Aviation fuels degradation

Supervisors: Professor M Pourkashanian, Professor K Hughes

In jet engines, aviation fuel has a secondary purpose as a coolant in addition to being a fuel. As a result, it is subject to thermal stresses that may cause fuel degradation leading to deposit build up and potentially catastrophic engine failure.

This project aims to investigate the mechanisms of deposit formation, to look at the links, if any, between fuel autoxidation, the presence of additives, and contaminants, on deposit formation. This project will use various standard experimental tests of fuel stability, employing techniques such as GCMS to examine liquid composition, SEM and X-ray spectroscopic methods top look at deposit structure and composition.

For further information contact Professor Derek B Ingham (d.ingham@sheffield.ac.uk).