Thermal Transport in Micro- and Nanoscale Systems

Small-scale (micro-/nanoscale) heat transfer has broad and exciting range of applications. Heat transfer at small scale quite naturally is influenced – sometimes dramatically – with high surface area-to-volume ratios. This in effect means that heat transfer in small-scale devices and systems is influenced by surface treatment and surface morphology. Importantly, interfacial dynamic effects are at least non-negligible, and there is a strong potential to engineer the performance of such devices using the progress in micro- and nanomanufacturing technologies. With this motivation, the emphasis here is on heat conduction and convection. The chapter starts with a broad introduction to Boltzmann transport equation which captures the physics of small-scale heat transport, while also outlining the differences between small-scale transport and classical macroscale heat transport. Among applications, examples are thermoelectric and thermal interface materials where micro- and nanofabrication have led to impressive figure of merits and thermal management performance. Basic of phonon transport and its manipulation through nanostructuring materials are discussed in detail. Small-scale single-phase convection and the crucial role it has played in developing the thermal management solutions for the next generation of electronics and energy-harvesting devices are discussed as the next topic. Features of microcooling platforms and physics of optimized thermal transport using microchannel manifold heat sinks are discussed in detail along with a discussion of how such systems also facilitate use of low-grade, waste heat from data centers and photovoltaic modules. Phase change process and their control using surface micro-/nanostructure are discussed next. Among the feature considered, the first are microscale heat pipes where capillary effects play an important role. Next the role of nanostructures in controlling nucleation and mobility of the discrete phase in two-phase processes, such as boiling, condensation, and icing is explained in great detail. Special emphasis is placed on the limitations of current surface and device manufacture technologies while also outlining the potential ways to overcome them. Lastly, the chapter is concluded with a summary and perspective on future trends and, more importantly, the opportunities for new research and applications in this exciting field

Exploring Sustainable HCI Research Dimensions Through the Inclusive Innovation Framework

When frameworks and design principles for open innovation and open sustainability innovation (OSI) were established in earlier research, their foundations were originated from the expanded concepts of universal design (UD) from human-computer interaction (HCI) in a prescriptive form. This also was the basis of an inclusive innovation framework (IIF) aiming for a sustainable information system design. In this paper the IIF originating from the concept of combining UD and open innovation (OI) in promoting information technology enabling sustainability goals was analyzed together with OI and OSI frameworks. The role of OI in formulating the IIF was thereby strengthened, which in parallel helped recognizing the extended conceptions of sustainable HCI (SHCI) and its future research path through the use of IIF

An Iterative Information System Design Process Towards Sustainability

While bringing business and computer science into an improved alignment using the theoretical foundations of information and computation is one of the main aims of information science, improved design knowledge from other interdisciplinary research fields like human-computer interaction (HCI) could advance different information system (IS) design thinking and processes. Since structuring the IS design process for a sustainable result is challenging, a HCI viewpoint and focus on IS design could be beneficial due to the multi and interdisciplinary nature of HCI. In this paper an iterative design process for sustainable IS design conceptualized from HCI is proposed. The resulting design process highlighted the role of HCI in building knowledge in information science. This was achieved by showing the influence of different design choices on user behavior and in that way contributing towards generating reusable designs in different phases of the sustainable IS design process