Characteristics of Flow Boiling Oscillations in Silicon Microchannel Heat Sinks

Abstract

Flow boiling oscillation characteristics in two silicon microchannel heat sink configurations are presented. One is a standard heat sink with 45 straight parallel channels, whereas the second is similar except with cross-linked paths at three locations. Data are presented over a flow range of 20–50ml∕min(91–228kg∕(m2s)) using distilled water as the working fluid. The heat sinks have a footprint area of 3.5cm2 and contain 269μm wide by 283μm deep reactive ion etching channels. Flow oscillations are found to be similar in characteristic trends between the two configurations, showing a decreasing frequency with increasing heat flux. The oscillation amplitudes are relatively large and identical in frequency for the inlet temperature, outlet temperature, inlet pressure, and pressure drop. Oscillation properties for the standard heat sink at two different inlet temperatures and various flow rates are correlated for different heat fluxes. This work additionally presents a first glimpse of the cross-linked heat sink performance under flow boiling instability conditions.