Physical and Structural Properties of Jet Fuels Studies at High-and Low-Temperature Extremes using Laser-Based Diagnostic Methods

摘要

The demands placed on the fuel of modern high-performance aircraft are growing. In addition to serving as the source of energy for the combustion process, the fuel must also act as the primary coolant for on-board heat sourves. As a result, the fuel can reach temperatures in excess of the critical temperature (approx 340 deg C for JP-80, where oxidation, pyrolysis, and supercritical-fluid properties are of concern (1-8). Future demands will include much higher operating temperatures, stricter environmental controls on emissions, and a more verstile multi-use fuel (in support of the single-battle-field-fule concept). As a resut, the same fuel that must be formulated to withstand operating temperatrues in excess of 340 deg C may be also required to function without difficulty at temperatures as low as-50 deg C, representing the needs of two very different aircraft with drastically different mission criteria.