The path to bringing new SPKs into the industry is laid out and coordinated by CAAFI. CAAFI is a coalition of airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, energy producers, researchers, international participants and U.S. government agencies. Together these stakeholders are leading the development and deployment of alternative jet fuels for commercial aviation.
Since 2011 more types of processes and feed stocks have been approved and added to ASTM D7566 “Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons”, which is the venue for recognizing the different types of processes. The process of approval for new AJF is set by ASTM D4054 “Standard Practice for Evaluation of New Aviation Turbine Fuels and Fuel Additives”
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Approved Fuels
Listed in chronological order of approval. They represent four different processes with various feedstock types.
- Fischer-Tropsch Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (FT-SPK), year of certification 2009. Blend level 50 %. Feedstock(s): Biomass such as municipal solid waste (MSW), agricultural and forest wastes, and wood and energy crops and non-renewable feedstock such as coal and natural gas
- Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (HEFA-SPK). Year of Certification: 2011. Blend Level: up to a 50% blend. Feedstock(s): Plant and animal fats, oils and greases (FOGs)
- Hydroprocessed Fermented Sugars to Synthetic Isoparaffins (HFS-SIP) Year of Certification: 2014 Blend Level: Up to a 10% Feedstock(s): Sugars
- Fischer-Tropsch Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene with Aromatics (FT-SPK/A). Year of Certification: 2015. Blend Level: Up to 50%. Feedstock(s): Biomass such as MSW, agricultural and forest wastes, and wood and energy crops and non-renewable feedstock such as coal and natural gas
- Alcohol to Jet Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (ATJ-SPK). Year of Certification: 2016. Blend Level: Up to 50%. Feedstock(s): Starches, sugars, cellulosic biomass
The Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants, as well as their D02.J0 Sub-committee on Aviation Fuels, have also approved the co-processing of renewable lipids (plant and animal fats) with crude oil-derived middle distillates in petroleum refineries. The co-processing provision will be added to Annex A1 of ASTM D1655, Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels. The Annex includes co-processing of up to 5% by volume of fats and oils (free fatty acids and fatty acid esters found in oils derived from plants and animal fats) as feedstock in petroleum refinery processes. The co-processing Task Force will next work toward adding Fischer-Tropsch (FT) derived biocrude feedstock to the annex.
Going forward Nobil Petroleum Testing is organically expanding its expertise in the new field of biofuels for aviation, being strategically positioned at the “cutting edge” of the industry.
R&D Study
In Dec 2011 Nobil Petroleum Testing, Inc. was awarded a grant, along with other major aviation industry companies, to develop a research R&D Study for “Advanced Jet Fuel Quality and Performance Control Research and Development (R&D Study)”, which is part of US DOT/ Volpe National Transportation System Center/FAA project on introduction of Alternative Aviation Fuels. The research Publishing is part of the effort for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to adopt new technologies and evaluate alternative fuels for use in the National Airspace System (NAS) in accordance with the NextGen Implementation Plan (NGIP). The research study covers supply chain for alternative fuels from the manufacturing point to the wing of the airplane.
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Green Lane Project
Our Company has actively participated (planning and fuel testing) throughout 2012 until present to the success if the “Green Lane Project “ at JF Kennedy Int’l Airport: first-ever series of biofuel-powered intercontinental flights, operating weekly by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from New York to Schiphol Amsterdam Airport.
Additionally we were actively called upon by members of the Airport Cooperative Research Program ACRP 02-036 “Assessing Opportunities for Alternative Fuel Distribution Programs”
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Planning for future quality testing and quality control practices along the supply chain
Fuel Quality Control Management requirements throughout the supply chain, from the refinery to the wing of the airplane is complex and governed by many standards and organizations like ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) , A4A (former ATA- Air Transport Association, since 2012: Airlines for America), FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), CAAFI (Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative), OEM (Organization of Engine Manufacturers), API/EI (American Petroleum Institute/Energy Institute), IATA (International Air Transport Association), JIG (Joint Industry Guide), DEFSTAN (Defence Standard UK), ICAO ( International Civil Aviation Organization). Based on existing system for conventional aviation fuels and available Standards, and Guidelines, Nobil Petroleum Testing has the capability to make recommendations for quality testing and quality control practices throughout the supply chain in the light of introduction of Alternative Jet fuels.
Testing for process control and final product quality control
Processes control and strong Management of Change systems are crucial in manufacturing, as the industry still builds up experience and strives for improvement of existing processes. Nobil Petroleum Testing facilitates testing against ASTM D7566- Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons.
Catalog and Reporting of fuel properties
Setup laboratory and inspection integrated data collection systems that allow easy data input, storage of data, traceability of samples, batches, flag when results out of designated specification, data reporting based on specification requirements or customers’ needs. Especially with the introduction of Alternative Aviation Fuels, the need for rigorous batch traceability increases because of the different types of feed stocks involved in manufacturing, also in light of ASTM 7566 Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons, the “batch origination” (the point in the supply chain where the blend alternative fuel/conventional fuel” generates a new batch number for the blend. Traceability is also important here because the blend, once certified as per D7566 Table 1, Part 1 and 2, it is re-designated as ASTM D1655 jet fuel and treated as such throughout the supply chain. Data collection, as detailed as possible and traceability are vital as the industry is building experience and confidence in the new products.