Dry and wet partial oxidation in a distributed reactor

•Demonstrated non-catalytic wet partial oxidation under distributed condition.•Reformate quality equal to that of catalytic reforming using conventional JP8.•Reactor achieved high quality syngas with high (24%) hydrogen.•Trace amount of steam drastically improved reforming efficiency and conversion.•Achieved fuel reforming efficiency as high as 80% under non-catalytic conditions.

This work investigates the non-catalytic chemical decomposition of Jet Propellant Eight (JP8) under dry and wet distributed reforming conditions. The addition of small amounts of steam to partial oxidation increased conversion, resulting in reforming efficiency of up to 80.1%. Previously reported non-catalytic reformers only demonstrated efficiencies that ranged between 60 and 70%. The reformate consisted of high concentrations of both hydrogen (21.7-24.8%) and carbon monoxide (20.1-23.3%). Syngas composition was governed by the availability of oxygen, steam, and heat to activate partial oxidation, steam reforming, and water-gas shift reactions. The results demonstrate sound viability of non-catalytic reforming of JP8 fuel.