Fundamental Issues Related to Flow Boiling and Two-Phase Flow Patterns in Microchannels – Experimental Challenges and Opportunities

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 711-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir V. Kuznetsov
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Boiling ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

High Speed Imaging and Two-Phase Flow Patterns During Flow Boiling in a Single Microchannel

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Barber ◽  
Khellil Sefiane ◽  
David Brutin ◽  
Lounes Tadrist
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Boiling ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Bubble Nucleation ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Vapour Bubble ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Over Time

Boiling in microchannels remains elusive due to the lack of full understanding of the mechanisms involved. A powerful tool in achieving better comprehension of the mechanisms is detailed imaging and analysis of the two phase flow at a fundamental level. We induced boiling in a single microchannel geometry (hydraulic diameter 727 μm), using a refrigerant FC-72, to investigate several flow patterns. A transparent, metallic, conductive deposit has been developed on the exterior of rectangular microchannels, allowing simultaneous uniform heating and visualisation to be conducted. The data presented in this paper is for a particular case with a uniform heat flux of 4.26 kW/m2 applied to the microchannel and inlet liquid mass flowrate, held constant at 1.33×10−5 kg/s. In conjunction with obtaining high-speed images and videos, sensitive pressure sensors are used to record the pressure drop profiles across the microchannel over time. Bubble nucleation, growth and coalescence, as well as periodic slug flow, are observed in the test section. Phenomena are noted, such as the aspect ratio and Reynolds number of a vapour bubble, which are in turn correlated to the associated pressure drops over time. From analysis of our results, images and video sequences with the corresponding physical data obtained, it is possible to follow visually the nucleation and subsequent both ‘free’ and ‘confined’ growth of a vapour bubble over time.

Numerical Simulation of Forced Convective Boiling in a Microchannel

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Whan Na ◽  
J. N. Chung
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Liquid Velocity ◽  
Flow Boiling ◽  
Simulation Method ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Convective Boiling

Forced convective flow boiling in a single microchannel with different channel heights was studied through a numerical simulation method to investigate bubble dynamics, two-phase flow patterns, and boiling heat transfer. The momentum and energy equations were solved using a finite volume (FV) numerical method, while the liquid–vapor interface of a bubble is captured using the volume of fluid (VOF) technique. The effects of different constant wall heat fluxes and different channel heights on the boiling mechanisms were investigated. The effects of liquid velocity on the bubble departure diameter were also analyzed. The predicted bubble shapes and distribution profiles together with two-phase flow patterns are also provided.

Flow Boiling Visualization of R-134a in a Vertical Channel of Small Diameter

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudi Marti´n-Callizo ◽  
Bjo¨rn Palm ◽  
Wahib Owhaib ◽  
Rashid Ali
Keyword(s):  
Flow Pattern ◽  
Annular Flow ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Boiling ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
R 134A ◽  
Heated Length

The present work reports on flow boiling visualization of refrigerant R-134a in a vertical circular channel with internal diameter of 1.33 mm and 235 mm in heated length. Quartz tube with a homogeneous ITO-coating is used allowing heating and simultaneous visualization. Flow patterns have been observed along the heated length with the aid of a digital camera with close-up lenses. From the flow boiling visualization, seven distinct two-phase flow patterns have been observed: Isolated bubbly flow, confined bubbly flow, slug flow, churn flow, slug-annular flow, annular flow, and mist flow. Two-phase flow pattern observations are presented in the form of flow pattern maps. Finally, the experimental flow pattern map is compared to models developed for conventional sizes as well as to a microscale map for air-water mixtures available in the literature, showing a large discrepancy.

Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer in Rectangular Micro-Channels

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weilin Qu ◽  
Seok-Mann Yoon ◽  
Issam Mudawar
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Flow Pattern ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Boiling ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Heat Sinks ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Micro Channel ◽  
Two Phase

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.

