Design and experimental evaluation of microchannels-based thermal absorbers for solar collectors

• Grant number: 17/12576-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: Gherhardt Ribatski
• Grantee: Debora Carneiro Moreira
• Supervisor: Satish Gopalrao Kandlikar
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 15/24834-3 - Development of high performance heat spreaders based on multi-microchannels with micro- and nanostructured surfaces aiming at applications in solar absorbers, BP.PD

Abstract

The ability to absorb or dissipate heat in restricted spaces is a main issue to the development of technology in various fields. For instance, the heat absorption by fluids in mini-or microchannels based solar collectors is a promising way of clean and renewable energy use. Many studies endorse the great potential of flow boiling based devices as heat spreaders or absorbers, especially due to high heat transfer rates and low temperature gradients, provided by phase change mechanisms. However, such devices are still under development, and some reported problems must be overcome, like high pressure-drop, low critical heat flux, surface superheating, and thermal instabilities. In this sense, it is recommended that these heat exchangers are designed according to specific requirements inherent to the planned application. Recently, the research group from the Thermal Analysis, Microfluidics, and Fuel Cells Laboratory in the Rochester Institute of Techology (RIT) has developed novel techniques to reduce pressure loss and increase the critical heat flux. In this context, the present research project proposes the design and characterization of high-performance heat absorbers for solar collectors based on flow boiling in microchannels. The techniques developed by the group led by Prof. Satish G. Kandlikar will be employed in the conception of new devices, which will be fabricated and experimentally evaluated according to the pressure loss coefficient, global heat transfer coefficient, and critical heat flux. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MOREIRA, DEBORA C.; RIBATSKI, GHERHARDT; KANDLIKAR, SATISH G.; AMER SOC MECH ENGINEERS. EFFECTS OF TAPER CONFIGURATIONS ON HEAT TRANSFER AND PRESSURE DROP IN SINGLE-PHASE FLOWS IN MICROGAPS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASME 2020 18TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NANOCHANNELS, MICROCHANNELS, AND MINICHANNELS (ICNMM2020), v. N/A, p. 6-pg., 2020-01-01. (15/24834-3, 16/09509-1, 17/12576-5)

MOREIRA, DEBORA C.; RIBATSKI, GHERHARDT; KANDLIKAR, SATISH G.. Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in Single-Phase Flows in Tapered Microchannels. JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME, v. 144, n. 7, p. 8-pg., 2022-07-01. (17/12576-5, 16/09509-1, 15/24834-3)

MOREIRA, D. C.; NASCIMENTO JR, V. S.; KANDLIKAR, S. G.; RIBATSKI, G.. Flow boiling of R1336mzz(Z) in tapered microgaps with asymmetric dual-V microchannels. APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING, v. 228, p. 15-pg., 2023-04-05. (17/12576-5, 15/24834-3, 16/09509-1, 18/23538-0, 17/12309-7)

MOREIRA, D. C.; NASCIMENTO, V. S.; RIBATSKI, G.; KANDLIKAR, S. G.. Combining liquid inertia and evaporation momentum forces to achieve flow boiling inversion and performance enhancement in asymmetric Dual V-groove microchannels. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER, v. 194, p. 14-pg., 2022-09-15. (17/12576-5, 15/24834-3, 16/09509-1, 18/23538-0)

MOREIRA, DEBORA C.; RIBATSKI, GHERHARDT; KANDLIKAR, SATISH G.; AMER SOC MECH ENGINEERS. REVIEW OF ENHANCEMENT TECHNIQUES WITH VAPOR EXTRACTION DURING FLOW BOILING IN MICROCHANNELS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASME 2020 18TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NANOCHANNELS, MICROCHANNELS, AND MINICHANNELS (ICNMM2020), v. N/A, p. 8-pg., 2020-01-01. (15/24834-3, 16/09509-1, 17/12576-5)