Theoretical design and preparation of high thermal-stable jet fuel

A high thermal-stable jet fuel design method was developed using composition-properties relations and basic specification properties of jet fuel. Tannery diagrams were provided to visualize relationships among three main components (n-paraffins, iso-paraffins, cycloparaffins, or aromatics) with four major specification properties (density, flash point, freezing point, net heat of combustion) and thermal sta- bility. An optimum chemical composition was established to meet performance requirements: n-paraffins 25%-45%, iso-paraffins 15%-30%, cycloparaffins 30%-50%, and aromatics 5%. The thermal stability test on four fuel samples with and without optimal composition indicated that the thermal stabilities of fuel samples with optimal composition are higher than RP-3 jet fuel, and that the theoretical design method is a reliable method to screen the basic oil for the high thermal-stable jet fuel.