Expanding Known Performance Capabilities of Geared Turbofan Engine When Powered by LNG and Methanol

As aviation demand rises, fossil jet fuel consumption follows, thus increasing focus on sustainable aviation fuels to reduce aircraft greenhouse gas emissions. While advanced technologies and optimized operations play a role, alternative fuels, especially non-drop-in options like Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and methanol, offer promising potential for significant emission reductions if used in current aero-engines. LNG, a candidate near-term replacement of fossil jet fuel and methanol, even though a less conventional option in aviation, present advantages. Both fuels showcase the ability to generate the same thrust output by also achieving lower post-combustion temperatures, thereby enhancing component life and reducing emissions. Inversely, requesting equal post-combustion temperature as the baseline kerosene operation of the engine can produce greater thrust output, a much needed result for such fuels with low volumetric energy density, which causes greater take-off thrust demand mainly due to their larger tank requirements. This study uses advanced 0-D engine models coupled with detailed chemistry 1-D burner models and mission analysis tools to assess the aforementioned trends of LNG and methanol used to power a current geared turbofan engine. The aim of this work is to provide insights into the advantages, the limitations and the overall viability of the fuels in question as less polluting aviation fuels, addressing both environmental impact and operational feasibility in future aviation applications. According to findings of this article, when compared with Jet-A, LNG can reduce post-combustion temperature by an average of 1% or increase net-thrust by 3% while lowering CO2, NOx and CO emissions by 20%, 46% and 39%, respectively. Adversely, methanol is capable of lessening post-combustion temperature by 3% or enhancing thrust output by 10% while also reducing CO2, NOx and CO emissions by an average of 6%, 60% and 38%, respectively.