Can natural gas fuel planes?

1.3. Cryogenic fuels. In aircraft application, natural gas and hydrogen must be stored on the aircraft as cryogenic liquids—liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquid hydrogen (LH2)—to maximize energy storage density. Both of these fuels have a higher specific energy than jet fuel but a lower mass density.

Can you run a jet engine on methane?

Methane as a fuel in a turbine system for power production has existed for decades, beginning with models such as the GE Frame-3 generators still in use in many places today. These early models were capable of generating 11,923 kW continuous using only methane (natural gas) with an exhaust temperature of 542 °C (1).

Why do Jets not use gasoline?

Aviation kerosene has a freezing point of -47 °C. Planes fly at extremely high altitudes, which means they spend a lot of airtime in sub-zero temperatures. As a result, planes need to use fuel with a low freezing point – like kerosene – so the fuel functions properly without solidifying during the flight.

Can jet engines run on any fuel?

So even though the jet engines of an aeroplane might work with diesel at ground level on warm temperatures, the fuel in the tanks might freeze at high altitudes and then the engines would not get any fuel. A jet engine can run on any fuel you can flow through a pipe.

What does methane gas do to planes?

Low flying airplanes do get the effects of methane gas which is lighter than air and tends to rise. The gas can either starve the engine of oxygen or if the engine is very hot it may ignite the gas if it is dense enough. This usually happens at 500 meters or less.

Is methane in jet fuel?

Some advantages of methane in an aircraft gas turbine Because liquid methane may be obtained from existing natural gas sources or produced synthetically from a range of other hydrocarbon sources (coal, biomass, shale, organic waste), it is considered as an aviation fuel in a simplified cycle analysis of the performance …

Why are diesel engines not used in aircraft?

Diesel is fairly unstable when exposed to variations in temperature. As planes fly higher they are exposed to temperatures going upto -60°C and the fuel gets real cold. As you should know diesel forms a sticky, gel like substance when cooled.