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Fuel Science

UDRI's Dr. Zachary West holds a sample of jet fuel diluted in solvent ready for analysis to look for trace contamination. Components, even in the parts-per-million level, can significantly affect how a fuel performs. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Harrington)

Keeping Fuel Safer and More Stable

UDRI Fuel Science experts conduct experimental and computational research in jet fuel thermal stability, jet fuel cold-flow improvement, fuel additives, fuel autoxidation, chemical kinetics and computational fluid dynamics of fuel oxidation and deposition, molecular modeling of alkane/fuel crystallization, aircraft fuel system operation at low temperature, fuel chemical analysis, chemical analysis of additives, fuel solid-liquid equilibria, fuel instrumental analysis, and biological contamination of fuel.

Capabilities

  • Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) systems for measuring fuel deposition, oxidation, and the effect of additives
  • Various gas chromatographic systems with atomic emission, mass spectrometric, and flame ionization detection
  • High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with uv-vis absorption, electrochemical, and refractive index detection
  • Scanning Brookfield viscometry
  • Low temperature optical microscopy
  • Differential scanning calorimetry
  • Solid-phase extraction techniques for preseparation of fuel components
  • Computational molecular modeling and molecular dynamics
  • Development of pseudo-detailed chemical kinetic models
  • Various thermal oxidation and pyrolysis fuel heat exchangers
  • Total carbon analysis
  • Direct PCR analysis of biological contaminant organisms

Contact Us: 937-229-2113  |  E-Mail  |  Form

Top: UDRI's Dr. Zachary West holds a sample of jet fuel diluted in solvent ready for analysis to look for trace contamination. Components, even in the parts-per-million level, can significantly affect how a fuel performs. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Harrington)

UDRI's Dr. Zachary West examines a sample of jet fuel contaminated with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), a urea-based solution designed to reduce polluting emissions from refueling trucks.
In the News

Fouled fuel

When multiple jet aircraft were forced to make emergency landings after engine failure, fuels researchers at UDRI quickly identified the problem.

In the News

Fouled fuel

UDRI's Dr. Zachary West examines a sample of jet fuel contaminated with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), a urea-based solution designed to reduce polluting emissions from refueling trucks.

When multiple jet aircraft were forced to make emergency landings after engine failure, fuels researchers at UDRI quickly identified the problem.

CONTACT

University of Dayton Research Institute


300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469 - 0101
937-229-2113
Email