Application of factor analysis in the determination of vapor lock tendency in aviation gasolines/motor gasoline/blends and the compatibility as alternatives in naturally aspirated aviation engines

Abstract

The danger of vapour lock, generation of vapor bubbles inside the aircraft fuel system, needs a well-documented understanding to establish safe operating confines at existing fuel temperature and pressures. The aim of the research is specifically to make contributions in the direction of the present scientific studies of UL aviation gasoline initiatives in piston aircrafts, globally specifically aiming on the vapor locking tendencies of aviation fuels, motor fuels and the blends and comparing the results both experimentally and statistically. Chemical and physical properties of the fuels were tested and categorised based on hydrocarbon types and properties. Study considered nine variables for vapor lock. Twenty-three aviation fuels from various literatures were collected, model equations derived, and respective comprehensive factor scores were calculated. The model was applied to the 14 fuels in this study and their respective comprehensive factor scores were calculated and ranked from the best to worst. The temperature of the gasoline as it approaches the carburettor was experimentally derived for comparative analysis with the comprehensive factor scores. Results showed that Kaiser's Measure of Sampling Adequacy (MSA) measure of sampling adequacy value is 0.728. Four common factors and their cumulative variance proportion of rotation sums of squared loadings has reached 95.530%. Based on the loadings of the rotated components, PC1 has strong significant correlation with VL index of value 0.917. Among the aviation rated fuels, for vapor lock tendency UL 82, UL 87, SWIFT UL 102, SWIFT Binary Blend and 100 SF have the highest factor score. Fuels AVGAS 100LL (D910), AVF1, AVF2, AVF4, AVGAS, Leaded 91/98, and UL 94 exhibited very poor vapor lock tendencies. RON 98 exhibited the best VL protection among all the tested fuels in this study with ccomprehensive factor scores of 0.126166 and the best experimental temperature of the gasoline as it approaches the carburettor was also exhibited by RON 98. The findings showed that RON 98 able to outperform the commercial AVGAS in terms of vapor locking characteristics.