Fabrication of and Thermal Testing in Enclosed Metal Microchannels

该项目的目标，将在路易斯安那州州立大学（LSU）进行，是推进商业化金属基微型换热器（MHE）所需的科学和技术的组合。该项目建立在我们正在进行的金属基高纵横比微尺度结构（HARMS）的高温模塑复制，局部水平上的详细传热测量以及传统和新型连接方法等领域的研究基础上。为了将基于金属的MHE推向商业领域，将研究和证明基于金属的HARMS的低成本大规模生产技术，将测量和合理化微米级传热特性的详细信息，并设计和实施连接/封装基于HARMS的微系统的可靠策略。通过整合微制造、局部传热测量和建模以及组装/包装的研究，我们的跨学科项目旨在为MHE的商业化奠定技术基础。微制造技术对社会的更广泛影响最终通过新产品来衡量，这些新产品可以积极影响我们的生活方式和环境。大规模生产具有改进的热特性和可靠性并且具有低成本的金属基MHE的能力提供了将MHE引入市场的潜力。将更节能的MHE纳入家用电器以及将其用于制造业和汽车行业的潜在节能可以带来显着的环境效益。关于金属HAMS的制造和组装/封装技术的成熟可能会导致许多其他微器件可以在高温和其他恶劣环境下工作，并对微器件技术领域具有重要意义。我们计划的研究涉及微制造，微尺度流体流动和传热以及微系统连接/包装活动的研究生，并体现了尖端，多学科，工程研究的精神。通过我们与南方大学，最大的历史上黑人学院和大学（HBCU）机构之一的互动，我们积极参与少数民族学生的辅导和教育，并将继续这样做与本项目。

The objective of this project, to be conducted at Louisiana State University (LSU), is to advance a portfolio of science and technologies needed to commercialize metal-based microscale heat exchangers (MHEs). This project builds on our ongoing research in areas of high temperature molding replication of metal-based high-aspect-ratio microscale structures (HARMS), detailed heat transfer measurements on a localized level, and conventional and novel joining methods. To push metal-based MHEs to the commercial realm, technologies for low-cost mass production of metal-based HARMS will be researched and proven, detailed information on heat transfer characteristics at the micron scale will be measured and rationalized, and reliable strategies for joining/packaging HARMS based microsystems will be devised and implemented. By integrating research on microfabrication, local heat transfer measurements and modeling, and assembly/packaging, our interdisciplinary program aims to lay the technological foundation for commercializing MHEs.The broader impact of microfabrication technologies to society is ultimately measured by new products that can positively influence our way of living and our environment. The ability to mass produce metal-based MHEs with improved thermal characteristics and reliability, and with low cost, offers the potential for introducing MHEs into the market place. Potential energy savings from incorporating more energy efficient MHEs into household appliances, and from employing them in manufacturing and automotive industries can bring significant environmental benefits. The maturation of fabrication and assembly/packaging technologies regarding metallic HARMS may lead to many other microdevices which can be operated at high temperatures and in other harsh environments, and has important implications to the microdevice technology horizon. Our planned research involves graduate students in microfabrication, microscale fluid flow and heat transfer, and microsystems joining/packaging activities, and embodies the spirit of cutting edge, multidisciplinary, engineering research. Through our interactions with Southern University, one of the largest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) institutions, we have actively involved ourselves in mentoring and education of minority students, and will continue to do so in association with the present project.