Simulation of a cryostatic crisis by superfluid helium in flat heat-generating elements within a vertical channel

For citation: Kornyakov I. A., Puzina Yu. Yu. Simulation of a cryostatic crisis by superfluid helium in flat heat-generating elements within a vertical channel. Journal of International Academy of Refrigeration. 2026. No 3. p. 12-21. DOI: 10.17586/1606‑4313‑2026‑25‑3-12-21

Abstract
During the operation of submersible cryostating systems, there may be situations of a thermal load pulse on the fuel elements. In this case, the nominal operating mode of the installation is disrupted and a heat transfer crisis occurs from the surface of the cooled sample, which leads to the appearance of a superfluid helium film boiling. In this paper, the processes of heat and mass transfer during the formation of vapor in a vertical channel filled with superfluid helium are considered. In this case, the heater can be located at the top or bottom of the channel. A mathematical description is presented for each variant based on continuum mechanics, molecular kinetic analysis, and the semi-empirical Gorter–Mellink theory. A study of the numerical results of the solution shows the nature of the influence of the input parameters (liquid temperature, heater immersion depth, heat flux) on the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the processes and the dynamics of the vapor–superfluid helium interface. The reasons for the discrepancy between experimental and calculated data are discussed.