Numerical simulation for the Piston effect and thermal diffusion observed in supercritical nitrogen

Heat transport mechanism in supercritical nitrogen near the pseudo-critical line is investigated using a two-dimensional calculation model that is a rectangular cavity with a horizontal heated wall located at the top. The thermo-fluid dynamics equations are solved directly using the finite difference method. The calculation results qualitatively agree with the experimental results, which were obtained using a laser holography interferometer. It is verified that thermal energy is propagated by the Piston effect around the pseudo-critical line.     

Using the Vincenta code to analyse pressure increases in helium during the quench of a superconducting magnet

The Vincenta code is used to simulate the pressure increases in helium in case of a quench in the superconducting coils. We focus on two classes of coil in which helium is in direct contact with the conductor: coils consisting of cable-in-conduit conductors (as in ITER or JT-60SA), in which supercritical helium is forced through long channels; and bath-cooled coils, in which static helium is confined in short channels perpendicular to the conductor and opening into a bath (as in Tore Supra or Iseult). Various physical phenomena are responsible for the pressure increases in helium, which is subjected to strong heat flux in the conductor during a quench: at the local level, i.e. in the heated channels, the inertial forces that must be overcome to expel the fluid and the friction forces due to the induced velocity; at the global level, i.e. throughout the cryogenic system, the adiabatic compression of non-heated volumes hydraulically connected to the heated channels. Here we analyse the thermohydraulic behaviour of helium to highlight the dominant phenomena, according to the geometry of the helium flow paths. The results are applied to numerical simulation of the pressure rise in case of quench in a JT-60SA cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) and in the bath-cooled Iseult coil.     

超临界甲烷在印刷电路板换热器中加热过程模拟

印刷电路板换热器(Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger,PCHE)是一种新型微通道换热器,其换热的高效性和集成性非常适合用于LNG接收站的中间流体换热器(IFV)中。对超临界甲烷在PCHE中的对流换热进行数值模拟,研究了质量流量、入口压力、热通量及通道形状对微通道内甲烷换热系数的影响。结果表明,表面换热系数随温度的变化先增大再减小,并在假临界温度处达到最大值;PCHE半圆形通道内的换热特性高于普通圆形通道;其换热系数随流速的增加而增加;随热流密度的增加而增加;压力对换热特性的影响与介质所处的温度区间有关。     

Visualization techniques applied to thermo-fluid phenomena in cryogenic fluids

A variation of visualization techniques such as Shadowgraph, Schlieren and holographic interferometry, has been so far applied to visualize thermo-fluid phenomena in cryogenic fluids, superfluid helium (He II) and supercritical nitrogen, by some researchers. This paper is a review of these visualization techniques used in cryogenic fluids as well as an introduction of visualization techniques.     

Water-coupled carbon dioxide microchannel gas cooler for heat pump water heaters: Part II - Model development and validation

An experimental and analytical study on the performance of a compact, microchannel water-carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas cooler was conducted. The experimental results addressed in Part I of this study are used here in Part II to develop an analytical model, utilizing a segmented approach to account for the steep gradients in the thermodynamic and transport properties of supercritical CO₂. The model predicted gas cooler heat duty with an average absolute deviation of 7.5% with varying refrigerant and water inlet conditions. The segmented model reveals that near the pseudo-critical point, there is a significant local decrease in refrigerant-side thermal resistance, which yields a sharp increase in local heat duty. The impact of this spike on gas cooler performance is analyzed. Results from this study can be used to predict the effect of changing geometric parameters of the heat exchanger without the need for expensive prototype development and testing.     

A review of experimental methods for solid solubility determination in cryogenic systems

Over the past years, there have been a number of serious explosions in air industry, which have resulted in workers injuries and fatalities. At the same time, there has been an increase in the use of air separation products for industrial activities.The quality of air entering an air separation plant is of crucial importance for its safe and reliable operation and the interest in the solubility data of solids in cryogenic liquid solvents is closely connected to the problem of impurities accumulation in the process plant and storage tanks. Such accumulations, especially in liquid oxygen, may cause fouling and blockage in heat exchangers and pipelines and they may eventually cause serious explosions. For this reason the air contaminants composition in liquid oxygen must be determined with great precision.This paper aims at reviewing experimental methods for determining the solubility of solid compounds that may be present in the cryogenic liquefaction processing of air distillation. A review of the literature data on solubility of solids in liquid oxygen and nitrogen is included as well.Emphasis is given to the difficulties in setting-up measuring apparatuses working at extreme conditions, i.e. low compositions and low temperatures.     

