Elaboration of a new calculation procedure of hydrocarbon deposit layer thickness in fuel channels of heat engines and power plants

Abstract

The article is devoted to theoretical research connected with elaboration of a new calculation procedure for hydrocarbon deposit layer thickness. A common problem of deposit formation in heat engines and power plants is thoroughly investigated. In addition, the wall composition, temperature, time and a number of life cycles, etc. are mentioned as key factors that have direct influence on this heat phenomenon. The paper describes thermophysical properties of deposits in fuel feed systems of different engines. The literature search and analysis did not reveal any similar procedures of calculation of hydrocarbon deposit layer thickness that could be connected with electrical properties of a wall or a deposit. The paper presents new equations for calculating the deposit formation thickness and rate based upon thermal and electrical nature of this process. These new equations led to elaboration of the new calculation procedure of hydrocarbon deposit layer thickness on a metal wall for any fuel channel of a heat engine or a power plant based on liquid hydrocarbon fuel or coolant. The new calculation technique was verified by experiments in aviation kerosene boiling in volume, which clarified special features in the application of new equations. Owing to the universal character of the proposed technique, it can be used for calculating the deposit formation virtually in all the known heat engines and power plants, for various operating conditions, for different metal wall compositions, at various fuel flow rates and pressures, temperature regimes inside fuel-feed and cooling channels.