SPECIFICATION OF JET FUEL HYDROGEN CONTENT FOR CONTROL OF COMBUSTION CLEANLINESS
Abstract
A critical analysis was made of current test methods, Smoke Point and Luminometer Number, for evaluation of the burning quality of hydrocarbon fuels for aircraft gas turbine engines. Both are performance tests in which a sample of jet fuel is burned in a wick lamp to determine its relative soot forming tendency. Unfortunately, the laminar flow diffusion flame of the wick lamp differs appreciably from the highly turbulent combustion process in an aircraft gas turbine engine. Differences in the mechanism of soot formation, as evidenced by the effect of hydrocarbon structure, are discussed in detail. Measurements of the cleanliness of aircraft gas turbine combustion processes, liner temperature and flame radiation, show a linear correlation with hydrogen content of the fuel. The cleanest burning fuels are those that contain the most hydrogen. A two- to fourfold improvement in repeatability and a fourfold improvement in reproducibility over current test methods should be feasible with hydrogen content. The use of hydrogen content for specification of jet fuel burning quality is recommended. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0282332
Entities
People
- R.m. Schirmer