This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project amis to experimentally validate the theory that similar heat exchangers can produce saturated two-phase flows with superior heat transfer. Initial experiments confirm that metastable two-phase fluids can produce heat transfer coefficients 40-70% greater than single-phase fluids at the same flow rate and have the potential to dissipate heat flux values in excess of 1000 W/cm2. Empirical correlations will be developed so that optimized heat exchangers capable of dissipating high heat flux values can be designed and commercially produced.
The proposed technology, if successful, will find commercial applications in the power electronics, lasers, power generation, fuel cell, and automotive industries.
