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Vacuum spray flash evaporation cooling (VSFEC) is considered as an alternative effective method for dissipating high heat flux in the field of space thermal control. In this paper, a VSFEC experiment system has been developed to investigate the influence of spray flow rate and spray height on the heat transfer characteristics of VSFEC. The experiment results show that the heat flux can be removed efficiently from the heat source in VSFEC system with a very small spray flow rate, which is only one third of that of conventional spray cooling under the same heat flux. And an optimal flow rate exists in VSFEC, at which the heat transfer approaches to a highest value, it is different from conventional spray cooling in which the heat flux increases with the increasing of spray flow rate all the time, in VSFEC, the heat flux firstly increases and then decreases with increasing of flow rate. Since VSFEC system is an open-loop heat dissipation system, it has very important significance that based on the optimal flow rate to reduce working medium consumption, especially for space thermal control system which has a strict limit on weight. In addition, spray height has an important effect on the heat transfer characteristics of VSFEC and an optimal spray height is also obtained at which the maximum value of heat flux can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laminated polymer matrix carbon fiber composites have poor thermal conductivity in through thickness direction as all the conductive fibers are within the plane. One can increase the through thickness thermal conductivity by introducing conductive fibers in that direction or by modifying the form, direction and architecture of the fiber network. In this paper we conduct a parametric study using finite element analysis to investigate the relation between the local fiber architecture and its effective through-thickness thermal conductivity. The role of the fiber tow orientation, volume fraction and stacking sequence is explored. Unidirectional laminates containing fiber tows aligned in the same direction for all laminae exhibit higher through thickness thermal conductivity than the stacking sequence with other orientations. A conductive coating surface layer enhances the thermal conductivity of laminates independent of fiber orientation configuration. A geometric scalar parameter is proposed to correlate laminate through-thickness thermal conductivity with fiber tow stacking sequence. The influence of different boundary condition types on the through-thickness thermal conductivity is also assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thermal transport mechanisms are investigated and characterized when highly conductive fibers are embedded across the thickness of a three-dimensional polymer composite. Different approaches are explored to enhance out-of-plane thermal conductivity and address measurement issues associated with this class of composites. An experimental setup was designed, fabricated and validated to measure through-thickness thermal conductivity. A corresponding finite element model of the setup was developed to characterize and gain further understanding of the thermal field in the measurement cell. An approach in which a conductive coating is applied on the surface of the composite to improve the through-thickness thermal conductivity of composites containing a small percentage of conductive fibers in the thickness direction is explored. A parametric study revealed that the thickness of the coating and the distribution of the conductive fibers play a crucial role in augmenting the heat transfer across the thickness of the polymer composite. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Methods to avoid the dynamic Leidenfrost effect are of great importance for high heat flux spray cooling which needs an efficient contact of liquid and superheated surface. In this paper, a novel method of increasing dynamic Leidenfrost temperature is proposed through addition of high-alcohol surfactant (HAS). Effects of 1-Octanol and 2-ethyl-hexanol surfactants on dynamic Leidenfrost temperature and spreading dynamic of droplets impacting on superheated surface were investigated for the first time using high-speed photography. Empirical correlations of dynamic Leidenfrost temperature and maximum spreading factor were obtained based on our experimental data. A possible explanation for the dynamic Leidenfrost temperature increase caused by HAS was proposed based on bubble bursting and bubble coalescence. The results show that dynamic Leidenfrost temperature is significantly increased by addition of HAS because of surface tension reduction. The empirical correlations of dynamic Leidenfrost temperature and maximum spreading factor show good agreement with maximum error of 5% and 10% respectively. These empirical correlations could provide reference value for the future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Edge effect on droplet condensation and frozen characteristics are presented. • High air velocity notably shortens the duration of droplet condensation and frozen. • High air velocity weakens freezing wave propagation velocity caused by edge effect. • Turning point for frost roughness at 1.5 m/s surpassing that at 0.5 m/s is 390 s. To retard the negative effects of frosting, it is necessary to better understand the frosting mechanism on cold surfaces. In this study, a systematical study on the dynamic frosting characteristics on the edge zone of a horizontal copper plate under forced convection was conducted. The results showed that the air velocity effect and edge effect on droplet condensation, frozen and frost layer growth characteristics were significant. The duration of droplet condensation stage decreased from 365 to 113 s with a decrease of 69.0% when air velocity increased from 0.5 to 2.5 m/s. Besides, the average freezing wave propagation velocity for Region I (an area where a row of water droplets closest to plate edge) was significantly larger than that for Region II (the remained area). As a result, the duration of droplet frozen stage for Region I was much shorter than that for Region II. Accordingly, frost layer amount for Region I was notably larger than that for Region II. Besides, the frost surface roughness for Region I increased as air velocity increased at the early frosting stage, but decreased as air velocity increased at the later frosting stage. The general turning point for frost surface roughness at 1.5 m/s surpassed the value at 0.5 m/s was around 21.4 × 10−6 m at 390 s, and that between 2.5 m/s and 1.5 m/s was around 30.3 × 10−6 m at 450 s. This study can help to establish a better relationship among different frosting stages, and better understand the plate edge effect on frosting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric