Porous medium model for two-phase flow in mini channels with applications to micro heat pipes

Abstract In this paper the porous medium concept is adopted to build up a fundamental model for two-phase flows inside mini channels. The capillary force which appears important for those problems is rigorously included in the model by following the same treatment as for porous media. Various applications of the developed model are demonstrated, among which are adiabatic co- and counter-current flows and heated forced and natural convective flows. Some fundamental results such as the two-phase pressure drop in a downflow, the flooding limit in a counter-current flow and dryout heat flux in natural convection boiling, are achieved and compared with previous studies available in the literature. With the main emphasis on the application to micro heat pipes, the model is used to predict the capillary limit of an operating micro heat pipe, to explain the liquid holdup phenomenon and to imply the onset and origin of the plug flow pattern. Future research needs are pointed out to refine this first version of a two-phase model and to apply it to additional practical applications.