Characterisation of modern aircraft gas turbine volatile particulates and their impact on the environment
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
Abstract
Modern aircraft engines emit a complex mixture of gaseous and particulate material. While some of
this particulate material is a primary emission, there are a species of particulate matter which forms
downwind of the engine, known as volatile particulate matter (vPM). The goal of this PhD is to
better characterise the source and formation of vPM and their potential impact on the environment.
The research involves working closely with Rolls-Royce to develop vPM measurement and
sampling methods, obtain datasets from aircraft gas turbine combustion and analysis of existing
datasets from previous international measurement campaigns.
With a nonvolatile particulate matter standard set to be implemented on aircraft engines in 2020,
characterising vPM will be needed to inform regulators on a possible future vPM international
aviation standard. A robust sampling and measurement methodology will need to be developed if
such a standard is implemented. There are several key knowledge gaps which need to be
addressed if the aerospace industry is to reduce vPM to below an applied standard. For example,
there is a paucity of information regarding the influence of both fuel types and lubrication oils to the
quantity of vPM emitted. The planned projects going forward include research conducted at both
Rolls Royce facilities at Derby & Port Talbot, researching fuel & lubrication oil influences on a
helicopter GNOME engine & the influence of alternate fuels respectively. Research conducted in
the 2nd year of this project will be conducted at a Rolls Royce international facility, which will be
conducted on only the cumbustor component of an aircraft engine. This will ensure that the vPM
results are entirely without influence from lubrication oils, providing a valuable comparison of the
effects of fuel types & lubrication oils on vPM.
this particulate material is a primary emission, there are a species of particulate matter which forms
downwind of the engine, known as volatile particulate matter (vPM). The goal of this PhD is to
better characterise the source and formation of vPM and their potential impact on the environment.
The research involves working closely with Rolls-Royce to develop vPM measurement and
sampling methods, obtain datasets from aircraft gas turbine combustion and analysis of existing
datasets from previous international measurement campaigns.
With a nonvolatile particulate matter standard set to be implemented on aircraft engines in 2020,
characterising vPM will be needed to inform regulators on a possible future vPM international
aviation standard. A robust sampling and measurement methodology will need to be developed if
such a standard is implemented. There are several key knowledge gaps which need to be
addressed if the aerospace industry is to reduce vPM to below an applied standard. For example,
there is a paucity of information regarding the influence of both fuel types and lubrication oils to the
quantity of vPM emitted. The planned projects going forward include research conducted at both
Rolls Royce facilities at Derby & Port Talbot, researching fuel & lubrication oil influences on a
helicopter GNOME engine & the influence of alternate fuels respectively. Research conducted in
the 2nd year of this project will be conducted at a Rolls Royce international facility, which will be
conducted on only the cumbustor component of an aircraft engine. This will ensure that the vPM
results are entirely without influence from lubrication oils, providing a valuable comparison of the
effects of fuel types & lubrication oils on vPM.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Hugh Coe (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Liam Smith (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/R009732/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2022 | |||
| 1982033 | Studentship | NE/R009732/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2021 | Liam Smith |
| Description | The first research project of this PhD / Award has its results currently being compiled into a paper. The paper details the analysis of aerosol emitted from a helicopter engine and an aircraft engine combustor. The findings of the paper were that the aerosol emitted from these aviation emission sources were comprised of three chemical 'factors' or groups, which varied in their volatility (temperature in which they are converted to gas). Very few papers have detailed this type of information. |
| Exploitation Route | This information provides chemical composition for vPM aerosol emitted from two aircraft engine emission sources - vPM is currently unregulated. The information provided by the research project thus far (project/award still ongoing) could be put to use by others aiming to develop standard testing procedures for vPM measurement in the aviation sector, and also to those looking to further research the composition of the organic vPM aerosol formed in aircraft emission plumes. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Environment,Transport |