Fuels Combustion Research
Abstract
Future Air Force aircraft fuels will contain chemical constituents that not only contribute to the propulsion of the aircraft but also to the temperature control of both the combustor walls and the aircraft body. Temperature control may require the use of new, endothermic fuels such as methylcyclohexane (MCH). This cycloalkane in the presence of a catalyst dehydrogenates to toluene. The toluene and hydrogen product, containing a small amount of unreacted MCH, fuel the combustor. The burning characteristics of the mixture as well as its temperature stability as it is transferred to the combustor, most likely as a supercritical fluid, are largely unknown. Clarifying the combustion and thermal stability characteristics of both gaseous and supercritical fluid mixtures of toluene and methylcyclohexane has been the focus of the past year's research. Gas phase flow reactor studies of the pyrolysis and oxidation of pure MCH and of the oxidation of mixtures of MCH and toluene have revealed the chemical means by which MCH affects the oxidation chemistry of toluene. Supercritical fluid flow reactor examinations of the thermolysis of MCH and toluene mixtures have suggested chemical routes to deposit formation in the fluid fuels. These results are described in greater detail in this report. Endothermic fuels, Oxidation of Methylcyclohexane/toluene blends, Deposit formation in supercritical fluid fuels.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 10, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA275122
Entities
People
- Irvin Glassman
- Kenneth Brezinsky
Organizations
- Princeton University