Characterization of Convective Boiling in Branching Channel Heat Sinks
Abstract
Convective boiling and gas-liquid flows in branching microscale flow networks within disk-shaped heat sinks were studied experimentally. Void fraction and flow regime variations as a function of branch level were reported for gas-liquid flows and compared with existing void fraction correlations and regime maps, respectively. Two methods for assessing void fraction were used, with void fraction assessed using two-dimensional high-speed images providing the best assessment. Void fraction in convective boiling flows showed backflow that would sometimes reroute downstream through an adjacent branch and at other times flow back to the inlet plenum, depending upon the degree of upstream throttling. A technique for measuring convective wall temperatures was developed and used to qualitatively assess temperature variations between vapor and liquid phase contact. Adiabatic flow boiling data was used to validate a one-dimensional, two-phase pressure drop model for use in flow network optimization. Validation of the heat transfer portion of the model was not possible without wall temperature data.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 06, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA498349
Entities
People
- Deborah V. Pence
- James A. Liburdy
- Vinod Narayanan
Organizations
- Oregon State University