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2026 Vol.6, Issue 1

Research Article

Experimental Investigation and Kinetic Modeling of the Supercritical Pyrolysis of JP-8 Aviation Fuel
Seung Mook Parka
,
Jun Su Kanga
,
Hyung Ju Leea*
,
Bo Yeon Kimb
,
Inyoung Yangb
aDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea
bFuture Aero Propulsion Research Team, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Daejeon 34133, Korea
*Corresponding Author
31 May 2026. pp. 1-22
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Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the pyrolysis characteristics of hydrocarbon aviation fuels and to develop global thermal cracking reaction models using a batch reactor setup. The endothermic pyrolysis of JP-8, a representative kerosene-based aviation fuel, was examined at 3 MPa and 525-625°C, with residence times ranging from 100 to 220 s. Maximum fuel conversion reached ~76%, with a gas yield of ~37%. Major gaseous products included H2, CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H6, and C3H8, whose mass fractions generally increased with conversion. Liquid products, comprising over 100 compounds, were analyzed according to their parent molecular structures, revealing a shift from linear paraffin dominance at low conversion to increased aromatic content at higher conversion. GC-MS analysis yielded an average chemical formula of C11.04H21.70 for JP-8, which guided the development of a surrogate fuel and a global one-step pyrolysis model under the PPD (Proportional Product Distribution) assumption for conversions below 30%. CFD simulations applying the model to a regenerative-cooled channel accurately predicted product distributions, with most predictions within ±20% of experimental values. The results provide key insights into JP-8 pyrolysis under supercritical conditions and demonstrate the model’s applicability for predicting fuel flow and decomposition behavior in regenerative-cooled channels, supporting the design and analysis of regenerative cooling systems for hypersonic vehicles.

Keywords
Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle
Scramjet Engine
Regenerative Cooling
Endothermic Decomposition
Proportional Product Distribution
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국추진공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Propulsion and Energy
  • Journal Title(Ko) :Free Open Access International Journal on Propulsion and Energy Science and Technology
  • Volume : 6
  • No :1
  • Pages :1-22
  • Received Date : 2025-10-22
  • Revised Date : 2025-12-01
  • Accepted Date : 2026-01-31
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.6108/JPNE.2026.6.1.001
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