Hot Surface Ignition Apparatus for Aviation Fuels

ABSTRACT: ASTM standards exist currently to characterize various combustion characteristics of flammable chemicals such as flammability limits, flash point, minimum ignition energy, and auto ignition temperature. There are no such well-accepted characterization protocols for hot surface ignition temperature measurements. We propose the development of a small scale hot surface ignition apparatus that accounts for various coupled processes such as liquid injection, drop formation, turbulence, heat transfer, mixing of vapors and air, and ignition. The unique design of this apparatus and the measurement protocol generate accurate and reproducible minimum hot surface ignition temperatures of flammable liquids in general, and aviation fluids such as jet fuels and hydraulic fluids in particular. The deliverables include the ignition apparatus and a hot surface ignition model to extend the results to other hot surfaces, fuel injection and environmental conditions. BENEFIT: The proposed innovation fills a key void, namely the lack of a rigorous method for MHSIT measurement of aircraft and automotive fluids. Successful development and implementation of this technology is expected to significantly reduce the burden of ignition testing and improve the safety of aircraft.