This paper describes the problem of channel blockage as a result of flow maldistribution between the channels of a model mini channel plate heat exchanger consisting of one pass on each leg. Each leg of the heat exchanger contains 51 parallel and rectangular minichannels of four hydraulic diameters namely 461 µm, 571 µm, 750 µm and 823 µm. In addition, a more complex geometry has been investigated where for the sake of breaking the development length the inclined transverse cuts have been incorporated. The moment of liquid phase transition through the exchanger (the working medium: water) was recorded for the mass fluxes ranging from 18.67 to 277.76 kg/m2s in 51 parallel channels with the use of a fast speed camera. The Reynolds numbers Re in the individual channels were from 10.76 to 90.04. The relationship between the mass flux and the size of the minichannels in the presence of the maldistribution is discussed here. The existence of the threshold in the mass flux below which the phenomenon occurs has been shown. Two mechanisms of channel blocking have been recorded and described in detail. A miniscale variation of one of them containing the extended geometry was created as well.
In the present paper, a detailed numerical investigation has been carried out to analyze the flow maldistribution in 50 parallel rectangular cross-section (1 mm depth and 1 mm width) minichannels and minigap section (1 mm depth and 99 mm width) with rectangular/trapezoidal manifolds in Z-type flow configuration. The author carried out numerical investigation with various mass flow rates, namely 0.05 kg/s, 0.1 kg/s and 0.2 kg/s which results in Reynolds number of 1532, 3064, 6128 respectively. A novel approach for the mitigation of non-uniform flow has been proposed introducing threshold at the entrance of the minigeometry section. The conventional case without threshold (as reference) and 1 mm, 3 mm and 7 mm threshold were introduced. The threshold has been employed by making a manifolds' depth bigger than section's depth. The maldistribution coefficient can be reduced twice in minigap section or three times in the minichannel section already with the 1 mm threshold as compared to the arrangement without threshold. It is found that rectangular manifold gives lower maldistribution coefficient than trapezoidal manifold which corresponds with actual state of the art. The distribution is more uniform in minichannel section than in minigap section for the same inlet parameters. To obtain uniform distribution of fluid flow should be stabilized already at the inlet manifold, at the entrance to the minichannel or minigap section. That was done by introducing the threshold in the manifolds, which is novelty of this study.
The work presents initial studies of a reversed thermosiphon with a steam liquid lifter and a minigap evaporator. The main interest of the authors is the evaporator, especially the heat exchange efficiency and flow issues, such as maldistribution and pressure drop. However, because the thermosiphon circuit of such a construction is characterized by cyclic working conditions, which are quite difficult in analysis the authors focused on this specificity first. The article presents the concept of a test circuit and preliminary results for distilled water and for a minigap evaporator with a smooth heat exchange surface 100 x 200 mm and minigap thickness of 1 mm. Visualizations of the separator's work and the minigap boiling structures are presented.
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