Understanding Liquid Hydrogen Critical Heat Flux via Optical Imaging

We will characterize the optical properties of two-phase hydrogen over a range of vapor fractions. Using the data from this we can develop models to evaluate the turbulence in hydrogen flow from images. Then we will optically evaluate the thermodynamic characteristics of two-phase cryogenic hydrogen flows using a particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. This will include evaluating existing boiling correlations for their predictive ability and updating them as necessary. Simultaneously, we will evaluate PIV as a mass-gauging system for two-phase liquid fuels with implementation potential in remote and Zero-G environments. Based on the results of this testing, we will develop a program which inputs PIV and turbidity analysis and assesses existing and modified two-phase flow boiling correlations for liquid cryogens to predict and monitor flow behavior.

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