Types of Jet Fuels

Gasoline-type (wide-cut) jet fuel includes all light hydrocarbon oils for use in aviation turbine power units that distill between 100 ^oC and 250 ^oC. It is obtained by blending kerosene and gasoline in such a way that the aromatic content does not exceed 25 % in volume. Wide-cut jet fuel has a carbon number distribution between about 5 and 15.

Kerosene-type jet fuel is a medium distillate product that is used for aviation turbine power units. It has the same distillation characteristics and flash point as kerosene (between 150 ^oC and 300 ^oC, but not generally above 250 ^oC). Kerosene-type jet fuel has a carbon number distribution between about 8 and 16 carbon numbers.

Grades of Jet Fuels

The TS-1 fuel is a straight-run distillate (kerosene fraction) of sulfurous oil which is boiling within the limits of 140-250 °C. It is produced by blending hydrogenated and straight-run distillate feedstocks. The disadvantage of this fuel is rather low stability at elevated temperatures.

The RT fuel can be obtained by straight-run distillation, by blending straight-run distillates and hydrogenated fractions and by hydrotreating straight-run distillates of petroleum with the high contents of sulfur boiling in the range of 135-280 °C. RT is universal, as it can be applied on aircrafts, flying with a supersonic velocity of flight up to M = 1,5.

Jet A-1 is a kerosene type fuel suitable for turboprop and turbojet aircraft. It is produced to a stringent internationally agreed standard, has a flash point above 38 °C and a freeze point maximum of -47 °C. This grade contains an SDA additive.

Jet A is a similar kerosene type of fuel, produced to an ASTM specification and normally only available in the U.S.A. It has the same flash point as Jet A-1 but a higher freeze point maximum (-40°C).

Jet B is a distillate covering the naphtha and kerosene fractions. It can be used as an alternative to Jet A-1 but because it is more difficult to handle (higher flammability), there is only significant demand in very cold climates where its better cold weather performance is important.

Table 2.1 shows specifications for some main grades of jet fuels.

Table 2.1

Jet Fuels Specifications

Parameter	Value
	TS-1 (GOST 10227)	RТ (GOST 10227)	Jet A-1 (ASTM D1655)
COMPOSITION Total acidity, mg KOH/100 mL Iodine number, g/100 g, max Aromatics, %, max Sulphur, total, %, max Sulphur, mercaptan, %, max	max 0.7 2.5 22 0.2 0.003	0.2-0.7 0.5 22 0.1 0.001	max 0.1 — 20 0.3 0.003
VOLATILITY Density @ 20 оС, kg/m3, min	780	775	775-840
Distillation profile: Initial BP, оС, min max	150	135 155	Report
10 % Recovery, оС, max	165	175	205
50 % Recovery, оС, max	195	225	Report
90 % Recovery, оС, max	230	270	Report
98 % Recovery, оС, max	250	280	300
Flash point, оС, min	28	28	38
FLUIDITY Kinematic viscosity, mm2/s: @ -40 оС, max @ -20 оС, max @ 20 оС, min Freezing point, оС, max	8 — 1,3 -60	16 — 1,25 -55	— 8 — -47
COMBUSTION Net heat of comb., kJ/kg, min Smoke point, mm, min	43 120 25	43 120 25	42 800 25
CORROSION Copper strip (3 h @ 100 оС)	Pass	Pass	1 (2 h)
THERMAL STABILITY Filter pressure drop, mm Hg, max Visual tube rating, max Deposit, mg/100 mL, max	— — 18	— — 6	25 3 —
CONTAMINANTS Existent gum, mg/100 mL, max Water reaction interface, max Ash content, %, max Water-soluble acids & alkalis Naphthenic acid soaps	3 — 0.003 Nil Nil	4 1 0.003 Nil Nil	7 1 — Nil —
CONDUCTIVITY Electrical conductivity @ 20 oC, pS/m, max	600	600	450

Ukrainian refineries produce jet fuels according to the following regulatory documents:

ГСТУ 320.00149943.011 “Паливо ТС-1 для реактивних двигунів. Технічні умови”.

ГСТУ 32000149943.007 “Паливо для реактивних| двигунів| марки “РТ”. Технічні умови|”.

ДСТУ 4796 “Паливо авіаційне для газотурбінних двигунів ДЖЕТ А-1. Технічні умови”.