A method of determining one or more fuel characteristics of an aviation fuel F for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft. The method comprises passing UV-visual spectrum light through the fuel, measuring a transmittance parameter indicating the transmittance of light through the fuel, determining one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the transmittance parameter, and communicating the one or more fuel characteristic to a control module of the engine or aircraft. The method uses a UV-Vis sensor 131 comprising a light source 133a and a transmittance detector 133b. The transmittance parameter may indicate the transmittance of the UV-visual spectrum light as a function of wavelength. The one or more fuel characteristics may include a hydrocarbon distribution, an aromatic hydrocarbon content, a percentage of sustainable aviation fuel and/or whether the fuel is fossil fuel, e.g. fossil kerosene. The method may be carried out on fuel within, sampled from, or being delivered to a fuel tank of the aircraft, during use of the gas turbine engine, preferably within a fuel system of the gas turbine engine, and/or during a fuel loading process of the fuel tank.
Determination of fuel characteristics
25.09.2024
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | F02C Gasturbinenanlagen , GAS-TURBINE PLANTS / G01N Untersuchen oder Analysieren von Stoffen durch Bestimmen ihrer chemischen oder physikalischen Eigenschaften , INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES / B64D Ausrüstung für Flugzeuge , EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT |