Overview of Jet Fuel
The aeroplanes we so often use to travel use a separate kind of fuel. The energy content and combustion quality of jet fuels are important to fuel performance characteristics because the primary purpose of aviation turbine fuel (also known as jet fuel) is to power aircraft. Other essential performance characteristics include cleanliness, lubricity, fluidity, volatility, and non-corrosivity.
Acute access to jet fuels has been linked to neurologic consequences in people, including narcosis, gait abnormalities, headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, exhaustion, and issues with coordination and balance—so many things to know about in the article. Let’s dive right in!
What is Jet Fuel?
Jet fuel, often known as aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or avtur, is a kind of aviation fuel made for gas turbine-powered aircraft. It appears colourless to straw-coloured. The fuels Jet A and Jet A-1, manufactured to a defined worldwide specification, are most frequently used in commercial aviation. Other than Jet B, which is used for its improved cold-weather performance, there are no other jet fuels frequently used in commercial turbine-engine-powered aviation.
Jet fuel is a complex blend of many different hydrocarbons. The specifications for the item, such as its freezing or smoke point, specify the range of its sizes (molecular masses or carbon numbers).
Jet Fuel used in Aviation
What Fuel is Used in an Aeroplane?
The majority of aircraft use kerosene fuel, except for the ones with piston engines. There are numerous formulae available, with Jet A-1 being the most popular. It is used in the majority of jet-powered aircraft and is also known as JP-1A. Kerosene makes up the majority of Jet A-1, with a little amount of additives. These chemicals act as preservatives to guard against damage to aircraft engines.
Kerosene fuel is used by aircraft for a number of purposes. First of all, kerosene is said to be less volatile than regular gasoline. Kerosene has a flashpoint roughly equal to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which means that it won't ignite unless it is subjected to temperatures higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Kerosene's freezing point is also lower than gasoline. Kerosene won't freeze until it reaches a -22 Fahrenheit temperature.
Because aeroplanes fly at such high altitudes, a low freezing point is crucial. The cruising altitude of the majority of commercial aircraft is between 33,000 and 42,000 feet above sea level. The air becomes substantially colder than the air close to the ground at this altitude. Kerosene can tolerate these severe climatic conditions without freezing because of its low freezing point. Petrol is less lasting than kerosene.
Aeroplane Getting Fuelled
Uses of Jet Fuels
Jet fuels are used in various aviation activities. They are one of the types of aviation fuels; let’s have a look at the uses:
Turbine Motors: The turbines and piston motors that keep jets, as well as other aeroplanes, in the air and flying safely are powered by jet fuel.
Kerosene: In America, kerosene has been used as a heat source in portable stoves, barbecues, and space heaters for centuries. In the current world, underprivileged nations continue to use kerosene.
Lighting: Kerosene, which is essentially what jet fuel is, is also used to light lamps and lanterns. Kerosene vapours can be highly explosive when combined with air; hence lamps and lanterns must always be kept closed.
Summary
In this article, we learned about various uses of jet fuel. When choosing a fuel for an aircraft, specific energy is a crucial factor. Aircraft in flight using electric cells as the motive power energy store have not yet been commercially feasible for even tiny personal aircraft due to the significantly greater energy storage capacity of hydrocarbons compared to batteries.
We also learned that petroleum-based fuels or blends of petroleum and artificial fuel are referred to as aviation fuels and are used to power aeroplanes. They are subject to stricter regulations than fuels used for fixed purposes, such as heating and driving, and they contain additives to improve or preserve characteristics vital to fuel management or performance.
FAQs on Uses of Jet Fuel
1. What is jet fuel and what is its primary purpose?
Jet fuel is a specialised type of petroleum-based fuel, specifically a type of kerosene. Its primary purpose is to power aircraft equipped with gas-turbine engines, such as commercial airliners, cargo planes, and military jets. It is designed to perform reliably under the extreme temperature and pressure conditions found at high altitudes.
2. What are the main uses of jet fuel besides powering commercial aeroplanes?
While the primary use is for aviation, jet fuel has other specialised applications. These include:
Powering military jets and surveillance aircraft.
Fuelling some helicopters that use turbine engines.
Used as a fuel in some land-based gas turbine generators for producing electricity.
Acting as a solvent for cleaning and as a coolant in certain industrial processes.
3. What are the different types of jet fuel, like Jet A and Jet A-1?
The most common types of jet fuel are:
Jet A: A kerosene-based fuel used primarily in the United States. It has a freezing point of -40°C.
Jet A-1: This is the most widely used jet fuel internationally. It is very similar to Jet A but has a lower freezing point of -47°C, making it suitable for long-haul international flights across colder regions. It also contains an anti-static additive.
Jet B: A wide-cut fuel, which is a mix of kerosene and gasoline, that performs better in extremely cold weather. It is more flammable and used mainly in very cold climates.
4. How is jet fuel different from petrol or diesel used in cars?
Jet fuel, petrol (gasoline), and diesel are all derived from crude oil but are refined differently for specific purposes. The main differences are:
Composition: Jet fuel is a kerosene-based fuel, while petrol is made of lighter hydrocarbons and diesel of heavier ones.
Freezing Point: Jet fuel has a much lower freezing point to prevent it from solidifying at high altitudes.
Flash Point: Jet fuel has a higher flash point (the temperature at which it ignites) than petrol, making it safer to handle.
Additives: Jet fuel contains special additives like anti-icing agents, anti-static agents, and corrosion inhibitors not found in car fuels.
5. Why can't you use jet fuel in a regular car engine?
You cannot use jet fuel in a regular petrol car because its engine is designed for the high volatility and octane rating of gasoline. Using jet fuel, which is much less volatile, would prevent the spark plugs from igniting the fuel properly, causing the engine to fail. While a diesel engine might run on jet fuel for a short time as they are chemically similar, it is not recommended. Jet fuel lacks the proper lubrication properties of diesel, which can cause severe damage to the fuel pump and injectors over time.
6. What is jet fuel made of, chemically?
Jet fuel is not a single chemical compound but a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, which are molecules containing hydrogen and carbon atoms. It is primarily derived from the kerosene fraction of crude oil. The typical hydrocarbon chains in jet fuel have between 8 and 16 carbon atoms. In addition to hydrocarbons, it contains various additives to improve performance and safety, such as antioxidants, anti-icing agents, and anti-static agents.
7. Why does jet fuel have a higher flash point than gasoline?
Jet fuel is designed to have a higher flash point (around 38°C) compared to gasoline (around -43°C) as a crucial safety feature. The flash point is the lowest temperature at which a fuel's vapours will ignite when exposed to a flame. A higher flash point means the fuel is less volatile and less likely to accidentally ignite from sparks or heat during refuelling and handling on the ground, reducing the risk of fire at busy airports.
8. What colour is jet fuel and does the colour signify anything important?
In its pure state, jet fuel (like Jet A or Jet A-1) is clear to a pale yellow or straw colour. It is often referred to as being "water-white". Unlike automotive gasoline, which is often dyed to indicate its octane rating, commercial jet fuel is generally not dyed. The clear colour helps ground crews easily spot any contamination, such as water or sediment, during quality checks before fuelling an aircraft.
