Microchannel heat sinks for hotspot thermal management: achieving minimal pressure drop and maximal thermal performance

In hotspot regions, where heat flux can reach several orders of magnitude higher than in surrounding area, managing hotspot temperatures becomes a prominent issue. This study introduces three innovative heat sink designs that effectively manage high temperatures in hotspot regions while minimizing power consumption. The hydraulic and thermal performances of these designs were evaluated numerically and compared with those of the conventional straight parallel microchannel (SPMC) heat sink and previous designs from the literature. By integrating pin-fins in hotspot regions and positioning the fluid inlet above the hotspot to leverage jet impingement, these designs significantly improved the heat transfer coefficient in hotspot areas. The MMC structure, featuring a manifold configuration, achieved an 81.4 % reduction in pressure drop compared to the SPMC design. The RMC structure demonstrated superior temperature uniformity. Additionally, the impact of the jet inlet angle on the hydraulic-thermal performance of the RMC heat sink was investigated. The AMC structure, which integrates the benefits of both RMC and MMC, achieved an impressive 87.9 % reduction in pressure drop compared to the SPMC design, underscoring its advanced performance.