Published in Aviation Week & Space Technology in the August 6, 2007 issue, page 13. Edited by Edward H. Phillips
Printed headline: Fueling Around
NASA Glenn Research Center has begun renovation of Building 109 at its Cleveland campus for use as an alternate jet fuels test facility, and is acquiring three Fischer-Tropsch reactors supplied by the University of Kentucky for testing purposes. Glenn is spending $439,000 for equipment to be installed in the facility. The reactors (see photo) cost $149,000. The university's Center for Applied Energy Research has specialized in the Fischer-Tropsch process for 15 years. It is focusing on refining the coal-to-liquids conversion and reducing or capturing carbon dioxide generated by the conversion. NASA Glenn's Chi-Ming Lee, chief of the combustion branch, is leading a team that is exploring alternatives to petroleum-based fuel, including synthetics made from coal, natural gas and other non-petroleum sources, and biofuels from renewable sources. Glenn's research is looking primarily at improving combustion performance and reducing emissions in advanced engine designs. In addition, plans call for developing a set of predictive tools related to fuel composition and for combustor performance. Another goal is to reduce capital costs associated with synthetic jet-fuel production.
Credit: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
Permission granted by NASA to place story on the CAER web site.