Heat transfer analysis of n-decane with variable heat flux distributions in a mini-channel

This study adopted the real heat flux distribution of a combustor as the thermal boundary condition of a cooling channel, compared the results of variable heat flux with those of constant heat flux, and revealed the different decomposition processes occurring under both the constant and variable heat fluxes. It was found necessary to adopt a variable heat flux to analyze the heat transfer process of supercritical hydrocarbon fuels. In addition, this study employed a reverse fluid inlet and compared the heat transfer abilities of the two types of variable heat flux distributions. It was found that the cooling channel should be arranged so as to benefit the pyrolysis occurring earlier to obtain a sufficient chemical heat sink.