Heat Transfer Measurements Using Multiple Thermochromic Liquid Crystals in Symmetric Cooling Channels

Abstract

The transient thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) method is applied to determine the distribution of the local heat transfer coefficients using a configuration with parallel cooling channels at an engine-relevant Reynolds number. The rectangular channels with a moderate aspect ratio and a high length-to-diameter ratio are equipped with one-sided oblique ribs with high blockage, which is a promising configuration for turbine near-wall cooling applications. In this arrangement, the three inner channels should experience same flow and thermal conditions. Numerical simulations are performed to substantiate this assumption. The symmetric single channels are sprayed with narrowband TLC with various indication temperatures. Multiple experiments were conducted. All start at ambient conditions before the fluid is heated up to several temperatures between 46 °C and 73 °C. The results show that the determined local heat transfer coefficients and therefore the Nusselt numbers vary significantly for the different experimental conditions especially at locations of high heat transfer coefficient behind the ribs. A simplified procedure with respect to measurement uncertainties is applied to enable an easy and fast valuation of the data quality. This might be used within the data reduction analysis for such experiments directly. The approach is illustrated using the obtained experimental data.