Sustainable Options in Aviation Research Laboratory

SOAR

The SOAR Lab (Sustainable Options in Aviation Research) is a state-of-art facility focused on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) R&D and provides testing services to North American and European collaborators. Partnering with over 35 other institutions and private entities, the SOAR lab offers applied research services, in-demand testing methodologies, and equipment to advance the region as a leader in emerging low-carbon aviation energy solutions.

Graduate student handing another student a beaker of liquid while staff member supervises.

To meet the clean energy challenge, the aerospace industry is committed to ‘net-zero’ carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve the goal, roughly 2,500 new sustainable aviation fuel production facilitates will be commissioned by 2050; 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030 and 35 billion gallons of SAF by 2050. We commit to achieve this goal through innovative, cost-effective technologies. This specialized research lab at the WSU Tri-Cities campus is uniquely positioned to lead SAF research and innovation.

Capability & Equipment

JFTOT (Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Tester)
IQT (Ignition Quality Tester)
GFAA (Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry)
ICPOES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy)
BOCLE (Ball-On-Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator)
GCxGC_VUV (2D Gas Chromatography_Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectroscopy)
NCD (Nitrogen Chemiluminescence Detector)
DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry)

CIC (Combustion Ion Chromatography)
GC-SimDis (High Temperature Simulated Distillation)
Distillation Curve (Microdistillation System)
O-Ring Swelling (Custom O-Ring Swelling System)
HVP 972 (Vapor Pressure)
THW (Thermal Conductivity Meter)
Benchtop NMR (% Hydrogen)

Research

Recently work has focused on the development of sustainable aviation fuels, which are low-carbon fuels produced from biomass. Fuel’s properties are controlled by the composition of the fuel. Our work utilizes this reasoning to make property predictions, connecting composition to hydrocarbon property databases and property blending rules.

Student wearing a lab coat, gloves, and goggles inspecting a tube of liquid.

Testing Service

Measurements with corresponding property requirements as described in ASTM D1655.

Single Test

Acidity (pH Titrator) – D3242
Aromatics (FIA System) – D1319
Corrosion (Circulator/Bath) – D130
Density (Viscometer/Density) – D7945
Derived Cetane Number/DCN (IQT) – D7668
Dielectric Constant – D924
Dissolved Water (KF Titration) – D6304
Distillation Curve/Separations (Micro Spinning Band Distillation System)
Elastormer Swelling (Custom Dialometry) – Research
Flash Point – D3828
Freezing Point – D5972/D7153
Fuel-Bound Nitrogen (GC-NCD)
Gum Content in Fuel (Jet Evaporation)
Heat Capacity (DSC) – E1269
Heat of Combustion/HOC – D4809
Lubricity (BOCLE) – D5001
Mass-Based Composition (GC x GC VUV) – Research
Mercaptan Sulfur (Titrator)
Mixture Separation (GC x GV VUV Detector)
Particulate Contamination in AF (Gravimetric Method) – D5452
Percentage of Hydrogen (NMR-Hydrogen Analyzer) – D7171
Peroxide Content (Titrator) – D3703-99
Smoke Point (Koehler Lamp) – D1322
Surface Tension (Tensiometer) – D1331
The Distillation Curve (Sim Dist) – D2887
Thermal Conductivity (THW Anemometry)
Thermal Deposition Rate (Model 430 Ellipsometer) – Research
Thermal Stability Breakpoint (JFTOT) – D3241
Total Sulfur (UV Fluorescence) – D5453
Trace Elements (ICP-OES) – D7111
Vapor Pressure – D6378
Viscosity (Viscometer) – D445

Package Test

Suite of Tier α
- GC x GC – UDR FC-M-101
- w% Hydrogen
- Data Analysis
Suite of Tier β
- Density vs. Temperature at 15^oC
- Viscosity vs. Temperature at -20^oC – D445
- Viscosity vs. Temperature at -40^oC – D445
- Surface Tension vs. Temperature (22^oC) – D1331
- Distillation Curve (Sim Dist) – D2887
- Flash Point – D3828
- Freezing Point – D5972/D7153
- Heat of Combustion/HOC (MJ/kg) – D4809
- Mass-based Composition (GC x GC) – UDR FC-M-101
- w% Hydrogen
- Elastomer Swelling (O-Ring) – Research
- Data Analysis
Suite of Repository Analysis
- Tier α and β
- Particulate Matter – D5452
- Aromatics – D1319
- Corrosion – D130
- Acidity – D3242
- Total Sulfur – D5453
- Dissolved Water – D6304
- Vapor Pressure – D6378
- Dielectric Constant – D924
- Fuel-bound Nitrogen
- Distillation Curve/Separations
- Conductivity – D2624
- Thermal Stability (Breakpoint) – D3241
- Thermal Deposition Rate – Research
- Smoke Point – D1322
- Elastomer Swelling – Research
Suite of CFD Analysis
- Tier α and β
- Vapor Pressure D6378
- Conductivity – D2624
- Distillations (Optimum) – Research
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
- Density wrt Greater Range of Temperature
- Viscosity wrt Greater Range of Temperature
- Surface Tension wrt Greater Range of Temperature

Sample Vials and Containers

Selecting the proper sample vials and containers is crucial for ensuring the integrity and accuracy of your samples. Consider the following when choosing an appropriate container:

Material compatibility (metal/glass to avoid contamination)
Volume and size
Cap type and seal (high quality, chemical-resistant liner/PTFE)

Useful Links:

1 Gallon Epoxy Lined Can

Lab Members

Prof. Joshua HeyneBSEL 227joshua.heyne@wsu.eduDirector of the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Lab (BSEL) and Co-director of the WSU-PNNL Bioproducts Institute (BIO-IN)

Principal Investigator for the integration and coordination activities of the National Jet Fuels Combustion Program of the FAA’s ASCENT Center of Excellence