Numerical Analysis of Passive Manifold Microchannel Heat Exchanger Enhancements

Abstract

Three microchannel geometries were numerically studied to investigate its effects on a Manifold Microchannel Heat Exchanger system using a full conjugate heat transfer model. The geometries tested are rectangular microchannels, circular reentrant cavity microchannels and sinusoidal wavy microchannels. The pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient data are presented graphically against Re. Their overall performance is measured using two performance evaluation criteria where considerations of both pressure drop and heat transfer performance are made simultaneously. Insights were then taken from the simulation data for possible geometry optimization to further boost performance.