An Experimental Investigation of Free Convection Heat Transfer in Supercritical Helium

Authors

M. A. Hilal, Michigan Technological University
R. W. Boom, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1980

Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Abstract

An experimental study of free convection heat transfer from a copper sphere to supercritical helium is presented. The heat-transfer coefficient is measured in the transposed critical line region covering pressures from 2.3-35 atm (0.23-3.55 MPa) and temperatures from 5.3 to 25 K. Empirical correlations accurate to ±20% between Nu, Pr, Gr, p_b, Δp, T_b and ΔT are obtained. A boiling-like phenomenon is observed experimentally near the critical point in that the heat-transfer coefficient h increases with temperature difference ΔT until h reaches a maximum after which h decreases for larger ΔT.

Publisher's Statement

© 1980

Publication Title

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

Recommended Citation

Hilal, M., & Boom, R. (1980). An Experimental Investigation of Free Convection Heat Transfer in Supercritical Helium. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 23(5), 697-705. http://doi.org/10.1016/0017-9310(80)90014-9
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/5266