Numerical investigation of supercritical LNG convective heat transfer in a horizontal serpentine tube

The submerged combustion vaporizer (SCV) is indispensable general equipment for liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals. In this paper, numerical simulation was conducted to get insight into the flow and heat transfer characteristics of supercritical LNG on the tube-side of SCV. The SST model with enhanced wall treatment method was utilized to handle the coupled wall-to-LNG heat transfer. The thermal–physical properties of LNG under supercritical pressure were used for this study. After the validation of model and method, the effects of mass flux, outer wall temperature and inlet pressure on the heat transfer behaviors were discussed in detail. Then the non-uniformity heat transfer mechanism of supercritical LNG and effect of natural convection due to buoyancy change in the tube was discussed based on the numerical results. Moreover, different flow and heat transfer characteristics inside the bend tube sections were also analyzed. The obtained numerical results showed that the local surface heat transfer coefficient attained its peak value when the bulk LNG temperature approached the so-called pseudo-critical temperature. Higher mass flux could eliminate the heat transfer deteriorations due to the increase of turbulent diffusion. An increase of outer wall temperature had a significant influence on diminishing heat transfer ability of LNG. The maximum surface heat transfer coefficient strongly depended on inlet pressure. Bend tube sections could enhance the heat transfer due to secondary flow phenomenon. Furthermore, based on the current simulation results, a new dimensionless, semi-theoretical empirical correlation was developed for supercritical LNG convective heat transfer in a horizontal serpentine tube. The paper provided the mechanism of heat transfer for the design of high-efficiency SCV.     

Dynamic and Thermal Effects in Supercritical Fluids under Various Gravity Conditions

Some problems of supercritical fluid dynamics and heat transfer under various gravity conditions are solved experimentally and numerically. Ground-based experiments coupling with numerical simulations are performed to investigate dynamic and thermal effects in supercritical fluid subjected to heat supply. Numerical simulations of the piston effect and thermal gravity-driven convection in the fluids with variable physical properties are carried out. The effect of variability of properties caused by density and temperature inhomogeneities on the rate of the piston effect and convective patterns is discussed.     

Recommendations for accurate heat capacity measurements using a Quantum Design physical property measurement system

A commercial instrument for determination of heat capacities of solids from ca. 400 K to 0.4 K, the physical property measurement system from Quantum Design, has been used to determine the heat capacities of a standard samples (sapphire [single crystal] and copper). We extend previous tests of the PPMS in three important ways: to temperatures as low as 0.4 K; to samples with poor thermal conductivity; to compare uncertainty with accuracy. We find that the accuracy of heat capacity determinations can be within 1% for 5 K < T < 300 K and 5% for 0.7 K < T < 5 K. Careful attention should be paid to the relative uncertainty for each data point, as determined from multiple measurements. While we have found that it is possible in some circumstances to obtain excellent results by measurement of samples that contribute more than ca. 1/3 to the total heat capacity, there is no “ideal” sample mass and sample geometry also is an important consideration. In fact, our studies of pressed pellets of zirconium tungstate, a poor thermal conductor, show that several samples of different masses should be determined for the highest degree of certainty.     

Capacitance based mass metering for cryogenic fluids

This paper describes a method for measuring the mass of cryogenic fluids in on-board rocket propellant tanks or ground storage tanks. Linear approximations to the Clausius-Mossotti relationship serve as the foundation for a capacitance based mass sensor, regardless of fluid density stratification or tank shape. Sensor design considerations are presented along with the experimental results for a capacitance based mass gage tested in liquid nitrogen. This test data is shown to be consistent with theory resulting in a demonstrated mass measurement accuracy of ±0.75% and a deviation from linearity of less than ±0.30% of full scale mass. Theoretical accuracies are also shown to be ±0.73% for hydrogen and ±1.39% for oxygen for a select range of pressures and temperatures.     

