Fouling formed on SS316L tube surface from thermal oxidative degradation of exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene

Exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadien called JP-10 is an endothermic hydrocarbon fuel with high-energy density being used in aircrafts. We have investigated the fouling of JP-10 on the inner surface of SS316L tube at wall temperature from 260 °C to 350 °C and at 3.84 MPa with a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min for 24 h. The fouling of JP-10 was influenced by wall temperature, fuel temperature and the metal surface. The average values of coke deposits were measured to be between 7.52 μg/cm² and 10.67 μg/cm² by carbon burn-off method, and the maximum values of local coke deposits and average values of coke deposits increase with the wall temperature. At 350 °C and 300 °C, the locations of peak deposition shifted upstream as the wall temperature increased. The nature and morphology of deposits were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) profiles, and the deposits of JP-10 were mainly in the form of amorphous carbon. Structurally more ordered deposits were also found, and it should be caused by the catalysis of iron and nickel in metal surface.