Aeronautical Engineering/Jet fuel

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Expert: - 1/31/2008


Question
Paul, what would be the difference between kerosine and JP-4? Thankyou. Rob

Answer
Not much since JP-4 is 50% kerosene and 50% gasoline.  JP-4 has a slightly higher heat value: 43.8 MJ/kg vs 43.1 MJ/kg.  To create a kerosene based jet fuel,  JP-4 was tuned to have improved qualities for smoke point (temperature at which an oil starts smoking) and freeze point.  Other chemicals were added to inhibit corosion, static electricity and icing.  Currently, JP-8 or JPA is preferred because they are safer to use and contains improved additives.  See Wikipedia for details.

Paul

Aeronautical Engineering

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Paul Soderman

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Aeronautics, Fluid Mechanics, Aeroacoustics, Noise Control, Muffler Design, Wind Tunnel Research.... I know nothing about India - do not ask about schools, jobs, application requirements, career choices, etc. for India. Please, no text message verbiage; I prefer full words in full sentences. Thanks.

Experience

38 years as research engineer at NASA

Publications
AIAA, NASA

Education/Credentials
B.S. and M.S. Aeronautical Engineering - U. of Washington Graduate work Standford U.

Awards and Honors
AIAA Associate Fellow (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

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