Investigation of the Use of an Inorganic Aqueous Solution in Copper-Made Phase-Change Heat Transfer Devices

A novel inorganic aqueous solution (IAS) is shown to have a better heat transfer performance than water when used as the working fluid in copper-made phase-change heat transfer devices. First, the physical properties of IAS are measured and compared to those of water. Another, a chemical analysis is performed, and the chemical reactions involved between IAS and the copper surface are listed and categorized by their contributions to the heat transfer performance. In addition, a capillary rise test is performed to show how each chemical contributes to the improvement of the surface wettability. Last, using IAS in copper-made phase-change heat transfer devices is discussed, and the main focus is how IAS improves the heat transfer performance by a smaller thermal resistance and a larger critical heat flux. The conclusion is validated by thermo-siphon tests at different inclination angles.

Investigation of the Use of an Inorganic Aqueous Solution in Aluminum-Made Phase-Change Heat Transfer Devices

An inorganic aqueous solution, known as IAS, has shown its compatibility with aluminum phase-change heat transfer devices. When using IAS in aluminum devices, aluminum prefers to react with the two oxidizers, permanganate and chromate, rather than water to generate a thin and compact layer of aluminum oxide, which protects the aluminum surface and prevents further reactions. In addition, an electrochemical theory of aluminum passivation is introduced, and the existence of an electrochemical cycle is demonstrated by an aluminum thermosiphon test. The electrochemistry cycle, built up by liquid back flow and tube wall, allows the oxidizers to passivate the aluminum surface inside the device without being directly in contact with it. However, failure was detected while using IAS in thermosiphons with air natural convection cooling. The importance of a continuous liquid back flow to aluminum passivation in phase-change heat transfer devices is pointed out, and a vertical thermosiphon test with natural convection cooling is used to demonstrate that a discontinuous liquid back flow is the main reason of the failures.

Tunable high-κ ZrxAl1−xOy thin film dielectrics from all-inorganic aqueous precursor solutions

An all-inorganic, aqueous solution route enables facile control of composition and optimization of zirconium aluminum oxide thin film dielectric properties.

Using an Inorganic Aqueous Solution (IAS) in Copper and Aluminum Phase Change Heat Transfer Devices

A novel Inorganic Aqueous Solution (IAS) is shown to have a better thermal performance than water when used as the working fluid in copper or aluminum made heat transfer devices. The effect of each chemical in the IAS and how it benefits heat transfer performance for different materials is explained. It was found that the IAS fluid reacts with copper and coats the surface with a layer of hydrophilic products during the initial boiling process. The surface roughness and wettability were increased which led to an enhanced heat transfer performance. The IAS passivates aluminum surfaces and makes water compatible for use with aluminum heat transfer devices. In addition, IAS has potential to improve the heat transfer performance by 50% lower the superheat when used with non-reactive material heat transfer devices.

Use of an Inorganic Aqueous Solution to Prevent Non-Condensable Gas Formation in Aluminum Heat Pipes

Heat pipes are used in many applications as an effective means for transferring heat from a source to a sink. The basic heat pipe typically consists of a solid metal casing within which a working fluid is sealed inside at a given pressure. The latent heat transfer via the heat pipe’s working fluid allows it to carry a larger amount of heat energy than would normally be possible with an identically dimensioned solid metal rod. Water is often used as a working fluid due to its high heat of vaporization and suitable operating range for electronics cooling. For many applications, especially space, aluminum is desired as a casing material for its high thermal conductivity, low weight, and low cost. However, water is incompatible for use with aluminum heat pipes because it forms a non-condensable gas (NCG), hydrogen, when they contact. In this work, an inorganic aqueous solution (IAS), which has thermophysical properties similar to water, has been used as the working fluid with an aluminum alloy 5052-H2 casing. The prepared thermosiphon underwent long-term lifetime testing and the results indicate no tube failure or significant NCG formation for the duration of the 9 week study. Furthermore, the data indicate that the IAS fluid not only inhibited NCG production but also led to a reduction in heat pipe thermal resistance over time. It is believed that the chemicals in IAS react with the aluminum surface to create a compact oxide layer and electrochemical reaction which prevents hydrogen generation. A secondary, hydrophilic surface coating is also generated by the fluid on top of the first oxide (passivation) layer. This hydrophilic layer is believed to be responsible for the heat transfer enhancement which was observed during testing and the reduction in ΔT (defined as Tevap−Tcond) over time. Aluminum heat pipes used currently in practice utilize ammonia, or other non-water based working fluids, which have inferior latent heats of vaporization compared to water or an aqueous-based fluid such as IAS. The use of aluminum heat pipe casings in combination with a water-based fluid such as IAS has the potential to provide a significant increase in heat transport capability per device unit mass over traditional ammonia charged aluminum heat pipes.

