Flow boiling heat transfer in two-phase micro-channel heat sinks––II. Annular two-phase flow model

Abstract

This paper is Part II of a two-part study devoted to measurement and prediction of the saturated flow boiling heat transfer coefficient in water-cooled micro-channel heat sinks. Part I discussed the experimental findings from the study, and identified unique aspects of flow boiling in micro-channels such as abrupt transition to the annular flow regime near the point of zero thermodynamic equilibrium quality, and the decrease in heat transfer coefficient with increasing quality. The operating conditions of water-cooled micro-channels fell outside the recommended range for most prior empirical correlations. In this paper, an annular flow model is developed to predict the saturated flow boiling heat transfer coefficient. Features unique to two-phase micro-channel flow, such as laminar liquid and vapor flow, smooth interface, and strong droplet entrainment and deposition effects, are identified and incorporated into the model. The model correctly captures the unique overall trend of decreasing heat transfer coefficient with increasing vapor quality in the low vapor quality region of micro-channels. Good agreement is achieved between the model predictions and heat transfer coefficient data over broad ranges of flow rate and heat flux.