A Micro-Channel Flow and Heat Transfer Study by Lattice Boltzmann Method

A Lattice Boltzmann method is employed to investigate the flow characteristics and the heat transfer phenomenon between two parallel plates separated by a micro-gap. A nine-velocity model and an internal energy distribution model are used to obtain the mass, momentum and temperature distributions. It is shown that for small Knudsen numbers (Kn), the current results are in good agreement with those obtained from the traditional Navier-Stokes equation with non-slip boundary conditions. As the value of Kn is increased, it is found that the non-slip condition may no longer be valid at the wall boundary and that the flow behavior changes to one of slip-flow. In slip flow regime, the present results is still in good agreement with slip-flow solution by Navier Stokes equations. The non-linear nature of the pressure and friction distribution for micro-channel flow is gieven. Finally, the current investigation presents a prediction of the temperature distribution for micro-channel flow under the imposed conditions of an isothermal boundary.

Liquid Mixing in Static Micro Mixers With Various Cross Sections

Micro mixers are an integral part of several micro fluidic devices like micro reactors or analytical equipment. Due to the small dimensions, laminar flow is expected a priori in those devices while the mass transfer is supposed to be dominated by diffusion. A detailed numerical CFD-study by CFDRC-ACE+ of simple static mixers shows a significant deviation from strictly laminar flow in a wide range of Reynolds numbers Re, channel dimensions, and types of cross sections (square, rectangular, trapezoidal). With increasing flow velocity and Re number the flow starts to form vortexes at the entrance of the mixing channel. The vortexes are symmetrical to the symmetry planes of the mixing channel, both for the rectangular and the trapezoidal cross sections investigated here. With further increasing velocity the flow tends to instabilities, which causes a breakup of the flow symmetry. These instabilities are generally found in T-shape mixers with symmetrical flow conditions, but not always in Y-shape mixers or with asymmetrical flow conditions. Within the laminar flow regime diffusive mass transfer is dominant. In this case the mixing quality at constant channel length becomes worse with increasing velocity. This effect can almost be equalized by the onset of the vortex regime, which enhances the mass transfer by convective transport. This paper shows the mixing quality at a certain length for different geometrical parameters and flow conditions.

Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop for Flow Boiling of Water in Narrow Vertical Rectangular Channels

Flow boiling in small-sized channels attracted extensive investigations in the past two decades due to special requirements for transfer of high heat fluxes from narrow spaces in various industrial applications. Experiments on various aspects of flow boiling in narrow channels were carried out and theoretical attempts were undertaken. But these investigations showed large differences, e.g. up till now the knowledge on the development of flow patterns in small non-circular flow passages is very limited. This paper deals with investigations on flow boiling of water in two rectangular channels with dimensions (width×depth) 2.0×4.0 mm2 and 0.5×2.0 mm2 (corresponding hydraulic diameters are 2.67 mm and 0.8 mm). The pressure at the test section exit is atmospheric. For steady-state experimental conditions the effects of heat flux, mass flux and inlet subcooling on the boiling heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop are investigated. Flow patterns and the transition of flow patterns along the channel axis are visualized and documented with a video-camera. Bubbly flow, slug flow and annular flow are distinguished in both channels. Preliminary flow pattern maps are generated.

An Experimentally Validated Model for Two-Phase Sudden Contraction Pressure Drop in Microchannel Tube Headers

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of two-phase pressure loss of R134a in microchannel headers using various end-cut techniques. Novel experimental techniques and test sections were developed to enable the accurate determination of the minor losses without obfuscating the problem with a lengthwise pressure gradient. This technique represents a departure from approaches used by other investigators that have extrapolated minor losses from air-water experiments and the combined effects of expansion, contraction, deceleration, and lengthwise pressure gradients. Pressure losses were recorded over the entire range of qualities from 100% vapor to 100% liquid. In addition, the tests were conducted for five different refrigerant mass fluxes between 185 kg/m2-s and 785 kg/m2-s using two differnt end-cut techniques. More than 790 data points were recorded to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of mass flux and quality on minor pressure losses. High accuracy instrumentation such as coriolis mass flowmeters, RTDs, pressure transducers, and real-time data analyses were used to ensure accuracy in the results. The results show that many of the commonly used correlations for estimating two-phase pressure losses significantly underpredict the pressure losses found in compact microchannel tube headers. Furthermore, the results show that the end-cut technique can substantially affect the pressure losses in microchannel headers. A new model for estimating the pressure loss in microchannel headers is presented and a comparison of the end-cut techniques on the minor losses is reported.

Analysis of Flow Resistance Inside Microchannels With Different Inlet Configurations Using Micro-PIV System

Most microfluidic chips consist of several microchannels inside. In order to design microfluidic chips efficiently, it is important to predict the flow passage and to understand the flow characteristics on the chip. In this study, the flow structure inside microchannels has been investigated using a micro-PIV system. We focused on the flow resistance with respect to the inlet configuration of microchannels. The microchannels made of poly-dimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) material were fabricated by a micro-molding technique using SU-8 (photoresist) master. The width (w) and depth of the microchannels were fixed as 100 μm and 58 μm, respectively. Six different inlet configurations with curvature radii in the ranges from r = 0.2w to 1.5w were tested in this study. As a result, with increasing the curvature radius of the inlet corner, the streamwise mean velocity develops slowly in the entrance region, but the fully developed velocity at further downstream is increased. When the curvature radius is larger than r = 0.6w, the reduction rate of flow resistance is not so significant. For the microchannels with r = 0.6w, 0.8w and 1.0w the downstream mean velocity at channel center has nearly the same value of about 276 mm/sec, 10.5% larger than that of r = 0.2w. The simple rounding of microchannel inlet corner reduces flow resistance effectively by smoothing the incoming flow. The length of entrance region is much smaller than that of macro-scale channel.