A Novel Inorganic Aqueous Solution and its Effect on Liquid Spreading and Freeze/Thaw Processes

Frozen startup of phase change heat transfer devices is a complex problem that can have a large impact on heat transfer systems. A patented novel working fluid developed at UCLA comprised of an inorganic aqueous solution (IAS) was investigated for potential effects on the freeze/thaw capabilities in phase change heat transfer devices by examining the melting process of droplets. Preliminary visual tests were conducted to gain insight into any physical processes that surface augmentation created by this fluid may have on the freezing and melting process. These tests demonstrated significant differences in liquid spreading, the melting process, and the melting rate of droplets on surfaces pre-treated with IAS. Contact angle measurements exhibited enhanced wetting properties. SEM images of frozen droplets showed that liquid freezes in the small capillary wick formed by the initial evaporation of IAS. Video of melting droplets showed a significant increase in melting rate when the surface was first treated with IAS due to superior liquid spreading.

Utilization of Advanced Working Fluids With Biporous Evaporators

A novel fluid for use as a working fluid in a heat pipe has been tested at UCLA. The fluid was discovered originally in use with a device consisting of a metal tube charged with the patented inorganic aqueous solution (IAS), which is evaporated when the tube is evacuated before use. According to the patent, this evaporation leaves a thin film that allows the tube to carry high heat flux loads with low temperature drop across the tube in a solid state mode. However, various experiments with these tubes have produced inconsistent results, and there are some questions as to whether the fluid is completely evaporated. The research on which this work is based is focused on testing whether the charging fluid will operate as the working fluid in a heat pipe, in order to determine the nature of the IAS fluid. A heat pipe apparatus was charged with a biporous wick in order to investigate if the fluid plays a role in heat transfer. There are extensive data for this experiment using water as the working fluid, which will be used to compare the two sets of results. Testing has shown a reduction of the superheat required to drive heat fluxes through a wick compared to water by approximately 40%. Some experiments have shown that the operating (temperature) range of the IAS is much larger than a standard heat pipe. It is theorized that the increase in performance of the IAS is due to an increased thermal conductivity of the wick and increased capillarity. If this fluid is proven to be effective, it would lead to more effective and tunable heat transfer devices.

Utilization of Advanced Working Fluids in Heat Pipes

A novel fluid for use as a working fluid in a heat pipe has been tested at UCLA. The fluid was discovered originally in use with a device consisting of a metal tube charged with the patented inorganic aqueous solution (IAS) which is evaporated when the tube is evacuated before use. According to the patent, this evaporation leaves a thin film which allows the tube to carry high heat flux loads with low temperature drop across the tube in a solid state mode. However, various experiments with these tubes have produced inconsistent results and there is some question as to whether the fluid is completely evaporated. The research on which this work is based, is focused on testing whether the charging fluid will operate as the working fluid in a heat pipe, in order to determine the nature of the IAS fluid. We charged a heat pipe apparatus with a biporous wick in order to investigate if the fluid plays a role in heat transfer. We have extensive data for this experiment using water as the working fluid which will use to compare the two sets of results. Testing has shown positive results in the reduction of the superheat required to drive heat fluxes through a wick compared to water. Some experiments have shown that the operating (temperature) range of the IAS is much larger than a standard heat pipe. It is theorized that the increase in performance of the IAS is due to an increased heat of vaporization. If this fluid is proven to be effective, it would lead to more effective and tunable heat transfer devices.