Pratt & Whitney, FAA team up to study non-CO2 emissions

Pratt & Whitney and the FAA will be working with the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Aerodyne Research, Inc. and the EPA to study non-CO2 aviation emissions to understand the environmental impact of these emissions. The project will measure emissions from a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine combustor rig test stand using Jet A and 100 percent SAF through the FAA’s ASCENT program.

“As the aviation industry targets a goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, we continue to pay close attention to addressing the environmental impact of other emissions, including cruise non-volatile particulate matter and NOx,” said Sean Bradshaw, Pratt & Whitney senior technical fellow of sustainable propulsion. “Combustor rig tests with 100% SAF provide a controlled environment for generating valuable baseline data, which will support future studies using full-scale engines on-wing at ground and flight test conditions.”

The research project will compare emissions from Jet A kerosene and SAF comprised of 100 percent Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (HEFA-SPK), which is a biofuel derived from vegetable oils and animal fats and supplied by World Energy.

“By bringing together expertise from industry, government, and academia, this project represents an important step towards understanding and reducing the environmental impacts of aviation, including those arising from non-CO2 emissions,” said Dr. Philip Whitefield of Missouri University of Science and Technology. “SAF containing low sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations could contribute to reduced sulfur dioxide and non-volatile particulate emissions, which are associated with contrail formation and the impact to global warming.”

Rig testing is taking place at Pratt & Whitney’s Middletown, Connecticut facility. The testing will use an advanced Rich-Quench-Lean combustor. There will be a full range of combustor operating conditions, including takeoff ground and cruise altitudes. These factors will help the groups to understand the environmental and emissions benefits of using SAF. Pratt &Whitney, the FAA, Missouri S&T, Aerodyne Research and the EPA will be collaborating on the test design, execution and emissions data analysis