Thermal Stability Measurement Of Alternative Jet Fuels Using Ellipsometry

Abstract

Thermal stability is an important characteristic of alternative fuels that must be evaluated before they can be used in aviation engines. Thermal stability refers to the degree to which a fuel breaks down when it is heated prior to combustion. This characteristic is of great importance to the effectiveness of the fuel as a coolant and to the engine's combustion performance. The thermal stability of Sasol IPK, a synthetic alternative to Jet-A, with varying levels of naphthalene has been studied on aluminum and stainless steel substrates at 300 to 400 °C. This was conducted using a spectroscopic ellipsometer to measure the thickness of deposits left on the heated substrates. Ellipsometry is an optical technique that measures the changes in a light beam's polarization and intensity after it reflects from a thin film to determine the film's physical and optical properties. It was observed that, as would be expected, increasing the temperature increased the deposit thickness for a constant concentration of naphthalene on both substrates. The repeatability of these measurements was verified using multiple trials at identical test conditions. Lastly, the effect of increasing the naphthalene concentration at a constant temperature was found to also increase the deposit thickness.

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Publication Title

Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo

Volume

3

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2017-63364

Socpus ID

85029011225 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85029011225

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