Effect of surface characteristics on capillary flow in triangular microgrooves

摘要

The present work aims to study the effect of surface characteristics on the maximum wetted axial length (x(max)) of a triangular microgrooves plate. A series of triangular microgrooves with upper width (W) of 0.4 mm and the vertex angle (alpha) of 60 degrees was machined on oxygen-free copper plate. The measured microgrooves plates include one with non-etched surface texture with lined incisions left by machining tool, and another with chemically etched surface texture with micro cavities. Methanol and ethanol were used as working fluid. The tilt angles of test device (beta) and the applied heat flux (q(b)") were varied for measurement. The present result shows that the surface texture with micro cavities will have 10-35% longer wetted axial length as compared with surface texture with lined incisions. The surface texture performed by chemical etching is effective in increasing the capillary performance of low surface tension fluid. A baseline check shows good agreement among the present experimental result and previous study. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. [References: 19]