Technical Fuel Assessment

A complex multi-stage process

This is a multi-stage process that gradually increases in complexity. It starts with simple, individual problems, similar to understanding thed individual pieces of a complex puzzle.

From there, it advances to the benchmark and sub-system level, comparable to putting together groups of these puzzle pieces. Ultimately, the procedure culminates at the system level, akin to assembling all the puzzle pieces together to form the complete picture.

The DLR Institute of Combustion Technology carries out these assessments by employing a customized combination of numerical investigations and experiments executed on test benches. This combination is adjusted based on the particular type of fuel and its proposed application, ensuring that each evaluation is distinctly suited to the fuel being assessed.

Sometimes, there might be only a small quantity of fuel (ml), with the primary focus being on the fuel's certification. In these cases, a process known as 'prescreening' is applied. This is a preliminary assessment that tests the basic properties of the fuel to ensure it meets the necessary criteria for further testing and eventual use.

Conversely, when there is more fuel available, the assessment goes a step further to evaluate the fuel's performance in technical systems. This may involve testing the fuel in experiments for fuel preparation, for chemical conversion, in model combustors like HIPOT and HBKS or in real-life applications behind planes and ships.

In scientific projects for fuel optimization, this process of technical fuel assessment is not a one-time affair. It's repetitive and iterative, allowing for the optimization of the fuel's technical performance and an evaluation of its environmental and climate impact. Through this continuous testing, fuels can be designed and modified to meet specific optimization targets.

However, the fuel industry is facing a significant challenge. The methods and approaches used to date for fuel assessment are based predominantly on fossil fuels. These methods are of little or no use when it comes to assessing novel fuels from renewable sources, which behave differently and have different properties. Therefore, there is an essential need for new methodologies and models to assess these modern, alternative fuels. The development and expansion of these methods is a primary aim of ongoing research and development work in this field.