Modern jet engines are designed to be highly efficient while simultaneously limiting the amount of harmful emissions produced. Presently, there is a desire to develop new jet fuels which are renewable, sustainable and allow for energy independence. However, the performance of these fuels must be carefully considered before use in current or next generation jet engines.
State-of-the-art multiphysics computer simulations are developed and applied to investigate the behavior of new fuels to compare their performance to current jet fuels. In partnership with NASA and the FAA, these high fidelity simulations determine the relative performance of new jet fuels at operating conditions near lean blowout (LBO), where the combustion process can be highly unstable.