Kinetics and dynamics of alternative jet fuels flames – IDYLLE

With the forthcoming depletion of fossil fuels, engine manufacturers and research institutes from aeronautics are working to find alternative solutions. To face this problem, the initial step consists of improving the combustion process in aeronautic chamber as well as developing new chamber designs for civil and military aircrafts. This work needs the use of computer codes able to simulate all the processes involved. The models need to be as predictive as possible. Another possibility is the use of non-fossil fuels. There are two families for these aeronautic alternative fuels: synthetic fuels and renewable fuels or biofuels. Despite the various physical and chemical properties of these different fuels, their use must be transparent for the user of the aeronautic engine in terms of performances, pollutant emissions and reliability. To face the diversity of the potential fuels, a tremendous effort is required to be sure these alternative fuels match the kinetics and the flame dynamics of the reference fuels.
IDYLLE project aims at achieving a better understanding for a better modeling of the kinetic and the flame dynamic of aeronautic alternative fuels. Joint experimental and numerical approaches will be performed. This objective of this project is double: develop a reduced kinetic scheme for a synthetic aeronautic fuel and provide an improved turbulent combustion model. These two deliverables will allow a better simulation of the heat release as well as the stability and extinction limits. These improvements will also allow the design of new combustion chambers.