DOI: 10.1615/ICHMT.2014.IntSympConvHeatMassTransf
ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-356-7
ISSN Online: 2642-3499
ISSN Flash Drive: 2642-3502
EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF SINGLE-PHASE FORCED CONVECTION IN MICROCHANNELS
ABSTRACT
In this paper a review of the main experimental techniques used for the determination of friction factor and convective heat transfer coefficient in microchannels is shown. First of all, the main governing equations useful for the experimental evaluation of friction factor and Nusselt number in microchannels are recalled in order to show the minimum set of physical quantities which need to be measured. A short overview of the experimental techniques able to drive the analysis of convective heat transfer in microdevices is presented by highlighting the measurement techniques developed specifically for microchannels and the specific measurement issues related to the reduced dimensions of the test section. A series of experimental data on friction factor and Nusselt number are presented in order to show the impact of typical measurement mistakes linked to an inaccurate knowledge of the microchannel cross section geometry, to the underestimation of the presence of scaling effects and to the inaccurate design of the test rig.