Effect of Micropatterning of Metallic Surfaces on Nucleate Pool Boiling
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15649/2346075X.5819Keywords:
Aluminum Alloy, Heat Transfer, Micro-Patterned , Pool BoilingAbstract
Introduction. Nucleate boiling occurs when the surface temperature exceeds the liquid’s saturation temperature, leading to vapor bubble formation. Surface roughness strongly affects bubble nucleation and dynamics, thereby enhancing heat transfer efficiency during nucleate boiling. Objectives. To characterize bubble nucleation, growth, and detachment during pool nucleate boiling using two micropatterned surfaces: 1) a vertical-patterned surface (VPS) and 2) a square-patterned surface (SPS), and to compare their performance with that of a smooth surface (SS). Materials and Methods. An acrylic container was fixed to metal surfaces to study the liquid pool. A novel methodology employing the Peltier effect allows the control of the process variables and ensures reproducibility. Bubble dynamics were captured with a high-speed camera, while thermal responses were monitored by thermocouples in the liquid and on the metal surface. Results. Micropatterned surfaces decreased bubble diameter by 32%, and increased nucleation sites threefold compared to smooth surfaces. The highest convection coefficient was observed for the square surface (11.45 Wcm-2 K-1) followed by the vertical (7.7 Wcm-2 K-1), and smooth (5.4 Wcm-2 K-1) surfaces, these values are unusual in the literature, since the study was carried out at the micrometric level, suggesting a significant analysis for microscale cooling applications. Conclusions. A roughness defined by micropatterning allows control over nucleate boiling and improves heat dissipation in applications that require high power density, such as next-generation electronic devices and aerospace technologies.
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