A unique channel surface enhancement technique via diffusion-bonding a layer of conductive fine wire mesh onto the heating wall was developed and used to experimentally study flow boiling enhancement in parallel microchannels. Each channel was 1000 μm wide and 510 μm high. A dielectric working fluid, HFE 7000, was used...
A miniature reciprocating expander is being developed as part of a larger program to develop a heat actuated heat pump for portable applications. By utilizing the higher energy density of liquid hydrocarbon fuels relative to batteries, a heat actuated heat pump would be able to provide cooling for much longer...
Research in the miniaturization of thermomechanical systems in recent years has proven to be both rewarding and challenging. Micro-scale devices have tremendous technological potential but come with a new set of design problems. One such problem is energy storage. Heat actuated systems, driven primarily by thermal energy, take advantage of...