Abstract
The paper presents the specification of research methods commonly encountered in the studies of heat transfer processes in minichannels. In particular the following methods have been emphasized: electrochemical limiting current method as well as the thermal balance method. In thermal balance method the mean heat transfer coefficient is determined by the set of experimental thermal measurements of the investigated heat exchanger. In turn, limiting current method is based on heat and mass transfer analogy. The discussed research methods have been implemented on two specially designed and constructed test facilities with compact minichannel heat exchangers, which have been presented and described in details. In order to validate the designed setup, the preliminary experimental measurements of two minichannel heat exchangers with hydraulic diameter of 2 mm and rectangular cross sections during single-phase liquid flows have been carried out. In further perspective it is planned to extend the experimental studies of minichannel heat exchangers and to compare the results obtained by both methods described.
Highlights
Miniaturization has captured various fields of application, including electronics, medicine, heat and power engineering, compact heat exchangers, industrial technology and many others
The classification of channels proposed by Kandlikar reveals that the term minichannel refers to the hydraulic diameter within the range of 200 μm ≤ dh ≤ 3 mm
Channels with hydraulic diameter dh ≤ 200 μm are classified as microchannels
Summary
Miniaturization has captured various fields of application, including electronics, medicine, heat and power engineering, compact heat exchangers, industrial technology and many others. Mini- and microchannel heat exchangers are an important group of heat transfer components which cover the demand for heat reception in widespread small-scale systems. The classification of channels proposed by Kandlikar reveals that the term minichannel refers to the hydraulic diameter within the range of 200 μm ≤ dh ≤ 3 mm. Channels with hydraulic diameter dh ≤ 200 μm are classified as microchannels. Throughout the years an extensive studies concerning heat transfer and fluid flow in minichannels have been carried out. A brief overview of selected literature on heat transfer and flow in minichannels have been presented below
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