High temperature fuel requirements and payoffs

This paper describes a study performed under contract to Air Force Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH in association with the Naval Air Propulsion Laboratory, Trenton, NJ. The study projected fuel temperature capability requirements for future tactical fighter applications and the payoffs that would be realized by achieving these capabilities. The study was approached on the basis of the maximum benefit that might be realized through the use of high temperature fuels, i.e. elimination of the recirculation system. Heat loads were projected for different missions spanning IHPTET technology phases 1, 2, and 3 at different flight conditions. Fuel temperatures across fuel system components were calculated at these heat loads. Shortfalls of the current 163 C fuel capability were shown, and minimun fuel temperature requirements were defined. The study concluded that elimination of the recirculation system is not feasible but shows how high temperature fuel capability can minimize the weight penalty associated with fuel recirculation. In this way, potential payoffs for high temperature fuel development were shown in the form of reduced weight penalties that would normally be encountered as larger and larger recirculation systems are required to accommodate the increasing heat loads projected for advanced aircraft.