Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of the Aviation Turbine Fuel Jet A

Abstract

As part of a large-scale thermophysical property measurement project, the global decomposition kinetics of the aviation turbine fuel Jet A was investigated. Decomposition reactions were performed at 375, 400, 425, and 450 °C in stainless steel ampule reactors. At each temperature, the extent of decomposition was determined as a function of time by gas chromatography. These data were used to derive global pseudo-first-order rate constants that approximate the overall decomposition rate of the mixture. Decomposition rate constants ranged from 5.9 × 10−6 s−1 at 375 °C to 4.4 × 10−4 s−1 at 450 °C. These rate constants are useful for planning property measurements at high temperatures. On the basis of the amount of time required for 1% of the sample to decompose (t0.01), we found that allowable instrument residence times ranged from about 0.5 h at 375 °C to less than 1 min at 450 °C. The kinetic data were also used to derive Arrhenius parameters of A = 4.1 × 1012 s−1 and Ea = 220 kJ·mol−1. In addition to the decomposition kinetics, we have also done a GC-MS analysis of the vapor phase that is produced during the thermal decomposition measurements.