De-Oxygenation Process for Increasing Thermal Stability of Logistic Fuels

Development of thermally stable fuels has significant benefits for military as well as civilian applications. Specially, for military applications, thermally stable fuels will: (a) allow cooling of turbine components while maintaining higher turbine cycletemperature, (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 coke deposits at relatively low temperatures due to oxidative reactions between the fuel and dissolved oxygen (resulting from fuel exposed to air during fuel handling). The coke formation can be minimized or eliminated by eitherusing additives that suppress thermal oxidative reactions, or removing the dissolved oxygen in the fuel. While the additives improve the temperature stability of the fuel, they also increase the complexities of the fuel logistics. The de-oxygenationprocess, on the other hand, provides the necessary fuel supply simplicity and to an extent certain fuel flexibility. LoTEC, Inc. is developing a proprietary de-oxygenation system that will provide a cost-effective and technically viable solution forincreasing the thermal stability of the jet fuels as well as commercial fuels such as diesel and kerosene. Successful development of de-oxygenation system will have many benefits for military and commercial turbine engines. Especially, in the case ofcommercial engines, the de-oxygenation technology would: a) allow significant reduction in coking, there by increasing the mean-time between service maintenance of fuel injection system in turbines, (b) prevent emissions degradation, and (c) provide fuelflexibility from kerosene to low grade diesel. These benefits will open-up several market segments in stationary turbines and aircraft engines.