Effects of rotational speed on transient cooling performance of nozzle spray with liquid nitrogen in a rotor-stator cavity

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation into the cooling performance of a rotor-stator cavity with liquid nitrogen spraying. The experiments were conducted under varying rotational Reynolds numbers ranging from 1.70 × 10⁶ to 5.12 × 10⁶. The effects of rotational speed on temperature drop rate are studied and compared in detail, as well as the heat transfer coefficient distribution. Sufficient data, such as heat flux, injection rate, and injection pressure, were collected to provide a basis for further study in explaining the spray and evaporation over the cavity. It was found that the cooling performance of the rotating disc is strongly affected by the rotational speed. The short-term period exhibits a peak cooling rate of 14°C/s, in contrast to the sustained cooling rate during the spray process at rotational speeds of 500r/min, which amounts to 0.9°C/s. The occurrence of cavitation and evaporation within the nozzle results in a reduction of flow coefficient and fluctuation of the injection differential pressure. The transient cooling performance is well-explained by the temperature changes and cooling-down time under different rotational speeds. The analysis of the heat transfer coefficient is further enhanced through an evaluation of the convective and conductive heat transfer rates using a one-dimensional theoretical approach. The average temperature of the disc is expected to decrease by 100°C within a time frame no longer than 120 s. Additionally, after a duration of 120 s, the average heat transfer rate on the cold side is anticipated to surpass 8000 W/(m·K).