Thermal Effects of Supercritical Water Partial Oxidation of Jet Fuel

Jet fuel may be reformed non-catalytically into hydrogen by a novel process utilizing supercritical water as a solvent and as a reactant. Supercritical water reformation is an endothermic reaction. Partial oxidation of the fuel feedstock, an exothermic reaction, is advantageous in providing thermal energy for the reformation reaction in-situ, thus decreasing the demands of externally heating the reactor system. A series of experimental studies were performed using a state-of-the-art 0.4-liter, Haynes Alloy 230 tubular reactor system to determine the thermal effects of supercritical water partial oxidation. A data acquisition system recorded the temperature along the length of the interior of the reactor as well as heater duties for the four zone radiant reactor heater. Experiments were conducted at a constant pressure of 24.2 MPa and a constant temperature of 770°C at various air feed rates. The studies were conducted both without air and with air to provide a reference for the thermal effects of partial oxidation on the autothermal operation of novel supercritical reformation process. The effects of partial oxidation upon the heater duty will be discussed. The issues regarding the design of waste heat recovery will also be discussed.