Design of A Microgravity Spray Cooling Experiment

Abstract

An analytical and experimental study was conducted for the application of spray cooling in a micro gravity and high-g environment. Experiments were carried out aboard the NASA KC-135 reduced gravity aircraft, which provided both the microgravity and high-g environments. In reduced gravity, surface tension flow was observed around the spray nozzle, due to unconstrained liquid in the test chamber and flow reversal at the heat source. A transient analytical model was developed to predict the temperature and the spray heat transfer coefficient within the heated region. Comparison of the experimental transient temperature variation with analytical results showed good agreement for low heat input values. The transient analysis also verified that thermal equilibrium within the heated region could be reached during the 20-25s reduced gravity portion of the flight profile.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA456032

Entities

People

  • John Mcquillen
  • Kerri M. Basinger
  • Kirk L. Yerkes
  • Richard J. Harris
  • Travis E. Michalak

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Coefficients
  • Data Acquisition
  • Environment
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Flow
  • Heat Transfer
  • Heat Transfer Coefficients
  • Measurement
  • Optical Materials
  • Pressure Transducers
  • Spray Nozzles
  • Surface Tension
  • Temperature Control

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.