Determination of fuel characteristics
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsPeter Swann, David M Beaven, Craig W Bemment, Alastair G Hobday, Benjamin J Keeler, Christopher P Madden, Martin K Yates
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Abstract
A method of determining one or more fuel characteristics of an aviation fuel suitable for powering a gas turbine engine of an aircraft. The method includes: exposing the surface of a piezoelectric crystal to the fuel; measuring a vibration parameter of the piezoelectric crystal; and determining one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the vibration parameter. Also disclosed is a fuel characteristic determination system, a method of operating an aircraft, and an aircraft.
Claims19
A method of determining one or more fuel characteristics of an aviation fuel suitable for powering a gas turbine engine of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- exposing the surface of a piezoelectric crystal to the fuel;
- measuring a vibration parameter of the piezoelectric crystal;
- and
- determining one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the vibration parameter, wherein the one or more fuel characteristics include one or more of:
- a hydrocarbon distribution of the fuel;
- a percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in the fuel;
- an aromatic hydrocarbon content of the fuel;
- an oxygen content of the fuel;
- a thermal stability of the fuel;
- and/or
- a coking level of the fuel.
A fuel characteristic determination system for determining a fuel characteristic of an aviation fuel suitable for powering a gas turbine engine of an aircraft, the system comprising:
- a sensor comprising a piezoelectric crystal, a surface of the piezoelectric crystal adapted to be exposed to the fuel, the sensor being arranged to measure a vibration parameter of the piezoelectric crystal;
- and
- a fuel characteristic determination module arranged to determine one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the vibration parameter, wherein the one or more fuel characteristics include one or more of:
- a hydrocarbon distribution of the fuel;
- a percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in the fuel;
- an aromatic hydrocarbon content of the fuel;
- an oxygen content of the fuel;
- a thermal stability of the fuel;
- and/or
- a coking level of the fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.