Liquid jet‐array cooling modules for high heat fluxes

Abstract

AbstractLiquid jet‐array cooling modules had been designed for operation at very high heat fluxes and were used to remove fluxes as high as 17 MW/m2. Experimental results, numerical studies, and thermal stress analyses are reported. Modules having actively cooled areas of 10 cm2 were developed. Cooling is provided by an away of small‐diameter water jets operating at speeds of 47 m/s. These jets impinge on the rear side of a 2‐to 4‐mm‐thick metallic faceplate from which the heat load is absorbed. Cooling is entirely convective without boiling. The behavior of cooling jet arrays is summarized, including numerical simulations for our specific cases. Finite‐element studies of the stresses in candidate faceplate materials are described for typical thermal and mechanical conditions. A thin‐film high‐flax resistance heater provides the heat load for testing module prototypes. The thermal resistances of the system are quantified experimentally and incorporated in our numerical model. The dominant thermal resistance is associated with the heating element. The modules are believed to be serviceable to fluxes above 20 MW/m2, although dificulties with the heating element prevented this level from being reached.