An Experimental Investigation of Liquid Jet Impingement and Single-Phase Spray Cooling Using Polyalphaolefin

Abstract

Experiments on triangular and rectangular array jet impingement and single-phase spray cooling have been performed to determine the effect of both cooling techniques on heat transfer coefficient (h) and the coolant mass flux required for a given cooling load. Experiments were performed with circular orifices and nozzles for different H/D values from 1.5 to 26 and Reynolds number range of 219 to 837, which is quite lower than the ranges employed in widely used correlations. The coolant used was polyalphaolefin. The experiments simulated the boundary condition produced at the surface of the stator of a high power low-density generator or motor. For the custom fabricated orifices, commercial nozzles, and conditions used in this study, both cooling configurations showed enhancement of heat transfer coefficient as H/D increases to a certain limit after which it starts to decrease. The heat transfer coefficient always increases with Reynolds number. In keeping with previous studies, single-phase spray cooling technique can provide the same heat transfer coefficient as jets at a slightly lower mass flux, but with much higher-pressure head. Special Nud correlations that account for the range of parameters and coolant studied in this work are derived.