Experimental research and numerical simulation on cryogenic line chill-down process

The empirical heat transfer correlations are suggested for the fast cool down process of the cryogenic transfer line from room temperature to cryogenic temperature. The correlations include the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) correlations for single-phase gas convection and film boiling regimes, minimum heat flux (MHF) temperature, critical heat flux (CHF) temperature and CHF. The correlations are obtained from the experimental measurements. The experiments are conducted on a 12.7 mm outer diameter (OD), 1.25 mm wall thickness and 7 m long stainless steel horizontal pipe with liquid nitrogen (LN₂). The effect of the lengthwise position is verified by measuring the temperature profiles in near the inlet and the outlet of the transfer line. The newly suggested heat transfer correlations are applied to the one-dimensional homogeneous transient model to simulate the cryogenic line chill-down process, and the chill-down time and the cryogen consumption are well predicted in the mass flux range from 26.0 kg/m² s to 73.6 kg/m² s through the correlations.     

Performance measurements of a 7 mm-diameter hydrogen heat pipe

A gravity assisted heat pipe with 7-mm diameter has been developed and tested to cool a liquid hydrogen target for extracted beam experiments at COSY. The liquid flowing down from the condenser surface is separated from the vapor flowing up by a thin wall 3 mm diameter plastic tube located concentrically inside the heat pipe. The heat pipe was tested at different inclination angles with respect to the horizontal plane. The heat pipe showed good operating characteristics because of the low radiation heat load from the surroundings, low heat capacity due to the small mass, higher sensitivity to heat loads (to overcome the heat load before the complete vaporization of the liquid in the target cell) due to the higher vapor speed inside the heat pipe which transfers the heat load to the condenser.     

开架式气化器竖直圆管内超临界氮换热实验研究

目前国内外对液化天然气(LNG)接收站的开架式气化器中超临界天然气的流动换热实验研究非常少,本文为了研究开架式气化器中竖直管内超临界流体的流动换热特性,搭建了竖直单管超临界流体换热实验平台。以液氮代替液化天然气,研究了氮入口压力、水温和水流量等不同参数对换热的影响。结果表明:在拟临界温度以下,表面传热系数随着压力的增大逐渐减小,但拟临界温度以后,这种趋势相反;当水流量足够大时,氮出口温度取决于管外水温而不是水侧流量。最后,基于实验数据拟合出了适用于竖直圆管内超临界低温流体流动换热的半经验关联式,关联式预测值和实验值的平均绝对偏差为8.42%,可以准确预测竖直加热管中超临界氮的表面传热系数。     

Performance of extended surface from a cryocooler for subcooling liquid nitrogen by natural convection

Natural convection of subcooled liquid nitrogen under a horizontal flat plate is measured by experiment. This study is motivated mainly by our recent development of cryocooling systems for HTS power devices without any forced circulation of liquid nitrogen. Since the cold surface of a GM cryocooler is very limited, the cooling plate immersed in subcooled liquid nitrogen is thermally anchored to the cryocooler located at the top in order to serve as an extended surface. A vertical plate generating uniform heat flux is placed at a given distance under the cooling plate so that subcooled liquid may generate cellular flow by natural convection. The temperature distributions on the plates and liquid are measured during the cool-down and in steady state, from which the heat transfer coefficients are calculated and compared with the existing correlations for a horizontal surface with uniform temperature. A fair agreement is observed between two data sets, when the heat flux is small or the plate temperatures are relatively uniform in horizontal direction. Some discrepancy at higher heat flux is explained by the cellular flow pattern and the fin efficiency of the extended surface, resulting in the non-uniformity of the horizontal plate.     

Study on unsymmetrical phenomena of vapor cooled current leads

Unsymmetrical phenomena of gas flow and temperature distributions between a pair of vapor cooled current leads (VCCL) often occur in superconducting systems, which makes the VCCL depart from the optimum operating status, consequently results in an increased heat leak to the cryostat and even a destroyed safety operating condition of the VCCL. To analyze this problem, a numerical model for the VCCL was built, which is based on the conservation equation of energy for the solid and the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy for the fluid. With this model, unsymmetrical phenomena between a pair of VCCL were analyzed. Unbalanced gas flow distribution in a single multi-channel VCCL was also studied. Some conclusions were made for the design of VCCL, and a new type of VCCL with combined positive and negative poles and a helical cross section structure was developed. Test results showed that the unsymmetrical phenomena can be well restrained by using the new type of VCCL.     

