The USAir Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and United Technologies (UTC) have demonstrated a fuel-stabilisation unit (FSU) that could increase the thermal capacity of fuels by removing dissolved oxygen.
Lower oxygen content in fuel suppresses coke formation at high temperatures and the fuel's cooling capacity is improved, allowing engine operating temperature and cycle efficiency to be increased.
AFRL and UTC used recently developed membrane technology to remove oxygen from the fuel. UTC demonstrated a small FSU in which fuel flows over a permeable membrane structure with an ultra-thin oxygen separation coating. Oxygen molecules dissolve into the membrane and diffuse across it.
Source: Flight International
