Heat Transfer In Microchannels Research Articles

Improvement of heat transfer in microchannels using nanofluids by numerical contribution on a sinusoidal shaped dissipator

This research conducts an extensive numerical investigation into the enhancement of heat transfer in wavy-walled channels using aluminum oxide-water nanofluids. The study examines the impact of key parameters, including geometric aspects (wave spacing ratio: 0-1), operational conditions (Reynolds number: 5,000-20,000), and varying nanofluid concentrations (1-6% by volume). The results indicate that zero wave spacing combined with a nanofluid concentration of 4% provides the most favorable thermal performance, resulting in a heat transfer enhancement of up to 2.5 times when compared to conventional smooth channels. While the wavy channel geometries significantly improve heat transfer, they also impose additional pressure drops, revealing a critical trade-off between enhanced thermal performance and the increased pumping power required. The study highlights the balance necessary between maximizing heat transfer and maintaining operational efficiency, particularly in systems where space is limited. These findings contribute valuable insights to the design of heat exchange systems that demand both high thermal efficiency and compact dimensions, such as those used in electronics cooling or energy-efficient HVAC systems. Additionally, the study explores the influence of the Reynolds number on both thermal and hydrodynamic behavior within the wavy channels, providing a thorough performance evaluation across different operational ranges. The conclusions drawn from this investigation offer practical guidance for optimizing heat exchanger designs, taking into account both thermal resistance and overall system performance under varying conditions.

Experimental investigations of flow boiling heat transfer performance in finned micro-channels

The flow boiling heat transfer and pressure drop in rectangular-finned micro-channels (i.e. micro-channel with rectangular fins) were experimentally investigated at five different fin-heights. At three different mass fluxes and a range of heat fluxes, heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops in the micro-channels were measured. The flow patterns during the flow boiling process were visualized to estimate the flow regime transitions in the micro-channels. The experimental results showed that the micro-channel with 500 μm height fins (i.e. tip clearance = 100 μm) performs the highest heat transfer and shows the highest resistance to flow boiling instability among the studied cases. Compared to the smooth micro-channel, the averaged heat transfer coefficient in the micro-channel with 500 μm height fins has been improved by up to 133.9 % at the same wall temperature. Compared to the micro-channel with 600 μm height fins (i.e. tip clearance = 0 μm), the averaged heat transfer coefficient in the micro-channel with 500 μm height fins has been improved by up to 45.8 %. At the initial point of flow instability, the micro-channel with 500 μm height fins has the highest pressure drop fluctuation frequency, the highest surface wetting frequency, and the lowest pressure drop variation coefficient among the studied cases. However, the micro-channel with 600 μm height fins has the lowest pressure drop fluctuation frequency and highest pressure drop variation coefficient, hence experiencing the longest dry-out process among the studied cases.

Unsteady numerical calculation of flow boiling heat transfer in microchannels with Kagome structures

A three-dimensional microchannel flow boiling model was developed based on the VOF model and the Lee model, and the flow and heat transfer in microchannels with Kagome structures were numerically simulated. The characteristics of bubble flow patterns, gas phase distribution, and heat transfer were analyzed under the heat fluxes of 5–8 MW/m2 and flow velocities of 0.2–0.5 m/s. The results show that at a flow velocity of 0.5 m/s, the disturbances caused by fluid impact on the Kagome structure result in bubble break-up, effectively suppressing the formation of large bubbles. However, at a flow velocity of 0.2 m/s, bubbles tend to be adhered on the surface of the Kagome structure, causing local blockage and deteriorating heat transfer. Compared to the flow velocity of 0.5 m/s, the average heat transfer coefficient in the microchannel decreases by up to 75.4 % and the pressure loss decreases by 45.38 % at the flow velocity of 0.2 m/s.

Thin-film evaporation in microchannels: A combined analytical and computational fluid dynamics approach to assessing meniscus curvature impact

