Numerical Estimation of Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient and Heat Flux for a Supersonic Rocket Nozzle

Rocket nozzles are often cooled by passing liquid propellants through channels in the nozzle walls. Estimating heat transfer to the wall from the hot gases in the nozzle is essential in deciding on the coolant flow requirements. The present work examines the computational estimation of convection heat transfer to the nozzle walls for compressible turbulent flows. Computations were performed using the rhoPimpleFoam solver in OpenFOAM (R) with two different turbulence models. We simulate the supersonic flow over a flat plate and validate the heat flux calculation method and turbulence model characteristics. We compare two methods of calculating convection heat transfer in the context of the nozzle flow case presented by Back & Massier. We find that the realizablek-epsilon turbulence model works well in estimating the heat transfer coefficient.