Numerical analysis of heat transfer deterioration of China RP-3 aviation kerosene in a circular tube at supercritical pressures

Abstract

Turbulent convective heat transfer of hydrocarbon fuels at supercritical pressure was of great importance in the active cooling system of scramjet engines. Two-dimensional coupled heat transfer of China RP-3 aviation kerosene in a tube was carried out numerically. Effects of the thermal conductivity on coupled heat transfer were studied. Influences of radial property variation, buoyancy, and acceleration on heat transfer deterioration were also investigated. Results indicated that solid thermal conductivity almost has no effect on the convective heat transfer, but high wall thermal conductivity produces small radial temperature gradient inside the wall. Acceleration effect on heat transfer could be neglected at typical operating conditions of scramjet engines. Buoyancy produced heat transfer deterioration for upward flow at relatively small values of specific mass flow rate. When the value of specific mass flow rate was relatively large, radial property variation produced heat transfer deterioration. Heat transfer deterioration appeared when the ratio of heat flux to specific mass flow rate was larger than 410 J/kg at 4.5MPa.