An experimental investigation on pool boiling heat transfer enhancement using Cu-Al₂O₃ nano-composite coating

ABSTRACT

Pool boiling heat transfer performances of Cu-Al₂O₃-coated copper surfaces have been studied experimentally for its potential use in heat transfer applications. In the present study, a two-step electrochemical deposition method is examined. This method provides an easy control on surface properties such as porosity and coating thickness. The deposition method is studied carefully and responsible surface morphology parameters are reported. After performing the pool boiling experiments on coated surfaces with DI water, the maximum critical heat flux of 1800 kW/m² and heat transfer coefficient of 193 kW/m² K, which are 68% and 260% higher than that of bare surface, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Boiling
• heat transfer enhancement
• nano-composite coating
• critical heat flux

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge to SAIF, IIT Mumbai, India for providing FEG-SEM and EDS facility, and NIT, Silchar, India for financial support.