Flow Distribution Characteristics of Supercritical Hydrocarbon Fuel in Parallel Channels with Pyrolysis

Abstract

Due to the asymmetric geometry of flowpath and combustion organization, the heat flux distribution on RBCC's walls are extremely non-uniform. With a validated numerical model considering the changes of thermophysical properties and chemical components, the present study analyzed the effects of heat flux intensity, non-uniformity of heat flux distribution and inlet manifold on the mass flow distribution of parallel regenerative cooling channels. Results show that the intensity of heat flux enlarges the non-uniformity of parallel channels, however, the non-uniformity is reduced when the outlet temperature is above the completely pyrolysis value; and the non-uniformity heat flux distribution increases the mal-distribution of parallel channels dramatically, the difference of mass flow rate reaches to 33.2% when the heat flux difference is only 0.25 MW/m2; increasing the flow area of inlet manifold would improve the flow distribution of parallel channels with decrease of heat transfer efficiency and increases of pressure drop.

Keywords

• regenerative cooling
• parallel channels
• flow distribution
• supercritical hydrocarbon fuel
• non-uniform heating
• rocket based combined cycle engine