The Study of Hydrocarbon Fuel Vapor Deposits
Abstract
Deposits form in the 'empty' wing tank of a supersonic aircraft as a result of a complex free radical autoxidation process. The complete exclusion of oxygen suppresses deposit formation. Deposits are formed much more rapidly when a condensed (liquid) phase is present than when no condensed phase is present. An apparatus was designed which quantitatively measures the rate of deposit formation. Higher total pressure and increasing oxygen pressure increases the level of deposit formation. Trace levels of sulfur and nitrogen compounds markedly increase deposit formation. The nature of metal surfaces to which the fuel is exposed was found to influence the rate of deposit formation. Vanadium containing titanium alloys and copper surfaces were found to be particularly deleterious. The presence of dissolved metals also markedly increased the level of deposit formation. Studies were made with pure compounds and simple binary blends of pure compounds. The broad objective of this work was to elucidate the effect of jet fuel hydrocarbon composition on deposit formation. Currently used antioxidant additives were found to be ineffective in reducing the rate of deposit formation. The use of rust preventive and metal deactivator additives increased the rate of deposit formation. Coating an active metal surface with a polymeric material increased the level of deposit formation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0863604
Entities
People
- William F. Taylor