties and engine hardware adaptation. Performance metrics encompass fuel consumption, thermal efficiency and exhaust emissions of CO, NOx and particulate matter, whereas modelling efforts seek to predict end-use behaviour from key fuel parameters. Globally, diversification of fuel supply chains supports energy security and compliance with stringent aviation and power generation decarbonisation targets. Demonstration studies in microturbines, industrial gas turbines and aero-engines have underscored the practical viability of blended and neat alternative fuels, paving the way for regulatory certification and large-scale deployment in both stationary and mobile gas turbine applications.
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Alternative Fuels in Gas Turbine Systems publication trend
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Technical terms
Hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA): Synthetic hydrocarbons produced by hydrotreating biological fats and oils to yield kerosene-range molecules.
Alcohol-to-jet (ATJ): Process converting fermentation or chemically derived alcohols into jet-fuel compatible hydrocarbons via dehydration, oligomerisation and hydrogenation.
Drop-in fuel: Alternative fuel chemically and physically compatible with existing engines and fuel distribution systems, requiring no hardware modification.
Calorific value: The amount of energy released per unit mass of fuel during complete combustion, often expressed in megajoules per kilogram.
Microturbine: A small-scale gas turbine, typically below 1 MW output, used for distributed power generation or auxiliary propulsion, valued for rapid startup and fuel flexibility.
References
- Performance and Emissions of a Microturbine and Turbofan Powered by Alternative Fuels †. Aerospace (2021).
- Modeling the impact of sustainable aviation fuel properties on end-use performance and emissions in aircraft jet engines. Energy (2022).
- The Use of Ethanol as an Alternative Fuel for Small Turbojet Engines. Sustainability (2021).
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