Investigation of heat transfer and coking characteristics of hydrocarbon fuels

In this paper, worldwide investigations of the cooling characteristics of h ydrocarbon fuels are reviewed and results of Chinese experimental investiga tions are presented. The Chinese tests were conducted at pressures of 0.5-3 0 MPa, flow velocities of 2-106 m/s, and heat fluxes up to 66 MW/m(2). The heat transfer characteristics of methane, propane, no. 21 high-density kero sene, aerokerosene and rocket kerosene in stainless-steel and copper tubes, and the deposit formation rates for kerosene in stainless-steel tubes were investigated. Forced convective heat transfer correlations were obtained f or liquid methane, propane, and kerosene. Heat fluxes at which test tubes b urnt out were also investigated. The test results indicate that heat transf er coefficients of methane and propane decrease at high wall temperatures, and that the coefficients of kerosene increase at similar conditions becaus e of boiling. No coking was detected in methane tests; coking temperature a nd coking rates were determined for kerosene in stainless-steel tubes.