Flow Boiling Visualization of R-134a in a Vertical Channel of Small Diameter

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudi Martín-Callizo ◽  
Björn Palm ◽  
Wahib Owhaib ◽  
Rashid Ali
Keyword(s):  
Flow Pattern ◽  
Annular Flow ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Boiling ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
R 134A ◽  
Heated Length

The present work reports on flow boiling visualization of refrigerant R-134a in a vertical circular channel with an internal diameter of 1.33 mm and 235 mm in heated length. A quartz tube with a homogeneous Indium Tin Oxide coating is used to allow heating and simultaneous visualization. Flow patterns have been observed along the heated length with the aid of high-speed complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) digital camera. From the flow boiling visualization, seven distinct two-phase flow patterns have been observed: isolated bubbly flow, confined bubbly flow, slug flow, churn flow, slug-annular flow, annular flow, and mist flow. Two-phase flow pattern observations are presented in the form of flow pattern maps. The effects of the saturation temperature and the inlet subcooling degree on the two-phase flow pattern transitions are elucidated. Finally, the experimental flow pattern map is compared with models developed for conventional sizes as well as to a microscale map for air-water mixtures available in literature, showing a large discrepancy.

Photographic Study on Two-Phase Flow Patterns of Water in a Single-Side Heated Narrow Rectangular Channel

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Feng Wang ◽  
Yan-Ping Huang ◽  
Yan-Lin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Boiling ◽  
Rectangular Channel ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Single Side ◽  
Transition Criteria ◽  
Churn Flow

Visualized experimental observation on flow patterns during flow boiling of water under single-side heated and fluid-inlet subcooled conditions in a vertical narrow rectangular channel with the cross-section of 40×3mm2 have been carried out. Four discernible flow patterns which names dispersed bubbly, coalesced bubbly, churn flow and annular flow are obtained. Flow visualization in two dimensions of two-phase flow patterns for narrow rectangular channel, which provided clearer evidence to distinguish flow patterns, have been performed. Based on the experimental results, a flow pattern map for single-side heated narrow rectangular channel has been developed and then compared with the exiting maps and flow transition criteria.

Micro-Scale Flow Pattern Classification Based on the K-Means Clustering Algorithm

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Sempe´rtegui ◽  
Gherhardt Ribastki
Keyword(s):  
Flow Pattern ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Boiling ◽  
Saturation Temperature ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Statistical Characteristics ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase

In the present work, an objective method to characterize two-phase flow pattern was developed and implemented. The method is based on the characteristics of the signals provided by transducers measuring local temperature and pressure plus the intensity of a laser beam crossing the two-phase flow. The statistical characteristics of these signals were used as input features for the k-means clustering method. In order to implement the method, experimental flow patterns were obtained during flow boiling of R245fa in a 2.32 mm ID tube. Experiments were performed for mass velocities from 100 to 700kg/m2s, saturation temperature of 31 °C and vapor qualities up to 0.99. The cluster classification was compared against flow patterns segregated based on high speed camera images (8000 images/s) and a reasonable agreement was obtained.

Photographic Study on Two-Phase Flow Patterns of Water in a Single-Side Heated Narrow Rectangular Channel

2010 ◽  
Vol 133 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junfeng Wang ◽  
Yanping Huang ◽  
Yanlin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Boiling ◽  
Rectangular Channel ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Single Side ◽  
Transition Criteria ◽  
Churn Flow

Visualized experimental observation on flow patterns during flow boiling of water under single-side heated and fluid-inlet subcooled conditions in a vertical narrow rectangular channel with the cross section of 40×3 mm2 have been carried out. Four discernible flow patterns, which names dispersed bubbly, coalesced bubbly, churn flow, and annular flow are observed. Flow visualization in two dimensions of two-phase flow patterns for narrow rectangular channel, which provided clearer evidence to distinguish flow patterns, have been performed. Based on the experimental results, a flow pattern map for single-side heated narrow rectangular channel has been developed and then compared with the exiting maps and flow transition criteria.

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