ISSN: 1546-962X
Published Online: 11 September 2009
Page Count: 15

An Approach to Understanding Flow Friction Ignition: A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Study on Temperature Development of High-Pressure Oxygen Flow Inside Micron-Scale Seal Cracks

Hooser, Jared D.
MSME,Wendell Hull and Associates, Inc.,NM,

Wei, Mingjun
Assistant Professor,Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New Mexico State Univ.,NM,

Newton, Barry E.
VP R&D,Wendell Hull and Associates, Inc.,NM,

Chiffoleau, Gwenael J. A.
Senior Scientist,Test Facility Manager, Wendell Hull & Associates, Inc.,NM,

(Received 29 December 2008; accepted 18 August 2009)

Abstract

Flow friction ignition of non-metallic materials in oxygen is a poorly understood heat-generating mechanism thought to be caused by oxygen flow past a non-metallic sealing surface. Micron-scale fatigue cracks or channels were observed on non-metallic sealing surfaces of oxygen components and could provide a leak path for the high-pressure oxygen to flow across the seal. Literature in the field of micro-fluidics research has noted that viscous dissipation, a heat-generating mechanism, may not be negligible as the flow dimension of the channel is reduced to the micron-scale. Results of a computational fluid dynamics study are presented and used to determine if temperatures developed in high-pressure driven micro-channel oxygen flows are capable of reaching the reported autogenous ignition temperature of non-metallic materials in oxygen.

Keywords:
flow friction ignition, viscous heating, oxygen fires, microchannel flow, cylinder valves, CGA 870 seals, computational fluid dynamics, stagnation heating

Paper ID: JAI102298
DOI: 10.1520/JAI102298
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