Jet fuel what is it made of

However, the engines must be suitable for the use of these aviation fuels. Aviation gasoline avgas Aviation gasoline is also called avgas for short. This aviation fuel is usually only used in the older piston engines of sports aircraft and small private aircraft that require leaded fuel with a high octane number.

Avgas as leaded gasoline with octane meets these requirements. Globally, only the avgas LL variety is still available, a regular low-lead LL gasoline that is subject to the U. Only aircraft with a gasoline engine can be operated with avgas; turbine-powered aircraft or those with diesel engines require kerosene as a fuel cf.

As avgas is expensive, there is an increasing shift to diesel fuel and kerosene. The high price results from the low production volume, long supply routes, and elaborate quality controls. They are primarily intended for the gas turbine engines of airliners, jets or helicopters, but specially adapted diesel engines for small aircraft have also used this type of fuel since the early s. Jet fuels are produced from crude oil using fractional distillation in refineries.

This process involves gradually heating the crude oil. This type of fuel contains few light or heavy hydrocarbons. The chains are between 9 and 17 carbon atoms long, with the most hydrocarbon molecules in the fuel containing between 10 and 13 carbon atoms. Kerosene jet fuel and diesel are actually similar enough to allow for cross-functionality and would provide a similar performance. Although, I wouldn't recommend running a jet on diesel. Other than this just being a cool theoretical use, Toyota actually used jet fuel in the Toyota Hilux on their arctic truck , according to Wired.

According to the report, the diesel engine was able to work without standard gas. Ultimately, the difference between gasoline and jet fuel are the hydrocarbon molecules and the additives contained in the fuel.

Both are derived from crude oil, and both run their respective engines on combustion. For a quick overview of the differences between gasoline and jet fuel, you can also watch the video below. By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. By Trevor English. The most common components are:. Downstream capabilities View our downstream services.

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