Effect of Cross Groove on Flow Boiling in a Microgap

Flow boiling performance of a microgap channel has been investigated experimentally. Experimental studies were carried out on a bottom surface heated single microgap channel having 5×0.372 mm cross sectional area using DI water as coolant. Four rectangular grooves were cut along the flow direction and surface morphology of the microgrooves was modified by depositing ZnO nanoparticles from a nanofluid using electrophoresis deposition technique. Flow boiling experiments were conducted for different mass flux. The results from the microgap channel having no cross grooves have been used as the baseline data. Cross grooves have been found effective in reducing boiling incipience temperature and enhancing heat transfer coefficient. Up to 50% enhancement in two-phase heat transfer coefficient was observed for the cross groove. Nanoparticles deposition reduces boiling incipient temperature but does not show any significant effect on two-phase heat transfer coefficient.