atomizer could enhance heat transfer of spray cooling at low flow rate through improved atomization of liquid droplets. To optimize the heat transfer performance of piezoelectric atomizer based spray cooling, a novel piezoelectric atomizer was designed in this paper. The piezoelectric atomizer was composed of two piezoelectric ceramic films (110 kHz) and a stainless steel micropore disk with different outlet diameters of 5 μm, 7 μm, 9 μm, 20 μm and 25 μm (corresponding flow rates of 0.5 mL/min, 1.0 mL/min, 3.8–5.0 mL/min, 11.0–16.0 mL/min and 20.0–29.0 mL/min, respectively). The effects of micropore outlet diameter, volumetric flow rate and spray height on surface temperature distribution, heat flux and the spray cooling efficiency were studied. It was found that the volumetric flow rate increased with the increase of micropore outlet diameter. As the flow rate increased, the heat flux increased but the spray cooling efficiency decreased as a sacrifice. The correlation between spray cooling efficiency/heat flux and flow rate (range from 0.5 mL/min to 29.0 mL/min) of all atomizers could be generalized into one exponential decay/growth curve. An optimal diameter of 9 μm could achieve high heat flux of 123.8 W/cm 2 at a relatively low volumetric flow rate of 5.0 mL/min, and the corresponding spray cooling efficiency was as high as 53.8%. For each atomizer, there was an optimal spray height which differs with the micropore outlet diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analytical solution of non-boiling heat transfer during droplet impact is obtained. • The analytical solutions are applicable to low velocity and low wall temperature. • Wall thermal effusivity can decide heat flux alone, but not the temperature drop. • Droplet property shows great and similar effect on heat flux and temperature drop. • Thermal effusivity is a decisive parameter and high thermal effusivity is preferred. Droplet impact process exhibits excellent heat and mass transfer characteristics. Analytical solution with simple explicit form and certain accuracy can clearly reflect the correlation of physical parameters, however the analytical study on droplet impact heat transfer is quite insufficient and limited to flow field analysis. In this paper, the analytical solutions of heat flux and temperature variation of droplet impact on heated wall in non-boiling regime were obtained based on boundary layer asymptotic matching method. Parameter analysis of thermophysical properties was conducted to explore the decisive properties of droplet and wall materials. The results showed that the analytical solutions are appropriate to predict non-boiling heat transfer at low impact velocity and low initial wall temperature. Parameter analysis showed that thermal effusivity is the decisive property rather than the thermal diffusivity. Wall thermal effusivity could independently determine heat flux, but should determine temperature variation together with wall thermal conductivity. Droplet thermal effusivity and Prandtl number were the decisive properties, however the effect of Prandtl number in reality can be ignored. Wall materials and droplet liquids with higher thermal effusivity showed higher heat transfer capacity. The importance of thermal effusivity was demonstrated and high thermal effusivity was preferred in future thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multiscale wicks were high-efficiently prepared by a multi-beam femtosecond laser. • Capillary performance and thickness of wicks outperforms recently reported data. • Modified wicking dynamics reduced the prediction error from 72.9 % to 4.5 %. • Model-guided design improves 56.7 % in wicking compared to the conventional. • The modified model proposes a universal approach for quantitative wick design. Ultrathin titanium vapor chambers with wicks fabricated by ultrafast laser direct writing provide a promising solution for future electronics' lightweight thermal management. However, despite being a powerful tool for wick manufacturing, the application of ultrafast laser is restricted by its low fabrication efficiency and imperfect model for wick design. Herein, a multiscale titanium wick with stable superhydrophilic nano ripples and microgrooves was high-efficiently fabricated by a multi-beam femtosecond laser processing technology. A modified wicking dynamic model was proposed for ultrafast laser manufactured microgroove wick design. It considered the extra capillary force by laser induced nanoripple and viscous resistance of the narrow V-shape grooves, which is ignored in the classic model. The prediction error of wicking performance reduced from 72.9 % to 4.5 %. Compared to the conventional V-shape design the optimized microgrooves wick improved by 56.7 % and exhibited capillary performance parameter (K/R eff) of 1.88 μm at a thickness of 80 μm, which outperformed most of the recently reported data. The modified model, multiscale high-performance wick, and its highly efficient fabrication method propose a universal and handy approach for accurate and quantitative wick design and manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mechanical and thermal destruction plays triggering role of MEA destruction. • External stress occurs at GDL and PEM interface, mainly causing surface cracking. • Internal stress is caused by moisture in PEM, causing MEA deformation and PEM tear. • Mechanical destruction and internal flow creates a vicious circle killing fuel cell. In this paper, the mechanism of the destruction triggering of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of hydrogen fuel cell is studied. It is proposed that electrochemical destruction is the main cause of MEA failure and the result of other damages. Electron microscopy experiments are carried out on the MEA after 20 h of operation, the MEA after clamping, and the MEA after water immersion freezing, then the trigger role of mechanical destruction and thermal destruction in MEA is revealed. The analysis shows that the mechanical destruction, thermal destruction, electrochemical destruction and the internal mass transfer process of the MEA are coupled to each other to cause MEA destruction. Mechanical and thermal damage play a trigger role in the ultimate destruction and failure of the MEA, which will affect the flow mass transfer process, the flux of the working gasses in the MEA is abnormally increased, resulting in further component destruction and negative electrochemical reaction. Preventing MEA from mechanical and thermal destruction plays a key part of improving its durability. On the one hand, the external clamping should avoid stress points in the MEA area to minimize the external stress. On the other hand, the proton exchange membrane requires lower swelling rate and proper drainage measures in the off state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]