• Deep hydrogenation of RP-3 jet fuel significantly improves anti-coking performance while maintaining fuel conversion during pyrolysis.
• Increased hydrogenation degree leads to a slight increase in heat sink, attributed to higher H/C ratios.
• Aromatics promote coking precursor formation, whereas cycloalkanes act as hydrogen donors to suppress coke deposition.
• Modulating fuel composition via hydrogenation offers a promising strategy for upgrading endothermic hydrocarbon fuels.