Effects of heat flux, vapour quality, channel hydraulic diameter on flow boiling heat transfer in variable aspect ratio micro-channels using transparent heating

Experiments on flow boiling heat transfer in high aspect ratio micro-channels with FC-72 were carried out. Three channels with different hydraulic diameters (571, 762 and 1454 μm) and aspect ratios (20, 20 and 10) were selected. The tested mass fluxes were 11.2, 22.4 and 44.8 kg m−2 s−1 and heat fluxes ranging from 0–18.6 kW m−2. In the present study, boiling curves with obvious temperature overshoots are presented. Average heat transfer coefficient and local heat transfer coefficient along stream-wise direction are measured as a function of heat flux and vapour quality respectively. Slug-annular flow and annular flow are the main flow regimes. Convective boiling is found to be the dominant heat transfer mechanism. Local heat transfer coefficient increases with decreasing hydraulic diameter. Moreover, the effect of hydraulic diameter is more significant when mass flux is higher. The unique channel geometry is considered as the decisive reason of the flow regimes as well as heat transfer mechanisms.