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The European Union Aviation Safety Agency emphasizes the importance of sustainable fuels for reducing the climate impact of aviation. Airbus is leading the EU project PACIFIC, which is examining various SAF variants with regard to their soot emissions and climate impact. Funding of five million euros is supporting the three-and-a-half-year project.
Importance of SAF for aviation
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will play a key role in mitigating the climate impacts of aviation in the coming years. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has identified six measures to achieve rapid reductions through SAF. One important approach is targeted SAF design to reduce soot formation. The PACIFIC project is investigating which fuel chemical compositions are optimal for minimizing non-CO2 effects.
The EU project PACIFIC
Airbus is leading the EU PACIFIC project, which is supported by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Rolls-Royce, and biofuel producer Neste, among others. Ten carefully selected SAF variants are being tested to evaluate their soot formation and reduction potential. Funded by the EU with approximately five million euros, the project will run for three and a half years. The project aims to use scientifically sound approaches to reduce non-CO2 emissions and improve operational efficiency.
Comprehensive testing and analysis
In the PACIFIC project, the SAF variants are being investigated in detail under realistic conditions and compared with each other. Single-nozzle sector tests are being conducted at the DLR Institute of Propulsion Technology in Cologne, followed by high-pressure tests on the HBK1 test bench. Special measurement technology analyzes soot particles and their concentration. The tests include the evaluation of particle size distribution and the investigation of climate-relevant contrails caused by different fuel compositions.
Expectations and contribution to climate reduction
As part of the strategy to reduce climate emissions, the PACIFIC project investigates the interaction of emissions with the ambient air. Scientists analyze the chemical composition of fuels and their combustion processes in aircraft engines. The research effort in the PACIFIC project aims to significantly reduce the climate-warming effect of contrails by selecting and testing optimized fuel variants.
Airbus is a leading aerospace company and is deeply committed to developing sustainable solutions in air transport. The company works closely with international partners and research institutions to promote innovative technologies that contribute to reducing environmental impacts. The PACIFIC project is a further step toward sustainable aviation.
Data strengthens fuel design
The DLR Institute of Combustion Technology has announced that it is working intensively on predicting the soot propensity of fuels based on their composition. Researchers are using the Simfuel® platform, a comprehensive database containing over 15,000 conventional and 450 novel fuels. The goal is to develop sustainable fuels that have both minimal climate impact and could improve air quality at airports.
Innovative database use
The Yield Sooting Indices (YSI) project uses the comprehensive Simfuel® platform to analyze the propensity of fuels to form soot. Researchers are expanding this platform, which already contains data from thousands of fuels, to include real-world fuel data. This is complemented by precise laser-based laboratory measurements that help better understand the effects of different fuel compositions. This information should enable more precise prediction of fuel behavior in technically relevant processes.
Deepening understanding
Dr. Georg Eckel, DLR project manager for the EU PACIFIC project, emphasizes that the new tool aims to close existing gaps in understanding from previous flight tests. The investigation encompasses everything from basic experiments and bench tests to real-life behavior in aircraft. This contributes to the improvement and further development of the existing DLR Simfuel® platform tool, leading to more efficient and sustainable fuels.
Climate reduction: Focus on sustainability
Another goal of the project is to develop fuels that not only reduce climate impact but also improve air quality in and around airports. This represents a significant step in sustainability policy and climate change mitigation. The combination of machine learning and the accumulated database promises a new era of fuel optimization, contributing to reducing the ecological footprint of aircraft.
Contribution to the EU initiative
The PACIFIC project, funded by the EU, significantly supports the European Union’s climate goals. The development of efficient and more sustainable fuels is a key component in the fight against climate change. By providing an intelligent platform for analyzing and optimizing fuel compositions, DLR is making a significant contribution to achieving these goals.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is one of the leading research centers in Europe. By strengthening the Simfuel® platform for predicting soot propensity, DLR is making a significant contribution to the development of more environmentally friendly aviation technologies. Through innovative research, DLR contributes to optimization and increased efficiency in the aviation industry, thus supporting sustainable technologies that benefit the environment.
