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Experimental Study on Flow Boiling Heat Transfer Characteristics in Top-Connected Microchannels with a Ni/Ag Micro/Nano Composite Structure

Author

Listed:
  • Zeyu Xu

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Pipeline Critical Technology and Equipment for Deepwater Oil & Gas Development, School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China)

  • Wei Zhang

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Pipeline Critical Technology and Equipment for Deepwater Oil & Gas Development, School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China)

  • Qianqian Zhang

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Pipeline Critical Technology and Equipment for Deepwater Oil & Gas Development, School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China)

  • Xiangrui Zhai

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Pipeline Critical Technology and Equipment for Deepwater Oil & Gas Development, School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China)

  • Xufei Yang

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Pipeline Critical Technology and Equipment for Deepwater Oil & Gas Development, School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China)

  • Yajun Deng

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Pipeline Critical Technology and Equipment for Deepwater Oil & Gas Development, School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China)

  • Xi Wang

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Pipeline Critical Technology and Equipment for Deepwater Oil & Gas Development, School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China)

Abstract

Microchannel heat exchangers, with their large specific surface area, exhibit high heat/mass transfer efficiency and have a wide range of applications in chemical engineering and energy. To enhance microchannel flow boiling heat transfer, a top-connected microchannel heat exchanger with a Ni/Ag micro/nano composite surface was designed. Using anhydrous ethanol as the working fluid, comparative flow boiling heat transfer experiments were conducted on regular parallel microchannels (RMC), top-connected microchannels (TCMC), and TCMC with a Ni/Ag micro/nano composite surface (TCMC-Ni/Ag). Results show that the TCMC-Ni/Ag’s maximum local heat transfer coefficient reaches 179.84 kW/m 2 ·K, which is 4.1 times that of RMC. Visualization reveals that its strongly hydrophilic micro/nano composite surface increases bubble nucleation density and nucleation frequency. Under medium-low heat flux, the vapor phase converges in the top-connected region while bubbles form on the microchannel surface; under high heat flux, its capillary liquid absorption triggers a thin-liquid-film convective evaporation mode, which is the key mechanism for improved heat transfer performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeyu Xu & Wei Zhang & Qianqian Zhang & Xiangrui Zhai & Xufei Yang & Yajun Deng & Xi Wang, 2025. "Experimental Study on Flow Boiling Heat Transfer Characteristics in Top-Connected Microchannels with a Ni/Ag Micro/Nano Composite Structure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:7:p:1756-:d:1625488
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