Description
Travelling by air is the fastest mode of transport. When thinking about an Aeroplane a question that often comes in mind is that what fuel does it operate with. The type of fuel requirement for an aeroplane and a car or a motor bike is different. Another question that comes in mind is that can we use the same fuel which is used in aeroplanes, in cars also to increase their speed.
Most jets and cars are powered through some sort of combustion. Cars have an internal combustion engine and jets have gas turnine engines which means they both rely on heat source or explosion to power the engine. In most cases this requires some sort of combustion fossil fuel which is derived from oil. Now where the fuel differs is in the hydrocarbons derived from the oil. Gasoline consists of hydrocarbons which contains anywhere from 7 to 11 carbon atoms with hydrogen molecules. Jet fuel on the opposite hand consists of hydrocarbons in the range of 12 to 15.
Generally speaking jet fuel is made up of kerosene.
Theoretically planes and cars could run on the same fuel but there are differences in the environmental conditions of both. Jets fly at heights of over 3000 ft and at -40 degree temperatures. At such conditions normal gasoline would freeze and aircraft wont work. For this reason kerosene is used in aeroplanes as it has much lower freezing point. It also has a higher flash point making it competitively safer preventing unplanned combustion. so not only at very low temperature but also at higher temperature it is suitable. Cost wise jet fuel is cheaper than gasoline used in cars however on an average a commercial aircraft requires 2500 litres of fuel for one minute for flying.