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is employed to investigate the effects of variation in bulk meniscus curvature on evaporative heat and mass transfer in microchannels. Evaporation in microchannels presents a classic multiscale problem, encompassing both microscopic and macroscopic length scales in the thin-film and bulk meniscus regions, respectively. Therefore, the liquid-vapor interface or meniscus shape is first determined through thin-film evaporation analysis using numerical approaches found in the literature. However, a new approach for establishing boundary conditions is also proposed, allowing for the representation of varying curvatures within the bulk meniscus region. Then, the obtained meniscus thickness profiles are exported to a two-dimensional CFD framework. The primary advantage of this developed CFD framework lies in its capability to simultaneously analyze evaporative heat and mass transfer from both microscopic and macroscopic regions, a feature that enhances research endeavors concerning micro and miniature heat pipes. The developed model is applied to various rectangular microchannel sizes, ranging from 10 to 100 μm in width, with wall superheats varying from 0.1 to 3.0 K. The aim is to quantify the effects of variations in bulk meniscus curvature on the evaporative characteristics of the extended meniscus (comprising both thin-film and bulk meniscus regions), using the concept of thermal resistance. Consequently, based on the CFD simulation results, multiple regression analysis is employed to formulate the total thermal resistance in terms of independent parameters, namely the microchannel width, wall superheat, and the radius of curvature (Rc). It is observed that the radius of curvature has a marginal impact on the total thermal resistance, allowing its influence to be expressed by a power-law function of (Rc/Rm)0.102, where Rm represents the minimum radius of curvature.

Numerical study of heat transfer and entropy generation in ribbed microchannel with nanofluid and multiple jet impingement

Due to the high miniaturization of electronic devices, there is an urgent need to eliminate high heat flux in electronic devices and improve their heat transfer characteristics. This article simulated the single-phase flow to study the effects of five different arrangements of column ribs and different volume concentration (1 %–5%) of nanofluids on the convective heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, and the irreversibility of flow heat transfer in ribbed microchannel heat sinks with multiple jets impingement (MJI) within the Re range of 200–1000. The working coolants is deionized water and water - Al2O3 nanofluid. Different important parameters, such as the characteristic of heat transfer and flow, Performance Evaluation Criterion (PEC), and entropy generation are investigated. The results indicated that MJI III can effectively improve the convective heat transfer coefficient while the increase in pressure drop is not obvious. The PEC of MJI III is 1.408 at Re = 600, which is much higher than the other MJIs. Additionally, the cooling performance and irreversibility of water-Al2O3 nanofluid are superior to those of deionized water within the research scope. With the concentration, the irreversibility of flow and heat transfer of water-Al2O3 nanofluid increasing increases. The data shows that, the overall performance is optimal when φ = 1 %, and its highest PEC is 1.75 at Re = 400.

Three-dimensional numerical investigation on flow and heat transfer characteristics and multi-objective optimization of interconnected microchannels

The interconnected microchannel demonstrates excellent performance in enhancing flow heat transfer. However, the optimal width of the interconnecting slot has not been thoroughly investigated. To address this gap, this paper numerically simulates the three-dimensional flow and heat transfer of interconnected microchannels featuring varied slot widths and channel depths. The investigated slot widths range from 50 to 1000 μm and depths of 100, 200, and 300 μm. Evaluation of overall performance encompasses heat transfer and flow characteristics such as average wall temperature, heat transfer coefficient, thermal resistance as well as pressure drop. It is the interconnected slots that interrupt the velocity and thermal boundary layers, contributing to enhanced heat transfer. Furthermore, the back propagation neural network and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II are utilized for multi-objective optimization of thermal resistance and pressure drop. The technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) method combined with the entropy weight method is employed to select the compromise optimal solution from the Pareto optimal solutions. The optimized slot widths are 369, 424, and 167 μm for channel depths of 100, 200, and 300 μm, respectively. This research provides data support for the optimization design and engineering manufacturing of interconnected microchannels.

Hybrid artificial neural networks-based approaches predicting the heat transfer and flow characteristics of manifold microchannels

Aiming at meeting the requirement of high heat flux electronics cooling, the geometric complexity of manifold microchannels as an energy-saving technique has been increasing rapidly. It is well worth exploring optimal prediction models for the heat transfer and flow characteristics of manifold microchannels to reduce computing resources and time costs in the optimization process. In this paper, hybrid prediction approaches based on artificial neural networks are proposed for manifold microchannels. Four optimization algorithms, namely, genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization algorithm, artificial hummingbird algorithm, and zebra optimization algorithm were adopted to enhance the prediction performance. Initially, all prediction models were trained and tested by a numerical database including six input parameters, and the thermal resistance and pumping power were taken as the target outputs. Compared to the original method, hybrid prediction models show higher accuracy and reliability on the numerical data with regression coefficients beyond 0.987. The prediction model optimized by the artificial hummingbird algorithm shows the best performance with the mean average error for thermal resistance and pumping power decreased by 88.7% and 81.4% respectively. Additionally, the runtime of all prediction models is compared and the model optimized by the zebra optimization algorithm takes the longest time, but is still two orders of magnitude shorter than that of the traditional simulation method. Finally, the generalizability of all prediction models is further validated by a database amassed from six experimental studies on manifold microchannels. The results showed that three hybrid models can provide accurate outputs with regression coefficients beyond 0.84 which differs from the poor prediction of the original method. The model optimized by the zebra optimization algorithm shows superior prediction performance for six individual studies, two fluids, three fin shapes, and wide flow rate conditions. The trained hybrid prediction models in this study perform higher accuracy and can be cost-effective and reliable prediction tools for the rapid optimization process of various manifold microchannel applications.

