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 magnetic or alternate fusion plasma-facing 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. This paper presents results from 2-D steady-state heat flux measurements for a high-strength copper SSH monoblock (heat sink) 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 were made between flow channels with and without a helical wire insert. 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 enhanced the incident heat flux by up to 100% when compared with the flow channel without the insert.