Fundamental Studies of Jumping-Drop Thermal Diodes

Abstract

In this exploratory project, the performance of the planar jumping-drop thermal diode was studied after freeze-thaw cycles. The thermal diode consisted of two parallel plates, one superhydrophobic and one superhydrophilic, separated by a thermally insulating gasket which also provided a vacuum seal. In the forward mode when the superhydrophobic plate was colder,the self-propelled jumping of condensate drops on the superhydrophobic surface returned the working fluid to the opposing superhydrophilic surface. Both the galvanic superhydrophobic surface and sintered superhydrophilic surface were verified to survive a freeze-thaw cycle. However, the flat gasket for vacuum seal introduced leakage of noncondensable gases after a freeze-thaw cycle. With a modified gasket design, the jumping-drop thermal diode should be suitable for freeze-thaw conditions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 29, 2016
Accession Number
AD1007113

Entities

People

  • Chuan-Hua Chen

Organizations

  • Duke University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Assembly
  • Fabrication
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Pipes
  • Heat Transfer
  • Heat Transfer Coefficients
  • Hydrophobic Properties
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Self Propelled
  • Spacecraft
  • Vacuum
  • Vacuum Seals

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Electronics Engineering
  • Surface Coatings Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics