The design and reliable operation of a two-phase micro-channel heat sink require a fundamental understanding of the complex transport phenomena associated with convective boiling in small, parallel coolant passages. This understanding is the primary goal of this paper. This goal is realized by exploring the following aspects of boiling in micro-channels: hydrodynamic instability, two-phase flow patterns, pressure drop, and convective boiling heat transfer. High-speed photographic methods were used to determine dominant flow patterns and explore as well as characterize hydrodynamic instabilities. Two types of dynamic instability were identified, a severe pressure drop oscillation and a mild parallel channel instability, and a simple method is recommended to completely suppress the former. Predictions of three popular two-phase pressure drop models and correlations were compared to micro-channel water data, and only a separated flow (Lockhart-Martinelli) correlation based on the assumption of laminar flow in both phases gave acceptable predictions. Several popular heat transfer correlations were also examined and deemed unsuitable for micro-channel heat sinks because all these correlations are based on turbulent flow assumptions, and do not capture the unique features of micro-channel flow such as abrupt transition to slug flow, hydrodynamic instability, and high droplet entrainment in the annular regime. These findings point to the need for further study of boiling behavior and new predictive tools specifically tailored to micro-channel heat sinks.
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ASME 2002 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November 17–22, 2002
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Heat Transfer Division
ISBN:
0-7918-3638-X
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Transport Phenomena in Two-Phase Micro-Channel Heat Sinks
Weilin Qu,
Weilin Qu
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Search for other works by this author on:
Issam Mudawar
Issam Mudawar
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Search for other works by this author on:
Weilin Qu
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Issam Mudawar
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Paper No:
IMECE2002-33711, pp. 135-147; 13 pages
Published Online:
June 3, 2008
Citation
Qu, W, & Mudawar, I. "Transport Phenomena in Two-Phase Micro-Channel Heat Sinks." Proceedings of the ASME 2002 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Heat Transfer, Volume 7. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. November 17–22, 2002. pp. 135-147. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2002-33711
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