According to the Weekly Petroleum Status Report, aviation fuel represents almost 8% of American petroleum consumption. The 46.4% used for motor vehicles is more easily replaced with alternatives such as hydrogen fuel cells, batteries, and hybrid power. For starters, airplanes need more than a 40 mile range before recharging, so different alternatives are needed.
Jet fuel from algae passes first test tells that California startup Solazyme has developed a biofuel from algae that has the same energy density and flashpoint as jetfuel. It also resists freezing at high altitudes, a requirement that other biofuels fail. Solazyme produces this new biofuel in vats without light, something different from their competitors. It still costs more than even today's aviation fuel. One of the big advantages is that it is produced in vertical tanks, not in rainforests or farmland.
As an aside, the spot price for jet fuel was $3.20, down $0.40 from the week before. Last year, the spot price was $2.37. Note that in the case of gasoline, retail is $1.03 higher than the spot price. Some reports tack on $4.30 as a transportation fee to the spot price for jet fuel, although I have not confirmed it.
Air Force Holds Throttle on Future of Green Jet Fuel: Test Flight explains that a test flight refueled an F-22 from a KC-135, with both planes powered by a 50% blend of synthetic fuel. The fuel is produced by the Fischer-Tropsch process, which converts carbon monoxide and hydrogen into a liquid petroleum equivalent. It has lots of drawbacks - it even produces carbon dioxide in the manufacturing process.
U.S. Air Force Synthetic-Fuel Program in Limbo tells that support within the Air Force for synthetic fuels is waning. There are many obstacles to successful transition. As an example, traditional jet fuel causes 'O' rings to swell, ensuring non-leaking connections. The Fischer-Tropsch fuels do not have that property, so the Air Force spends hundreds of thousands of dollars investigating leaks from $1 'O' rings.
Mmm. I have the feeling that we need to apply more engineering resources to alternative aviation power sources.
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