Integration of Alternative Fuels and Turbine Research in an Undergraduate Classroom

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance and emissions characteristics of jet-A, kerosene, and bio-blended fuels in a micro-turbine. Experiments were conducted by students as a part of the Experimental Methods in Aerodynamics course, which is designed to enhance the understanding of diagnostic methods and combustion processes in aerospace and alternative energy applications. Students designed and built the experimental apparatus in addition to conducting testing. Thrust, fuel consumption, exhaust gas temperature, and emissions data were collected while the micro-turbine was operating at the minimum and maximum engine RPM. Integrating the design, assembly, and testing of the micro-turbine into the curriculum showed to be an effective way to introduce students to many aspects of aerospace engineering, as well as, to teach diagnostic methods and techniques while exposing them to a research setting.