Enhancing small-channel convective boiling performance using a microporous surface coating

Performance characteristics are experimentally determined for enhanced convective boiling of FC-87 in a horizontal, small-cross-sectional-area,,a, single-channel heater The channel tested has a square cross section with a side length of 2 mm and a heated length of 8 cm. The heated surface of the channel is tested both with, and without, a microporous surface coating. Although few studies have been performed to quantify the effects of internal porous coatings on flow boiling, their application in this area is promising. The coating is shown to provide increases in both heat transfer coefficient and critical heat flux. Convective boiling curves are generated for mass fluxes from 500 to 5000 kg/m(2)s and for inlet subcooling levels ranging from 2 to 31 degreesC.