Experimental determination of transport coefficients, in particular internal heat transfer coefficients, in heterogeneous and hierarchical heat transfer devices such as compact heat exchangers and high surface density heat sinks has posed a persistent challenge for designers. This study presents a unique treatment of the experimental determination of such design data. A new combined experimental and computational method for determining the internal heat transfer coefficient within a heterogeneous and hierarchical heat transfer medium is explored and results are obtained for the case of cross flow of air over staggered cylinders to provide validation of the method. Along with appropriate pressure drop measurements, these measurements allow for thermal-fluid modeling of a heat exchanger by closing the volume averaging theory (VAT)-based equations governing transport phenomena in porous media, which have been rigorously derived from the lower-scale Navier-Stokes and thermal energy equations. To experimentally obtain the internal heat transfer coefficient the solid phase is subjected to a step change in heat generation rate via induction heating, while the fluid flows through under steady flow conditions. The transient fluid phase temperature response is measured. The heat transfer coefficient is then determined by comparing the results of a numerical simulation based on the VAT model with the experimental results. The friction factor is determined through pressure drop measurements, as is usually done. With the lower-scale heat transfer coefficient and friction factor measured, the VAT-based equations governing the transport phenomena in the heat transfer device are closed and readily solved. Several configurations of staggered cylinders in cross flow were selected for this study. Results for the heat transfer coefficient and friction factor are compared to widely accepted correlations and agreement is obseiyed, lending validation to this experimental method and analysis procedure. It is expected that a more convenient and accurate tool for experimental closure of the VAT-based equations modeling transport in heterogeneous and hierarchical media, which comes down to measuring the transport coefficients, will allow for easier modeling and subsequent optimization of high performance compact heat exchangers and heat sinks for which design data does not already exist.
Experimentally determining internal heat transfer coefficients in porous structures has been a challenge in the design of heat exchangers. In this study, a novel combined experimental and computational method for determining the internal heat transfer coefficient within a heat sink is explored and results are obtained for air flow through basic pin fin heat sinks. These measurements along with the pressure drop allow for thermal-fluid modeling of a heat sink by closing the Volume Averaging Theory (VAT)-based governing equations, providing an avenue towards optimization. To obtain the heat transfer coefficient the solid phase is subjected to a step change in heat generation rate via induction heating, while the fluid flows through under steady state conditions. The fluid phase temperature response is measured. The heat transfer coefficient is determined by comparing the results of a numerical simulation based on volume averaging theory with the experimental results. The only information needed is the basic material properties, the flow rate, and the experimental data. The computational procedure alleviates the need for internal solid and fluid phase temperature measurements, which are difficult to make and can disturb the solid-fluid interaction. Moreover, a simple analysis allows us to proceed without knowledge of the heat generation rate, which is difficult to determine precisely. Multiple pin fin heat sink morphologies were selected for this study. Moreover, volume averaging theory scaling arguments allow a single correlation for both the heat transfer coefficient and friction factor that encompass a wide range of pin fin morphologies. It is expected that a precise tool for experimental closure of the VAT-based equations modeling a heat sink as a porous medium will allow for better modeling, and subsequent optimization, of heat sinks.
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