Purdue University Boiling and Two-Phase Flow Laboratory (PU-BTPFL)
Established by Prof. Issam Mudawar in 1984, the Purdue University Boiling and Two-Phase Flow Laboratory (PU-BTPFL) became the World’s most extensive venue for experimental research on two-phase flow and heat transfer, including adiabatic flow, boiling, and condensation. It contains custom fabricated facilities for investigation of various aspects of these processes, supported by vast assortments of optical instruments, including high-speed video and film-based camera systems, computers and data acquisition hardware, electronic measurement devices, and mechanical tools. Our computers are interfaced to several mainframes available throughout the Purdue Engineering Computer Network (ECN). PU-BTPFL also houses classroom instructional facilities for pool boiling, flow boiling, two-phase flow patterns in a vertical tube, parallel flow gravity-driven instability, and density-wave oscillations. It also possesses extensive electrical power capability (in excess of 100 kW) as well as supply of compressed air and cooling water. Technical support is provided by personnel from the Mechanical Engineering Electronics Shop as well several of Purdue’s machine shops.
PU-BTPFL houses the following facilities (view presentation):
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Pool Boiling Pressure Vessel
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Pool Boiling Test Chamber
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Facility for Measurement of Pool Boiling on Underside of Heated Curved Wall
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Micro-channel Condensation Facility
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Micro-channel Boiler Pumpless Flow Loop
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Facility for Simultaneous Falling Film Velocity & Film Thickness Measurements using LDV & Heated Wire Probes, Respectively
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High Capacity Flow boiling Facility
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Facility for Flow Boiling Enhancement in Curved Channels
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Micro-channel Cooling Loop
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Micro-channel Vapor Compression Facility
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Micro-channel Facility for Micro-PIV Measurements
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Adiabatic Micro-channel Two-phase Flow Patterns Facility
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Micro-channel Facility for Nanofluid & Carbon Nanotube Experiments
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Micro-channel & Hybrid Micro-channel/Jet Impingement Low Temperature Refrigeration Facility
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Ultra High Heat Flux Facility
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Rotating Stirrer Facility
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Spray Orientation Facility
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Spray Cooling Facility
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Spray Quenching Testbed
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Jet-impingement Facility
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Flow Boiling Orientation Facility
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Flow Boiling Parabolic Flight Rig
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Flow Condensation Parabolic Flight Rig
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Spacecraft Hybrid Thermal Control System (TCS) Facility
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Flow Condensation Orientation Effects Facility
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Micro-channel Condensation Facility
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Cross-flow Micro-channel Heat Exchanger Facility for Study of Air-fuel Heat Transfer in High Mach Turbine Engines
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Thermal Management Facility for Ultra-Fast Charging of Electric Vehicles
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Hydrogen Storage Thermal Management Facility
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Surface Analysis Facility