This paper presents an experimental study of a new concept of using a screen mesh to enhance heat and mass transfer in a microchannel falling film absorber. Results of the experiments on the conventional and mesh-enhanced microchannel absorber designs are then reported. The experimental study shows that the absorber heat load for the mesh-enhanced design is about higher than a conventional microchannel design. The paper also presents a comparison of the experimental results with a numerical model. A finite difference scheme is used to model the heat and mass transfer processes in a falling film absorber. The numerical model agrees well with experimental results with some deviation at low temperature of coolant and high flow rate of weak solution.
Issue Section:
Micro/Nanoscale Heat Transfer
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.Copyright © 2007
by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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