A Numerical Investigation of the Impact of Converging/Diverging Curved Channel Configuration on the Multi-Channel Cold Plate Hydrothermal Performance

With the advancement of modern electronics and the increase in thermal power density, heat management has become a challenge that impacts device performance. Cold plates are an effective solution in liquid cooling systems, improving heat dissipation and thermal stability. This study presents a numerical evaluation of multichannel cold plates' thermal and hydraulic performance to enhance their overall efficiency. Geometric modifications included dual ports for improved flow distribution, heat transfer, and channel structure changes, such as straight, convergent, divergent, and convergent/divergent configurations. Performance was assessed through temperature distribution, pressure drop, and cooling efficiency analysis using ANSYS Fluent 22R1 under incompressible laminar flow conditions with water mass flow rates between 0.002 and 0.006 kg/s. Compared with the performance of a conventional multi-mini-channel cold plate (CMMCP), the results of this study showed that the flow-splitting effect at the outlet significantly improved thermal performance compared with a single outlet. Using one inlet and two outlets achieved higher performance for the cold plate compared with a CMMCP, reducing pressure loss by 61% and improving the Nusselt number by 14.4%. Furthermore, modifying the convergent curve of the central channel had a greater impact on the Nusselt number than modifying the divergent–convergent curve. Narrowing the central channel increased the Nusselt number by 48.71% compared with the conventional design, while also significantly reducing the plate temperature. The double-outlet, convergent-curved channel design performed best overall performance, achieving the highest cooling and fluid flow rates, with an overall performance of 1.81.