Methods for Analyzing Synthetic Fuels Onboard for Data Collection and Indication

Boeing has committed to have aircraft compatible with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2030. We need to consider that in operation, we will have a mix of both fossil based and synthetic fuels in our fuel tanks, with no external ability to know what percentage of the mixture will be of both fuel types. We also need to consider that any power or electric current in a fuel tank poses a risk of ignition and should be removed from the tank. The student team on this project worked to develop different unique and novel methods or technology that do not utilize electrical power internal to a fuel tank to measure different fuel properties. For this project, we assumed that the synthetic fuel has the bounded properties as specified in ASTM D7566 Annex 2 (HEFA), and that fossil based fuels has properties as specified in Table 1 of ASTM D1655. The student team worked to develop methods of analyzing the fuel using no electric current and reporting the following properties: • Density • Dielectric Constant • Fuel height • Hydrocarbons measurement (CnH2n) Note current Fuel Quantity Indication Systems (FQIS) use both capacitance and sound to measure fuel height and should not be considered as part of this study. Anticipated outcomes of this project included the identification of methods of measurement and analysis of a mixture at any ratio of Fossil based and Synthetic fuels and to consider estimates of the following criteria: • Weight • Materials • Safety • Cost • Feasibility • Risks • Application of data collected (Value) – Ideas of how this data could be used to add value to a customer • Accuracy The student team on this project aimed to present the idea(s), considerations, and how the above criteria was evaluated. Level of detail is expected to be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 – Technology Formulation (Concept and application have been formulated).

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