Honeywell Runs Biofuel on Engines, APU

Honeywell (Booth No. 2600) has completed initial testing of renewable jet fuel on its TPE331 and TFE731 engines and an auxiliary power unit. Performance and fuel economy were comparable to typical aviation fuels, but emissions were reduced by 15 to 50 percent depending on the engine and its power setting. The biofuel blend tested was developed by UOP, a Honeywell subsidiary based in Des Plaines, Ill. It is composed of 50 percent jatropha and algae-based biofuel, and 50 percent petroleum-based fuel. The engine tests included evaluation of combustion characteristics and a full-engine test for the TPE331 turboprop engine. The UOP process adds hydrogen to remove oxygen from the biological feedstock.