Authors:   X. Hui, K. Kumar, C. J. Sung, T. Edwards, and D. Gardner

Direct link to the paper:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2012.03.040

Abstract:

Conventional Jet-A and six alternativejetfuels, including three Fischer–Tropsch “Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene” (SPK) fuels and three “Hydrotreated Renewable Jet” (HRJ) fuels, have been experimentally investigated to obtain their fundamental combustioncharacteristics in terms of Derived Cetane Number (DCN), autoignition response, laminar flame speed, and extinction stretch rate for premixed combustion. The ignition delay times and DCNs for each jetfuel and selected binary blends of Jet-A and alternativejetfuel were determined by using a Fuel Ignition Tester in accordance with the ASTM D7170 method. In addition, the autoignition response for fuel/air mixtures was recorded and compared in a heated Rapid Compression Machine, conducted at an air-to-fuel mass ratio of 13 and under a compressed pressure of 22 bar. By changing the compression ratio and initial temperature, the trend of autoignition behavior over a range of compressed temperatures was studied. Atmospheric laminar flame speeds and extinction stretch rates were also measured in the premixed twin-flame configuration by using a counterflow burner. The flame data at two unburned mixture temperatures of 400 K and 470 K were reported respectively over an equivalence ratio range of ϕ = 0.7–1.4 for the laminar flame speeds and of ϕ = 0.9–1.6 for the extinction stretch rate measurements. The comparison of fundamental combustion properties for Jet-A and various alternativejetfuels provides insights into understanding the impact of fuel properties on combustion performance and developing a cost-effective combustion testing program that includes fundamental characterization.

Citation:  X. Hui, K. Kumar, C. J. Sung, T. Edwards, and D. Gardner, “Experimental Studies on the Combustion Characteristics of Alternative Jet Fuels,” Fuel 98, 176-182 (2012).