Experimental investigation of self-pumping internal transpiration cooling

Abstract

In this study, a self-pumping internal transpiration cooling method was experimentally investigated for cooling a high heat flux surface with a maximum heat flux of 1.1 MW/m2. The heat was conducted from the outer surface to the internal porous plate surface by a copper plate with fins. Transpiration cooling occurred on the porous plate surface with the vapor exhausted through the space between the copper fins. The experiment results indicated that the water coolant automatically flowed from the water tank to the porous surface without any pumps. The outer surface was effectively cooled to approximately 435 K by the internal transpiration cooling when the heat flux was 1.1 MW/m2. The coolant mass flow rate self-adaptively increased with increase in the heat flux. The coolant mass flow rate exhibited a rapid automatic response to changes in the heat flux while the internal porous surface temperature remained at approximately 373 K. The coolant for the self-pumping internal transpiration cooling was more efficiently utilized than that of traditional transpiration cooling. The self-pumping internal transpiration cooling system exhibited less interaction with the external environment and did not include a complex pump system such as that used in traditional transpiration cooling systems.