Spray cooling for hydrogen vehicle, electronic devices, solar and building (low temperature) applications: A state-of-art review

Efficient thermal management system is crucial for maintaining optimal temperatures in a comprehensive range of applications, including buildings, electronic devices, the automobile industry, and solar PV systems. Spray cooling (SC) has emerged as a promising technique for effectively dissipating heat generated by these systems, offering rapid heat transfer rates with low energy requirements. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in SC technology across multiple applications, such as solar panel cooling, fuel cells, electric vehicles, electronic devices, and the building sector. The review highlights the significant role of SC in achieving efficient thermal management and improving overall system performance. It discusses the capacity of SC systems to reduce the temperature and enhance thermal comfort levels effectively. Notably, the review emphasizes the impact of critical factors, including surface-to-nozzle distance, critical heat flux (CHF) stimulation, nozzle design, and nozzle angle, on the performance of SC systems. Furthermore, the work identifies key areas for future exploration and development, including the investigation of factors influencing CHF, such as the utilization of nanofluids in sprays, exploration of different angles of inclination, optimization of the number of nozzles, droplet size characterization, and considerations of economic feasibility. The findings underscore the immense potential of SC technology in diverse applications, highlighting its capability to enhance thermal management, reduce energy consumption, and optimize system performance. Continued research and development endeavors in this field are crucial for further advancements in SC systems, enabling their faster adoption in practical applications.