Method for low power non-coking liquid hydrocarbon fuel vaporization and supercritical phase change

A method of delivering a hydrocarbon fuel to a combustion chamber, comprising:

• flowing the hydrocarbon fuel from a hydrocarbon fuel source to at least one of a pressure-reducing device or a heat exchanger, wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is in a liquid phase at a first temperature and a first pressure, and wherein the first temperature of the liquid phase hydrocarbon fuel is less than its intrinsic oxidation temperature or endothermic reaction temperature;
• heating the liquid phase hydrocarbon fuel from the first temperature to a second temperature;
• flowing the liquid phase hydrocarbon fuel through the pressure-reducing device to reduce a pressure of the liquid phase hydrocarbon fuel from the first pressure to a second pressure, wherein the liquid phase hydrocarbon fuel substantially completely vaporizes at the second temperature and the second pressure within a first duration of time without forming carbonaceous contaminants;
• flowing the vaporized hydrocarbon fuel through a compressor to increase the pressure of the vaporized hydrocarbon fuel from the second pressure to a third pressure;
• heating the vaporized hydrocarbon fuel to increase a temperature of the vaporized hydrocarbon fuel from the second temperature to a third temperature, wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is either in a vapor phase at the third pressure and the third temperature or in a supercritical phase at the third pressure and the third temperature;
• and
• flowing the completely vaporized hydrocarbon fuel or supercritical hydrocarbon fuel into the combustion chamber.