Thermal Characteristics of Microscale Fractal-Like Branching Channels

Abstract

Heat transfer through a fractal-like branching flow network is investigated using a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics approach. Results are used for the purpose of assessing the validity of, and providing insight for improving, assumptions imposed in a previously developed one-dimensional model for predicting wall temperature distributions through fractal-like flow networks. As currently modeled, the one-dimensional code fairly well predicts the general wall temperature trend simulated by the three-dimensional model; hence, demonstrating its suitability as a tool for design of fractal-like flow networks. Due to the asymmetry in the branching flow network, wall temperature distributions for the proposed branching flow network are found to vary with flow path and between the various walls forming the channel network. Three-dimensional temperature distributions along the various walls in the branching channel network are compared to those along a straight channel. Surface temperature distributions on a heat sink with a branching flow network and a heat sink with a series of straight, parallel channels are also analyzed and compared. For the same observed maximum surface temperature on these two heat sinks, a lower temperature variation is noted for the fractal-like heat sink.