Numerical analysis of enhanced heat transfer and nanofluid flow mechanisms in fan groove and pyramid truss microchannels

A combined groove and truss structure is designed for rectangular microchannel heat sinks with 4 % Al2O3 nanofluid as the working fluid to address the heat dissipation requirements of high heat flux density electronic devices. The effects of fan shape, elliptical, waterdrop, rectangular, trapezoidal and triangular grooves on the heat transfer characteristics and mechanical properties of microchannels are investigated. The fan-shaped groove microchannels with the best overall heat transfer performance and excellent mechanical properties. The stress of the fan-shaped grooved truss microchannel is reduced by 76.41 % compared to the smooth microchannel. Three structural parameters were investigated, including the length of the truss in the spreading direction (Lx), the ratio of truss flow downstream length to upstream length (e) and truss rod diameter (d). The performance of the microchannels is reflected by the integrated heat transfer factor and the field coordination number. The individual structural parameters were analysed in a single-factor comparison. The microchannels exhibited the best hydrothermal performance in the Reynolds number range of 500 ∼ 1300 at Lx = 0.8 mm, e = 3, d = 0.2 mm. When the Reynolds number is 900, the microchannel with the optimal parameter combination exhibits a remarkable enhancement of 234 % in the Nusselt number and an 80 % increase in the integrated heat transfer factor compared to the rectangular microchannel.

Enhancement of the subcritical boiling heat transfer in microchannels by a flow-induced vibrating cylinder

The flow boiling heat transfer in microchannels has been extensively used in engineering due to its high heat dissipation with a small temperature difference. This study employs a hybrid method to numerically investigate the effects of a flow-induced vibrating cylinder on enhancing the subcritical boiling heat transfer in microchannels. The hybrid approach integrates the pseudopotential multiphase lattice Boltzmann method for modeling unsteady flows, the finite difference method for solving the heat transfer equation, and the immersed boundary method for handling the boundary condition at the fluid–cylinder interface. Flow boiling simulations in the microchannel are performed for three setups: a smooth vertical channel, a vertical channel with a stationary cylinder, and a vertical channel with a flexibly supported cylinder. Simulations have been conducted by varying the Reynolds number based on the diameter of the cylinder (Red) from 35 to 333.3, the dimensionless boiling number (Bo) from 0.001 84 to 0.045 97, and blockage ratio (BR) of 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0. It is found that the vortical wake of the cylinder is important in enhancing the heat transfer in microchannels, which is quantified by the (Red). Specifically, when Red<48.0, both stationary and flexibly supported cylinders have almost the same effect on heat transfer during the flow boiling process, as there is no vortex shedding from both cylinders; when 48.0≤Red<68.2, the flexibly supported cylinder achieved higher enhancement than the stationary cylinder, which is due to the vortical wake generated by the flow-induced vibration in a subcritical Reynolds number regime; when 68.2≤Red, both stationary and flexibly supported cylinders have comparable effect on the rates of heat transfer, because both cylinders generate similar vortical wakes. Flow field analysis indicates that the disturbance due to the vortex wakes on the thermal boundary and/or the vapor insulation layer is the mechanism of the heat transfer enhancement in channels.

Effect of the inclination angles of the capillary tube on the natural evaporation of absolute ethanol

