Transient Two-Phase Flow Patterns by Application of a High Voltage Pulse Width Modulated Signal and the Effect on Condensation Heat Transfer

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Ng ◽  
Chan Y. Ching ◽  
James S. Cotton

The objectives of this study are (i) to determine the transient phase redistributions of a two-phase flow in a smooth horizontal annular channel by applying high voltage pulses to induce electric fields and (ii) to quantify the resultant changes in the condensation heat transfer. The experiments were performed using refrigerant R-134a flowing in the annular channel that was cooled on the outside by a counter-current flow of water. The electric fields are established by applying high voltage to a concentric rod electrode inside a grounded tube. The effect of the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) forces on the changes to the initial stratified/stratified wavy flow pattern was visualized using a high speed camera. The EHD effect results in the redistribution of the liquid–vapor phase within the channel and unique flow structures, such as twisted liquid cones and entrained droplets, are observed. These structures only appear during the initial application of EHD and are absent in the steady state. Experiments were performed using a 8 kV pulse width modulated (PWM) signal with duty cycles ranging from 0% to 100% to evaluate the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of the transient EHD flow patterns. The resultant heat transfer increased with the duty cycle to approximately 2.7-fold at a mass flux of 45–55 kg/m2s and 1.2-fold at a mass flux of 110 kg/m2s. The enhancement was higher as the pulse width was increased.

Author(s):  
K. Ng ◽  
C. Y. Ching ◽  
J. S. Cotton

The objectives of this study are (i) to determine the transient phase redistributions of a two-phase flow in a smooth horizontal annular channel by applying high voltage pulses to induce electric fields and (ii) to quantify the resultant changes in the condensation heat transfer. The experiments were performed using refrigerant R-134a flowing in a tube that was cooled on the outside by a counter-current flow of water. The electric fields are established by applying high voltage to a concentric rod electrode inside a grounded tube. The effect of the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) forces on the changes to the initial stratified/stratified wavy flow pattern was visualized using a high speed camera. The EHD effect results in the redistribution of the liquid-vapour phase within the channel and unique flow structures, such as twisted liquid cones and entrained droplets, are observed. These structures only appear during the initial application of EHD and are absent in the steady state flow pattern. Experiments were performed using a 8kV pulse width modulated (PWM) signal with duty cycles ranging from 0–100% to evaluate the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of the transient EHD flow patterns. The resultant heat transfer increased with the duty cycle to approximately 2.7-fold at a low mass flux (45–55kg/m2s) and 1.2-fold at a high mass flux (110kg/m2s). The enhancement was higher as the pulse width was increased.


Author(s):  
Jostein Pettersen

Carbon dioxide (CO2 / R-744) is receiving renewed interest as a refrigerant, in many cases based on systems with microchannel heat exchangers that have high pressure capability, efficient heat transfer, and compact design. A good understanding of two-phase flow of evaporating CO2 in microchannels is needed to analyze and predict heat transfer. A special test rig was built in order to observe two-phase flow patterns, using a horizontal quartz glass tube with ID 0.98 mm, externally coated by a transparent resistive film. Heat flux was obtained by applying DC power to the film, and flow patterns were recorded at 4000 or 8000 frames per second by a digital video camera. Flow patterns were recorded for temperatures 20°C and 0°C, and for mass flux ranging from 100 to 580 kgm−2s−1. The observations showed a dominance of intermittent (slug) flow at low x, and wavy annular flow with entrainment of droplets at higher x. At high mass flux, the annular/entrained flow pattern could be described as dispersed. The aggravated dryout problem reported from heat transfer experiments at high mass flux could be explained by increased entrainment. Stratified flow was not observed in the tests with heat load. Bubble formation and growth could be observed in the liquid film, and the presence of bubbles gave differences in flow pattern compared to adiabatic flow. The flow pattern observations did not fit generalized maps or transition lines showed in the literature.


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.


Author(s):  
Suizheng Qiu ◽  
Minoru Takahashi ◽  
Guanghui Su ◽  
Dounan Jia

Water single-phase and nucleate boiling heat transfer were experimentally investigated in vertical annuli with narrow gaps. The experimental data about water single-phase flow and boiling two-phase flow heat transfer in narrow annular channel were accumulated by two test sections with the narrow gaps of 1.0mm and 1.5mm. Empirical correlations to predict the heat transfer of the single-phase flow and boiling two-phase flow in the narrow annular channel were obtained, which were arranged in the forms of the Dittus-Boelter for heat transfer coefficients in a single-phase flow and the Jens-Lottes formula for a boiling two-phase flow in normal tubes, respectively. The mechanism of the difference between the normal channel and narrow annular channel were also explored. From experimental results, it was found that the turbulent heat transfer coefficients in narrow gaps are nearly the same to the normal channel in the experimental range, and the transition Reynolds number from a laminar flow to a turbulent flow in narrow annuli was much lower than that in normal channel, whereas the boiling heat transfer in narrow annular gap was greatly enhanced compared with the normal channel.


Author(s):  
S. E. Tarasevich ◽  
A. B. Yakovlev

In paper the experimental results on a heat transfer in annular channels with continuous twisting at length at one- and two-phase flows are observed. For a flow twisting the wire was spirally coiled on the central body of the annular channel (diameter of a wire is equal to annular gap altitude). Results of experimental data of a heat transfer of authors and various researchers at a single phase flow in annular channels with a continuous twisting are analyzed. Sampling of diagnostic variables (equivalent diameter and velocity) is spent and generalizing associations for heat transfer calculation on the concave and convex surfaces in a single-phase phase are offered. Also the technique of definition of temperature of the subcooled flow boiling beginning on surfaces of annular channels with a twisting is offered. Features of boiling, origination of heat transfer crisis and results of visualization of a two-phase flow structure in annular channels with twisting are described.


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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 117 ◽  
pp. 544-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonghai Gao ◽  
Yanchun Cui ◽  
Boyue Xu ◽  
Baojiang Sun ◽  
Xinxin Zhao ◽  
...  

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Coleman ◽  
Srinivas Garimella

Abstract An experimental investigation of two-phase flow mechanisms during condensation of refrigerant R134a in small diameter round and rectangular tubes was conducted. A 4.91 mm round tube, and four round tubes with hydraulic diameters ranging from 1 mm – 4 mm were studied to characterize the influence of tube miniaturization on the flow mechanisms. For each tube under consideration, flow mechanisms were recorded over the entire range of qualities 0 < x < 1, and for five different mass fluxes between 150 kg/m2-s and 750 kg/m2-s. Approximately 50 data points were recorded for each tube to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of geometry, mass flux and quality on the phase-change flow mechanisms. The flow mechanisms were categorized into four different flow regimes: intermittent flow, wavy flow, annular flow, and dispersed flow. In addition, the large amount of data over a wide range of test conditions enabled the delineation of several different flow patterns within each flow regime, which provides a clearer understanding of the different modes of two-phase flow. Transition lines between the respective flow patterns and regimes on these maps were established based on the experimental data. It was found that the intermittent flow regime becomes larger as the tube hydraulic diameter is decreased. Also, the size of the wavy flow regime decreases for the small diameter tubes, and disappears completely for the 1 × 1 mm square tube. These maps and transition lines can be used to predict the flow pattern or regime that will be established for a given mass flux, quality and tube geometry.


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