The Quantification and Improvement of the Thermal Stability of Aviation Turbine Fuel

Studies of the propensity of aviation turbine fuels to lacquer engine oil-coolers that were described in an earlier paper have been extended to cover a wider range of fuels. Fuel performance was found to vary widely; some fuels were liable to lacquer oil-coolers to the extent of producing significant losses in efficiency at the most severe operating conditions currently encountered. Oxidation studies conducted in parallel with the rig investigations indicate that a fuel’s performance is strongly dependent on its tendency to initiate radical oxidation reactions. The relatively high initiation rate of less stable fuels is believed to be due in part to their trace content of metals that catalyze oxidation reactions. Accordingly, an approved metal deactivating additive has been examined as a means of improving the performance of such fuels.