Fluid-Solid Coupled Simulation of a Novel Platelet Heat Exchanger Used in Solar Thermal Thruster

Abstract:

Solar thermal propulsion is a potential technology in aerospace applications, and it is a significant issue to improve the heat transfer efficiency of the solar thermal thruster. This paper proposes a novel platelet configuration to be used in the heat exchanger core, which is the most important component of solar thermal system. The platelet passage can enhance the heat transfer between the propellant and the hot core heated by the concentrated sunlight. Based on fluid-solid coupled heat transfer method, the paper utilized the platelet heat transfer characteristic to simulate the heat transfer and flow field of the platelet passage.The simulation result shows that the propellant can be heated to the design temperature of 2300K in the platelet passage of the solar thermal propulsion system, and the fluid-solid coupled method can solve the heat transfer in the platelet structure more precisely.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 598)
• Pages: 281-287
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.598.281
• Online since: July 2014
• Authors: Bao Yu Xing*, Min Chao Huang, Mou Sen Cheng, Kun Liu
• Keywords: Fluid-Solid Coupled, Platelet Heat Transfer, Simulation, Solar Thermal Propulsion

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