Systems and methods for using an endothermic fuel with a high heat sink capacity for aircraft waste heat rejection

US8978353B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lockheed Martin Corporation · US

Inventors

• Daniel George Norton · Niskayuna, US
• Robert James Perry · Niskayuna, US
• John Aibangbee Osaheni · Rochester, US
• Patrick Edward Pastecki · Albany, US
• Paul Burchell Glaser · Albany, US
• Ashish Balkrishna Mhadeshwar · Storrs, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 31, 2011
• Grant date: Mar 17, 2015
• Expiry date: Jun 18, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64D37/34
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for rejecting waste heat generated by one or more operating systems installed on an aircraft employ an endothermic fuel that can participate in endothermic catalytic cracking at temperatures below about 80° C. when exposed to a cracking catalyst that contains a superacid operative to induce low-temperature catalytic cracking of the branched alkanes. The endothermic fuel contains an effective amount of the branched alkanes so that a net endothermic effect is realized when the fuel is exposed to the cracking catalyst. The low-temperature, heat-consuming cracking of the branched alkanes increases the heat sink capacity of the endothermic fuel.