Investigation of Modified Turbine Fuels for Reduction of Crash Fire Hazard

摘要

Fifty-five modified fuels were tested and rated for their ability to reduce aircraft post-crash fires. The candidate fuels were subjected to a seven-part rating scheme in which combustion and physical properties were examined under both static and dynamic conditions. Measurements were made of flash point, rate of vapor release, burn rate, surface flame propagation rate and fuel spread rate (ignited), as well as fireball size under impact conditions (drop test) and fireball size with sample propelled by a catapult device. Fuels gelled with either alkyl-hydroxybutyramides, amine diisocyanates, Al-2-ethylhexanoate (aluminum octoate) or a styrene-type polymer as well as an emulsified fuel were found to provide marked safety benefits. The alkyl-hydroxybutyramide gels, the amine diisocyonates, and the emulsion had a firm, or stiff, consistency which would present a serious a serious tank feed-down problem in present aircraft. The polymer gel was pourable but contained harmful sodium and required a relatively high polymer concentration, and the polymer was not compatible with the de-icer contained in JP-4. The aluminum octoate gel was selected as the best of the candidate fuels tested. It was pourable, provided marked safety benefits, required only a low concentration (1%), was stable, noncorrosive and was easily prepared. (Author)