JETFIRE (JetPace Enhancement Through Fuel Ignition and Range Extension)

Archem LLC proposes to enhance its JetPace Advanced Aerospace Fuel technology for scramjet propulsion applications. The effort aims to improve energy density while maintaining endothermic properties through analysis of alternatives comparing current JetPace formulation with liquid hydrocarbon-based energy density chemistry against enhanced formulations using boron/aluminum particles with polymer-based surfactants and encapsulation approaches using silicon carbide (SiC) or boron nitride (BN).Key technical objectives include molecular dynamics simulations to predict blend performance, heat sink capacity and coking resistance testing, materials compatibility evaluation, and scale-up to 50-gallon production batches for engine testing. The research builds on current JetPace achievements of 43.8 MJ/kg heat of combustion, 14.2% hydrogen content, and demonstrated 40% higher heat absorption compared to JP-7, with 38-62% coking reduction versus JP-7 and JP-10 in multiple test articles.The 24-month development program leverages Archem's metallocene-catalyzed process for synthesizing pure iso-cyclo-paraffin fuel components, validated through lab-scale reactor testing simulating scramjet combustor conditions. The effort includes comprehensive small-scale engine testing to evaluate performance parameters and rigorous fuel property characterization. Successful development will enable enhanced operational range and reduced coking onset for MDA scramjet propulsion applications.