Studies on Condensation of Refrigerants in a High Aspect Ratio Microchannel and in a Novel Micro-Groove Surface Heat Exchanger: Development of Micro-Condensers in Compact Two Phase Cooling Systems

Three different refrigerants, R134a, R245fa and HFE7100 were analyzed as working fluids for two-phase cooling of high heat flux electronics in a 0.7 mm hydraulic diameter 190 mm long high aspect ratio minichannel and in a newly developed micro-groove surface condenser. The latter comprised of a micro-groove surface with rectangular grooves of 84 μm in hydraulic diameter with an aspect ratio of 10.6 and headers that directed the refrigerant flow into the grooves. It was concluded that in the minichannel R245fa provides higher heat transfer coefficients compared to R134a with a significantly higher pressure drop. The saturation temperature drop in the same channel created a significant temperature drop for HFE7100 that make the application of such minichannels for cross-flow condensers with this fluid unpractical. The microgroove surface condenser provided significantly higher heat transfer coefficients compared to the minichannel condenser. The pressure drop in the micro-groove surface condenser was extremely low and imposed just 1C temperature drop on HFE7100 at it highest heat flux. The mass flux of refrigerant in the micro-groove surface condenser is significantly lower compared to conventional mini and microchannel condensers. In its current configuration, the microgroove surface condenser benefits from the possibility of an increase in mass flux resulting in a significant increase in heat transfer coefficient and just a moderate increase in pressure drop.Copyright © 2007 by ASME