JetA Vaporization In an Experimental Tank Part II: Experimental Results at Atmospheric and SubAtmosp

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Jet-A Vaporization In an Experimental TankPart
II Experimental Results at Atmospheric and
Sub-Atmospheric Pressures

• Robert Ian Ochs
• Rutgers, The State
• University of New
• Jersey

• International Aircraft
• Systems Fire Protection
• Working Group Meeting
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
• November 5, 2003

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Fuel Flammability Prediction

• Computational model written by Professor
  Polymeropoulos of Rutgers University
• Uses principles of heat and mass transfer to
  predict vapor composition

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Overview

• Fuel vaporization experimentation is performed at
  W.J.H. Technical Center at Atlantic City Airport,
  NJ
• Experimental data consists of hydrocarbon
  concentrations and temperatures as functions of
  time
• Data is input into computer model and compared to
  calculated vapor composition

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Model Inputs

• Liquid fuel, tank surface temperature profiles
• Pressure and outside air temperatures as
  functions time
• Fuel composition (volume fractions of C5-C20
  Alkanes) from Woodrow (2003)
• Tank dimensions and fuel loading

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Model Outputs

• Hydrocarbon concentration profile
• Ullage temperature profile

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Experimental Setup

• Fuel tank 36x36x24, ¼ aluminum
• Sample ports
• Heated hydrocarbon sample line
• Pressurization of the sample for sub-atmospheric
  pressure experiments
• Intermittent (at 10 minute intervals) 30 sec long
  sampling
• FID hydrocarbon analyzer, cal. w/2 propane
• 12 thermocouples
• Blanket heater for uniform floor heating
• Unheated walls and ceiling
• JP-8 Fuel

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Experimental Setup (continued)

• Fuel tank inside environmental chamber
• Programmable variation of chamber pressure and
  temperature using
• Vacuum pump system
• Air heating and refrigeration system

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Experimental Setup (continued)
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Thermocouple Locations
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Experimental Procedure

• Fill tank with specified quantity of fuel
• Adjust chamber pressure and temperature to
  desired values, let equilibrate for 1-2 hours
• Begin to record data with DAS
• Take initial hydrocarbon reading to get initial
  quasi-equilibrium fuel vapor concentration
• Set tank pressure and temperature as well as the
  temperature variation
• Experiment concludes when hydrocarbon
  concentration levels off and quasi-equilibrium is
  attained

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Experimental Results-Sea Level
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Experimental Results-10,000 ft.
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Experimental Results-20,000 ft.
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Experimental Results Pressure and Temperature
Variation
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Experimental Results-Hydrocarbon Profiles
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Conclusions and Future Work

• Complete verification at lower pressures (6.9
  psia and below)
• Use existing flight data to simulate entire
  flight profiles