Experimental Investigation on Heat Exchange and Pressure Drop Enhanced by Vertical Sloshing

Abstract

For the prediction of heat transfer coupled with sloshing in the propellant tanks of launch vehicle, the pressure drop induced by liquid motion in a sub-scale vessel excited in vertical direction was experimentally investigated. The strong correlation between the pressure drop and liquid motion was confirmed in the experiment. The mechanisms enhancing heat transfer were discussed based on the visualization. It was suggested that shear flow and vortices induced by violent motion of liquid should cause the pressure drop in the closed vessel.Nomenclature  : density [ kg/m 3 ] p : static pressure [ Pa ] T : static temperature [ K ] e : internal energy [ J/kg ] u  : velocity [ m/s ] q  : heat flux [ W/m 2 ] 2  : specific heat ratio C p /C v [ -]  : surface tension [ N/m ] D : diameter of vessel [ m ] H : initial liquid level [ m ]  : amplitude of oscillation [ m ] t : time [ sec ]