Experimental parametric study on two-phase spray cooling of HEF 7100 using flat spray nozzles

Spray cooling is an effective method and thus finds many applications, including thermal management and energy production. In this regard, spray cooling with flat sprays is particularly crucial in applications with space constraints, as it efficiently dissipates heat while conforming to limited spatial requirements. Flat sprays ensure a wide yet uniform distribution of coolant, making it ideal for cooling systems in compact and densely packed environments. Motivated by these advantages, in this study, we performed an experimental study on the effect of major flat spray parameters, which are the spray flow rate (160 mL/min), spray upstream pressure (2.5 and 5.0 bars), spray angle (0, 30, and 90°), spray distance (3 and 10 cm), spray temperature (23 and 61 °C) and wall heat flux (10–100 W/cm²), on the two-phase heat transfer performance. According to the results, unlike full cone nozzles, the spray distance enhances heat transfer. While the cooling rate increased with the upstream pressure, the inlet temperature had a deteriorating effect on the heat transfer performance of the system. The results also indicated that the heat transfer rate decreased with the spray angle. The spray angle-induced effect on the system performance diminished with the spray pressure and temperature. The obtained results were used to develop two correlations for single phase and nucleate boiling heat transfer in flat sprays. The findings of this study suggest that flat sprays, with their significantly lower flow rates compared to full spray cone nozzles, effectively meet the requirements for direct thermal management by offering precise control, reduced fluid consumption, and enhanced efficiency.