Simulation of Flow and Mass Transport in a Meander Microchannel Subject to Electroosmotic Pumping

We have investigated the flow and mass transport within an electroosmotically-pumped incompressible liquid through a meander microchannel system. We employ two-dimensional, time-dependent Finite Element simulations in conjunction with a matched asymptotic treatment of the electrical double layers. The electroosmotic pumping is realized for two idealized and two realistic electrical fields, while a pressure-driven flow is used for comparison. We focus on the aspects of the electroosmotic transport. We find for most of the electroosmotically-driven cases rather complex flow fields, involving recirculation regions. These recirculation regions in all cases increase dispersion. (i) The least dispersion is associated with a plug-type velocity profile, which is obtained for an idealized purely wall-tangential orientation of the electrical field. (ii, iii) We find that both, the idealized horizontal electrical field and the real electrical field between two vertical plates give considerably higher dispersion than the pressure-driven flow. Vertical plate electrodes, therefore, do not allow for a electrical field, which minimizes dispersion. (iv) The arrangement of two point electrodes at the in and out sections likewise proves to be no optimal means to reduce dispersion beyond the pressure-driven flow. Thus, meander geometries of channels, in general, cause severe problems if electroosmotic pumping needs to be achieved in combination with minimized dispersion.

Heat Transport Limitation of a Triangular Micro Heat Pipe

A micro heat pipe will operate effectively by achieving its maximum possible heat transport capacity only if it is to operate at a specific temperature, i.e., design temperature. In reality, micro heat pipe’s may be required to operate at temperatures different from the design temperature. In this study, the heat transport capacity of an equilateral triangle micro heat pipe is investigated. The micro heat pipe is filled optimally with working fluid for a specific design temperature and operated at different operating temperatures. For this purpose, water, pentane and acetone was selected as the working fluids. From the numerical results obtained, it shows that the optimal charge level of the micro heat pipe is dependent on the operating temperature. Furthermore, the results also shows that if the micro heat pipe is to be operated at temperatures other than its design temperature, its heat transport capacity is limited by the occurrence of flooding at the condenser section or dryout at the evaporator section, depending on the operating temperature and type of working fluid. It is observed that when the micro heat pipe is operated at a higher temperature than its design temperature, the heat transport capacity increases but limited by the onset of dryout at the evaporator section. However, the heat transport capacity decreases if it is to be operated at lower temperatures than its design temperature due to the occurrence of flooding at condenser end. From the results obtained, we can conclude that the performance of a micro heat pipe is decreased if it is to be operated at temperatures other than its design temperature.

An Extra Mode of Enhanced Heat Transfer by Oscillating Bubbles in Minichannels and Microchannels

Experimental investigations on heat transfer in tubular micro- or minichannel arrangements more often report on two-phase flow instabilities, pulsations or oscillations, which result in a remarkable influence on heat transfer efficiency. In order to explain the piston-like oscillations of the steam-plugs and water-slugs (-columns), the authors studied the somehow similar process which occurs in the worldwide known toy steam boat. Experiments have been performed which used a demonstration plant made of glass. By controlled electrical heating, high-speed video, pressure and local temperature measurements, the paths of energy have been disclosed. The results are as surprising as the effect of making gold from sand with respect to an equivalent axial heat-conductivity of the water-filled glass tube. Initiated by these results, an abstracting model is presented that analytically quantifies this new regenerating (oscillating and conducting) heat transfer mode e.g. concerning the combination of a heat recharging tube wall and an oscillating water column in a field of diminishing temperatures between the temperature of the boiler surface and the subcooled bulk water. By introducing these heat transfer details, the steam boat can give an answer, not only on frequency and amplitude of the oscillations, but on the steady state conditions for — or time-dependency of — the location of zero-crossing as well. Experimental results and model calculations are in good agreement and need no fitting factors. This is the base to discuss that process along with its physical parameters and compare it to the above mentioned observations in flow-boilers or pulsating heat pipes etc. which use microchannels or minichannels.

Two Large-Amplitude/Long-Period Oscillating Boiling Modes in Silicon Microchannels

A simultaneous visualization and measurement study has been carried out to investigate flow boiling of water in the 8 parallel silicon microchannels heated from below. It is found that there are two large-amplitude/long-period oscillating boiling modes exist in microchannels depending on the amounts of heat flux and mass flux. When the outlet water temperature is at saturation temperature and the wall temperatures are superheated, while the inlet water temperature is still subcooled, a Liquid/Two-phase Alternating Flow (LTAF) mode appears in the microchannels. This LTAF mode disappears when the inlet temperatures reaches the saturation temperature. As the heat flux is further increased such that the outlet water is superheated while the inlet water temperature is oscillating between subcooled and saturation temperature, a Liquid/Two-phase/Vapor Alternating Flow (LTVAF) mode begins. During these two unstable boiling modes, there are large-amplitude and long-period oscillations of water and wall temperatures with respect to time. Bubbly flow as well as some peculiar two-phase flow pattern are observed during the two-phase flow periods of the two unstable modes in the microchannels.

Mini- and Microchannel Research in Sweden

The purpose of the present paper is to present research and development within the area of mini- and micro channels in Sweden. A review is made of the historical development of highly compact heat exchangers within the country, starting with plate heat exchangers. The main focus is on the research performed at the Royal Institute of Technology, where mini-channel research has been going on since more than ten years. Single-phase flow as well as two-phase flow is treated, both in single channels and in full-size heat exchangers with multiple parallel channels.