Advanced Thermally Stable Coal-Derived Jet Fuels Compositional Factors Affecting Thermal Degradation of Jet Fuels

This project focuses on the compositional factors affecting high temperature thermal stability of coal-derived and petroleum-based jet fuels in pyrolytic regime. Thermal stability refers to the resistance of fuel to chemical decomposition at high temperatures to cause the solid deposition and liquid depletion. There are four broad objectives in this project, and the research work is divided into four tasks. The first task clarifies the chemistry of fuel degradation and mechanisms of solid formation, and identifying thermally stable classes of hydrocarbon compounds, and providing information for enhancing intrinsic stability of jet fuels. The second task involves characterization of the solids including deposits, sediments and gums produced from fuels and model compounds at high temperatures. The third task is to explore the means to enhance the thermal stability of fuels by examining the effects of various additives. The fourth task is a newly initiated exploratory study on conversion of coals to thermally stable jet fuels.