Numerical study on heat transfer and flow characteristics of symmetric Tesla-type microchannel heat sinks
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This study numerically investigates the thermal performance of multi-stage Tesla valve microchannels (TVM) and a symmetric variant (SYMTVM) using single-phase deionized water, with mass flow rates ranging from 0.5459 to 1.6377 g/s. Both designs, particularly under reverse flow, exhibit lower peak temperatures and reduced temperature gradients compared to forward flow. The SYMTVM , characterized by its increased vortices and bifurcations, periodically disrupts and redevelops the thermal boundary layer , enhancing heat transfer efficiency. The TVM exhibits a significantly higher pressure drop than the SYMTVM across all flow conditions, with the reverse flow in TVM reaching up to 2.48 times that of forward flow and exceeding SYMTVM , especially at a peak flow rate of 1.6377 g/s. The performance evaluation criteria ( PEC ) and thermal resistance criteria ( PECTR ) demonstrate the superior performance of SYMTVM, with a reduced connection angle between the trunk and helix regions enhancing thermal efficiency. Furthermore, the SYMTVM-Reverse structure with a 30° interconnection angle demonstrates superior performance compared to the conventional rectangular microchannel (RM), achieving a Nusselt number ( Nu ) that is five times higher than that of the RM and an overall performance up to 2.59 times greater. These results indicate the SYMTVM-Reverse’s high heat transfer efficiency and its capacity to effectively balance thermo-hydraulic performance, even with increased power dissipation.
Source: Applied Thermal Engineering
Authors: Yongqi Xia, Mingtao Wu, Shibo Deng, Gaozhan Yuan, Quanli Zhang
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,790
OpenAlex ID: W4403285452