Evaluation of coal-derived JP-5 fuels

Among useful and significant conclusions of a comprehensive study of JP-5 type aviation fuels made from coal-derived synthetic crude oils was the following. The fuels were satisfactory in all tests of properties except for some deviations in smoke point, freeze point, density, and viscosity. Today's mechanized U.S. Navy is highly dependent upon a secure supply of fuel to maintain its ships, aircraft, and shore facilities at maximum readiness. Towards this end the Navy's energy programs are directed at research and development of alternate sources that will augment and may eventually replace the petroleum fuel. Fuels from alternate sources such as coal, oil shale, and tar sands will become a reality before the turn of the century as the petroleum reserves become more scarce. The Navy is in a period of preparation to make the transition from its present fuel to the synthetic fuel with a minimum of disruptions in operations. Coal syncrude was selected as the initial candidate for evaluation because of the amount of research being conducted in the area of liquefaction, and the availability of sufficient quantities of the crude to conduct a program with a broad scope.