Numerical Investigation of Transition of Flow Condensation in Microchannel

Abstract

Due to the miniaturization of electronic devices and advanced machines, the micro-channel phase change heat transfer is used for heat removal on limited surfaces. However, since the complexity of the phase change phenomenon, it is difficult to numerically analyze the phase change phenomenon inside the microchannel. In this study, the flow condensation problem of FC-72 fluid in a microchannel is numerically analyzed with the phase change model. SST k-omega turbulence model is used and Volume of Fluid method is used for tracking the gas-liquid interface inside micro-channels. The condensation phenomenon is analyzed by applying the phase change model based on the difference of the phase interface and saturated temperature. The transition of two-phase flow pattern, cross-sectional velocity profiles in a micro-channel are studied according to the inlet mass flux and the heat flux at the channel wall surface. The heat transfer coefficient was compared with the experimental results and it is confirmed that the heat transfer coefficient at the wall increase when the inlet mass flux increase. Also, the channel wall side surface temperature profiles, changes of isotherms, and velocity vector field inside channel due to liquid-phase creation are presented.