Exergetic performance assessment of magnesium oxide–water nanofluid in corrugated minichannel heat sinks: An experimental study

Abstract

To keep the temperature of miniature devices in the safe threshold, cooling of minichannel heat sinks via nanofluid has emerged as an effective technique. The prime focus of present work is to analyze the impact of channel configuration, nanoparticle concentration, Reynolds number, and heating power on the thermal and exergetic performances of the corrugated minichannel heat sinks by employing distilled water and MgO–water nanofluid as coolants. The heat sinks used in this study are made of aluminium. The volume fractions of nanoparticles used in the experimentation are 0.006%, 0.008%, and 0.01%. From experimental results, comparisons of thermal performance were made between the heat sinks employing different coolants. The heat sink with minimum wavelength (5 mm) and amplitude (0.5 mm) displayed the lowest wall temperature of 33.86°C, while 28.75% enhancement in Nusselt number for 0.01 vol.% nanofluid as compared to distilled water. The enhancement in nanoparticle concentration and Reynolds number showed an increase in exergy efficiency and outlet exergy of coolants, whereas a reduction in thermal resistance and logarithmic mean temperature difference of heat sinks.