Flow boiling of FC-72 from a screen laminate extended surface matrix

An investigation is conducted to assess the thermal performance of multi-layered screen laminates when used as extended surface matrices (ESM’s) in vertical up-flow boiling. A dielectric coolant (FC-72) is used as the working fluid. Four specimens are constructed having different mesh-geometries and/or number of layers. Channel Reynolds numbers are varied from 2700 to 8500 and ESM base superheats are varied from 0 °C to 50 °C. Results indicate that devices equipped with this technology can tolerate steady heat fluxes up to 140 W/cm2 (based on the base area of the ESM) with corresponding ESM base superheats below 50°C. Reynolds number has a small effect on performance at low surface temperatures and a moderate effect at higher surface temperatures. Total capacity of the ESM (the product of heat flux and base area) increases approximately linearly with the thickness. A feature of this technology is that it greatly extends the working range over a bare surface.