SSAU and Lund University conduct joint research on the development of alternative aviation fuels

Yulia Krasovskaya, Junior Research Associate of SSAU Research and Educational Centre of Gas-Dynamics Research, took a two-month internship at the Swedish University of Lund.
 

The study placement was held within the framework of the competitive growth program of Samara State Aerospace University.
 

Within two months Yulia conducted studies to determine the flame propagation rate of the jet fuel substitutes by applying the unique facilities of the Physics Department Laboratory of Swedish University.
 

Aleksandr Konnov, Professor of the Lund University, an expert in the field of kinetics of chemical reactions, determination of laminar flame propagation rate, became a Research Advisor of the study placement. 
 

“We can get actually ideal conditions for combustion processes study thanks to a special unit of the burner in one of these facilities,” - said Yulia Krasovskaya.
 

The studies were conducted using a promising jet fuel surrogate, consisting of benzene (20%) and decane (80%). Calculation of the flame propagation rate was carried out in the software package “Chemkin”.
 

“As engineers, we come to any research first of all from a practical point of view, - said Yulia Krasovskaya. – In such a manner, we use the data obtained during the experiments for workflow modelling in the combustion chambers of gas turbine engine”.
 

In addition, Samara researcher attended a course of lectures of professor Konnov dedicated to the fundamentals of combustion during the study placement.
 

Currently we are processing the results of experiments. “The experiments have confirmed our hypothesis and proved the perspective of using the jet fuel surrogate, consisting of benzene and decane, for further study of combustion processes to improve the environmental performance of aircraft engines, - noted Yulia Krasovskaya. – It is new data and it will be of interest not only to Russian scientists, but also to the world community”. 
 

In the future, Yulia intends to publish an article in the publishing indexed by WoS and Scopus databases, together with Professor Aleksander Konnov.
 

Besides, the results of these studies will be presented at the conference Nordic Flame, which will be held from October 6 to October 7 in Copenhagen.
 

Following the results of the study placement a cooperation agreement was signed between SSAU Research and Educational Centre of Gas-Dynamics Research and Combustion Physics Department of the University of Lund, Sweden. 

 

For reference
 

Lund University was founded in 1666. There are seven faculties in the university (with additional campuses in the cities of Malmö and Helsingborg), with more than 34 thousand students within 50 different programs (specialties) and 800 individual courses. Lund University makes the list of the hundred best universities of the world, as well as a worldwide network Universitas 21, bringing together universities, which conduct extensive scientific research.