Local pressure measurements and heat transfer coefficients of flow boiling in a rectangular microchannel

Abstract

Experiments to investigate local pressure distribution and local heat transfer coefficients during flow boiling of water in a microchannel were performed. The hydraulic diameter of the channel was 0.635 mm. The nominal mass fluxes used were varied from 200 to 700 kg/m2 s and heat fluxes ranging from 171 to 685 kW/m2 were applied. An inlet fluid temperature of 98 °C and pressure of 125 kPa were maintained at the microchannel entrance. There were six pressure tappings inserted into the channel to measure the local pressures and six thermocouple inserted into the channel block with equally distances to measure the wall local temperatures. The local pressure measurements during flow boiling show a non linear line connecting each local pressure, especially at higher heat fluxes or pressure drops. The non linear local pressure influences the value of the estimated local heat transfer coefficient. The effects of mass flux and heat flux on local heat transfer coefficient are also discussed.