Thermal performance and structure optimization for slotted microchannel heat sink

Abstract

Aiming at developing the structures of microchannel heat sinks for chip cooling techniques, three types of slotted microchannel heat sinks with metal-foam inlet header were numerically studied on flow and heat transfer characteristics, which were respectively Rectangular Parallel-Slot Microchannel Heat Sink (RP-Slot MCHS), Rectangular Stagger-Slot Microchannel Heat Sink (RS-Slot MCHS), and Trapezoidal Stagger-Slot Microchannel Heat Sink (TS-Slot MCHS). The rectangular slot width d and the base angle α of trapezoidal slot was studied respectively ranging from 0.2 to 1mm and 66° to 87°. Numerical results show that the heat transfer performance in microchannel heat sink could be improved after slot structure was set up. Besides, the value of rectangular slot size and trapezoidal base angle has great effects on flow and heat transfer characteristics. RS-Slot MCHS generally holds slightly better cooling capacity than RP-Slot MCHS under the same flow flux. In terms of hear transfer capability and thermal performance with constant pumping power, TS-Slot MCHS turns out the best, which holds both the lowest pressure drop and best heat transfer characteristic. Finally, combined with field coordination analysis, RS-Slot MCHS and TS-Slot MCHS are two kinds of structures with potential development for improving the performance of microchannel heat sink.