Investigation of innovative mini-channel heat sinks, influence of flow path geometry and inlet-outlet distribution on hydrothermal performance

IF 5 2区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL

International Journal of Thermal Sciences Pub Date : 2025-09-15 DOI:10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2025.110305

Noor Ahmed Ammar, Basim Freegah, Ahmed Ramadhan Al-Obaidi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Modern electrical systems confront rising thermal challenges due to the large increase in heat density, which calls for the development of more effective and efficient cooling technologies; therefore, the current study aims to investigate six new mini-channel heat sink models, concentrating on the influence of flow path design and inlet and outlet distribution on thermal and hydraulic performance. The first track of the study covers three channel path designs: a multi-channel heat sink (Traditional Model), a serpentine mini-channel heat sink (Model A), and a semi-multi-serpentine channel heat sink (Model B). The second track displays three different inlet and outlet distributions based on Model B: one central inlet with two side exits (Model C), two side inlets with two center exits (Model D), and two center inlets with two side exits (Model E). The geometric models were built using SolidWorks 2021, while numerical analysis and simulation were conducted using ANSYS Fluent 2024 R1, according to the finite volume approach. The study comprised the evaluation of Nusselt number, thermal resistance, pressure loss, and overall performance factor throughout a range of Reynolds numbers (935–1683) and under a constant temperature (298 K) water flow and a heat intensity up to 20,000 W/m². The results showed that Model B achieved the highest average Nusselt number values (26.55) and lowest thermal resistance (0.05 k/w), outperforming the Traditional Model in average overall performance factor by 1.49 at moderate pressure drops (1029.68 Pa), making it the best in terms of balance between thermal and hydraulic performance. The multi-inlet and multi-outlet models (C, D, and E) displayed enhanced hydraulic performance, Model D having the greatest average overall performance factor by 1.27 compared to Model B, thanks to its bidirectional symmetrical flow, which helped reduce heat difference and maintain low-pressure loss. This study underlines the crucial role of flow path design and inlet and outlet layout in increasing the performance of mini-channel heat sinks and provides a scientific basis for creating more efficient cooling solutions for current electronic devices. These results will contribute to the development of integrated heat management systems for the next generation of high-performance electronic devices.

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新型微型通道散热器的研究，流道几何形状和进出口分布对热液性能的影响

由于热密度的大幅增加，现代电气系统面临着日益严峻的热挑战，这就要求开发更有效和高效的冷却技术；因此，本研究旨在研究六种新型迷你通道散热器模型，重点研究流道设计和进出口分布对热工性能的影响。该研究的第一个轨道涵盖三种通道路径设计：多通道散热器（传统模型），蛇形迷你通道散热器（模型a）和半多蛇形通道散热器（模型B）。第二个轨迹显示了基于模型B的三种不同的进出口分布：一个中央进气道带有两个侧面出口（模型C），两个侧面进气道带有两个中心出口（模型D），两个中心进气道带有两个侧面出口（模型E）。采用SolidWorks 2021软件建立几何模型，采用ANSYS Fluent 2024 R1软件根据有限体积法进行数值分析和仿真。该研究包括在雷诺数范围内（935-1683）、恒温（298 K）水流和高达20,000 W/m2的热强度下对努塞尔数、热阻、压力损失和整体性能因子的评估。结果表明，在中等压降（1029.68 Pa）下，模型B的平均努塞尔数值最高（26.55），热阻最低（0.05 k/w），平均综合性能因子比传统模型高1.49，在热工性能和水力性能平衡方面表现最佳。多入口多出口模型（C、D、E）的水力性能得到了提高，模型D的平均综合性能因子比模型B最大，提高了1.27，这得益于其双向对称流动，有助于减小热差，保持低压损失。该研究强调了流道设计和进出口布局在提高微型通道散热器性能方面的关键作用，并为当前电子设备创造更高效的冷却解决方案提供了科学依据。这些结果将有助于开发用于下一代高性能电子设备的集成热管理系统。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Thermal Sciences 工程技术-工程：机械

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

11.10%

发文量

531

审稿时长

55 days

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Thermal Sciences is a journal devoted to the publication of fundamental studies on the physics of transfer processes in general, with an emphasis on thermal aspects and also applied research on various processes, energy systems and the environment. Articles are published in English and French, and are subject to peer review. The fundamental subjects considered within the scope of the journal are: * Heat and relevant mass transfer at all scales (nano, micro and macro) and in all types of material (heterogeneous, composites, biological,...) and fluid flow * Forced, natural or mixed convection in reactive or non-reactive media * Single or multi–phase fluid flow with or without phase change * Near–and far–field radiative heat transfer * Combined modes of heat transfer in complex systems (for example, plasmas, biological, geological,...) * Multiscale modelling The applied research topics include: * Heat exchangers, heat pipes, cooling processes * Transport phenomena taking place in industrial processes (chemical, food and agricultural, metallurgical, space and aeronautical, automobile industries) * Nano–and micro–technology for energy, space, biosystems and devices * Heat transport analysis in advanced systems * Impact of energy–related processes on environment, and emerging energy systems The study of thermophysical properties of materials and fluids, thermal measurement techniques, inverse methods, and the developments of experimental methods are within the scope of the International Journal of Thermal Sciences which also covers the modelling, and numerical methods applied to thermal transfer.