Experimental study of the solubility and diffusivity of CO2 and O2 in RP-3 jet fuel

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to get the essential data of the solubility and diffusion coefficient of gas in jet fuel for appropriately designing a kind of on-board inert gas generation system.Design/methodology/approachA test apparatus based on pressure–decay method was constructed to measure solubility and diffusion coefficient of gas in liquid. The test apparatus and method were verified via measurement of solubility and diffusion of CO2 in the pure water.FindingsThe solubility of CO2 and O2 in RP-3 jet fuel with the temperature from 253 to 313 K under three various pressures were measured and compared with theoretical value calculated by a relative density method provided in the standard of ASTM D2780-92, and the deviation is within 10 per cent. The diffusion coefficients of CO2 and O2 in RP-3 jet fuel are determined by monitoring the gas pressure in a hermetic cell versus time with the temperature from 253 to 333 K. The measured diffusivity-temperature relation can be well fitted through the Arrhenius equation for engineering applications. The obtained correlation can be used to predict the diffusion coefficient of CO2 and O2 in RP-3 jet fuel under a wide temperature range.Practical implicationsThe semi-empirical correlation of solubility and diffusion coefficient in RP-3 jet fuel obtained from the experimental data could be used to support the design of an inert gas generation system.Originality/valueThere are no essential data of solubility and diffusion of CO2 and O2 in RP-3 jet fuel; therefore, it is fatal if the quantity and rate of mass transfer of CO2 and O2 in RP-3 jet fuel must be assessed, e.g. during the design of green on-board inert gas generation system.