Heat Transfer Model for Bubbly Flows

ORBITEC proposes to develop a heat transfer model to predict heat transfer coefficient in bubbly flows in small tubes.  This model is intended for application to thermal management systems in a variety of propulsion systems, including both air-breathing and rocket engines.  The Phase I work will include parallel experimental and modeling work.  The experimental program will measure heat transfer coefficient and void fraction in bubbly flows of a few fuels in small tubes.  A simplified numerical model will simulate the experiments and build the foundation for a more complex model.  Phase II work will implement the model in a CFD code and will validate its predictions with experiments on a fuel-cooled rocket engine nozzle. BENEFIT: The two-phase heat transfer model developed under this effort will enable engineers to use commercial CFD codes to model thermal management system for a variety of propulsion applications.  Because two-phase heat transfer in small tubes is ubiquitous in propulsion system, the code and the understanding developed through using it will have application to a variety of groups within DoD, NASA, and commercial companies.  ORBITEC intends to be a supplier of both the code and the expertise heat transfer in two-phase flow.