Optimized heat transfer systems: Exploring the synergy of micro pin-fins and micro Vortex generators

Abstract

The advancement of electronic devices has led to an increase in power consumption and miniaturization, culminating in a more focused heat generation, making it imperative for heat transfer systems to perform optimally while consuming minimal energy. To this end, this study combines two concepts of micro pin-fins and micro vortex generators to enhance heat transfer and mixing, with the aim of improving the overall performance of the heat transfer system. In the first part of the study, two common types of micro vortex generator formations, namely Co- and Counter-rotating, are examined alongside the parallel micro pin-fins. Counter-rotating formation is found to be the most efficient in terms of thermal and hydraulic performance. In the next section, the geometry of the counter-rotating micro pin-fins is fully parameterized, each parameter denoting an input factor. Next, the correlation between input and output parameters, including the Nusselt Number and Pumping Power, is obtained using the Response surface methodology. The results indicate that the combination of a micro vortex generator and a micro pin-fin would improve the overall performance of the system when compared to the performance of both components separately. The study also highlights the importance of the optimal number of pairs between the fins, which is found to be dependent on the longitudinal distance between each pair of pin-fins for a constant length of the solid substrate. This research provides a comprehensive insight into the impact of each shape parameter of the micro vortex generator pin-fin on optimizing thermal-hydraulic performance and lays the foundation for further research and development in this area.