Investigation of Optimum Heat Flux Profile Based on the Boiling Safety Factor

Abstract

An experimental study is conducted to investigate the effect of heat flux distribution on the boiling safety factor of its cooling channel. The water is allowed to flow in a horizontal circular pipe whose outlet surface is subjected to different heat flux profiles. Four types of heat flux distribution profiles are used during experiments: (constant distribution profile, type a, triangle distribution profile with its maximum in channel center, type b, triangle distribution profile with its maximum in the channel inlet, type c, and triangle distribution profile with its maximum in the channel outlet, type d). The study is conducted using heat sources of (1000 and 2665W), water flow rates of (5, 7 and 9 lit/min). The water temperature at cooling channel inlet is kept constant at (25°C). Copper test section of (0.6 m) length (0.025m) inner diameter is used during the experiments. The electrical heater used for water heating is wrapped around the copper pipe covering (50 cm) of its length. Calibrated thermocouples are distributed along pipe surface at distances (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 m) from pipe inlet to measure pipe surface temperature. The results shows that the heat source with heat flux profile of type (c) is the most reliable one from thermo-hydraulic safety point of view for both types of heat sources, as it ensures a maximum boiling safety factor (K) of (1.6, 1.7, 2) at water flow rates of (5, 7 and 9 lit/min) respectively based on maximum heat capacity of (2665 w), while the heat source with heat flux profile of type (d) which posses minimum boiling safety factors of (1, 1.2, 1.3) at water flow rates of (5, 7 and 9 lit/min) respectively based on same heat capacity value is the worst one from same point of view.