Numerical simulation of multi-nozzle spray cooling heat transfer

The aim of this paper is to study the spray cooling heat transfer characteristics using CFD method. The two phase mathematical model is established based on Euler-Lagrange approach. In this model, unsteady-state flow conditions are simulated. Heat and mass transfer between the vapor and the water droplet are computed. The averaged error of numerical results is 10% compared to experimental results in our previous papers. It is concluded that the heat flux and its distribution on heated surface are influenced by the heated surface temperature, mass flux, nozzle to surface distance and the number of nozzles. Furthermore, the heat flux distribution do not change obviously with the increasing of heated surface temperature, and the heat flux increases with the increasing of mass flux. Moreover, there is an optimal nozzle to surface distance while the spray impingement zone circumscribes in heated surface, and more nozzles lead to higher heat flux and better heat flux distribution on heated surface. Considering the disadvantage of manufacture difficulty and cost increase for more nozzles, there is an optimal nozzle number in certain space and heat dissipation requirement. The optimal number of nozzles is 8 in this article.