Aviation petrol is straw coloured fuel based on either kerosene(known as Jet A) or naphtha (known as Jet B). In civilian turbine engine powered aeroplanes. Jet A is used as fuel whereas in extremely cold weather condition Jet B fuel is used.
The petrol used for aeroplanes and helicopters should burn more smoothly in the engine. Its octane number should be more than 100. Hence the straight run petrol having octane number about 65 cannot be used directly as aviation petrol.
The aviation petrol is manufactured by catalytic reformation and doping of the straight run petrol. The reformation is done by heating the straight run petrol having octane number about 65 cannot be used directly as aviation petrol.
The aviation petrol is manufactured by catalytic reformation and doping of the straight run petrol. The reformation is done by heating the straight run petrol under high pressure at 1500C in presence of a platinum catalyst.
Thus, aviation petrol is a mixture of a large number of different hydrocarbons. The range of their molecular weight or carbon numbers depends on the requirements for the products.
Kerosene-type aviation petrol(Jet A ) has a carbon number distribution between about 8 and 16 carbon numbers, whereas naphtha-type aviation petrol (Jet B) has 5 to 15 carbon numbers.