Preliminary Study of Heat Transfer Correlation Development and Pressure Loss Behavior in Curved High Aspect Ratio Coolant Channels (Preprint)
Abstract
Convective heat transfer is important for maintaining life and reliability of the main combustion chamber in liquid rocket engines. Enhancing the regenerative cooling circuit's ability to maintain wall temperature with minimal pressure losses improves engine life and has the potential to reduce the turbopump output pressure. High aspect ratio coolant channels have been shown to reduce wall temperature with little pressure increase. Additionally, rocket engine cooling circuits are curved and the mechanisms responsible for curvature enhancement remain unclear for tall, narrow passages and appropriate predictive tools have not been developed. The objective of this research is to study the mechanisms responsible for improved cooling performance and to develop heat transfer correlations for use in high aspect ratio coolant channels having conducting side walls and subjected to asymmetric heating on the concave side, thus modeling a channel in a slotted liner. Tests are conducted with water in a single, curved channel subjected to heat flux on the outer radius wall and in a straight channel with heat input to an analogous wall.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 19, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA484433
Entities
People
- Anh-tuan Le
- J. C. Sturgis
- Jennifer Nathman
- Jung Yi
- Justin Niehaus
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory