Heat Transfer Analysis of Room-Temperature Finned-Tube Evaporator for Cryogenic Nitrogen

Abstract

The behavior of cryogenic nitrogen in a room-temperature evaporator six meters long is analyzed. Trapezoid fins are employed to enhance the heat flux supplied by the environment. The steady-state governing equations specified by the mixed parameters are derived from the conservations of momentum and energy. The initial value problem is solved by space integration. The fixed ambient conditions are confirmed by way of the meltback effect. An integrated model is utilized to analyze the convective effect of two-phase flow, which dominates the evaporation behavior. Another integrated model is employed to determine the total heat flux from the environment to the wet surface of the evaporator. The foundation of the formation of an ice layer surrounding the evaporator is presented. If the fin height is shorter than 0.5 m, the whole evaporator is surrounded by ice layer. If the fin height is longer than 0.5 m, the total pressure drop of nitrogen in the tube is negligible. The outlet temperature is always within the range between −12 °C and 16 °C for the evaporator with the fin height of 1.0 m. For the evaporator with dry surface, the nitrogen has the outlet temperature less than the ambient temperature at least by 5 °C.