The design and reliable operation of a two-phase micro-channel heat sink require a fundamental understanding of the complex transport phenomena associated with convective boiling in small, parallel coolant passages. This understanding is the primary goal of this paper. This goal is realized by exploring the following aspects of boiling in micro-channels: hydrodynamic instability, two-phase flow patterns, pressure drop, and convective boiling heat transfer. High-speed photographic methods were used to determine dominant flow patterns and explore as well as characterize hydrodynamic instabilities. Two types of dynamic instability were identified, a severe pressure drop oscillation and a mild parallel channel instability, and a simple method is recommended to completely suppress the former. Predictions of three popular two-phase pressure drop models and correlations were compared to micro-channel water data, and only a separated flow (Lockhart-Martinelli) correlation based on the assumption of laminar flow in both phases gave acceptable predictions. Several popular heat transfer correlations were also examined and deemed unsuitable for micro-channel heat sinks because all these correlations are based on turbulent flow assumptions, and do not capture the unique features of micro-channel flow such as abrupt transition to slug flow, hydrodynamic instability, and high droplet entrainment in the annular regime. These findings point to the need for further study of boiling behavior and new predictive tools specifically tailored to micro-channel heat sinks.
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June 2004
Technical Papers
Transport Phenomena in Two-Phase Micro-Channel Heat Sinks
Weilin Qu, Graduate Research Assistant, Student Mem. ASME,
e-mail: quw@purdue.edu
Weilin Qu, Graduate Research Assistant, Student Mem. ASME
Purdue University International Electronic Cooling Alliance (PUIECA), Boiling and Two-Phase Flow Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
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Issam Mudawar, Professor, Fellow ASME
Issam Mudawar, Professor, Fellow ASME
Purdue University International Electronic Cooling Alliance (PUIECA), Boiling and Two-Phase Flow Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Search for other works by this author on:
Weilin Qu, Graduate Research Assistant, Student Mem. ASME
Purdue University International Electronic Cooling Alliance (PUIECA), Boiling and Two-Phase Flow Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
e-mail: quw@purdue.edu
Issam Mudawar, Professor, Fellow ASME
Purdue University International Electronic Cooling Alliance (PUIECA), Boiling and Two-Phase Flow Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Contributed by the Electronic and Photonic Packaging Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC PACKAGING. Manuscript received April 2003; final revision, January 2004. Associate Editor: D. Agonafer.
J. Electron. Packag. Jun 2004, 126(2): 213-224 (12 pages)
Published Online: July 8, 2004
Article history
Received:
April 1, 2003
Revised:
January 1, 2004
Online:
July 8, 2004
Citation
Qu, W., and Mudawar, I. (July 8, 2004). "Transport Phenomena in Two-Phase Micro-Channel Heat Sinks ." ASME. J. Electron. Packag. June 2004; 126(2): 213–224. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1756145
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