Characteristics and combustion of future hydrocarbon fuels

Dwindling supply of high-quality crude is beginning to manifest itself in the form of crude oils containing higher percentages of aromatic compounds, sulfur, nitrogen, and trace constituents. In the present paper, problems which have arisen with regard to the hydrogen content in jet fuels derived from these crude oil sources are discussed, with particular reference to the effects of varying the fuel properties on the combustion and thermal stability characteristics of a fuel. The importance of knowing how severe the effects of variations in hydrogen content, fuel-bound-nitrogen content, and boiling range are on such combustion phenomena as soot and carbon formation, emissions, and ignition is pointed out.