Definition and standardization of Aviation Biokerosene 

Aviation Biokerosene is the advanced biofuel to be preferably obtained through the technological routes for biomass conversion studied and evaluated in the BioValue Project. The standardization of these biofuels is one of the objects of study of the Project. The standards in advanced biofuels considered are those defined by ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards), ANP (National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels), CEN (European Committee for Standardization), ASTM (ASTM International), among others.

The ASTM and Ministry of Defense (MOD) specifications by the United Kingdom’s Defense Standardization (DStan) are world references for Aviation Kerosene specifications, within the scope of civil aviation. The ASTM Standards covering fossil aviation kerosene and alternative aviation kerosene (bio-jet fuel) are as follows:

– ASTM D1655 – Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels – contains the specification for fossil aviation kerosene and its blending with bioQAV (ASTM D1655 – 20c, 2020);

– ASTM D4054 – Standard Practice for Evaluation of New Aviation Turbine Fuels and Fuel Additives – encompasses the tests for ASTM approval of new fuel (ASTM D4054-20a, 2020).

– ASTM D7566 – Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons – contains the specification for aviation biokerosene obtained through each of the approved technological routes (ASTM D7566-20a, 2020).

In Brazil, aviation biofuel is regulated by ANP. The current ANP Resolution – RANP 778/2019 (ANP, 2019) – for aviation kerosene, alternative aviation kerosene and aviation kerosene C (whose definitions can be found, below) establishes the specifications of these fuels.

According to RANP 778/2019, as definições para os tipos de querosene de aviação são as seguintes:

  • aviation kerosene (QAV-1): fuel of fossil origin, internationally called JET A-1, intended exclusively for consumption in aircraft turbines;
  • alternative aviation kerosene (alternative QAV): fuel derived from alternative sources, such as biomass, residual gases, solid residues, coal and natural gas, oils and fats, sugar, ethanol and isobutanol, produced by processes that comply with the Resolution in effect;
  • aviation kerosene C (QAV-C): fuel intended exclusively for use in aircraft turbines, composed of a single type of alternative QAV mixed with QAV-1 in the proportions defined in the Resolution in effect.

ANP approval of an alternative aviation kerosene is obtained according to the ASTM approval. ASTM approves the biokerosene (from the tests established in ASTM D4054) and includes it in the ASTM D7566 standard, which contains the specification for the biokerosene obtained for each of the approved technological routes. Once the ASTM approval of the biofuel is complete, ANP includes it in the updated ANP Resolution.
Any alternative aviation kerosene must meet the performance standards of conventional aviation fuel. Thus, biofuels must have the properties that characterize them as “drop-in”, i.e. biofuels that can be blended with fossil aviation fuel so that no retrofitting of current aircraft engines is required.

Currently, seven different routes for aviation biokerosene are approved by ASTM, with the last two being included in May 2020 and not yet being updated in RANP 778/2019 (TABLE). One of the routes approved by ASTM and ANP is the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, an example of one of the technological routes evaluated by the BioValue Project. As can be seen in the Table, ASTM standards and RANP 778/2019 do not allow the direct use of biokerosene in aircraft turbines. Mixtures of biokerosene with fossil QAV are allowed in established proportions.

According to RANP 778/2019, both QAV-C and QAV-1 and alternative QAV used to make up QAV-C must meet the specifications, referring to each product, established in the Technical Regulation Tables that RANP 778/2019 makes available.

For the certification of QAV-C, the alternative QAV must first be certified, following the specifications set forth in RANP 778/2019.
The next step is the certification of the QAV-C that must meet the specifications also contained in RANP 778/2019.

An update to RANP 778/2019 was published in Resolution No. 828/2020 and “provides for the information contained in quality documents and the submission of quality data for fuels produced in the national territory or imported and makes other provisions.”

References

ANP (Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis) (2019). Resolução ANP – RANP 778 – 2019. https://atosoficiais.com.br/anp/resolucao-n-778-2019-estabelece-as-especificacoes-do-querosene-de-aviacao-querosenes-de-aviacao-alternativos-e-do-querosene-de-aviacao-c-bem-como-as-obrigacoes-quanto-ao-controle-da-qualidade-a-serem-atendidas-pelos-agentes-economicos-que-comercializam-esses-produtos-em-territorio-nacional?origin=instituicao&q=778/2019. [acesso em 30-08-20].

ASTM D1655-20c, Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2020, https://www.astm.org/Standards/D1655.htm.

ASTM D4054-20a, Standard Practice for Evaluation of New Aviation Turbine Fuels and Fuel Additives, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2020, https://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/HISTORICAL/D4054-20A.htm.

ASTM D7566-20a, Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2020, https://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/HISTORICAL/D7566-20A.htm.

Referências Bibliográficas Fundamentais

Turbine Fuel, Kerosene Type, Jet A1; NATO Code: F-35; Joint Service Designation: AVTUR

Techno-economic and environmental assessment of renewable jet fuel production in integrated Brazilian sugarcane biorefineries

Fuel Properties – Effect on Aircraft and Infrastructure