Effects of Biofuel on the Performance and Emissions Characteristics of a Small Scale Gas Turbine

A 30 kW gas turbine was used to characterize the performance and exhaust emissions of Jet A, soy methyl ester, canola methyl ester, and their blends in Jet A (50% by volume). Measurements included static thrust, thrust-specific fuel consumption, and thermal efficiency over a range of throttle settings. The exhaust concentrations of CO and NO produced by the combustion of these fuels were measured. Results indicated that the addition of biofuel to the Jet A fuel reduced the static thrust and the thrust-specific fuel consumption, and increased the thermal efficiency of the gas turbine. An increase in the biofuel content of a fuel blend also reduced the CO and NO emissions. The performances of biofuel-Jet A blends suggest that an optimum mixture can be used to reduce the pollutant concentrations while still producing the desired thrust. This study demonstrates that biofuels can become viable alternatives or supplements to petroleum-based fuels currently used in gas turbine engines.