Pratt & Whitney leads biofuels project for aircraft

Longueuil, Quebec-based Pratt & Whitney Canada, a subsidiary of Hartford, Conn.'s United Technologies (NYSE: UTX), announced that it is leading an aerospace industry-university research effort to investigate the potential use of biofuels for small and medium size engines.

The company is evaluating the feasibility of using second generation biofuels that come from sources that do not compete with food. Pratt & Whitney Canada said the research could include jatropha and algae derived biofuels, as well as biobutanol to power aircraft engines.

Walter Di Bartolomeo, VP of engineering at Pratt & Whitney Canada, said "we aim to have a fuel-flexible engine and to develop technologies that will allow us to offer aircraft manufacturers innovative and green power solutions."

Earlier this month, the London-based Rolls-Royce Group (LON: RR) teamed up with Middlesex, England's British Airways (LON: BAY) to investigate the viability of alternative fuels for the aviation industry (see Rolls-Royce, British Air to look at alternative fuels).

Tokyo's Japan Airlines, Houston-based Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) and the U.K.'s Virgin Atlantic are also working on biofuel-powered flight tests.

Pratt & Whitney Canada said its alternative fuel project is one of several initiatives under a joint research collaboration agreement recently signed by the governments of Canada and India.

The company said Hyderabad, India-based Infotech Enterprises and two major Indian oil companies will participate in the research. Four Canadian institutions, McGill University, Laval University, Ryerson University and the National Research Council Canada are also part of the project, along with the Indian Institute of Technology, Science and Petroleum.

"Our goal is to develop technologies for fuel flexible gas turbine engines, which can operate with a variety of biofuels and mixtures using the same hardware," said Sam Sampath, manager and senior fellow of combustion engineering and emissions control at Pratt & Whitney Canada, who is leading the research project.

The company has previously looked into alternative jet fuel blends using shale and tar sand oil derived products, as well as hydrogen.

This latest four-year project will identify and assess appropriate biofuels, studying their effect on engine components such as combustors and fuel systems, and develop appropriate technologies and design changes to accommodate them.

The project will also conduct tests comparing current jet fuels with first generation ethanol, as well as second generation biofuels.

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