Cryogenic fluid vertical line quench : characterization, validation, and qualitative analysis of a reduced gravity experiment

Data collected from an experimental apparatus to study transient flow boiling effects (quenching) were analyzed. Data included tube wall temperatures and fluid pressures gathered by thermocouples and pressure transducers during the upflow of liquid nitrogen in hot vertical stainless steel and quartz tubes. Attempts were made to characterize system performance and validate previously made assumptions. Qualitative comparisons were made between reduced gravity tests performed on NASA's KG-135 and current ground tests. Differences between terrestrial and reduced gravity quench processes are presented and discussed. Recommendations for future studies are also provided which included additional reduced gravity tests with a better instrumented quartz test section.