A comparison of the thermal and hydraulic performances between miniature pin fin heat sink and microchannel heat sink with zigzag flow channel together with using nanofluids

Abstract

In this study, a comparison of the convective heat transfer, pressure drop, and performance index characteristics of heat sinks with a miniature circular pin-fin inline arrangement (MCFHS) and a zigzag flow channel with single cross-cut structures (CCZ-HS) is presented. SiO2-water nanofluids with different particle concentrations are used as the coolant. The effects of the heat sink type, particle concentration and fluid flow rate on the thermal and hydraulic performances are evaluated. The testing conditions are performed at the wall heat fluxes of 10 to 60 kW/m2 and at a mass flow rate ranging from 0.18 to 0.6 kg/s. The dimension of heat sinks is equally designed at 28 × 33 mm. The heat transfer area of MCFHS and of CCZ-HS is 1430 and 1238 mm2, respectively. Similarly, the hydraulic diameter of the flow channel of MCFHS and of CCZ-HS is 1.2 and 1.0 mm, respectively. The measured data indicate that the cooling performances of CCZ-HS are about 24–55% greater than that of MCFHS. The effects of the channel diameter and single cross-cut of the flow channel are more dominant than the effects of the fin structure and heat transfer area.