Properties and producibility of advanced jet fuels

Abstract

Fuel provides the propulsive energy and is the primary coolant for advanced aircraft and engines. In order to cool critical engine components in advanced turbine and hypersonic engines, fuel may be exposed to temperatures in excess of 900 °F (500 °C). These advanced fuels must have both high autoxidative stability and high pyrolytic stability and must not produce gums, varnishes and coke in critical engine components. The thermal stability requirements of these advanced fuels indicate the types of hydrocarbons and potential additives that may be present in advanced fuels. Naphthenes have been shown in previous studies to offer the potential of high thermal stability and at the same time yield other desirable jet fuel properties, thus may be ideal candidates for a fuel such as JP-900. Recent research program have identified possible feedstocks for production of advanced fuels from conventional petroleum sources including low value streams such as cycle oils and light pyrolysis fuel oil. In addition, certain coal liquids offer high yield of naphthenes and other desirable jet fuel components. Endothermic fuels may require