Chemical Additives for Maximizing Fuel Reactivity

Abstract

Report developed under SBIR contract for topic AF99-221. The objective of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a modeling based search for chemical additives which can reduce soot formation in fuel systems of interest to the Air Force. Several mechanisms of soot reduction in the presence of additives were considered by kinetic modeling. Modeling identified homogeneous catalysis as the most effective mechanism of soot supression. Modeling showed that under optimum conditions, soot could be reduced by 95+% when the amount of additive is 5% of fuel. A series of shock tube experiments were performed to validate modeling predictions. Three potential soot-reducing additives were tested: isopropyl, nitrate, methanol, and sodium carbonate. The experiments confirmed that additives acting through the mechanism of homogeneous catalysis significantly suppress soot formation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 04, 2000
Accession Number
ADA373515

Entities

People

  • Eric L. Petersen
  • Mark S. Sheldon
  • Vitali V. Lissianski
  • Vladimir M. Zamansky

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Additives (Chemicals)
  • Air Force
  • Alcohols
  • Catalysis
  • Chemical Reaction Properties
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Combustion
  • Fuel Systems
  • Gas Turbines
  • Hydrocarbon Fuels
  • Ignition Lag
  • Liquid Explosives
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Shock Tubes
  • Turbines

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design