Microscale Heat Transfer Enhancement using Spinodal Decomposition of Binary Liquid Mixtures: A Collaborative Modeling/Experimental Approach
Abstract
The aim of the project has been the analysis and development of a spinodal decomposition technology to enhance the heat transfer efficiency in microdevices. Poesio et al. (2007) had shown that the cooling (down to a given temperature) of a closed cell filled with a liquid-liquid mixture undergoing spinodal decomposition can be achieved ten-times faster compared to the case of a cell filled with a single-phase fluid. This effect can be explained as the result of (spinodal-decomposition induced) convective motion: the free energy released during spinodal decomposition acts as a driving force for the phase separation, leading to the spontaneous formation of single-phase domains which then proceed to grow and coalesce; this convective motion enhances the transport of internal energy and results in an appreciable heat transfer enhancement. Based on the proof-of-concept fundamental experiments in Poesio et al. (2006), Poesio et al. (2007), Poesio et al. (2009), and Farise et al. (2012), this technology was awaiting use in a configuration more relevant from the applications point of view, such as in a flowing system. The ultimate goal has been the design of a proof-of-concept micro/mini heat exchanger based on liquid-liquid spinodal decomposition. The project lasted for three years with the first year sponsored by the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development, AOARD (Grant FA2386-10-1-4146). Continued with the European office, EOARD (Grant FA8655-11-1-3068), and completed in 2013. The work has accomplished two main objectives: (1) demonstrated and analyzed heat transfer in small-scale heat exchangers; and (2) conducted numerical modeling as a precursor to a design tool. Since the currently available modeling tools require years of computational time to complete the simulation of a practical-sized device, this effort only started developing a novel theoretical modeling approach that eventually will lead to the design of efficient heat exchangers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA593123
Entities
People
- Gian Paolo Beretta
- Pietro Poesio