Viscosity and Density of Narrow Distillation Cuts from Refined Petroleum- and Synthetic-Derived Distillates in the...

Aviation turbine fuel (jet fuel) must remain fluid enough for use at low temperatures typically experienced during high-altitude flights. The viscosity-temperature relationship of petroleum-derived jet fuel is described by the MacCoull correlation in ASTM D341. The maximum kinematic viscosity of jet fuel at -20 °C is regulated by specification, but for long-distance flights, viscosity of <12 mm² s^-1 at -40 °C is important. For synthesized paraffinic kerosene (SPK) to be approved as a synthetic jet fuel, compliance with these viscosity limits is imperative. A petroleum-based kerosene and SPK from wax hydrocracking were distilled into narrow cut (5 °C range) fractions, and for each narrow cut, density, viscosity, and refractive index values were measured over the temperature range from +60 to -60 °C. The viscosity-temperature dependences of the petroleum-derived and synthetic narrow cuts were described with comparable accuracy (relative deviation <5%) by the MacCoull correlation. Calculation of kinematic viscosity at -40 °C by extrapolating data measured at ≥-20 °C underpredicted viscosity for >200 °C boiling kerosene cuts, with a maximum relative deviation of 6.6%. The freezing point is another jet fuel property that is regulated by specification. Good agreement (±1.3 °C) was found between the end of the melting endotherm obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the freezing point determined according to ASTM D2386. Local maxima/minima in the freezing point of distillation cuts with increasing boiling point were observed and could be related to the freezing point characteristics of the n-alkanes.