Measurement and modeling of liquid film thickness evolution in stratified two-phase microchannel flows

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

doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.020

Measurement and modeling of liquid film thickness evolution in stratified two-phase microchannel flows

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

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

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells incorporating microchannels (D < 500 μm) can benefit from improved fuel delivery and convective cooling. However, this requires a better understanding of two-phase microchannel transport phenomena, particularly liquid-gas interactions and liquid clogging in cathode air-delivery channels. This paper develops optical fluorescence imaging of water films in hydrophilic channels with varying air velocity and water injection rate. Micromachined silicon test structures with optical access and distributed water injection simulate the cathode channels of a PEM fuel cell. Film thickness data vary strongly with air velocity and are consistent with stratified flow modeling. This work facilitates the study of regime transitions in two-phase microchannel flows and the effects of flow regimes on heat and mass transfer and axial pressure gradients.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1722-1727
Number of pages	6
Journal	Applied Thermal Engineering
Volume	27
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.020
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

Fluorescent imaging
Liquid film
Microchannel
Stratified flow
Two-phase

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10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.020

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title = "Measurement and modeling of liquid film thickness evolution in stratified two-phase microchannel flows",

abstract = "Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells incorporating microchannels (D < 500 μm) can benefit from improved fuel delivery and convective cooling. However, this requires a better understanding of two-phase microchannel transport phenomena, particularly liquid-gas interactions and liquid clogging in cathode air-delivery channels. This paper develops optical fluorescence imaging of water films in hydrophilic channels with varying air velocity and water injection rate. Micromachined silicon test structures with optical access and distributed water injection simulate the cathode channels of a PEM fuel cell. Film thickness data vary strongly with air velocity and are consistent with stratified flow modeling. This work facilitates the study of regime transitions in two-phase microchannel flows and the effects of flow regimes on heat and mass transfer and axial pressure gradients.",

keywords = "Fluorescent imaging, Liquid film, Microchannel, Stratified flow, Two-phase",

author = "Steinbrenner, {Julie E.} and Hidrovo, {Carlos H.} and Wang, {Fu Min} and Sebastien Vigneron and Lee, {Eon Soo} and Kramer, {Theresa A.} 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, as well as the Stanford Graduate Fellowship Program for the financial support of Julie Steinbrenner. ",

year = "2007",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.020",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "27",

pages = "1722--1727",

journal = "Applied Thermal Engineering",

issn = "1359-4311",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

number = "10",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Measurement and modeling of liquid film thickness evolution in stratified two-phase microchannel flows

AU - Steinbrenner, Julie E.

AU - Hidrovo, Carlos H.

AU - Wang, Fu Min

AU - Vigneron, Sebastien

AU - Lee, Eon Soo

AU - Kramer, Theresa A.

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, as well as the Stanford Graduate Fellowship Program for the financial support of Julie Steinbrenner.

PY - 2007/7

Y1 - 2007/7

N2 - Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells incorporating microchannels (D < 500 μm) can benefit from improved fuel delivery and convective cooling. However, this requires a better understanding of two-phase microchannel transport phenomena, particularly liquid-gas interactions and liquid clogging in cathode air-delivery channels. This paper develops optical fluorescence imaging of water films in hydrophilic channels with varying air velocity and water injection rate. Micromachined silicon test structures with optical access and distributed water injection simulate the cathode channels of a PEM fuel cell. Film thickness data vary strongly with air velocity and are consistent with stratified flow modeling. This work facilitates the study of regime transitions in two-phase microchannel flows and the effects of flow regimes on heat and mass transfer and axial pressure gradients.

AB - Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells incorporating microchannels (D < 500 μm) can benefit from improved fuel delivery and convective cooling. However, this requires a better understanding of two-phase microchannel transport phenomena, particularly liquid-gas interactions and liquid clogging in cathode air-delivery channels. This paper develops optical fluorescence imaging of water films in hydrophilic channels with varying air velocity and water injection rate. Micromachined silicon test structures with optical access and distributed water injection simulate the cathode channels of a PEM fuel cell. Film thickness data vary strongly with air velocity and are consistent with stratified flow modeling. This work facilitates the study of regime transitions in two-phase microchannel flows and the effects of flow regimes on heat and mass transfer and axial pressure gradients.

KW - Fluorescent imaging

KW - Liquid film

KW - Microchannel

KW - Stratified flow

KW - Two-phase

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DO - 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.020

M3 - Article

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SN - 1359-4311

VL - 27

SP - 1722

EP - 1727

JO - Applied Thermal Engineering

JF - Applied Thermal Engineering

IS - 10

ER -

Measurement and modeling of liquid film thickness evolution in stratified two-phase microchannel flows

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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