Microchannel heat transfer plays an important role in microelectronics technology for heat dissipation, due to its high efficiency and low heat transfer temperature difference and flow resistance. To underpin the fundamental understanding of this technology, the natural evaporation process of absolute ethanol in a capillary tube at inclination angles ranging from 0° to 90° was investigated experimentally by exploring a spectrum of properties, such as Marangoni flow patterns, evaporation rate, heat flux, and temperature distribution. We found that the morphology of the meniscus is similar under different inclination angles, but the liquid and the tube wall slip to varying degrees due to the pressure difference at the liquid–vapor interface during evaporation. Therefore, the force distribution of the meniscus interface is different, and the resultant force is Fmax(60°) > Fmax(0°) > Fmax(30°) > Fmax(90°). We found that the morphology of the meniscus is independent of the inclination angle when absolute ethanol evaporates naturally. And the evaporation rate, heat flux and temperature distribution of meniscus at the initial stage of evaporation follow the law of resultant force distribution. That is, when the inclination angle is 60°, the evaporation rate and heat flux reach the maximum, i.e. 1.64 μm/s and 10.96 W/cm2, respectively, and the temperature between the center of the meniscus and the wedge region reaches 1.5 ℃. We used μ-PIV to observe the Marangoni vortex morphology of the vertical section of the meniscus, and found that there are different degrees of deformation at different inclination angles. When the inclination angle is 90°, the Marangoni vortex structure is destroyed.

The physical mechanism of heat transfer enhancement for Al2O3-water nanofluid forced flow in a microchannel with two-phase lattice Boltzmann method

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the mechanism of nanofluid enhanced heat transfer in microchannels and promote the application of nanofluids in industrial processes such as solar collectors, electronic cooling and automotive batteries.Design/methodology/approachThe two-phase lattice Boltzmann method was used to calculate the flow and heat transfer characteristics of Al2O3 nanofluids in a microchannel at Re = 50. By comparing the simulation results of pure water, nanofluids without calculated nanoparticle-fluid interaction forces and nanofluids with calculated nanoparticle-fluid interaction forces, the effects of physical properties improvement and interaction forces on flow and heat transfer are quantified.FindingsThe findings show that the nanofluid (φ = 3%, R = 10 nm) increases the average Nusselt number by 22.40% at Re = 50. In particular, 16.16% of the improvement relates to nanoparticles optimizing the thermophysical parameters of the base fluid. The remaining 6.24% relates to the disturbance of the thermal boundary layer caused by the interaction between nanoparticles and the base fluid. Moreover, the nanoparticle has a negligible effect on the average Fanning friction factor. Ultimately, we conclude that the nanofluid is an excellent heat transfer working medium based on its performance evaluation criterion, PEC = 1.225.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this research quantifies for the first time the contribution of nanoparticle-liquid interactions and nanofluids physical properties to enhanced heat transfer, advancing the knowledge of the nanoparticle's behavior in liquid systems.

Research on the application of boiling heat transfer in microchannels of high power electronic chips

Research on the application of boiling heat transfer in microchannels of high power electronic chips

Heat transfer performance of microchannels with different reentrant cavities based on field synergy principle and entropy production analysis

The performance analysis of three types of microchannels with reentrant cavities were investigated in this study. The flow and heat transfer characteristics were analyzed according to the field synergy principle and entropy production. The results indicated that as the Reynolds number ranged from 200 to 1000, the Darcy friction factor of microchannels with reentrant cavities decreased sharply and then slowly. Among microchannels examined, a microchannel with circular reentrant cavities exhibited the smallest Darcy friction factor in the Reynolds number range of 200–1000. The Nusselt number of microchannels with reentrant cavities increased with the Reynolds number range of 200–1000. Among the microchannels, the microchannel with circular reentrant cavities had the largest Nusselt coefficient, from 6.07 to 10.29. According to the principle of field synergy, the heat transfer field of microchannel with circular reentrant cavities had the smallest synergy angle (α), from 85.1°to 83.2°, and the best field synergy. According to an analysis of the entropy production, the entropy production caused by heat transfer in microchannels with reentrant cavities gradually decreased as Reynolds number range from 200 to 1000. The microchannel with circular reentrant cavities had minimal entropy production caused by heat transfer; thus, it had the best heat transfer performance. The flow entropy production of microchannels with reentrant cavities increased with the Reynolds number. Among the microchannels, the microchannel with circular reentrant cavities had the smallest entropy production caused by flow. The present study aims to provide alternative ways to evaluate flow and heat transfer performance of microchannels.

