Cryogenic fuel

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of, withdrawing liquefied cryogenic fuel stored in a primary insulated storage tank (12) at a low pressure and at a temperature close to its boiling point; increasing the pressure (22) of the withdrawn liquefied cryogenic fuel and then feeding the pressurized liquefied cryogenic fuel through a heat exchanger (36) to warm the liquefied cryogenic fuel to a subcooled or near saturated liquid condition; and feeding the said warmed and pressurized liquefied cryogenic fuel to an insulated tank (42) on a vehicle at a refueling facility, said vehicle using liquefied cryogenic fuel as its fuel and the insulated vehicle fuel tank being adapted to safely contain and store the said liquefied cryogenic fuel in liquid form, at an approximate saturated condition.

Abstract: : Storable liquid hydrocarbon fuels, such as JP-7, JP-8+ 100, and JP-10, that can undergo endothermic reactions may provide sufficient heat sink to enable hypersonic flight without having to resort to cryogenic fuels. The objective of this research is to develop and demonstrate the endothermic potential of these fuels for hypersonic scramjet cooling. A high- pressure bench-scale reactor was used to determine the overall heat sinks (including endotherm), endothermic reforming products, and coking rates for the fuels. A baseline fuel, n-octane, was also investigated for comparison. Tests were conducted in catalyst-coated tubes that simulate a single passage in a practical catalytic heat exchanger/reactor under representative flow conditions.