Optimizing and Predicting CHF in Spray Cooling of a Square Surface

Abstract

Spray cooling of a hot surface was investigated to ascertain the effect of nozzle-to-surface distance on critical heat flux (CHF). Full cone sprays of Fluorinert FC-72 and FC-87 were used to cool a 12.7 × 12.7 mm2 surface. A theoretical model was constructed that accurately predicts the spray’s volumetric flux (liquid volume per unit area per unit time) distribution across the heater surface. Several experimental spray sampling techniques were devised to validate this model. The impact of volumetric flux distribution on CHF was investigated experimentally. By measuring CHF for the same nozzle flow rate at different nozzle-to-surface distances, it was determined CHF can be maximized when the spray is configured such that the spray impact area just inscribes the square surface of the heater. Using this optimum configuration, CHF data were measured over broad ranges of flow rate and subcooling, resulting in a new correlation for spray cooling of small surfaces.