Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Characteristics of Microchannel with Discrete Double Inclined Ribs on Sidewalls

Abstract

The heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of microchannel with discrete double inclined ribs on sidewalls is performed numerically. A three-dimensional numerical model of the microchannel is constructed and studied. To obtain the optimal microchannel, four structural parameters of the rib length, angle, thickness, and height are changed by the orthogonal test method. In addition, four structural parameters of the rib are investigated separately on the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of the microchannel, Nusselt number, friction factor and performance evaluation criterion of the microchannel are calculated with Reynolds number ranging from 200 to 600. Results indicate that the microchannel with discrete double inclined ribs on sidewalls exhibits superior thermal characteristics, which shows a 58.13% reduction in temperature difference between the maximum temperature and the inlet temperature compared to the straight-through channel. Furthermore, all four structural parameters of the rib have varying degrees of effect on the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of the microchannel.