Multi-Criteria Analysis in the Selection of Alternative Fuels for Pulse Engines in the Aspect of Environmental Protection

The growing interest in alternative fuels stems from the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. Despite the dominance of fossil fuels in aviation, pulsejet engines offer a promising platform for testing new fuels due to their simple design and fuel versatility....

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Main Authors: Grzegorz M. Szymański, Bogdan Wyrwas, Klaudia Strugarek, Mikołaj Klekowicki, Malwina Nowak, Aleksander Ludwiczak, Alicja Szymańska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/14/3604
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Summary:The growing interest in alternative fuels stems from the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. Despite the dominance of fossil fuels in aviation, pulsejet engines offer a promising platform for testing new fuels due to their simple design and fuel versatility. This study presents a multi-criteria analysis of alternative fuels for use in pulsejet engines, emphasizing environmental impacts. Both gaseous (biogas, ethyne, LPG, and natural gas) and liquid fuels (methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, Jet A-1, and SAF) were examined. Exhaust emissions (CO<sub>2</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>O, CO) were simulated in Ansys 2025 based on literature data and chemical calculations. Additional factors analyzed included calorific value, production cost, thermal expansion, density, life cycle emissions (LCA), CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per fuel mass, and renewable energy content. Using the zero-unitization method, results were normalized into a single aggregate variable for each fuel. The highest values were recorded for biogas and methanol, respectively, indicating their potential as alternative fuels. The findings support further development of sustainable fuels for pulsejet engines. Future research should address combustion optimization and noise reduction, enhancing viability in aviation and other transport sectors. Integration with the current fuel infrastructure is also recommended to facilitate broader implementation.
ISSN:1996-1073