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Fuel effects on range versus payload for modern jet aircraft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2016

S. Blakey ,
C. W. Wilson ,
M. Farmery  and
R. Midgley
S. Blakey*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield
C. W. Wilson
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield
M. Farmery
Affiliation:
Shell Aviation Ltd, Shell Centre, London
R. Midgley
Affiliation:
Shell Aviation Ltd, Shell Centre, London
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

With changes in the availability and quality of existing aviation fuels anticipated in the next 30 years it is timely to assess how changes in fuel properties would affect the range payload performance of aircraft. The effects on range and payload of a wide range of candidate fuels for aviation are investigated, including changes to the blends of conventional hydrocarbon fuels. Lighter fuels tend to be more desirable for commercial flights, where the flight is as close to the maximum payload as possible. Flights favouring range over payload are better suited by a more dense fuel. The hydrocarbon blends suggest for each aircraft, an optimum fuel may exist for the maximum payload and allowing the maximum range. Specific flight plans below the maximum range of the aircraft may be met with a lower specific energy fuel.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 115 , Issue 1172 , October 2011 , pp. 627 - 634
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2011 

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