High performance liquid rocket propellant
Disclosed is a process of fueling a rocket engine or air-breathing engine for a hypersonic vehicle with a high performance hydrocarbon fuel characterized by a hydrogen content greater than 14.3% by weight, a hydrogen to carbon atomic ratio greater than 2.0 and/or a heat of combustion greater than 18.7 KBtu/lb. The disclosed fuels generally have a paraffin content that is at least 90% by mass and a C 12 -C 20 isoparaffin content of at least 40% by mass.
1. A process of fueling a rocket engine or an air breathing engine of a hypersonic vehicle comprising:
introducing to the engine a hydrocarbon fuel having a hydrogen content greater than 14.3% on a mass basis, an aromatics content of less than 5% by volume, a sulfur content of less than 30 ppm by mass, and wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is a blend of an isoparaffin and a refined kerosene.
2. The process of claim 1 , in which the hydrocarbon fuel has a range of components that provide a boiling point range of at least 100° F.
3. The process of claim 1 , in which the hydrocarbon fuel has a net heat of combustion greater than 18.7 KBtu/lb.
4. The process of claim 1 in which the kerosene is a highly paraffinic refined kerosene.
5. The: process of claim 1 , in which the isoparaffin is comprised of at least one isododecane, at least one isohexadecane, at least one isoeicosane, or a mixture of these.
6. A process of fueling a rocket engine or an air breathing engine of a hypersonic vehicle comprising:
introducing to the engine a hydrocarbon fuel having a range of components that provide a boiling point range of at least 100° F., and having a hydrogen content greater than 14.3% on a mass basis, an aromatics content of less than 5% by volume, and wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is a blend of an isopareffin and a refined kerosene.
7. The process of claim 6 , in which the hydrocarbon fuel has a net heat of combustion greater than 18.7 KBtu/lb.
8. The process of claim 6 , in which the kerosene is a highly paraffinic refined kerosene.
9. The process of claim 6 , in which the isoparaffin is comprised of at least one isododecane, at least one isohexadecane, at least one isoeicosane, or a mixture of these.