- Author
- Yavrouian, A. H. | Ernest, J. | Sarohia, V.
- Title
- Antimisting Kerosene: Base Fuel Effects; Blending and Quality Control Techniques. Final Report.
- Coporate
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
- Sponsor
- Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
- Report
- DOT/FAA/CT-83/36; JPL Publication 83-96, January 1984, 103 p.
- Contract
- DTFA03-80-A-00215
- Keywords
- kerosene | aircraft fires | aircraft safety | safety fuels | quality control
- Abstract
- This report addresses the problems associated with blending of the AMK additive with Jet A, and the base fuel effects on AMK properties. It also presents the results from the evaluation of some of the quality control techniques for AMK. The principal conclusions of this investigation are: 1) significant compositional differences for base fuel (Jet A) within the ASTM specification DI655 that were expected to be relevant to AMK properties were found, but with the exception of aromatic content, these variations did not significantly alter the AMK characteristics; 2) higher aromatic content of the base fuel was found to be beneficial for the polymer dissolution at ambient (20 deg. C) temperature; 3) it was demonstrated that by using static mixer technology, the antimisting additive (FM-9) can be in-line blended with Jet A, producing AMK which has adequate fire-protection properties 15-20 minutes after blending; 4) comparing the degradability of freshly blended and equilibrated AMK indicated that maximum degradability is reached after adequate fire protection is obtained. At the dissolution equilibrium the degradability is highest; 5) the results of AMK degradability as measured by filter ratio, confirmed previous RAE data that power requirements to degrade freshly blended AMK are significantly higher than equilibrated AMK; 6) blending of the additive by using FM-9 concentrate in Jet A produces equilibrated AMK almost instantly; 7) nephelometry offers a simple continuous monitoring capability and can be used as a real time quality control device for AMK; 8) trajectory (jet thrust) and pressure drop tests are useful laboratory techniques for evaluating AMK quality, and their field applications as real time quality control devices should be evaluated further.