Single and multi-layer mesh structures for enhanced thermal transport
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
InventorsRonggui Yang, Rongfu Wen, Shanshan Xu, Yung-Cheng Lee
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Abstract
This disclosure describes single and multi-layer woven meshes designed to enable sucking flow condensation and capillary-driven liquid film boiling, respectively, for instance, in use in heat spreaders. The single-layer woven meshes can include a nanostructure coating and a hydrophobic coating, while the multi-layer meshes can include a microcavity coating and optionally a hydrophilic coating.
Claims20
A single-layer mesh system for vapor condensation, the system comprising:
- a woven mesh bonded onto a thermally conducting substrate and having a plurality of nanostructured features to increase condensation nucleation sites;
- an interconnected microchannel formed between the woven mesh and the substrate for the sucking flow of liquid condensate to be removed from the surface;
- and
- a thin hydrophobic coating covering the surface of the mesh layer and the substrate;
- whereby thermal transport from the vapor outside the mesh to the substrate is increased via sucking flow condensation in a wide range of surface subcooling.
A multi-layer mesh system for capillary thin film boiling, the system comprising:
- three or more layers of woven mesh bonded to each other and to a thermally conducting substrate and having a plurality of microstructured features to increase boiling nucleation sites;
- multi-layer interconnected microchannels formed within the three or more layers and between the mesh and the substrate for capillary liquid wicking;
- and
- microchannels comprising mesh pores in the three or more layers, the mesh pores arranged substantially perpendicularly to a surface of the substrate for vapor to escape from the multi-layer mesh system;
- whereby a critical heat flux and a heat transfer coefficient are increased via capillary liquid film boiling with an onset of nucleate boiling at a small surface superheat.
A multi-layer mesh system with gradient channels for capillary liquid film boiling enhancement, the system comprising:
- three or more layers of woven mesh with increasing mesh pore size bonded to each other and to a thermally conducting substrate and having a plurality of microstructured features to increase boiling nucleation sites;
- multi-layer interconnected microchannels formed within the three or more layers and between the mesh and the substrate for capillary liquid wicking;
- and
- self-aligned gradient microchannels, each gradient microchannel comprising mesh pores of increasing size from the three or more layers, the gradient microchannels arranged substantially perpendicularly to a surface of the substrate to promote vapor escape from the multi-layer mesh system;
- whereby a critical heat flux and a heat transfer coefficient are further increased via capillary liquid film boiling enhancement with accelerated vapor escape for delaying surface dry out.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.