Theoretical and experimental emittance measurements for a thin liquid sheet flow

Abstract

Surface tension forces at the edges of a thin liquid (approximately 200 microns) sheet flow result in a triangularly shaped sheet. Such a geometry is ideal for an external flow radiator. Since the fluid must have very low vapor pressure, Dow Corning 705 silicone oil was used and the emittance of a flowing sheet of oil was determined by two methods. The emittance was derived as a function of the temperature drop between the top of the sheet and the coalescence point of the sheet, the sink temperature, the volumetric flow and the length of the sheet. the emittance for the oil was also calculated using an extinction coefficient determined from spectral transmittance data of the oil. The oil's emittance ranges from .67 to .87 depending on the sheet thickness and sheet temperature. The emittance derived from the temperature drop was slightly less than the emittance calculated from transmittance data. An investigation of temperature fluctuation upstream of the slit plate was also done. The fluctuations were determined to be negligible, not affecting the temperature drop which was due to radiation.