Development of a heat transfer test rig for finding heat transfer characteristics of liquid methane
Abstract
Most large scale rocket engines use a regeneratively cooled system to cool the rocket engine using either the rocket fuel or oxidizer. The use of liquid methane as a rocket fuel is an emerging technology proving to have several advantages over current rocket fuels. However, liquid methane is lacking the extensive research as a rocket fuel compared to highly used rocket fuels like liquid hydrogen. A heat transfer test rig was built with the goal to characterize the heat transfer characteristics of liquid methane as it passes through a heated channel. The development of the test rig underwent considerations designed to replicate the conditions in a regenerative cooling channel. Experiments were first completed using liquid nitrogen in vacuum resulting in temperature data which show evidence of boiling in the channel causing vapor lock. ^
Subject Area
Engineering, General|Engineering, Aerospace|Engineering, Mechanical
Recommended Citation
Sergio Flores,
"Development of a heat transfer test rig for finding heat transfer characteristics of liquid methane"
(January 1, 2011).
ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso.
Paper AAI1503717.
http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1503717