encom2-mrc-research-heat-mass-transfer
ENCOM 2
13 November 2016
SODI
13 November 2016

SELENE - Heat Transfer : SELf-rewetting fluids for ENErgy

Subject
Self-rewetting fluids for energy
Start/end dates
Description
SELENE is the acronym of SELf-rewetting fluids for ENErgy management and refers to a space project developed to study Self-Rewetting Fluids (SRWFs) transfer mechanisms.

A Self-rewetting fluid is a mixture that shows a minimum in the surface tension trend with temperature; this particular behavior with positive surface tension trend after a specific temperature triggers to force, by inverse Marangoni surface tension, the spreading of the liquid when in presence of a thermal gradient. This physical characteristic of the SRWFs is really attractive for Heat Pipes (HPs) configuration: the working fluid here evaporates from one zone and condensate to another in a closed loop reducing the global thermal resistance of the system. In this contest was developed the SELENE space program, with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA), will allow to investigate in the case of a grooved HP the SRWFs enhancing mechanisms respect to normal fluids.

One of the most important challengers for the study SRWFs is to measure the concentration distribution of SRWF solute along the HP groove to retrieve surface tension information and so Marangoni surface tension convection.

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