Numerical simulation of cavitating flow of liquid helium in venturi channel

The fundamental characteristics of the two-dimensional cavitating flow of liquid helium through a venturi channel near the lambda point are numerically investigated to realize the further development and high performance of new multi-phase superfluid cooling systems. First, the governing equations of the cavitating flow of liquid helium based on the unsteady thermal nonequilibrium multi-fluid model with generalized curvilinear coordinates system are presented, and several flow characteristics are numerically calculated, taking into account the effect of superfluidity. Based on the numerical results, the two-dimensional structure of the cavitating flow of liquid helium though venturi channel is shown in detail, and it is also found that the generation of superfluid counterflow against normal fluid flow based on the thermomechanical effect is conspicuous in the large gas phase volume fraction region where the liquid-to-gas phase change actively occurs. Furthermore, it is clarified that the mechanism of the He I to He II phase transition caused by the temperature decrease is due to the deprivation of latent heat for vaporization from the liquid phase. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.