Experimental investigations on heat transfer in a new minichannel heat sink

• Published in: International journal of thermal sciences 2019-06, Vol.140, p.144-153
• Main Authors: Vajravel, Leela Vinodhan, Kuppusamy Swaminathan, Suganthi, Baskaran, Sivapalan, Kalpoondi Sekar, Rajan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coolant distribution; Heat transfer performance; Miter bends; New minichannel heat sink; Substrate temperature gradient; Thermal resistance
• ISSN: 1290-0729; 1778-4166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2019.02.029

We report experimental investigations carried out on a new minichannel heat sink (nMCHS) comprising four compartments, each equipped with inlet and outlet plenums for coolant and rectangular minichannels with two miter bends in each channel. For comparison, the performance of a conventional minichannel heat sink (cMCHS) comprising minichannels of same hydraulic diameter as that of the channels in new heat sink was also studied. Reynolds number had a stronger influence on Nusselt number in nMCHS than that in conventional. The experimental data (Reynolds number range from 175.02 to 553.40; pumping power range from 4.47E-3 to 1.89E-1 W) reveals that the total thermal resistance was appreciably reduced in the new heat sink, due to higher heat transfer coefficients caused by developing nature of the flow. The coolant distribution in the new minichannel heat sink contributed to a significant reduction (60%) in substrate temperature gradient. •A new heat sink with four compartments fabricated in high-purity copper.•Experiments carried out in laminar regime over pumping power range of 0.02–0.16 W.•Higher influence of Reynolds number on Nusselt number in the new heat sink.•43% & 68% reduction in total thermal resistance and substrate temperature gradient.•The new heat sink will be suitable for thermal management of batteries and fuel cells.