This work investigates wet and dry non-catalytic partial oxidation of JP8 under distributed reaction regime condition. Previous works have demonstrated the potential of the distributed reaction regime to increase hydrogen and carbon monoxide production over conventional non-catalytic reforming and suppress soot formation inside the reactor. Jet propellant 8 (JP8) has a high sulfur content (up to 3000ppm) and a tendency to form coke, making it an ideal candidate for this non-catalytic approach. Experimental results are reported with the reactor operated at fixed oxygen to carbon ratio of 1.08 and steam to carbon ratios varied from 0.0 to 0.23. Numerical simulations were used to determine flame regime and extent of distribution.
Steam provided favorable effects even with trace amounts (S/C=0.01), but more pronounced effects were observed at steam to carbon ratio of 0.17. Syngas composed of 22.5–24.6% hydrogen and 20.1–23.3% carbon monoxide was evolved. Of the hydrocarbons detected, only methane was seen in finite amounts (0.17–0.29%). The increase in performance in terms of reforming efficiency and conversion exceeded what can be ascribed to steam reforming reactions alone. Additional enhancement is attributed to distributed reaction in the reactor. Reforming efficiency of approximately 68–80% is comparable to that from catalytic reforming. Low steam to carbon ratio offers higher sustainability in mobile power systems at reduced costs from direct use of water recovered from fuel cells.
