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SwiftFuel, meant as a replacement for 100LL aviation fuel is being developed by SwiftEnterprises, an Indiana-based company. The fuel was invented by John and Mary Rusek in cooperation with Purdue University, and is derived from [[ethanol]]. It has attracted attention in the popular press as a potential [[renewable energy|renewable]] alternative for automotive gasoline engines, as it is expected to be clean-burning and inexpensive at $1.80USD/gallon.<ref name=cringely>[http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2008/pulpit_20080606_005036.html "It's the Platform, Stupid" by Robert X Cringely</ref>
SwiftFuel, meant as a replacement for 100LL aviation fuel is being developed by SwiftEnterprises, an Indiana-based company. The fuel was invented by John and Mary Rusek in cooperation with Purdue University, and is derived from [[ethanol]]. It has attracted attention in the popular press as a potential [[renewable energy|renewable]] alternative for automotive gasoline engines, as it is expected to be clean-burning and inexpensive at $1.80USD/gallon.<ref name=cringely>[http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2008/pulpit_20080606_005036.html "It's the Platform, Stupid" by Robert X Cringely</ref>


Revision as of 17:42, 26 August 2008

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SwiftFuel, meant as a replacement for 100LL aviation fuel is being developed by SwiftEnterprises, an Indiana-based company. The fuel was invented by John and Mary Rusek in cooperation with Purdue University, and is derived from ethanol. It has attracted attention in the popular press as a potential renewable alternative for automotive gasoline engines, as it is expected to be clean-burning and inexpensive at $1.80USD/gallon.[1]

Swift Enterprises Claims

Claims made on Swift Enterprises' Fuel page:

  • SwiftFuel does not contain lead
  • Seamless replacement of 100LL (no engine modifications)
  • 15-25% increase in range over 100LL (no oxygenates)
  • 20% drop in pollutants over the current 100LL fuel
  • 15% more volumetric energy than 100LL (SwiftFuel has higher energy content per gallon than petroleum)
  • No need for stabilizers or additives

Claims made in Swift Enterprise' press releases:


Claims made in other media:

  • SwiftFuel meets or exceeds the standards for aviation fuel as verified by nationally recognized laboratories. [2]
  • A 2,500-square-foot pilot plant for SwiftFuel production is being built at the delphi municipal airport in Indiana by Swift Enterprises, with an expected output of 2,000 gallons per day. [3] The plant will use ethanol produced from sorghum and other bio mass material per geographic restrictions to the, future built commercial plant construction.

Claims that have not been traced directly back to Swift Fuel:

  • SwiftFuel has an octane rating of 104.
  • SwiftFuel is more compatible with existing gasoline infrastructure than ethanol
  • SwiftFuel produces fewer harmful emissions than gasoline
  • Ethanol made from sorghum will allow production of six times the energy per acre than corn, reducing the "food vs fuel" trade-off which biofuels are often criticized over.
  • Visitors are invited to tour the facility in Purdue's Research Park
  • SwiftFuel will go before a federal aviation consortium later this year to begin the process of certification

Apparent Problems with Claims

  • The Sorghum claims are difficult to substantiate. Bushel for bushel, corn and sorghum produce the same volume of ethanol.[4] An AP article [5] claims that sorghum-sap-based ethanol has 4 times the energy yield as corn-based ethanol, but is on par with sugar-cane. The sap could be used for ethanol while the grain is used for food.
  • There is no building permit issued for the pilot plant.

Verifiable Facts

  • Swift Enterprises has a myspace page
  • John Rusek, one of the inventors of SwiftFuel, is an Adjunct professor at Purdue University's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. His areas of study include using peroxides as fuels. He once gave a talk entitled "Hydrogen Peroxide for Propulsion and Power Applications: A Swift Perspective".
  • Swift Enterprises has multiple patents, some for "Renewable Engine Fuel" which is "comprised of one or more low carbon number esters, one or more pentosan-derivable furans, one or more aromatic hydrocarbon, one or more C4-C10 straight chain alkanes derivable from polysaccharides, and one or more bio-oils. In addition, the fuel may contain triethanolamine."[6]

SwiftFuel composition

Swift enterprises has formulas for several fuels in its patent application.[6]

Invention Formulation Ethyl Acetate 2-Methyl Furan Mesitylene n-Heptane Corn Oil
High Octane AvGas 17.5% 17.5% 60.0% 0.0% 5.0%
100LL Replacement 13.1% 13.1% 45.0% 25.0% 3.8%
Auto Gas 9.0% 10.0% 36.0% 40.0% 5.0%
Turbine Fuel 8.0% 24.0% 60.0% 0.0% 8.0%
Turbine Fuel 2 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 63.0% 37.0%
Diesel Fuel 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 63.0% 37.0%
Rocket Fuel 0.0% 0.0% 60.0% 35.0% 5.0%

References

  1. ^ [http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2008/pulpit_20080606_005036.html "It's the Platform, Stupid" by Robert X Cringely
  2. ^ "New Aviation Fuel Develloped in Indiana". Inside Indiana Business. 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  3. ^ Eric Weddle (2008-06-13). "Delphi could be showcase for renewable aviation fuel". Journal&Courrier. Federated Publisher Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  4. ^ Hall, Brian; Bohner, Horst. Economic Potential of Grain Sorghum for the Ethanol Market. OMAFRA. 2008-08-19. URL:http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/User/Docs/Crop%20Advances/V4Gen7.pdf. Accessed: 2008-08-19. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5aC6GobLZ)
  5. ^ Sweet Sorghum Sap
  6. ^ a b WIPO patent application WO/PCT/US2007/016867, filed 27.07.2007 "Renewable Engine Fuel", assigned to SWIFT ENTERPRISES, LTD. (IPC C10L 1/182 (2006.01), C10L 1/185 (2006.01)) -->
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