Pool Boiling Enhanced by Electric Field Distribution in Microsized Space

Abstract

In this study, the enhancement of boiling heat transfer by electrostatic pressure was experimentally and analytically investigated. A fluorinated dielectric liquid was selected as the working fluid. Pool boiling heat transfer in the saturated liquid was measured at atmospheric pressure. In order to make clear the enhancement mechanisms, three microsized slit electrodes were designed with different slit widths, electrode widths, and total slit lengths over the boiling surface. Slits of several hundred micrometers were formed in the electrode, so as to remove vapor bubbles from the boiling surface by electrostatic pressure. The boiling surface was electrically grounded, and the electrode was placed above the boiling surface at heights of 200 μm to 400 μm. The maximum heat flux was 76 W/cm2 by the application of an electric field of －7 kV/mm, which was 3.5 times over pool boiling without the electrode. The previous analytical equation of pool boiling exhibited the essential feature of the effect of the electric field on the boiling heat transfer, and showed good agreement with the experimental results.