Film boiling on a vertical plate in subcooled helium II

Film boiling heat transfer coefficients were measured on 10, 30 and 50 mm long vertical plates in subcooled He II for bulk liquid temperatures from 1.8 to 2.1 K. A film boiling model on a vertical plate in subcooled He II was presented based on convection heat transport in the vapor film, radiation heat transport, and heat transport in He II. The numerical solutions of the model were obtained and an equation which can express the numerical solutions within ±5% difference was derived. The equation predicted well the experimental data for lower ΔT range but significantly under-predicted the data for higher ΔT. A correlation of film boiling heat transfer including radiation contribution was presented by modifying the equation based the experimental data. This correlation can describe the experimental data within ±20% difference.     

Temperature distribution in SFCLs based on Au/YBCO films during quenches

We investigated temperature distribution in SFCLs based on Au/YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (YBCO). SFCLs were fabricated by patterning Au/YBCO thin films grown on sapphire substrates into meander lines by photolithography. A gold film grown on the back side of the substrate was patterned into a meander line, and used as a thermometer. The front meander line was subjected to simulated AC fault currents, and the back line to DC current. Resistance of the front and back meander lines were measured and analyzed. The SFCLs were immersed in liquid nitrogen during the experiment for effective cooling. The temperature at the back side was close to that at the front side, and was closer at lower temperatures. This was observed at all stripes. The oscillatory component of the resistance of the back meander line is smaller than, and out-of-phase with that of the front meander line, which was more pronounced at higher temperatures. These results were analyzed quantitatively with the concept of heat transfer within the SFCL and to surroundings. Solutions for a heat equation explained the temperature distribution in SFCLs quantitatively: data coincided well with the solutions. In addition, quench development near the quench start point could be understood better than before, using the results.     

Numerical investigation of gas species and energy separation in the Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube using real gas model

A three dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is used to investigate the phenomena of energy and species separation in a vortex tube (VT) with compressed air at normal atmospheric temperature and cryogenic temperature as the working fluid. In this work the NIST real gas model is used for the first time to accurately compute the thermodynamic and transport properties of air inside the VT. CFD simulations are carried out using the perfect gas law as well. The computed performance curves (hot and cold outlet temperatures versus hot outlet mass fraction) at normal atmospheric temperature obtained with both the real gas model and the perfect gas law are compared with the experimental results. The separation of air into its main components, i.e. oxygen and nitrogen is observed, although the separation effect is very small. The magnitudes of both the energy separation and the species separation at cryogenic temperature were found to be smaller than those at normal atmospheric temperature.     

Development and performance test of a cryoprobe with heat transfer enhancement configuration

In the present study, a cryoprobe with heat transfer enhancement configuration (HTEC) is developed and its freezing performance is evaluated experimentally. Two kinds of heat transfer enhancement configurations, i.e., coiled wire insert and helical mesh insert, are proposed and used in the cryoprobe. Furthermore, in order to ensure that vapor can be discharged freely and only liquid nitrogen reaches the cryogenic section of the cryoprobe, a vapor–liquid separator is employed upstream of the cryoprobe. It is found that the precooling time of the cryoprobe is significantly shortened with the vapor–liquid separator. The enhancement of the freezing capacity with the helical mesh insert is slightly superior to that with the coiled wire insert. With the helical mesh insert, the freezing capacity of the cryoprobe can be enhanced by 41%, and the wall temperature can reach 111.3 K in about 10 min. Significant temperature oscillations are observed in the precooling stage of the cryoprobe with HTEC, while only slight temperature oscillations can be found without HTEC.     

The effect of the solution treatment onto the microstructure and mechanical properties of MAG pulsed welded joints from X2CrNiMoN22‐5‐3 Duplex stainless steels

The metallurgical behaviour by Duplex stainless steels welding is affected by reducing the austenite proportion in weld and in the area adjacent to the fusion line of the molten metal bath and also by the precipitation of nitrides Cr₂N, carbides M₂₃C₆ and intermetallic phases, σ, χ, Laves. The modalities for obtaining a quantitative ratio of the two phases (Austenite/Ferrite) close to that of the base metal (～50 % Austenite and 50 % Ferrite) aims to adjust the chemical composition of the weld by selecting a filler material with a higher nickel content (the element which beside nitrogen promotes the austenite formation), the heat cycle control of the welding process and the application of a post‐welding solution treatment. The present paper explores the effect of such heat treatment on balance restoring between austenite and ferrite and the reduction of the alloying elements segregation phenomena. By optical and scanning electron microscopy examinations and also X‐ray diffraction analyses the microstructural changes induced by the applied treatment are highlighted and by impact toughness and static tensile tests is demonstrated the positive effect of the heat treatment onto the ensuring of the welded joints quality.