Numerical Investigation of Pool Boiling Under Ocean Conditions with Lattice Boltzmann Simulation. Part Ⅰ: Heaving Condition

Pool boiling is the heat-transfer mechanism of many heat exchangers inside ocean nuclear power plants working under the complex marine circumstances. Also, ocean conditions will create a new acceleration field other than gravity for the fluid, which induces some unique thermal–hydraulic characteristics. In this study, pool boiling under heaving conditions is numerically simulated using multiple relaxation time phase change lattice Boltzmann method. Firstly, the simulated results under static condition have been validated with recognized empirical equations, such as Rohsenow’s correlation at nucleate boiling, Zuber’s model, and Kandlikar’s model about critical heat flux (CHF). Then, pool boiling patterns, the boiling curve of time-averaged heat flux, transient heat flux, and heaving effects on different pool boiling regions are investigated. The results show that pool boiling curves of time-averaged heat flux between heaving conditions and static conditions with middle superheat degrees are similar. Heat transfer under heaving conditions at low superheat is somewhat enhanced, and it is weakened at high superheat, which leads to a slightly smaller critical heat flux with larger superheat compared with that under static conditions. Moreover, distinct fluctuation of the transient heat flux of pool boiling under heaving conditions is found for all boiling regimes. Furthermore, the heaving condition shows both positive and negative effects on pool boiling heat transfer at high-gravity and low-gravity regions, respectively. Besides, both the larger heaving height and shorter period time bring out more violent heaving motion and make a greater impact on pool boiling heat transfer.

Numerical Investigation of Pool Boiling Under Ocean Condition with Lattice Boltzmann Simulation. Part Ⅱ: Rolling Condition

Rolling motion caused by ocean condition will induce more complicated inertial forces with their force directions changing all the time, which results more complex bubble behaviors and unique heat transfer characteristics. In this work, pool boiling under rolling condition is numerically simulated using multiple relaxation time phase change lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). Pool boiling patterns, boiling curve of time-averaged heat flux, transient heat flux and rolling effects on different pool boiling regions are investigated. The results show that pool boiling curve of time-averaged heat flux between rolling condition and static condition are not obvious until close to critical heat flux, and 9.3% higher CHF is achieved under rolling condition while worse heat transfer is discovered at film boiling. Moreover, distinct fluctuation of transient heat flux of pool boiling under rolling condition is found for all boiling regimes, and its variation pattern along with the rolling motion and bubble behavior is investigated. Furthermore, tangential inertial force caused by rolling motion has positive influence on heat transfer of pool boiling, while the centrifugal force has negative influence on heat transfer, since it is opposite to the gravity and hence decreases the buoyancy force. Besides, larger rolling amplitude and smaller rolling period will induce larger additional inertial forces, and thus make greater influences on the bubbles’ behavior and pool boiling heat transfer.

Inverse Estimation of Heat Transfer Coefficient and Reference Temperature in Jet Impingement

Applications of impinging jets are wide-ranging from cooling to heating in industrial as well as domestic field. Most of the reported heat transfer distribution data to and from impinging jets have been found from steady-state measurements. This study utilizes the solution to three-dimensional (3D) inverse heat conduction problem to estimate transient temperatures on the impingement side. Then, the temperature gradient is determined near the impingement wall (∼0.01 mm inside) with which transient heat flux is estimated on the impingement side. Instead of steady-state values, transient heat flux and corresponding wall temperatures are utilized in a thin foil technique to find out heat transfer coefficient and reference temperature simultaneously. The scope of the present technique is examined through its application to impinging jets with various configurations such as laminar jet, turbulent jet, hot jet, cold jet, and multiple jets. In all cases, estimations are reasonably close. The application of this inverse technique can be extended to any configuration of jet impingement irrespective of geometry of nozzle (circular/rectangular), the orientation of nozzle (orthogonal/inclined), the temperature of a jet (hot/cold), Reynolds numbers (laminar/turbulent), the nozzle-to-plate spacing (any Z/d), and roughness of the plate surface. The effect of plate thickness on the accuracy of the present technique is also studied. Up to 5 mm thick plates can be used in impinging jet applications without worrying much on accuracy. The use of the present technique significantly reduces the experimental cost and time since it works on transient data of just a few seconds.

Experimental Investigation of Heat Flux Characteristics on the Thermally Induced Vibration of a Slender Thin-Walled Beam

The spacecraft with large flexible space structures may be subject to the thermally induced vibration (TIV) due to the rapidly changed solar heat flux when it enters and leaves the eclipse, which would lead to certain spacecraft failure. This paper reports a laboratory experiment that aims to study the impact of transient characteristics of heat flux on the ground experiment of TIV. In the experiments on the TIV of a slender thin-walled beam, two different methods of providing transient heat flux were considered, and the process of entering and leaving eclipse was simulated, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that different transient characteristics of heat flux will have large impact on the TIV of the specimen, and the ideal theoretical estimation of thermal characteristic time has limitations in practical engineering. In addition, it is found that the traditional way of simulating solar heat flux by turning on/off infrared heat lamps is not suitable for the TIV ground experiment. Instead, a transient heat flux simulation method by moving the baffle is recommended.