Effect of Flash Point Reduction on Jet Fuel Properties

Abstract

Jet fuel yield and quality information were developed by a computer program from crude assay data for three different refineries on flash point and other parameters, for example, freezing point, smoke point, and aromatics content. Without regard to other product requirements, availability of Jet A (-40°C freezing point) could be increased 10 to 18 percent with a 32°C (90°F) flash point limit and 22 to 30 percent with a 27°C (80°F) flash point limit compared with the current specification flash point of 38°C (100°F). Availability gains of Jet A-1 fuel (-50°C freezing point) for similar flash point limits are larger. A combination of flash point and freezing point relaxations to 27°C (80°F) and -40°C, respectively, increases Jet A-1 volume by 80 to 90 percent. The theoretical aspects of this study must be emphasized because the competing nonaviation demands for other distillates were ignored. Other fuel properties such as aromatics and smoke point become less critical as flash point is lowered, but the most important new U.S. crude—Alaskan North Slope—still produces jet fuel that is critical in aromatics and smoke point regardless of flash point reduction benefits.