Effect of Electric Field Generated by Microsized Electrode on Pool Boiling

This paper describes the results from an experimental study of the effect of an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) and an electrostatic force on the critical heat flux in pool boiling. The dielectric liquid of HFE-7100 (3M Ltd.), which has a boiling point of 59.8 degrees C, was selected as a working fluid. In order to generate high electric fields with the application of low voltages, a micropatterned electrode with an array of planar comb fingers was made by microelectromechanical systems technology. The electrode had ten slits whose width was 400 mu m between electrode pairs so as to remove vapor bubbles from a heat transfer surface by the EHD effect. A cooling device fabricated with the electrode was evaluated by different applied voltages. As a result, the application of voltage enhanced heat transfer.