Investigation of two-phase transport phenomena in microchannels using a microfabricated experimental structure

Fu Min Wang; Julie E. Steinbrenner; Carlos H. Hidrovo; Theresa A. Kramer; Eon Soo Lee; Sebastien Vigneron; Ching Hsiang Cheng; John K. Eaton; Kenneth E. Goodson

doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.014

Investigation of two-phase transport phenomena in microchannels using a microfabricated experimental structure

Fu Min Wang, Julie E. Steinbrenner, Carlos H. Hidrovo, Theresa A. Kramer, Eon Soo Lee, Sebastien Vigneron, Ching Hsiang Cheng, John K. Eaton, Kenneth E. Goodson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Microchannels (0.05-1 mm) improve gas routing in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, but add to the complexities of water management. This work microfabricates experimental structures with distributed water injection as well as with heating and temperature sensing capabilities to study water formation and transport. The samples feature optical access to allow visualization and distributed thermometry for investigation of two-phase flow transport phenomena in the microchannels. The temperature evolution along the channel is observed that the temperature downstream of the distributed water injection decreases as the pressure drop increases. As the water injection rate is lower than 200 μl/min, there exists a turning point where temperature increases as the pressure drop increases further. These micromachined structures with integrated temperature sensors and heaters are key to the experimental investigation as well as visualization of two-phase flow and water transport phenomena in microchannels for fuel cell applications.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1728-1733
Number of pages	6
Journal	Applied Thermal Engineering
Volume	27
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.014
State	Published - Jul 2007
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Mechanical Engineering
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Keywords

Fuel cells
Microchannel
Microfabrication
Temperature sensor
Two-phase flow

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10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.014

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title = "Investigation of two-phase transport phenomena in microchannels using a microfabricated experimental structure",

abstract = "Microchannels (0.05-1 mm) improve gas routing in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, but add to the complexities of water management. This work microfabricates experimental structures with distributed water injection as well as with heating and temperature sensing capabilities to study water formation and transport. The samples feature optical access to allow visualization and distributed thermometry for investigation of two-phase flow transport phenomena in the microchannels. The temperature evolution along the channel is observed that the temperature downstream of the distributed water injection decreases as the pressure drop increases. As the water injection rate is lower than 200 μl/min, there exists a turning point where temperature increases as the pressure drop increases further. These micromachined structures with integrated temperature sensors and heaters are key to the experimental investigation as well as visualization of two-phase flow and water transport phenomena in microchannels for fuel cell applications.",

keywords = "Fuel cells, Microchannel, Microfabrication, Temperature sensor, Two-phase flow",

author = "Wang, {Fu Min} and Steinbrenner, {Julie E.} and Hidrovo, {Carlos H.} and Kramer, {Theresa A.} and Lee, {Eon Soo} and Sebastien Vigneron and Cheng, {Ching Hsiang} and Eaton, {John K.} and Goodson, {Kenneth E.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank our sponsor, Honda R&D Co. Ltd., not only for their support but also for their input, feedback and insight into the project. Work was performed in part at the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (a member of the National Nanofabrication Users{\textquoteright} Network) which is supported by the National Science Foundation, its lab members, and the industrial members of the Stanford Center for Integrated Systems.",

year = "2007",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.014",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "27",

pages = "1728--1733",

journal = "Applied Thermal Engineering",

issn = "1359-4311",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Investigation of two-phase transport phenomena in microchannels using a microfabricated experimental structure

AU - Wang, Fu Min

AU - Steinbrenner, Julie E.

AU - Hidrovo, Carlos H.

AU - Kramer, Theresa A.

AU - Lee, Eon Soo

AU - Vigneron, Sebastien

AU - Cheng, Ching Hsiang

AU - Eaton, John K.

AU - Goodson, Kenneth E.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank our sponsor, Honda R&D Co. Ltd., not only for their support but also for their input, feedback and insight into the project. Work was performed in part at the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (a member of the National Nanofabrication Users’ Network) which is supported by the National Science Foundation, its lab members, and the industrial members of the Stanford Center for Integrated Systems.

PY - 2007/7

Y1 - 2007/7

N2 - Microchannels (0.05-1 mm) improve gas routing in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, but add to the complexities of water management. This work microfabricates experimental structures with distributed water injection as well as with heating and temperature sensing capabilities to study water formation and transport. The samples feature optical access to allow visualization and distributed thermometry for investigation of two-phase flow transport phenomena in the microchannels. The temperature evolution along the channel is observed that the temperature downstream of the distributed water injection decreases as the pressure drop increases. As the water injection rate is lower than 200 μl/min, there exists a turning point where temperature increases as the pressure drop increases further. These micromachined structures with integrated temperature sensors and heaters are key to the experimental investigation as well as visualization of two-phase flow and water transport phenomena in microchannels for fuel cell applications.

AB - Microchannels (0.05-1 mm) improve gas routing in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, but add to the complexities of water management. This work microfabricates experimental structures with distributed water injection as well as with heating and temperature sensing capabilities to study water formation and transport. The samples feature optical access to allow visualization and distributed thermometry for investigation of two-phase flow transport phenomena in the microchannels. The temperature evolution along the channel is observed that the temperature downstream of the distributed water injection decreases as the pressure drop increases. As the water injection rate is lower than 200 μl/min, there exists a turning point where temperature increases as the pressure drop increases further. These micromachined structures with integrated temperature sensors and heaters are key to the experimental investigation as well as visualization of two-phase flow and water transport phenomena in microchannels for fuel cell applications.

KW - Fuel cells

KW - Microchannel

KW - Microfabrication

KW - Temperature sensor

KW - Two-phase flow

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JO - Applied Thermal Engineering

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ER -

Investigation of two-phase transport phenomena in microchannels using a microfabricated experimental structure

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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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