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

Author(s):  
Jacqueline Barber ◽  
Khellil Sefiane ◽  
David Brutin ◽  
Lounes Tadrist

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.

Author(s):  
Daniel Sempe´rtegui ◽  
Gherhardt Ribastki

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 321 ◽  
pp. 02008
Author(s):  
Hubert Grzybowski ◽  
Iwona Zaborowska ◽  
Romuald Mosdorf

In the paper, numerical methods of data analysis recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) and self-organizing map (SOM) have been used to analyse pressure drop oscillations during the flow boiling in minichannel. The performed analysis allows us to identify flow patterns based on the character of the pressure drop oscillations. The following two-phase flow patterns have been identified: liquid flow, liquid flow with small vapour bubble, slug flow, long slug flow and confined bubble flow. In the experiment, the open-loop boiling system in a circular horizontal minichannel with an inner diameter of 1 mm was investigated. The two-phase flow patterns at the outlet of the heated section were observed through the glass tube (with an inner diameter of 1 mm) and recorded by a high-speed camera Phantom v1610.


Author(s):  
Yun Whan Na ◽  
J. N. Chung

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.


Author(s):  
Claudi Marti´n-Callizo ◽  
Bjo¨rn Palm ◽  
Wahib Owhaib ◽  
Rashid Ali

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.


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):  
H. Yang ◽  
T. S. Zhao ◽  
P. Cheng

Characteristics of gas-liquid two-phase flow patterns in a miniature square cross-section channel having a gas permeable sidewall have been investigated visually using a high-speed motion analyzer. The problem under consideration is encountered in the design of Direct Feed Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC). The test section was a horizontally oriented rectangular transparent (Lucite material) channel with its lower wall consisting of a porous plate. Liquid was fed into the test section from its entrance, while gas was injected uniformly into the test section along the lower porous sidewall. The visual study shows the typical flow patterns found in the test section include bubbly flow, plug flow, slug flow, and annular flow. However, unlike the conventional co-current two-phase flow in a channel with gas and liquid uniformly entering from one of its ends, for the flow configuration considered in this work, it was found that two or three of the above mentioned flow patterns appeared simultaneously at different locations of the channel. The length of each flow pattern varied with the flow rates of liquid and gas. A distinct feature of annular flow for the present flow configuration is that small bubbles were continuously generated from the porous plate, which grew by blowing up the liquid film, formed a semi-sphere shape, and then ruptured and released gas into the core flow.


Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeyad Almutairi ◽  
Fayez M. Al-Alweet ◽  
Yusif A. Alghamdi ◽  
Omar A. Almisned ◽  
Othman Y. Alothman

Experiments of gas–liquid flow in a circular pipe for horizontal and inclined positions (upward/downward) are reported. The characteristics of two-phase flow in terms of liquid holdup (ε(L)) and induced flow patterns are studied using three experimental techniques; time-averaged ε(L) from permittivity profiles using electrical capacitance tomography (ECT), instantaneous ε(L) using two fast-closing valves (TFCV), and high-speed camera images (HSCI) to capture/identify the formed flow patterns. Thus, this experimental setup enables the development of more well-defined flow patterns in gas–liquid two-phase flow and allows for multi-technique verification of the results. Taken from experimental measurements, a model is proposed to predict ε(L) for high and low situations. The correlations are a function of the hydrodynamic dimensionless quantities which provide hydrodynamic similarity. Regarding different pipe orientations, ε(L) predictions are comparable to ε(L) from experimental measurements with accepted accuracy: 88% of the predictions are within ±5–15% and 98% are below ±20%. The correlations also were validated by reported results and against correlations available in the literature and show higher prediction accuracy. It is confirmed that the kinematic similarity which is achieved by the gas–liquid velocity ratios and the inertial forces influence the flow pattern and the liquid holdup.


Author(s):  
Nishant Tiwari ◽  
Manoj Kumar Moharana

Flow boiling in microchannel heat sink offers an effective cooling solution for high power density micro devices. A three-dimensional numerical study based on volume of fraction model (VOF) coupled with evaporation condensation model accounting for the liquid-vapor phase change is undertaken to recreate vapor bubble formation in saturated flow boiling in wavy microchannel. Constant wall heat flux imposed at the bottom surface of the substrate while other faces are insulated. To understand the conjugate effects, simulations has been carried out for substrate thickness to channel depth ratio (δsf ∼ 1–5), substrate wall to fluid thermal conductivity ratio (ksf ∼ 22–300) and waviness (γ ∼ 0.008–0.04). Bubble nucleation, growth, and departure of bubble plays a significant role in heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in two-phase flow in wavy microchannel. The coolant (water) temperature at the inlet is taken to be 373 K while flow was at atmospheric pressure. This makes shorter waiting period of bubble nucleation, and the number density of bubbles on the solid surface increases. This results in enhancement of the boiling effect, and thus with the presence of bubbles, the mixing of laminar boundary layers improves and enhances the overall heat transfer coefficient. Channel amplitude play an important factor that can suitably reduce the friction factor and enhances the heat transfer coefficient.


2020 ◽  
Vol 846 ◽  
pp. 289-295
Author(s):  
Sukamta ◽  
Sudarja

Two-phase flow has been used in so many industrial processes, such as boilers, reactors, heat exchangers, geothermal and others. Some parameters which need to be studied include flow patterns, void fractions, and pressure changes. Research on void fractions aims to determine the composition of the gas and liquid phases that will affect the nature and value of the flow property. The purpose of this study is to find out the characteristics of the void fraction of various patterns that occurs and to determine the characteristics of the velocity, length, and frequency of bubbly and plug. Data acquisition was used to convert the data from analog to digital so that it can be recorded, stored, processed, and analyzed. High-speed camera Nikon type J4 was used to record the flow. The condition of the study was adiabatic with variation of superficial gas velocity (JG), superficial fluid velocity (JL), and also working fluid. To determine the void fraction by using the digital image processing method. The results of the study found that the flow patterns which occurred in this study were bubbly, plug, annular, slug-annular and churn flows. It also showed that the void fraction value is determined by the superficial velocity of the liquid and air. The higher the superficial velocity of the air, the lower the void fraction value.


2018 ◽  
Vol 240 ◽  
pp. 03006
Author(s):  
Hubert Grzybowski ◽  
Iwona Gruszczyńska ◽  
Romuald Mosdorf

In this study the flow boiling inside two parallel tubes with a diameter of 1 mm was analysed in order to determine synchronization level between the channels. An experimental setup was built to investigate the pressure and temperature oscillation in parallel minichannels. During the experiments, the two-phase flow patterns were recorded by high speed camera and also the presence of vapour in channel outlet was measured by laser-phototransistor sensor. Various types of two-phase flow instabilities were observed in investigated the system. Experiment was carried out for various heat rate and mass flux. The method of identifying synchronization between flow boiling between parallel channel will be presented on measurement data recorded for heat rate q equal to 50.15 W and the average mass flux ṁ equal to 38.8 kg/m2s. The signal was subjected to a nonlinear analysis based on the joint recurrence plot (JRP) method. The JRP method was carried out in order to determine synchronization level between signals from parallel channels. Results of pressure and laser-phototransistor oscillation analysis shows that during flow boiling phase synchronization and phase shift between the channels can be detected using appropriate RQA indicators.


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