Design Investigation into Liquid Oxygen Vaporisation Systems : Atomisation and Heat Loads

Abstract: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are presented within this study for super-cooled liquid oxygen atomisation and gasification in a subcritical chamber operating at 1MPa. Relatively low cost simulation techniques have been used and their accuracy evaluated. Gasification efficiency expected from theory is compared with simulation results and physical limitation in addition to modelling limitations are discussed. Impinging jets have been used within the simulations with the intent of atomising the incoming liquid oxygen, followed by injection of hot water vapour perpendicularly, to increase turbulent mixing, residence time and in turn expected gasification efficiency. A computational fluid dynamics heating analysis is also included in order to highlight constraints on the chamber geometry imposed by transient rapid oxidation material limits. 316 stainless steel and 3D printed Inconel 718 were investigated experimentally to identify their transient macroscopic rapid oxidation limits. This information supplements existing published literature for operation at high temperatures for a transient period of time in oxygen rich environments. ANSYS Fluent 2020R1, and its newly included Volume of Fluid to Discrete Particle (VOF-DPM) Model, is used for CFD simulation of LOx atomisation and vaporisation. The CFD simulation technique is discussed in detail in order to allow the reader to gain knowledge into areas where computational power can be saved while still allowing assessment of trends for conducting relatively quick feasibility reviews e.g. for different chamber configurations. The CFD simulation results are compared with published experimental data and its accuracy when extended to this application is discussed. Results indicate that gasification of LOx within a compact chamber may be feasible if sufficient turbulence, resulting in longer residence times is present providing sufficient time for heat and mass transfer from the continuous phase. Simulations indicate that due to the mixing and gasification process the LOx particles within the chamber that have not entered the gaseous phase are smaller than that from pure atomisation and therefore more susceptible to gasification if injected into the main motor combustion chamber. Results hint at the potential benefit of swirl injection of hot gases to increase residence time and in turn the gasification efficiency, therefore, this is recommended for the topic of future research.