Novel Method for Production of High Energy Density Fuel

Missile fuels require high volumetric energy density. The two leading fuel candidates are JP10 and RJ5. Both of these fuels are synthesized from cyclopentadiene, which is turn is produced from naphtha cracker. The primary purpose of naphtha cracker is to produce ethylene. In addition, naphtha is further produced from petroleum crude. Thus, the entire high energy density requirement of the DOD is catered by side product of another process and petroleum feedstock. The proposed innovation circumvents cyclopentadiene based chemistry. The feedstock for the proposed fuel synthesis scheme are naturally occurring as well as can be synthesized from renewable materials. The final product will exceed the net volumetric heat of combustion of JP10. The team will develop the overall scaleable process to produce such fuel. In addition, pertinent quantity will be supplied to the Navy for preliminary testing at the end of phase I.