Heat transfer characteristics of flow boiling in a single horizontal microchannel

Heat transfer characteristics of subcooled flow boiling of FC-72 in a single horizontal circular cross-section microchannel (480 mu m id., 800 mu m o.d., 102 mm long) are presented. Different flow patterns, both in the stable and unstable flow boiling regimes, have been captured using high speed video camera. Data in small, medium, high and very high heat flux cases under small, medium and high mass flux has been presented. Convective heat transfer coefficients in each flow boiling situation have been calculated and presented. Stable flow boiling with alternating bubbly/slug flow, slug/annular flow and annular/mist flow have been observed for heat flux of 150 kW/m(2) or higher and mass flux of 1500 kg/m(2) s or higher. Back and forth oscillations with flow instabilities have been observed in cases of lower heat and mass fluxes. However, no complete reverse flow in upstream direction has been observed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.