De-Oxygenation Process for Increasing Thermal Stability of Logistic Fuels

Development of thermally stable fuels has significant benefits for military and civilian applications. Specially, for military applications, thermally stable fuels will: (a) allow cooling of turbine components while maintaining higher turbine cycle temperature, (b) increase thrust-to-weight ratio, (c) reduce maintenance, (d) remove the need for specialty fuels, and (e) and reduce take-off weight. Normal fuels tend to form various deposits at relatively low temperatures due to oxidative reactions between the fuel and dissolved oxygen (from fuel exposed to air during fuel handling). This deposition can be minimized or eliminated by either using additives that suppress thermal oxidative reactions, or by removing the dissolved oxygen in the fuel. Fuel additives provide limited gains in thermal stability (225°F) and increase the complexity, whereas the thermal stability of de-oxygenated fuels can be increased by as much as 900°F. Vesta Sciences has developed a proprietary and unique de-oxygenation system which is capable of reducing the dissolved oxygen levels below 1 ppm. This technological breakthrough is expected to yield, compact, lightweight and highly efficient fuel de-oxygenation system suitable for increasing the thermal stability of the jet fuels as well as commercial fuels such as diesel and kerosene that are used in stationary turbine generators.