Analysis of Heat Flux Quenching of a SS-316L Rod Using Nanofluids

Abstract

Quenching is one of the rapid cooling processes; however, the jet impingement technique is an efficient method for cooling in constrained space. In the nuclear reactor, to prevent the loss of coolant accident condition, de-ionized water is stored in the repository of the emergency core cooling system. Nanofluids exhibit better heat removal capacity, thus, the present article investigates experimentally an optimum oxide based nanofluid under various parameters such as set wall temperature, mass flow rate, and concentration. Quenching curves with different working fluids at a particular heat flux condition have been recorded at different locations of the heater surface. In case of heat flux quenching, limiting heat flux is defined as the boundary heat flux after which the quench front is not able to cool the heater surface. Quench front velocity calculation is the criteria to decide the limiting case. In case of nanofluids, it was observed that there was enhancement in the value of limiting heat flux under various parameters as compared to de-ionized water.