Flow-Pattern Based Heat Transfer Correlations for Stable Flow Boiling in Micro/Minichannels

Heat Transfer Correlations for Elongated Bubbly Flow in Flow Boiling Micro/Minichannels

A new heat transfer model for intube flow boiling in horizontal plain tubes is proposed that incorporates the effects of local two-phase flow patterns, flow stratification, and partial dryout in annular flow. Significantly, the local peak in the heat transfer coefficient versus vapor quality can now be determined from the prediction of the location of onset of partial dryout in annular flow. The new method accurately predicts a large, new database of flow boiling data, and is particularly better than existing methods at high vapor qualities (x > 85 percent) and for stratified types of flows.

Flow and heat transfer model for turbulent-laminar/turbulent gas-liquid annular flows

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.

The forces due to surface tension and momentum change during evaporation, in conjunction with the forces due to viscous shear and inertia, govern the two-phase flow patterns and the heat transfer characteristics during flow boiling in microchannels. These forces are analyzed in this paper, and two new nondimensional groups, K1 and K2, relevant to flow boiling phenomenon are derived. These groups are able to represent some of the key flow boiling characteristics, including the CHF. In addition, a mechanistic description of the flow boiling phenomenon is presented. The small hydraulic dimensions of microchannel flow passages present a large frictional pressure drop in single-phase and two-phase flows. The small hydraulic diameter also leads to low Reynolds numbers, in the range 100–1000, or even lower for smaller diameter channels. Such low Reynolds numbers are rarely employed during flow boiling in conventional channels. In these low Reynolds number flows, nucleate boiling systematically emerges as the dominant mode of heat transfer. The high degree of wall superheat required to initiate nucleation in microchannels leads to rapid evaporation and flow instabilities, often resulting in flow reversal in multiple parallel channel configuration. Aided by strong evaporation rates, the bubbles nucleating on the wall grow rapidly and fill the entire channel. The contact line between the bubble base and the channel wall surface now becomes the entire perimeter at both ends of the vapor slug. Evaporation occurs at the moving contact line of the expanding vapor slug as well as over the channel wall covered with a thin evaporating film surrounding the vapor core. The usual nucleate boiling heat transfer mechanisms, including liquid film evaporation and transient heat conduction in the liquid adjacent to the contact line region, play an important role. The liquid film under the large vapor slug evaporates completely at downstream locations thus presenting a dryout condition periodically with the passage of each large vapor slug. The experimental data and high speed visual observations confirm some of the key features presented in this paper.

Numerical investigation on flow condensation in zigzag channel of printed circuit heat exchanger

Two-phase flow of R-134a with high confinement number was experimentally carried out in this study. Flow boiling conditions for different orientations were controlled to take place in a stainless steel tube having a diameter of 0.5 mm. Based on a saturation pressure of 8 bar, a heat flux range of 2–26 kW/m2, and a mass flux range of 610–815 kg/m2s, a constant surface heat flux condition was controlled by applied DC power supply on the test section. The flow behaviors were described based on flow pattern and pressure drop data while heat transfer mechanisms were explained by using heat transfer coefficient data. In this work, nucleate boiling was observed, and the importance of the change in the flow direction was neglected, corresponding to the confinement number of around 1.7.

Flow boiling heat transfer in minichannels at high saturation temperatures: Part I – Experimental investigation and analysis of the heat transfer mechanisms

Drag-reducing solutions exhibit simultaneous friction and heat transfer reductions, yet it has been widely believed that there is no direct coupling between the two. In this work, we have conducted a study to re-examine this issue, using measurements of friction and heat transfer over a wide range of flow conditions from onset to asymptotic, various pipe diameters, and several polymer and surfactant solutions. Contrary to some earlier suggestions, our tests show that no decoupling of the momentum and heat transfer mechanisms was seen at the onset of drag reduction, nor upon departure from the asymptotes, but rather that the friction and heat transfer reductions change simultaneously in those regions. For asymptotic surfactant and polymer solutions, the ratio of heat transfer and drag reductions was seen to be constant over a large range of Reynolds numbers, if modified definitions of the reduction parameters are used. In the nonasymptotic region, however, the ratio of heat transfer to drag reductions is higher and is a function of the reduction level, but is approximately the same for polymer and surfactant solutions. This variation is consistent with the concept of a direct coupling through a nonunity constant Prt, as also suggested by our local measurements of temperature and velocity profiles. We also saw that our diameter scaling technique for friction applies equally well to heat transfer. These findings allow us to predict directly the heat transfer from friction measurements or vice versa for these drag-reducing fluids, and also suggest that a strong coupling exists between the heat and momentum transfer mechanisms.

Two-phase flow patterns and heat transfer characteristics of R134a refrigerant during flow boiling in a single rectangular micro-channel

Impact of working fluid properties on heat transfer and flow characteristics of two-phase loop thermosyphon with high filling ratios

The current chapter presents the heat transfer and pressure data of three different dimension microgap heat sinks collected during the experimental program. Experimental results are discussed to characterize the two phase flow boiling heat transfer and pressure drop behaviors in microgap channel. Vapor confinement criteria was adopted from Harirchian and Garimella [1]. and experimental data was plotted based on this criterion to predict the vapor confinement inside the microgap channel under different operating conditions and microgap dimension. The heat transfer mechanisms are explained based on the vapor confined criteria and flow boiling regime. High speed visualizations are shown to validate the explanation.

Effect of Liquid-Vapor Phase Distribution on the Heat Transfer Mechanisms during Flow Boiling in Minichannels and Microchannels

This chapter presents flow patterns, the configurations into which gas/liquid flows can arrange themselves in pipes and other geometries. Simple, mainly empirical, graphical methods for predicting the flow patterns occurring are then presented. The effect of flow patterns on heat transfer and of heat transfer on flow patterns are then considered. Models for the individual flow pattern transitions for vertical and horizontal (and near horizontal) pipes are then introduced. Important background areas such as flooding are covered. The extension of the models to annuli is also presented. Finally models for individual flow patterns are considered. In vertical flow slug and annular flow are examined. In addition, the latest material for churn flow, for which there is not a well-developed model, is presented. For horizontal flows, stratified, annular and slug flow are studied.

Development of boiling flow pattern map and heat transfer correlation of R32-oil mixture inside a horizontal micro-fin tube