High heat flux removal measurements in a single-side heated monoblock flow channel with a helical wire insert

In order to accommodate high thermal loading of single side heated (SSH) high energy density plasma components, robust thermal management and high heat flux removal (HHFR) approaches are essential to prevent thermal instability, thermal run-away or a thermal spiral towards component failure. High heat flux applications involving magnetic<;sup>1<;/sup>, inertial or alternate fusion concepts require robust thermal protection. In many cases, this protection is provided by enhanced HHFR approaches in coolant channels exposed to non-uniform heat fluxes. This paper presents 2-D steady-state heat flux measurements and 3-D flow channel wall temperature measurements for a high-strength copper SSH monoblock coolant flow channel with a helical wire insert and internal thermally developing laminar and turbulent water (coolant) flow. In addition to producing local boiling curves, 2-D and 3-D comparisons are made between SSH monoblock flow channels with and without a helical wire insert.For flow channel exit pressures of 0.207 MPa and 0.572 MPa, boundary conditions measurements of the incident heat flux were made (<; 1.4 MW/m2) for mass velocities of 0.59 and 3.2 Mg/m<;sup>2<;/sup>s, respectively.Further, 2-D (axial and circumferential) inside flow channel wall heat fluxes were measured up to about 4.0 MW/m2. For the same inside flow channel temperature, the helical wire insert enhances the incident heat flux by more than 70% when compared with the flow channel without the insert.