Fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of low temperature two-phase micro-channel heat sinks – Part 2. Subcooled boiling pressure drop and heat transfer

2008 ◽  
Vol 51 (17-18) ◽  
pp. 4327-4341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaeseon Lee ◽  
Issam Mudawar
Author(s):  
Weilin Qu ◽  
Seok-Mann Yoon ◽  
Issam Mudawar

Knowledge of flow pattern and flow pattern transitions is essential to the development of reliable predictive tools for pressure drop and heat transfer in two-phase micro-channel heat sinks. In the present study, experiments were conducted with adiabatic nitrogen-water two-phase flow in a rectangular micro-channel having a 0.406 × 2.032 mm cross-section. Superficial velocities of nitrogen and water ranged from 0.08 to 81.92 m/s and 0.04 to 10.24 m/s, respectively. Flow patterns were first identified using high-speed video imaging, and still photos were then taken for representative patterns. Results reveal that the dominant flow patterns are slug and annular, with bubbly flow occurring only occasionally; stratified and churn flow were never observed. A flow pattern map was constructed and compared with previous maps and predictions of flow pattern transition models. Annual flow is identified as the dominant flow pattern for conditions relevant to two-phase micro-channel heat sinks, and forms the basis for development of a theoretical model for both pressure drop and heat transfer in micro-channels. Features unique to two-phase micro-channel flow, such as laminar liquid and gas flows, smooth liquid-gas interface, and strong entrainment and deposition effects are incorporated into the model. The model shows good agreement with experimental data for water-cooled heat sinks.


2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duckjong Kim ◽  
Sung Jin Kim

In the present work, a compact modeling method based on a volume-averaging technique is presented. Its application to an analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer in straight fin heat sinks is then analyzed. In this study, the straight fin heat sink is modeled as a porous medium through which fluid flows. The volume-averaged momentum and energy equations for developing flow in these heat sinks are obtained using the local volume-averaging method. The permeability and the interstitial heat transfer coefficient required to solve these equations are determined analytically from forced convective flow between infinite parallel plates. To validate the compact model proposed in this paper, three aluminum straight fin heat sinks having a base size of 101.43mm×101.43mm are tested with an inlet velocity ranging from 0.5 m/s to 2 m/s. In the experimental investigation, the heat sink is heated uniformly at the bottom. The resulting pressure drop across the heat sink and the temperature distribution at its bottom are then measured and are compared with those obtained through the porous medium approach. Upon comparison, the porous medium approach is shown to accurately predict the pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics of straight fin heat sinks. In addition, evidence indicates that the entrance effect should be considered in the thermal design of heat sinks when Re Dh/L>∼O10.


Author(s):  
Duckjong Kim ◽  
Sung Jin Kim

In the present work, a novel compact modeling method based on the volume-averaging technique and its application to the analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer in pin fin heat sinks are presented. The pin fin heat sink is modeled as a porous medium. The volume-averaged momentum and energy equations for fluid flow and heat transfer in pin fin heat sinks are obtained using the local volume-averaging method. The permeability, the Ergun constant and the interstitial heat transfer coefficient required to solve these equations are determined experimentally. To validate the compact model proposed in this paper, 20 aluminum pin fin heat sinks having a 101.43 mm × 101.43 mm base size are tested with an inlet velocity ranging from 1 m/s to 5 m/s. In the experimental investigation, the heat sink is heated uniformly at the bottom. Pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics of pin fin heat sinks obtained from the porous medium approach are compared with experimental results. Upon comparison, the porous medium approach is shown to predict accurately the pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics of pin fin heat sinks. Finally, surface porosities of the pin fin heat sink for which the thermal resistance of the heat sink is minimal are obtained under constraints on pumping power and heat sink size. The optimized pin fin heat sinks are shown to be superior to the optimized straight fin heat sinks in thermal performance by about 50% under the same constraints on pumping power and heat sink size.


2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weilin Qu ◽  
Seok-Mann Yoon ◽  
Issam Mudawar

Knowledge of flow pattern and flow pattern transitions is essential to the development of reliable predictive tools for pressure drop and heat transfer in two-phase micro-channel heat sinks. In the present study, experiments were conducted with adiabatic nitrogen-water two-phase flow in a rectangular micro-channel having a 0.406×2.032mm2 cross-section. Superficial velocities of nitrogen and water ranged from 0.08 to 81.92 m/s and 0.04 to 10.24 m/s, respectively. Flow patterns were first identified using high-speed video imaging, and still photos were then taken for representative patterns. Results reveal the dominant flow patterns are slug and annular, with bubbly flow occurring only occasionally; stratified and churn flow were never observed. A flow pattern map was constructed and compared with previous maps and predictions of flow pattern transition models. Features unique to two-phase micro-channel flow were identified and employed to validate key assumptions of an annular flow boiling model that was previously developed to predict pressure drop and heat transfer in two-phase micro-channel heat sinks. This earlier model was modified based on new findings from the adiabatic two-phase flow study. The modified model shows good agreement with experimental data for water-cooled heat sinks.


Author(s):  
Weilin Qu ◽  
Issam Mudawar

The design and reliable operation of a two-phase micro-channel heat sink require a fundamental understanding of the complex transport phenomena associated with convective boiling in small, parallel coolant passages. This understanding is the primary goal of this paper. This goal is realized by exploring the following aspects of boiling in micro-channels: hydrodynamic instability, two-phase flow patterns, pressure drop, and convective boiling heat transfer. High-speed photographic methods were used to determine dominant flow patterns and explore as well as characterize hydrodynamic instabilities. Two types of dynamic instability were identified, a severe pressure drop oscillation and a mild parallel channel instability, and a simple method is recommended to completely suppress the former. Predictions of three popular two-phase pressure drop models and correlations were compared to micro-channel water data, and only a separated flow (Lockhart-Martinelli) correlation based on the assumption of laminar flow in both phases gave acceptable predictions. Several popular heat transfer correlations were also examined and deemed unsuitable for micro-channel heat sinks because all these correlations are based on turbulent flow assumptions, and do not capture the unique features of micro-channel flow such as abrupt transition to slug flow, hydrodynamic instability, and high droplet entrainment in the annular regime. These findings point to the need for further study of boiling behavior and new predictive tools specifically tailored to micro-channel heat sinks.


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