Skip to main content
Log in

Flow boiling heat transfer of alumina nanofluids in single microchannels and the roles of nanoparticles

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Nanoparticle Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigates flow boiling heat transfer of aqueous alumina nanofluids in single microchannels with particular focuses on the critical heat flux (CHF) and the potential dual roles played by nanoparticles, i.e., (i) modification of the heating surface through particle deposition and (ii) modification of bubble dynamics through particles suspended in the liquid phase. Low concentrations of nanofluids (0.001–0.1 vol.%) are formulated by the two-step method and the average alumina particle size is ~25 nm. Two sets of experiments are performed: (a) flow boiling of formed nanofluids in single microchannels where the effect of heating surface modification by nanoparticle deposition is apparent and (b) bubble formation in a quiescent pool of alumina nanofluids under adiabatic conditions where the role of suspended nanoparticles in the liquid phase is revealed. The flow boiling experiments reveal a modest increase in CHF by nanofluids, being higher at higher nanoparticle concentrations and higher inlet subcoolings. The bubble formation experiments show that suspended nanoparticles in the liquid phase alone can significantly affect bubble dynamics. Further discussion reveals that both roles are likely co-existent in a typical boiling system. Properly surface-promoted nanoparticles could minimize particle deposition hence little modification of the heating surface, but could still contribute to the modification in heat transfer through the second mechanism, which is potentially promising for microchannel applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahn HS, Kim H, Jo H, Kang SH, Chang WP, Kim MH (2010) Experimental study of critical heat flux enhancement during forced convective flow boiling of nanofluid on a short heated surface. Int J Multiph Flow 36:375–384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buongiorno J et al (2009) A benchmark study on the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. J Appl Phys 106:094312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das SK, Putra N, Roetzel W (2003) Pool boiling characteristics of nanofluids. Int J Heat Mass Transf 46:851–862

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hall D, Mudawar I (2000) Critical heat flux CHF for water flow in tubes-II subcooled CHF correlations. Int J Heat Mass Transf 43:2605–2640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hata K, Komori H, Shiotsu M, Noda N (2004) Critical heat fluxes of subcooled water flow boiling against inlet subcooling in short vertical tube. JSME Int J Ser B 47:306–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hata K, Shiotsu M, Noda N (2006) Influence of heating rate on subcooled flow boiling critical heat flux in a short vertical tube. JSME Int J Ser B 49:309–317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson K, Park YG, Liu L, Anthony M (2010) Flow-boiling heat transfer of R-134a-based nanofluid in a horizontal tube. Int J Heat Mass Transf 53:944–951

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kedzierski MA (2009) Effect of CuO nanoparticle concentration on R134a/lubricant pool-boiling heat transfer. J Heat Transf Trans ASME 131:043205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SJ, Bang IC, Buongiorno J, Hu LW (2007a) Surface wettability change during pool boiling of nanofluids and its effect on critical heat flux. Int J Heat Mass Transf 50:4105–4116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim HD, Kim J, Kim MH (2007b) Experimental studies on CHF characteristics of nanofluids at pool boiling. Int J Multiph Flow 33:691–706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SJ, Buongiorno J, Hu LW (2008) Alumina nanoparticles enhance the flow boiling critical heat flux of water at low pressure. J Heat Transf 130:044501–044503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SJ, McKrell T, Buongiorno J, Hu LW (2009) Experimental study of flow critical heat flux in alumina-water, zinc-oxide-water, and diamond-water nanofluids. J Heat Transf 131:0432041–0432045

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee J, Mudawar I (2007) Assessment of the effectiveness of nanofluids for single-phase and two-phase heat transfer in micro-channels. Int J Heat Mass Transf 50:452–463

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee J, Mudawar I (2009) Critical heat flux for subcooled flow boiling in micro-channel heat sinks. Int J Heat Mass Transf 52:3341–3352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Narayan GP, Anoop KB, Das SK (2007) Mechanism of enhancement/deterioration of boiling heat transfer using stable nanoparticle suspensions over vertical tubes. J Appl Phys 102:074317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park K, Jung D (2007) Enhancement of nucleate boiling heat transfer using carbon nanotubes. Int J Heat Mass Transfer 50:4499–4502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park Y, Liu LP, Sommers AD (2008) Two-phase flow-boiling of refrigerant-based nanofluid in a horizontal tube. In: Conference information: international conference on cryogenics and refrigeration. Cryognenics and refrigeration proceedings, APR 05-09, Hangzhou, China, pp 954–963

  • Roday AP, Borca-Tasçiuc T, Jensen MK (2008) The critical heat flux condition with water in a uniformly heated microtube. J Heat Transf 130:012901-1–012901-10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sefiane K (2006) On the role of structural disjoining pressure and contact line pining in critical heat flux enhancement during boiling of nanofluids. Appl Phys Lett 89:044106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith S, Taha T, Wen DS, Cui ZF, Kenning DBR (2002) Examination of the mass-heat transfer analogy for two-phase flows in narrow channels: comparison of gas bubble enhancement of membrane separation and heat transfer to vapour bubbles in boiling. Chem Eng Res Des 80:729–738

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trisaksri V, Wongwises S (2009) Nucleate pool boiling heat transfer of TiO2–R141b nanofluids. Int J Heat Mass Transf 52:1582–1588

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vafaei S, Wen D (2010a) Critical heat flux (CHF) of subcooled flow boiling of alumina nanofluids in a horizontal microchannel. ASME J Heat Transf 132:1024041–1024047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vafaei S, Wen D (2010b) Effect of gold nanoparticles on the dynamics of as bubbles. Langmuir 26:6902–6907

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vafaei S, Wen D (2010c) The effect of gold nanoparticles on the spreading of triple line. Microfluid Nanofluid 8:843–848

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vafaei S, Wen D (2010d) Bubble formation on a submerged micronozzle. J Colloid Interf Sci 343:291–297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vafaei S, Wen DS (2010e) Bubble formation in a quiescent pool of gold nanoparticle suspension. Adv Coll Interface Sci 159(1):72–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vassallo P, Kumar R, Damico S (2004) Pool boiling heat transfer experiments in silica-water nano-fluids. Int J Heat Mass Transf 47:407–411

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wen D (2008) Mechanisms of thermal nanofluids on enhanced critical heat flux (CHF). Int J Heat Mass Transf 51:4958–4965

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wen D, Ding Y (2005) Experimental investigation into the pool boiling heat transfer of aqueous based γ-alumina nanofluids. J Nanopart Res 7:265–274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wen D, Yan Y, Kenning D (2004) Saturated flow boiling of water in a narrow channel: time-averaged heat transfer coefficients and correlations. Appl Therm Eng 24:1207–1223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wen D, Ding Y, Williams R (2006) Pool boiling heat transfer of aqueous based TiO2 nanofluids. J Enhanc Heat Transf 13:231–244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wen D, Lin G, Vafaei S, Zhang K (2009) Review of nanofluids for heat transfer applications. Particuology 7:141–150

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • You SM, Kim JK, Kim KH (2003) Effect of nanoparticles on critical heat flux of water in pool boiling heat transfer. Appl Phys Lett 83:3374–3376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to extend their thanks to EPSRC for financial support under Grant No: EP/E065449/1 and Dr. Z. Luklinska for nanoparticle characterization.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dongsheng Wen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vafaei, S., Wen, D. Flow boiling heat transfer of alumina nanofluids in single microchannels and the roles of nanoparticles. J Nanopart Res 13, 1063–1073 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-010-0095-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-010-0095-z

Keywords

Navigation