Exploring the impact of parameters on flow boiling heat transfer in microchannels and coated microtubes: A comprehensive review

Abstract The aim of this study is to present a comprehensive review of the impact of various parameters on flow boiling heat transfer in microchannels and coated microtubes. The objectives of this study are to analyze the existing literature, identify the research methods employed, summarize the findings, and highlight the novelty and potential improvements in the field of microscale heat transfer. The review encompasses a wide range of parameters including fluid flow rate, wall heat flux, surface roughness, tube diameter, and tube coating. By examining these parameters, the study investigates their effects on the heat transfer performance in microchannels and coated microtubes. A systematic analysis is conducted to understand the relationships between these parameters and the heat transfer characteristics. The findings of this review contribute to the current state of knowledge in microscale heat transfer. The analysis reveals significant insights into the impact of various parameters on flow boiling heat transfer, providing valuable information for researchers and engineers in fields such as microelectronics cooling, energy conversion, and biomedical engineering. Moreover, this review identifies areas for further investigation and highlights the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this research domain. The novelty and improvement of this work lie in its comprehensive analysis of the interplay between different parameters and their effects on flow boiling heat transfer. By synthesizing the existing literature, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers working on microscale heat transfer. It offers a deeper understanding of the subject matter and paves the way for future advancements in the design and optimization of microchannels and coated microtubes for enhanced heat transfer performance.

A review of single flow, flow boiling, and coating microchannel studies

Abstract The objective of this review article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the latest research on microchannel heat sinks, with a particular focus on single-phase flow, flow boiling, and coating microchannels. The review aims to highlight the progress made in this field and identify the challenges that need to be addressed to promote the widespread adoption of microchannel heat sinks. The review article examines the research on microchannel heat sinks and analyzes the findings related to single-phase flow, flow boiling, and coating microchannels. The analysis of single-phase flow in microchannels covers the impact of various parameters, including channel size, fluid properties, and flow conditions, on the heat transfer rate. The analysis of flow boiling in microchannels includes the identification of the potential advantages and challenges associated with this technique, as well as the strategies developed to mitigate these issues. The analysis of coating microchannels examines the effects of surface coatings on flow behavior and heat transfer performance. The review finds that microchannel heat sinks have gained significant attention due to their potential for high heat transfer rates in a compact size. The analysis of single-phase flow reveals that the heat transfer rate is proportional to the channel diameter and inversely proportional to the fluid viscosity. Increasing the flow rate results in higher heat transfer rates and pressure drops. The analysis of flow boiling reveals that this technique can significantly increase the heat transfer rate compared to single-phase flow. However, it can also lead to flow instability, wall superheat, and premature drying. The review identifies strategies to mitigate these issues, including using different surface coatings, enhancing nucleation, and optimizing channel geometry. The analysis of coating microchannels shows that coatings can alter the surface energy, wettability, and roughness of the channel walls, affecting the flow behavior and heat transfer performance. Coatings made from materials such as metals, polymers, and self-assembled monolayers have been investigated, and their effects on the flow of boiling heat transfer have been analyzed. The review highlights the need for further research to address the challenges associated with microchannel heat sinks, including flow instability and premature drying. Additionally, the review suggests that there is a need for more comprehensive studies on the effects of different surface coatings on flow behavior and heat transfer performance. Future research can also explore the potential of other materials for coating microchannels and investigate new strategies to optimize channel geometry and enhance nucleation. The review article concludes that the progress made in understanding microchannel heat transfer is significant, but further research is necessary to realize the full potential of microchannel heat sinks.

Explosion quenching characteristics of corrugated plate microchannels in ethanol-gasoline/air mixtures

The flame quenching characteristics of ethanol gasoline are investigated under different thicknesses and porosities of corrugated plate arrester. The results indicate that increasing the flame arrester thickness or reducing porosity leads to a significant decrease in overpressure and flame velocity during ethanol gasoline explosions. The analysis of the time difference collected by the photoelectric sensor before and after the corrugated plate reveals that convective heat transfer between the ethanol gasoline flame and the corrugated plate contributes to two-thirds of the entire explosion process. The duration lengthens with the increase in corrugated plate thickness and the decrease in porosity. This observation demonstrates that increasing the corrugated plate thickness and decreasing the porosity can enhance the heat transfer between the ethanol gasoline flame and the solid microchannel. The flow resistance and Nusselt number are calculated for different porosities, and the mechanism of convective heat transfer in microchannels is analyzed in detail. It can be demonstrated that an increase in the diameter of the microchannel and the velocity of the flame will result in an increase in the Nusselt number and the promotion of convective heat transfer. In conclusion, the corrugated microchannel exhibits superior heat transfer and pressure drop capabilities, which can effectively mitigate the explosion risk associated with ethanol gasoline.

