This paper presents a theoretical investigation of the movement of liquid droplets and slugs in hydrophobic microchannels and develops a compact model for this type of two-phase flow. This model is used in the prediction of pressure drop and liquid water coverage ratio, key parameters in the operation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), the primary motivation for this work. A semi-empirical, periodic-steady two-phase separated flow compact model is formulated to characterize the slug flow behavior. The momentum equation includes the effects of acceleration, friction and surface tension on the pressure drop. The model considers spatial changes in slug velocity through the use of a force balance formulation. The model uses a departure scheme that computes slug size and shape at entrainment. The steady state slug flow compact model is capable of predicting liquid water coverage ratio and pressure drop using liquid and gas flow rates and advancing/receding triple point contact angles as its only inputs. The results indicate that the pressure drop increases as the droplet formation frequency increases.
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ASME 2007 5th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels
June 18–20, 2007
Puebla, Mexico
Conference Sponsors:
- Nanotechnology Institute
ISBN:
0-7918-4272-X
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Compact Model of Slug Flow in Microchannels Available to Purchase
Dong Rip Kim,
Dong Rip Kim
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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Julie E. Steinbrenner,
Julie E. Steinbrenner
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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Eon Soo Lee,
Eon Soo Lee
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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Fu-Min Wang,
Fu-Min Wang
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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Carlos H. Hidrovo,
Carlos H. Hidrovo
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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John K. Eaton,
John K. Eaton
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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Kenneth E. Goodson
Kenneth E. Goodson
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
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Dong Rip Kim
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Jae-Mo Koo
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Chen Fang
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Julie E. Steinbrenner
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Eon Soo Lee
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Fu-Min Wang
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Carlos H. Hidrovo
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
John K. Eaton
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Kenneth E. Goodson
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Paper No:
ICNMM2007-30146, pp. 321-329; 9 pages
Published Online:
May 28, 2009
Citation
Kim, DR, Koo, J, Fang, C, Steinbrenner, JE, Lee, ES, Wang, F, Hidrovo, CH, Eaton, JK, & Goodson, KE. "Compact Model of Slug Flow in Microchannels." Proceedings of the ASME 2007 5th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels. ASME 5th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels. Puebla, Mexico. June 18–20, 2007. pp. 321-329. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICNMM2007-30146
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