A Comparison of the Hypersonic Vehicle Fuel JP-7 to the Rocket Propellants RP-1 and RP-2 with the Advanced Distillation Curve Method

JP-7 is a hydrocarbon-based kerosene fraction with a low volatility and high thermal stability. JP-7 was developed in the 1950s to meet the more stringent requirements necessary for the development of high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that fly at speeds exceeding Much 3. The extreme temperatures encountered due to the heat transmitted from compressed air on the aircraft, and air resistance, required the development of fuels with improved thermal stability and higher flash points. Although JP-7 also meets the operational demands for hypersonic aircraft (Much 5+), this fluid is no longer produced. Currently, there is a desire in the hypersonic vehicle community to replace JP-7 with the rocket propellant RP-2 however, research and testing is necessary to determine whether this substitution will be possible. In this paper, we apply the advanced distillation curve method to a representative sample of the hypersonic vehicle fuel JP-7. Specifically, we present the thermodynamically consistent distillation Curve and use the composition channel to characterize the Curve in terms of composition and available energy content. We then compare the results with previous measurements performed on the rocket propellants RP-1 and RP-2. This work provides a basis of comparison among these fuels in terms of the fundamental thermophysical properties. This comparison will be critical in determining the applicability of substitute fuels and the refinement of future fuels for hypersonic vehicles.