Development of Army High-Energy Fuel for Diesel/Turbine-Powered Surface Equipment. Phase II

The Army is interested in those fuels that have a high-energy content per unit volume and therefore result in increased payload capabilities andor extended operational range of the vehicle. A series of screening processes are being used to identify those fuels andor fuel components that could result in an increase of 10 percent in the range of the vehicle without an increase in the fuel tank size, i.e., fuels with a high-energy content percent volume. The chemical and physical properties of various candidate fuels and fuel components are described. The fuel components included both liquids and solids at room temperature. The blending of the various components and the characterization of the resulting fuels are outlined. Solubility studies were done on some of the solid components to assist in obtaining the resulting fuel in the more desirable liquid state. Those solid components, such as anthracene, that were insoluble in the tests conducted but judged to have good high-energy potential, were studied as slurries. Catalyzed carbon black was investigated. Settling studies with carbonaceous fuels included the effect of temperature upon the stability, the stability of FRF-carbon slurries, and the refinement of the previously reported Freezing Tube Technique for measuring stability. Impact dispersion tests were conducted to study the fire-safety characteristics of energy-augmented fuels. The screening of candidate fuels with the Petter engine is described in detail. Other engine studies with the CLR engine are also included.