Properties of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Blends for Use in Military Equipment

Clean, very low sulfur fuels produced from domestic resources are of interest to the U.S. Military to enhance supply security and reliability versus continuing to rely on the supply of fuels that are either manufactured from an increasing percentage of imported oil or imported in increasing amounts as finished products. [1]* Synthetic Fischer-Tropsch (FT) fuel is one type of fuel that can be produced from domestic resources. FT fuels can be produced from a variety of non-petroleum feed stocks, such as natural gas, coal, petroleum coke, or even biomass and various wastes. Starting with reforming or gasification processes, the FT technology first produces synthesis gas (syngas) which is subsequently processed to high-boiling hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are then hydrocracked, hydroisomerized, and/or hydroprocessed to produce the desired liquid fuels. The military has a Single Battlefield Fuel Policy which mandates use of the JP-8/JP-5/Jet A-1 aviation turbine fuels. These are currently derived from conventional resources such as petroleum (crude oil). FT aviation turbine fuels have been produced and are being evaluated for use in military equipment by a Joint Agency Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DoE) Team. The military will most likely utilize blends of FT fuels with petroleum JP-8/JP-5/Jet A-1 as a first step in evolving towards the use of cleaner fuels that can be produced from domestic resources. Properties of these “FT/petroleum fuel blends” are shown to be similar to those of petroleum JP-8/JP-5/Jet A-1.