Sunday, July 31, 2016

I was surprised when I read airliners use kerosine based fuels.

Today's kerosine jet fuels (click here) have been developed from the illuminating kerosine used in the early gas turbine engines. These engines needed a fuel with good combustion characteristics and a high energy content. The kerosine type fuels used in civil aviation nowadays are mainly JET A-1 and Jet A. The latter has a higher freezing point (maximum minus 40 degrees C instead of maximum minus 47 degrees C) and is available only in North America

Kerosene and heating oil have problems at about -50C flowing but the other factor is that often these fuels have water in them. The water freezes and falls to the bottom.

The different grade of jet fuel are discussed in the above article by "Shell." I could not find a date on it. It is good for general information.