Thermal and Hydraulic Performances of Nanofluids Flow in Microchannel Heat Sink with Multiple Zigzag Flow Channels

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Southeast Asia University, Bangkok, Thailand, 10160

Abstract

This article presents an experimental investigation on the heat transfer performance and pressure drop characteristic of two types of nanofluids flowing through microchannel heat sink with multiple zigzag flow channel structures (MZMCHS). SiO₂ nanoparticles dispersed in DI water with concentrations of 0.3 and 0.6 vol.% were used as working fluid. MZMCHS made from copper material with dimension of 28 × 33 mm. Hydraulic diameter of MZMCHs is designed at 1 mm, 7 number of flow channels and heat transfer area is about 1,238 mm². Effects of particle concentration and flow rate on the thermal and hydraulic performances are determined and then compare with the common base fluid. The results indicated that the heat transfer coefficient of nanofluids was higher than that of the water and increased with increasing particle concentration as well as Reynolds number. For pressure drop, the particle concentrations have no significant effect on the pressure drop across the test section.