Heat transfer in two-component internal mist cooling: Part II. Mechanistic modeling

The prediction of a mechanistic, three-dimensional, two-phase flow model is compared with experimental heat transfer data presented in the experimental part of this study for steady, internal, nozzle-generated, gas/liquid mist flow in vertical channels. The mechanistic model is based on the modification of the KIVA-3V computer code. The KIVA-3V code has been modified to solve the heat conduction equation in the surrounding structure with either steady or pulsed heat generation simultaneously with the fluid transport equations, and allow modeling of the various channel geometries and droplet injection methods. Among the numerically examined operating and design parameters are: the liquid atomization nozzle design, heat flux, carrier gas velocity and inlet temperature, liquid mass fraction at inlet, and flow direction. Comparison is made between the experimental data for wall and fluid bulk temperatures and heat transfer coefficients, and the predictions of the numerical model. Overall, reasonable agreement is obtained for downward mist flow, in particular at moderate heat fluxes; at high heat fluxes, the model slightly underpredicts the local heat transfer coefficients. For upward mist flow, the model underpredicts the local heat transfer coefficients typically by about 20%, and appears to predict dryout at the test section exit earlier than experiment. Some parametric and sensitivity calculation results are also presented and discussed.