JP-10 (fuel)

JP-10 (Jet Propellant 10) is a synthetic jet fuel, specified and used mainly as fuel in missiles. Being designed for military purposes, it is not a kerosene based fuel.

Developed to be a gas turbine fuel for cruise missiles,^[1] it contains mainly exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene (exo-THDCPD) with some endo-isomer impurity.^[2] About 100 ppm of alkylphenol-based antioxidant is added to prevent gumming. Optionally, 0.10–0.15% of fuel system icing inhibitor may be added.^[3] Exo-THDCPD is produced by catalytic hydrogenation of dicyclopentadiene and then isomerization.^[4]

It superseded JP-9, which is a mixture of norbornadiene-based RJ-5 fuel, tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene and methylcyclohexane, because of a lower temperature service limit and about four times lower price.^[5] Since the lack of volatile methylcyclohexane makes its ignition difficult, a separate priming fluid PF-1 with about 10-12% of this additive is required for the engine start-up.^[5] Its main use is in the Tomahawk missiles.^[6]

The Russian equivalent is called detsilin [ru].

Chemical properties of JP-10 fuel

• Chemical formula: C₁₀H₁₆^[7]
• H/C (Hydrogen/Carbon) ratio (mole): 1.6^[7]
• Average molecular weight (g/mol): 136.2^[7]
• LHV (lower heating value) (MJ/kg): 43.0^[7]

Uses

JP-10 absorbs heat energy, so is endothermic with a relatively high density of 940 kg/m³. It has a low freezing point of less than −110 °C (−166 °F) and the flash point is 130 °F (54 °C). The high energy density of 39.6 MJ/L makes it ideal for military aerospace applications - its primary use. The ignition and burn chemistry has been extensively studied.^[8][9][10] The exo isomer also has a low freezing point.^[11][12] Its other properties have also been studied extensively.^{[13][14][15][16][17]}

Even though its uses are mainly for the military, the relatively high cost has meant research has been undertaken to find lower costs routes including the use of cellulosic materials.^[18]

Further research

Current and past areas of research focus on:

• The pyrolysis and kinetics of the fuel.^[19][20]
• Catalytic addition of nanoparticles such as those based on cerium(IV) oxide.^[21]
• Catalysis for the endo to exo isomerisation.^[22][23]
• Use of additives in JP-10 for various enhancements.^[24][25]