An experimental study of pool boiling heat transfer in reduced gravity

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:484977

Shatto, D P; Renzi, K I; Peterson, G P; Morris, T K; Aaron, J W ^[1]

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1. Texas A and M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Experiments were performed in which pool boiling of pure water at reduced pressures was observed for behavior of the critical heatflux (CHF) and nucleate boiling heat transfer coefficients in a reduced gravitational environment. The experiments took place while alternating between microgravity and g/g{sub o} = 1.8 during parabolic flights aboard the NASA 930 (KC-135A). Heat transfer data were also obtained at Martian gravity levels (g/g{sub o} = 1/3). Parts of the test chamber were constructed of transparent materials to allow viewing and recording of the various boiling regimes encountered during the experiments. Results indicate that the onset of nucleate boiling occurred at lower heat fluxes in reduced gravity, resulting in higher two-phase heat transfer coefficients for g/g{sub o} < 1 than for g/g{sub o} = 1.8. In addition, the results indicate a significant reduction in the critical heat flux under reduced gravity conditions.

• OSTI ID: 484977
• Report Number(s): CONF-960815--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
CRITICAL HEAT FLUX
GRAVITATION
HEAT TRANSFER
NUCLEATE BOILING
POOL BOILING
WATER