Characterizing JP-10 High Temperature Decomposition Chemistry using RMG - An Automatic Reaction Mechanism Generator

Aerodyne Research, Inc. (ARI) and MIT are collaborating to extend their successful Phase I effort to fully develop and validate a comprehensive JP-10 combustion mechanism, using a novel automatic reaction mechanism generation tool (RMG) developed at MIT. JP-10 is a very attractive, but complex fuel whose combustion chemistry is poorly understood. In Phase I, the ARI/MIT team successfully developed a preliminary detailed JP-10 combustion mechanism consisting of 317 chemical species and 7,715 elementary reactions; after considering over 25,000 possible species and more than 1 million possible reactions. The Phase I mechanism accurately reproduces available experimental data and provides (to our knowledge) the first detailed insight into JP-10 combustion chemistry, particularly its initial decomposition to C5 hydrocarbons. Phase II efforts will involve generating additional experimental data at new reaction conditions using a combination of available capabilities (shock-tubes, flow tube reactor, GC/MS, PTR-MS, etc.) in order to validate (and update as necessary) the Phase I JP-10 mechanism for a wider range of conditions relevant to anticipated JP-10 applications. Transport properties will be provided for all species. Phase II option will involve constructing reduced models for CFD applications, refining transport properties and investigating the valid range limits of the final JP-10 combustion mechanism.