Numerical and experimental evaluation of flow boiling heat transfer in microchannels for R452B refrigerant

Energy management efficiency is crucial for the increasingly severe global energy challenges. Low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R452B used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems could reduce the global warming effect for applications. The objective of this paper is to conduct the numerical and experimental studies for examining the thermal fluid behaviors of flow boiling evolution of refrigerant R452B in the vertical microchannels. In the experimental approach, a gear pump and a programmable DC power supply are employed to regulate the mass flux and heat flux for determining the heat transfer and pressure drop outcomes across the microchannel at varied vapor qualities. A high-speed camera with a LED fiber optical light source is used to observe the close-up optical images over the complex flow boiling process. Theoretically, the volume-of- fluid (VOF) method built in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software ANSYS/Fluent® is employed to simulate the progression of bubble nucleation processes for resolving the distributions of velocity, pressure, temperature and liquid volume fraction in the microchannel. The predictions are compared against the measured heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops for the CFD model validation. The time sequences of vapor volume fraction contours are also simulated to characterize the evolving vapor-liquid interfaces for better grasping the detailed behaviors of nucleation, growth, departure, coalescence of bubbles and the transformations of dominant flow patterns. The measured results estimate the average heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops up to 14.1 kW/m2K and 76.5 kPa at a mass flux of 600 kg/m2s in the microchannel. This research further conducts the performance assessments by testing the popular correlations, and thereby reveals the effectiveness of Bertsch as well as Sun and Mishima correlations to reasonably calculate the heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops of R452B refrigerant, involving the mean absolute errors of 12.5 % and 22.6 %, respectively.

Enhanced heat transfer in a two-dimensional serpentine micro-channel using elastic polymers

Elastic turbulence has emerged as a promising method to enhance heat transfer performance at the microscale. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the overall convective heat transfer performance in curved channels, overlooking the fact that the chaotic flow intensity varies along the streamline, leading to diverse local heat transfer characteristics. In this study, we systematically investigate the hydraulic and thermal properties of a dilute polymer solution under elastic turbulence conditions, where the inflow conditions exhibit a vanishing Reynolds number (Re) and high Weissenberg number (Wi), enabling a comprehensive understanding of the influence of polymers on the system. Through extensive direct numerical simulations using Rheotool, a two-dimensional curvilinear channel flow of an Oldroyd-B viscoelastic fluid is analyzed. By examining the variations of the friction factor and Nusselt number along the serpentine channel, we unveil both global and local characteristics of elastic turbulence. Based on the Wi value, we identify three distinct regimes. In the first regime (0<Wi≤3), we observe approximately 10% heat transfer enhancement accompanied by a roughly 5% reduction in the friction factor compared to laminar flow, known as polymer-induced thermal conductivity enhancement. In the second regime (3<Wi≤5), we observe a steep linear increase in heat transfer (around 30%) at the expense of up to 15% enhanced friction factor. Finally, in the fully developed elastic turbulence regime (Wi>5), we observe a remarkable heat transfer enhancement of up to 60% along with a reduced friction factor. The significant enhancement of heat transfer with increasing Wi can be attributed to the intensifying elastic instability resulting from the balance between normal stresses and streamlined curvatures.

Enhanced flow and heat transfer of aviation kerosene in porous media microchannels

The increasing turbine inlet temperature of the aero-engine requires higher heat transfer capability of the thermal management system. To improve the compactness of the air–fuel heat exchanger in the aero-engine, the heat transfer capability of kerosene can be enhanced by using porous media with a larger surface area per unit. Enhancement of supercritical RP-3 aviation kerosene heat transfer in microchannels by a porous structure and optimization of the structure to reduce pressure loss were investigated through experiments and numerical simulations. It is found that porous structures increase the heat transfer area by more than double, change the flow state, destroy the boundary layer structure, and produce more vortex and secondary flow. At the same time, the kerosene reaches the supercritical state earlier. These factors collaborate to enhance heat transfer with a local Nusselt number approximately six times. Filling the porous structure in the part where the flow has not been sufficiently developed is the main factor of heat transfer enhancement. The flow of the hexagonal shape is more uniform, and its heat transfer capability is better. Using alternating rotating porous microchannels can increase the local convective heat transfer coefficient by 18.6 %. And the optimized design of a partially filled porous microchannel can reduce the pressure loss by 40.7 %.

Editor's Note for article entitled “Numerical investigation of heat transfer and entropy generation in serpentine microchannel on the battery cooling plate using hydrophobic wall and nanofluid”

Editor's Note for article entitled “Numerical investigation of heat transfer and entropy generation in serpentine microchannel on the battery cooling plate using hydrophobic wall and nanofluid”