AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF SINGLE-PHASE FORCED-CONVECTION IN MICROCHANNELS

Turbulent, single-phase forced convection of water in circular microch annels with diameters of 0.76 and 1.09 mm has been investigated. The d ata show that the Nusselt numbers for the microchannels are higher tha n those predicted by traditional large channel correlations. Based on the data obtained in this investigation, along with earlier data for s maller diameter channels, a generalized correlation for the Nusselt nu mber for turbulent, single-phase, forced convection in circular microc hannels has been developed. The diameter, Reynolds number, and Prandtl number ranges are 0.102-1.09 mm, 2.6 x 10(3)-2.3 x 10(4), and 1.53-6. 43, respectively. With a confidence level of greater than 95%, differe nces between experimental and predicted Nusselt number values are less than +/-18.6%. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.