Hydrocarbon Fuels for Advanced Systems

The general objective of this investigation was the development of new fuels and new fuel systems which will provide the cooling and propulsion requirements of advanced air-breathing engines. In previous studies on the utilization of endothermic reactions of hydrocarbon fuels, the catalytic dehydrogenation of naphthenes showed the most promise for practical applications. In continuing these studies, a large number of catalysts were prepared and tested for activity and stability for the dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane and decalin. Bicyclo2,2,2octane was dehydrogenated to bicyclooctene in low yield with a supported platinum catalyst. Additives were found which enhanced the rate of thermal cracking of paraffins. Improved wall catalysts were formulated for the dehydrogenation of naphthenes and a mathematical model was developed for a catalytic wall reactor. Various fuels were evaluated for thermal stability. The deposit profiles on coker tubes were reproducibly determined with a recently developed beta-ray backscatter instrument which is capable of measuring deposit thicknesses up to 2500 A. The physical properties of JP-7 jet fuel were recalculated using improved methods. The supersonic combustion of decalin, tetralin and naphthalene was investigated using the shock tube. A literature survey was made of articles and patents of interest to this and related programs. Author