Thermal-hydraulic performance of small scale micro-channel and porous-media heat-exchangers

Citation
Px. Jiang et al., Thermal-hydraulic performance of small scale micro-channel and porous-media heat-exchangers, INT J HEAT, 44(5), 2001, pp. 1039-1051
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Mechanical Engineering
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
ISSN journal
00179310 → ACNP
Volume
44
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1039 - 1051
Database
ISI
SICI code
0017-9310(200103)44:5<1039:TPOSSM>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
Fluid flow and forced convection heat transfer in micro-heat-exchangers wit h either micro-channels or porous media have been investigated experimental ly. The influence of the dimensions of the micro-channels on the heat trans fer performance was first analyzed numerically. Based on these computations . deep micro-channels were used for the experimental studies reported here. The measured performance of both micro-channel and porous-media micro-heat -exchangers are compared with those of similar heat-exchangers tested by ot her researchers. It is shown that the heat transfer performance of the micr o-heat-exchanger using porous media is better than that of the micro-heat-e xchanger using micro-channels, but the pressure drop of the former is much larger. Over the range of test conditions, the maximum volumetric heat tran sfer coefficient of the micro-heat-exchanger using porous media was 86.3 MW /(m(3) K) for a water mass flow rate of 0.067 kg/s and a pressure drop of 4 .66 bar. The maximum volumetric heat transfer coefficient of the micro-heat -exchanger using deep micro-channels was 38.4 MW/(m(3) K) with a correspond ing mass flow: rate of 0.34 kg/s and a pressure drop of 0.7 bar. Considerin g both the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of these heat-ex changers, the deep micro-channel design offers a better overall performance than either the porous media or shallow micro-channel alternatives. (C) 20 01 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.