Rheological properties of jet fuels

Experimental Studies of Jet Fuel Viscosity at Low Temperatures, Using a Rotational Viscometer and an Optical Cell

“…Moreover, Figure shows a sudden and rapid increase in relative torque at −52.7 °C, which occurs simultaneously with observed crystallization in the optical cell and the measured cloud point temperature, independent of rotor speed. The relatively high rotor speeds (as high as 243 rpm) in previous studies were reported to have broken up the crystalline structure of the frozen jet fuel, which reduced the measured viscosity . The introduction of two-phase non-Newtonian behavior with high shear rates demonstrates the practical upper limit on the use of a rotational viscometer for jet fuel.…”

“…Moreover, variations in shear rate were required to maintain instrument scale, concealing potential non-Newtonian behavior . Other researchers investigated the viscosity of Russian kerosene-based jet fuels. − For example, Mitin et al used a kerosene-based thermally stable fuel (T-6) that was designed for high-performance aircraft in a rotational viscometer. They concluded that the fuel is non-Newtonian below 0 °C, because of the formation of “rheological structures.” T-6 has greater density than JP-8, because it consists mainly of cycloparaffins, reducing the lower-density n -alkane content .…”

“…Gorenkov et al measured the viscosity of Russian jet fuels using the capillary method (GOST 33-82) and identified the lack of continuous viscosity measurements at low temperatures. Likhterova et al also identifies the lack of viscosity measurements at low temperatures and suggests that jet fuels may be non-Newtonian near the initial crystallization temperature. In this study, a rotational viscometer is used to study flow characteristics of Russian kerosene-based jet fuels at low temperatures .…”

“…Likhterova et al also identifies the lack of viscosity measurements at low temperatures and suggests that jet fuels may be non-Newtonian near the initial crystallization temperature. In this study, a rotational viscometer is used to study flow characteristics of Russian kerosene-based jet fuels at low temperatures . Unfortunately, this research provides data on only Russian fuels, lacks experimental detail, has translation issues and conflicting non-Newtonian viscosity results, and does not consider the effect of additives.…”