METHODS FOR STABILIZING FLOW IN CHANNELS AND SYSTEMS THEREOF

• US 20090266436A1
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rochester Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Rochester Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Kandlikar, Satish G.
• Application Number:
  US12/497,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20090266436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/39
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/00 Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing F28F1/00 - F28F11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/08 by varying the cross-section of the flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/10 by imparting a pulsating motion to the flow, e.g. by sonic vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/14 by endowing the walls of conduits with zones of different degrees of conduction of heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2260/02 having microchannels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/911 Vaporization

Abstract

A method and system for stabilizing flow includes introducing a flow into a channel with a minimum cross-sectional dimension of less than three millimeters and triggering a release of one or more bubbles in the flow at one or more locations in the channel. The one or more locations are spaced in from an inlet and an outlet to the channel.

Claims

1. A system for stabilizing flow during flow boiling, the system comprising:

at least one channel for receiving the flow with a minimum cross-sectional dimension of less than three millimeters; and

a stabilization system that triggers a release of one or more bubbles in the flow at one or more locations in the channel to stabilize the flow, wherein the one or more locations are spaced in from an inlet and an outlet to the channel.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stabilization system comprises a low pressure zone in the channel.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the stabilization system further comprises at least one heating device that heats a portion of the channel which is located at at least one of upstream of the low pressure zone and substantially around the low pressure zone.

4. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the stabilization system further comprises one or more nucleation cavities in the channel.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the stabilization system further comprises at least one heating device that heats a portion of the channel which is located at least one of upstream of the one or more nucleation cavities and substantially around the one or more nucleation cavities.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stabilization system further comprises one or more nucleation cavities in the channel

7. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the stabilization system further comprises at least one heating device that heats a portion of the channel which is located at least one of upstream of the one or more nucleation cavities and substantially around the one or more nucleation cavities.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein stabilization system further comprises a vibrating system that vibrates the flow in at least a portion of the channel.