Numerical simulation of high temperature gas condensation in a flowing Cryogenic liquid for semicryogenic engine applications

Condensation of high-temperature gaseous oxygen, on mixing with sub-cooled liquid oxygen flowing in a curved pipe, is studied using CFD simulations. The present configuration of two-phase flow is encountered in the booster pump exit line of liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket engine. The turbine driven hot gas, which is mostly gaseous oxygen, is mixed with liquid oxygen at the exit of the booster pump and subsequently condenses downstream. The gaseous oxygen has to be fully condensed before reaching main pump inlet to avoid performance degradation of main pump. The present study investigates the two-phase flow behavior and heat transfer characteristics associated with the condensation of gaseous oxygen mixing with liquid oxygen. Effect of liquid subcooling in the range of 20K - 50K on the gas condensation is investigated and presented.