Previous Article in Journal
A Unified Drift–Flux Framework for Predictive Analysis of Flow Patterns and Void Fractions in Vertical Gas Lift Systems
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Fluids
Volume 11
Issue 1
10.3390/fluids11010007
fluids-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Thermal Performance and Flow Characteristics of Supercritical Hydrogen in Variable-Aspect-Ratio Regenerative Cooling Channels: A CFD Investigation

by
Mohammednour Gibreel
1,2,
Ali Mohammed Adam Jamea
1,
Abdalazeem Adam
1,3,*,
Chen Xiaohu
1,
Hisham Elmouazen
4 and
Hosham Wahballa
1,3
1
School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Quanzhou University of Information Engineering, Quanzhou 362000, China
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nyala, Nyala 63311, Sudan
3
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Karary University, Omdurman12304, Sudan
4
School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210095, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Fluids 2026, 11(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids11010007 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 10 November 2025 / Revised: 11 December 2025 / Accepted: 25 December 2025 / Published: 27 December 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study numerically analyzes the thermal-fluid performance of supercritical hydrogen in regenerative cooling channels with aspect ratios (AR) ranging from 1 to 8 for rocket engine combustion chambers. The study investigates the effects of channel geometry and inlet Reynolds number on heat transmission efficiency, flow behavior, and pressure drop. The SST k-ω turbulence model was validated and utilized in ANSYS FLUENT (2024 R1, (Ansys Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA) CFD simulations to examine temperature distributions, turbulent kinetic energy, and velocity profiles. The results show that convective heat transfer is improved with higher Reynolds numbers, while pressure drops are increased; the best range for balanced performance is found to be between 35,000 and 45,000. The aspect ratio significantly influences thermal performance; increasing it from 1 to 8 reduces peak wall temperatures by 12–15% but exacerbates thermal stratification and pressure losses. An intermediate aspect ratio (AR = 2–4) was found to optimize both heat transfer enhancement and hydraulic performance. The study provides critical insights for optimizing cooling channel designs in high-performance rocket engines, addressing the trade-offs between thermal efficiency and flow dynamics under extreme operating conditions.
Keywords: regenerative cooling channel; supercritical hydrogen; channel aspect ratio; thermal performance factor; heat transfer enhancement regenerative cooling channel; supercritical hydrogen; channel aspect ratio; thermal performance factor; heat transfer enhancement

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Gibreel, M.; Jamea, A.M.A.; Adam, A.; Xiaohu, C.; Elmouazen, H.; Wahballa, H. Thermal Performance and Flow Characteristics of Supercritical Hydrogen in Variable-Aspect-Ratio Regenerative Cooling Channels: A CFD Investigation. Fluids 2026, 11, 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids11010007

AMA Style

Gibreel M, Jamea AMA, Adam A, Xiaohu C, Elmouazen H, Wahballa H. Thermal Performance and Flow Characteristics of Supercritical Hydrogen in Variable-Aspect-Ratio Regenerative Cooling Channels: A CFD Investigation. Fluids. 2026; 11(1):7. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids11010007

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gibreel, Mohammednour, Ali Mohammed Adam Jamea, Abdalazeem Adam, Chen Xiaohu, Hisham Elmouazen, and Hosham Wahballa. 2026. "Thermal Performance and Flow Characteristics of Supercritical Hydrogen in Variable-Aspect-Ratio Regenerative Cooling Channels: A CFD Investigation" Fluids 11, no. 1: 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids11010007

APA Style

Gibreel, M., Jamea, A. M. A., Adam, A., Xiaohu, C., Elmouazen, H., & Wahballa, H. (2026). Thermal Performance and Flow Characteristics of Supercritical Hydrogen in Variable-Aspect-Ratio Regenerative Cooling Channels: A CFD Investigation. Fluids, 11(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids11010007

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
Back to TopTop