Once proof of compliance has been completed, most SAF can be blended with traditional jet fuel to up to a 50% blend, and all quality tests are completed just as they would be with traditional jet fuel. The blend is then re-certified as Jet A or Jet A-1. At that point, it can be handled in the same way as a traditional jet fuel, making SAF easy to use within the existing fueling infrastructure.
PAC Ensures Proof of Compliance for Aviation Fuels
PAC offers an extensive product portfolio with industry-proven and ASTM-compliant solutions for aviation fuels, including elemental analysis, physical properties, fuel composition, and gas chromatography. With a long history of solutions for aviation, PAC meets stringent test requirements for both conventional jet fuels, as well as sustainable aviation fuels with extended requirements.
PAC Solutions for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Parameter
|
Conventional Jet Fuel D1655, table 1 Def Stan 91-091
|
SAF & SAF Blend (D7566) Co-Processing (D1655, Table A1.1)
|
PAC Solution
|
| Thermal Oxidative Stability |
JFTOT @ 260 ºC |
Neat SAF - JFTOT @325 ºC; Co-Processed HEFA - JFTOT @ 280 ºC
|
D3241 / IP 323: JFTOT IV; OptiReader
|
| Freezing Point |
≤-40ºC (Jet A) |
≤-40 ºC for Annex 1-7, except Annex 3 ≤ -60ºC *D5972 is the referee method for co-processed aviation fuel |
D5972 / IP 435: JFA 70Xi Freezing Point & Viscosity @ -20ºC & -40ºC D7153 / IP 529: OptiFZP
|
| Viscosity |
Only @ -20ºC |
@-40 ºC for D7566 Annex 2,3,5,6,7;
@-40ºC for co-processed FT, HEFA
|
D7945: JFA 70Xi Freezing Point & Viscosity @ -20ºC & -40ºC
|
| Aromatics |
≤ 26.5% |
Typical ≥ 8.4%; ≤ 26.5%; ≤ 21.2% for Annex A4,6 |
D6379 / IP 436: MDA/Custom GC
|
| Sulfur |
≤ 0.3% by mass |
≤ 15 ppm (Annex 1-7, except Annex 3 ≤ 2 ppm) |
D5453: ElemeNtS
|
| FAME |
Not mandatory |
Mandatory per batch of Annex 2, 6, & 7 |
IP 599: FAME in Avtur Analyzer
|
| Hydrocarbon Composition |
Not required |
Mandatory for Annex 2-7 |
D8396: Custom GCxGC
|
| Distillation |
|
|
D86 / IP 123: OptiDist
D2887 / IP 406: Sim Dist
D7345 : OptiPMD
|
| Flash Point |
|
|
D56 / IP 170: OptiFlash Tag & Abel
D3828 / IP 523: OptiFlash small scale
|
Thermal stability remains a critical parameter so that no significant biomass residues and contaminants remain in the SAF. The JFTOT IV is ready for the potentially more viscous SAF streams, and provides accurate and reliable thermal oxidative stability analysis with enhanced safety features and simplified operational capabilities, with a small-footprint design.
The multi-wavelength ellipsometric jet fuel heater tube rater offers accurate and fast results, with excellent data integration capabilities.
A self-cleaning instrument that performs freeze point, density, and viscosity at both -20 and -40ᵉC in a single instrument. It features a new, side mounted automatic sample injection port, or a full-function 48-place autosampler for increased productivity.
The MDA Incorporates high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technology to detect aromatics in jet fuel in the 150ºC to 400ºC (752ºF) range within 25 minutes.
Detects Total Sulfur and/or Total Nitrogen efficiently using ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF) and chemiluminescence (CLD) in solid, liquid, gaseous materials and LPG samples, including SAF.
Specifically designed to measure FAME (biodiesel) in jet fuel, this gas chromatography application features a unique combination of Deans switching and a re-focus module that eliminates the need for cryogenics.
Provides enhanced, detailed and reliable compositional information on jet fuel streams.
See PAC’s complete portfolio of solutions for jet fuel:
https://www.paclp.com/lab-instruments/application/jet-fuel
Conventional Jet Fuel versus Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Identical properties and test methods are used for both jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel, although there are extended requirements for SAF, and unique requirements for various pathways.
For example, JFTOT is performed at different temperatures. Conventional fuel is measured at 260ºC, while neat SAF is processed at 325ºC, and co-processed HEFA is processed at 280ºC. The JFTOT Mk IV can be used for both types of fuels, although at different temperatures.
With freezing point, PAC’s JFA-70Xi is the referee method for sustainable aviation fuel. This is because the automatic freezing point test method has been demonstrated to be more capable in detecting heavy paraffins or contaminants that may impact cold flow properties.
There are other low-temperature fluidity and compositional requirements. Both co-processed fuels and several of the pathways have a requirement to determine viscosity at -40ºC to be no higher than 12 mm2/s. Aromatics contents are also controlled in both 100% SAF and blended fuels.
When it comes to understanding the specific needs of processing SAF, no one has a better understanding of the application nuances than PAC. With decades of experience in analyzing jet fuel, PAC is uniquely positioned to support the future of sustainable aviation fuel.
Summary
Commercializing sustainable jet fuel has the potential to be one of the most important efforts toward meeting long-term, global emissions goals and reducing the human impact on climate change.
PAC has decades of experience in helping the aviation industry comply with strict standards for jet fuel. We have instruments for a wide range of parameters, including JFTOT, freezing point, viscosity, aromatics, sulfur, FAME, and more. Beyond our product capabilities PAC has depth of application knowledge and a deep understanding of specifications as ASTM D1655, D7566, DEF STAN 91-91, and many other national specifications.
Download our brochure on Renewable Aviation Fuels
Please contact PAC for more information and detailed discussion
