A Self-Nucleating Evaporator: An Experimental Study of Low-Superheat Pool Boiling via Injection of Gaseous By-Products from the Thermal Decomposition of Azobis-Isobutyronitrile

Abstract: 

For the purpose of exploring a novel heat transfer concept to radically enhance the evaporator performance of the microColumnated Loop Heat Pipe (μLHP) system, an experimental investigation into the feasibility of a low-superheat, passive, self-nucleating evaporator surface was performed. The evaporator test surfaces were treated with a coating of polymer-encapsulated azobis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN), a chemical compoundthat releases gaseous nitrogen upon thermal decomposition from 64-100°C, while the control surfaces were coated with polymer alone. Cyclic pool boiling tests were performed at both saturated and subcooled conditions in two different dielectric refrigerants. In addition, a quasistatic, temperature-controlled boiling testwas performed to counteract experimental design flaws and thus provide evidence ofsuccessful self-nucleation, despite inconclusive temperature-based numerical data.

Author: 
Christopher William Hogue
Van P. Carey
Publication date: 
May 31, 2008
Publication type: 
Master's Thesis
Citation: 
Hogue, C. W. (2008). A Self-Nucleating Evaporator: An Experimental Study of Low-Superheat Pool Boiling via Injection of Gaseous By-Products from the Thermal Decomposition of Azobis-Isobutyronitrile United States: University of California, Berkeley.

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