HYDROCARBON FUEL COOLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADVANCED PROPULSION

Storable hydrocarbon fuels that undergo endothermic reaction provide a n attractive heat sink for future high-speed aircraft. An investigatio n was conducted to explore the endothermic potential of practical fuel s, with inexpensive and readily available catalysts, under operating c onditions simulative of high-speed flight applications. High heat sink capacities and desirable reaction products have been demonstrated for n-heptane and Norpar 12 fuels using zeolite catalysts in coated-tube reactor configurations. The effects of fuel composition and operating condition on extent of fuel conversion, product composition, and the c orresponding endotherm have been examined. The results obtained in thi s study provide a basis for catalytic-reactor/heat-exchanger design an d analysis.