Numerical study of entropy generation and forced convection heat transfer of a nanofluid in a channel with different fin cross-sections

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to numerically investigate the thermal-hydrodynamic performance of silicon oxide/water nanofluid laminar flow in the heat sink miniature channel with different fin cross-sections. The effect of the fin cross-section including semi-circular, rectangular and quadrant in two directions of flat and curved, and channel substrate materials of steel, aluminum, copper and titanium were examined. Finally, the analysis of thermal and frictional entropy generation in different channels is performed.Design/methodology/approachAccording to the numerical results, the highest heat transfer coefficients belong to the rectangular, quadrant 2, quadrant 1 and semi-circular fins compared to the channel without fin is 38.65%, 29.94%, 27.45% and 17.1%, respectively. Also, the highest performance evaluation criteria belong to the rectangular and quadrant 2 fins, which have 1.35 and 1.29, respectively. Based on the thermal conductivity of the substrate material, the best material is copper. According to the results of entropy analysis, the reduction of thermal irreversibility of the channel with rectangular, quadrant 1, quadrant 2 and semi-circular compared to non-finned channel is equal to 72%, 57%, 63% and 48%, respectively.FindingsThe rectangular and quadrant 2 fins are the best fins and the copper substrate material is the best material to reduce the entropy generation.Originality/valueThe silicon oxide/water nanofluid flow in the heat sink miniature channel with various fin shapes and the curvature angle against the fluid flow was simulated to increase the heat transfer performance. The whole test section is simulated in three-dimensional. Different channel materials have been investigated to find the best channel substrate material.