Fundamental issues related to flow boiling in minichannels and microchannels

Flow boiling in small hydraulic diameter channels is becoming increasingly important in many diverse applications. The previous studies addressing the effects of the channel size on the flow patterns, and heat transfer and pressure drop performance are reviewed in the present paper. The fundamental questions related to the presence of nucleate boiling and characteristics of flow boiling in microchannels and minichannels in comparison to that in the conventional channel sizes (3 mm and above) are addressed. Also, the effect of heat exchanger configuration—single-channel and multichannel—on the heat transfer and pressure drop performance is reviewed. The areas for future research are identified.

The growth of a vapor bubble in a superheated liquid is controlled by three factors: the inertia of the liquid, the surface tension, and the vapor pressure. As the bubble grows, evaporation takes place at the bubble boundary, and the temperature and vapor pressure in the bubble are thereby decreased. The heat inflow requirement of evaporation, however, depends on the rate of bubble growth, so that the dynamic problem is linked with a heat diffusion problem. Since the heat diffusion problem has been solved, a quantitative formulation of the dynamic problem can be given. A solution for the radius of the vapor bubble as a function of time is obtained which is valid for sufficiently large radius. This asymptotic solution covers the range of physical interest since the radius at which it becomes valid is near the lower limit of experimental observation. It shows the strong effect of heat diffusion on the rate of bubble growth. Comparison of the predicted radius‐time behavior is made with experimental observations in superheated water, and very good agreement is found.

The growth of vapor bubbles in superheated liquids. report no. 26-6

Carbon capture by physical adsorption: Materials, experimental investigations and numerical modeling and simulations - A review

http://www.legi.grenoble-inp.fr/web/IMG/pdf/2009-Mimo-IJHMT.pdf

Surface wettability control by nanocoating: The effects on pool boiling heat transfer and nucleation mechanism

Parametric analysis of loop heat pipe operation: a literature review

Flow patterns during boiling in a narrow space between two vertical surfaces

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00351579/document

Jocelyn Bonjour

Papers

Parametric analysis of loop heat pipe operation: a literature review

Flow patterns during boiling in a narrow space between two vertical surfaces

Experimental analysis of bubble growth, departure and interactions during pool boiling on artificial nucleation sites

Combined effects of the filling ratio and the vapour space thickness on the performance of a flat plate heat pipe

Carbon dioxide flow boiling in a single microchannel - Part II: Heat transfer