KEY ISSUES RELATED TO MICROSCALE PHASE CHANGE HEAT TRANSFER

With the fast advancement of aeronautics, information, andbiology technologies, microscale thermophysical issues have received agreat attention. As an effective energy conversion method, the microscale phasechange heat transfer is far from mature. The non-dimensional parameterscommonly used in the microscale phase change heat transfer are discussedin this paper. Acomprehensive review is given on the six key issues, including boilingincipience, flow pattern, pressure drop, heat transfer coefficient, flowinstability, critical heat flux. Suggestions are made on the studyof the microscale phase change heat transfer to enhance the basicunderstanding of the complicated phenomena from the experimental andtheoretical point of view. Such understandings may be used as the guidelines for the design, manufacture, and operation of the microevaporators.